Womens Center & Shelter Of Greater Pgh

WC&S EXISTS TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CREATE SAFE SPACES FOR HELP, HEALING, AND HOPE.

WC&S' CONFIDENTIALLY LOCATED, SECURE EMERGENCY SHELTER HOUSED 180 ADULTS AND 113 CHILDREN FOR A TOTAL OF 15,622 NIGHTS IN FY 2022, SERVING 49,914 MEALS TO RESIDENTS. CORE SERVICES FOR SHELTER RESIDENTS INCLUDE COUNSELING, SAFETY PLANNING, GOAL PLANNING, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND ADVOCACY FOR HOUSING, FINANCES, CAREER, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER NEEDS. WC&S ALSO PROVIDES FOOD, TOILETRIES, CLOTHING, AND OTHER ESSENTIALS SO THAT FAMILIES CAN BEGIN THEIR HEALING JOURNEYS WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT MEETING THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

WC&S' LEGAL ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT HELPS SURVIVORS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE NAVIGATE THE COURT SYSTEM BY PROVIDING INFORMATION, RESOURCES, COUNSELING, AND ONGOING SUPPORT FREE OF CHARGE. LEGAL ADVOCATES MAY GUIDE SURVIVORS THROUGH OBTAINING PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDERS AND ACCOMPANY THEM TO COURT HEARINGS. THESE ADVOCATES WORK WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO IMPROVE PROCEDURES AND TO TRAIN POLICE ON IPV ISSUES. IN FY 2022, THE LEGAL ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY TO 4,532 ADULT CLIENTS.

WC&S' CIVIL LAW PROJECT PROVIDES FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN MATTERS INCLUDING PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDERS, CUSTODY AND CHILD SUPPORT, AND DIVORCE. IN FY 2022, THE CIVIL LAW PROJECT PROVIDED LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR CLIENTS IN 855 LEGAL MATTERS. IN ADDITION TO EXPENSES INCURRED BY WC&S FOR THE CIVIL LAW PROJECT, WC&S ALSO HAS AN AFFILIATED AGENCY WHICH INCURS EXPENSES FOR THIS SINGLE PROGRAM SERVICE.AM SERVICE.

WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH ACHIEVES ITS MISSION BY OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL SERVICES TO MEET THE VARIOUS NEEDS OF ADULT AND CHILD INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE VICTIMS AT EVERY POINT ALONG THEIR JOURNEYS. IN FY 2022, WC&S PROVIDED LIFESAVING SERVICES SUCH AS COUNSELING, ADVOCACY, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE TO 7,678 ADULTS EXPERIENCING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN, INCLUDING 29,093 HOURS OF COUNSELING. IN ADDITION, WC&S PROVIDED PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMMING TO 298 MEN WHO ARE ABUSIVE. IN SPRING 2022, IN RESPONSE TO AN IDENTIFIED NEED, WC&S LAUNCHED A NEW PROGRAM SERVING THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND EXPERIENCING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE. THIS PARTNERSHIP SERVES 12 HOMELESS PROVIDER ORGANIZATIONS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PROVIDING IN-DEPTH TRAINING, COACHING, AND CONSULTATION TO THEIR STAFF AS WELL AS DIRECT SERVICE TO CLIENTS IN NEED. ALLEGHENY COUNTY IS PROVIDING AN EVALUATION OF THIS PILOT PROJECT. IN APRIL 2022, WC&S ANNOUNCED THAT IT WAS AWARDED LEED SILVER CERTIFICATION. LEED (LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN), DEVELOPED BY THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (USGBC), IS THE MOST WIDELY USED GREEN BUILDING RATING SYSTEM IN THE WORLD AND AN INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE. WC&S ACHIEVED LEED CERTIFICATION FOR IMPLEMENTING PRACTICAL AND MEASURABLE STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS IN AREAS INCLUDING SUSTAINABLE SITE DEVELOPMENT, WATER SAVINGS, ENERGY EFFICIENCY, MATERIALS SELECTION, AND INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, WOMEN'S CENTER & SHELTER PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND THEIR CHILDREN:24-HOUR HOTLINE: WC&S' HOTLINE ADVOCATES ANSWERED CRISIS CALLS FROM 2,193 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS IN FY 2022, WHICH REPRESENTS A 21% INCREASE IN CALLS OVER FY 2021. THE ADVOCATES ASSESS THE CALLERS' SAFETY (AND CONTACT EMERGENCY RESPONDERS WHEN NEEDED), OFFER COUNSELING, AND WALK THE CALLERS THROUGH CREATING AND UPDATING SAFETY PLANS. INFORMATION AND REFERRALS PROVIDED BY THE ADVOCATES ENABLE CALLERS TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT NEXT STEPS. WHETHER THEIR CHOICE IS TO SEEK SHELTER, SEEK SAFE HOUSING ELSEWHERE, OR START OR CONTINUE TO PLAN A SAFE EXIT, HOTLINE ADVOCATES HELP TO FACILITATE THESE NEXT STEPS. IN MAY 2020, WC&S ADDED TEXT AND CHAT FEATURES SO THAT VICTIMS CAN CONTACT THE HOTLINE VIA SMS OR THROUGH A CHAT BOX ON OUR WEBSITE. EMERGENCY SHELTER: WC&S' EMERGENCY SHELTER HOUSED 180 ADULTS AND 113 CHILDREN FOR A TOTAL OF 15,622 NIGHTS IN FY 2022, SERVING 49,914 MEALS TO RESIDENTS. THE EMERGENCY SHELTER PROVIDES SAFETY FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN IMMEDIATE, LETHAL DANGER. CORE SERVICES FOR SHELTER RESIDENTS INCLUDE SAFETY PLANNING, GOAL PLANNING, AND ADVOCACY FOR HOUSING, CAREER, HEALTH, AND MENTAL HEALTH. WC&S PROVIDES FOOD, TOILETRIES, TOWELS, BLANKETS, CLOTHING, AND OTHER ESSENTIALS SO THAT FAMILIES CAN HAVE THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS MET AND CAN BEGIN THEIR JOURNEYS OF HEALING. CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM: IN FY 2022, 152 CHILDREN RECEIVED 2,151 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE THROUGH THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS A SAFE, WELCOMING, NURTURING SPACE WHERE CHILD VICTIMS OF IPV CAN HEAL FROM TRAUMA. BEYOND ADDRESSING BASIC NEEDS LIKE MEDICAL CARE AND SCHOOL ACCESS, OUR CHILD ADVOCATES COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRING FUN, EXPRESSIVE ACTIVITIES TO THE CHILDREN WE SERVE. IMPORTANTLY, THE CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY PROGRAM ALSO CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOTHERS AND THEIR CHILDREN TO CONNECT WITH EACH OTHER WHILE THEY WORK THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES THEY HAVE FACED.EMPOWERMENT CENTER (WELLNESS PROGRAM): IN FY 2022, NON-RESIDENT CLIENTS RECEIVED 4,257 HOURS OF DIRECT SERVICE THROUGH SUPPORT GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY. SUPPORT GROUPS ARE OFFERED AT WC&S FOR IPV SURVIVORS WHO HAVE EXITED SHELTER AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOT NEEDED SHELTER SERVICES. GROUPS COVER TOPICS LIKE BUILDING LIFE SKILLS, SEEKING SAFETY, RECOGNIZING REPRODUCTIVE COERCION, FOSTERING WELLNESS, MOTHERING, DEVELOPING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, AND SURVIVING TRAUMA. INDIVIDUAL THERAPY IS PROVIDED TO HELP COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF IPV INCLUDING DEPRESSION, POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, AND ANXIETY. THIS DEPARTMENT ALSO HOUSES OUR IMMEDIATE NEEDS COORDINATION PROGRAM, WHICH SUPPORTED 289 CLIENTS WITH IMMEDIATE NEEDS, SUCH AS SECURITY SYSTEMS, HOUSING, UTILITY SHUT-OFF OR TURN-ON, AND VICTIM COMPENSATION FUNDS.LEGAL ADVOCACY: IN FY 2022, WC&S PROVIDED LEGAL ADVOCACY TO 4,532 ADULT CLIENTS. WC&S' LEGAL ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT HELPS IPV SURVIVORS NAVIGATE THE COURT SYSTEM BY PROVIDING INFORMATION, RESOURCES, COUNSELING, AND ONGOING SUPPORT FREE OF CHARGE. LEGAL ADVOCATES MAY GUIDE SURVIVORS THROUGH OBTAINING PROTECTION FROM ABUSE (PFA) ORDERS AND ACCOMPANY THEM TO COURT HEARINGS. THESE ADVOCATES WORK WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM TO IMPROVE PROCEDURES AND TO TRAIN POLICE ON IPV ISSUES.MEDICAL ADVOCACY: THE MEDICAL ADVOCACY COORDINATOR MAINTAINS RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WC&S AND LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, DISTRIBUTING WC&S PRINT MATERIALS TO MEDICAL PRACTICES, DELIVERING TRAININGS TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND RESIDENTS WHO WORK WITH PATIENTS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, AND MEETING WITH PATIENTS ADMITTED TO HOSPITALS FOR IPV-RELATED INJURIES. IN FY 2022, WC&S' MEDICAL ADVOCACY COORDINATOR (MAC) PROVIDED OUTREACH TO 56 COMMUNITY EVENTS, DELIVERED OVER 20 TRAININGS TO MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AT LOCAL HOSPITALS AND TO MEDICAL STUDENTS IN CLASSROOM SETTINGS, PROVIDED 63 ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS TO HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO BETTER SERVE AND ADVOCATE FOR PATIENTS EXPERIENCING IPV, AND MET WITH 32 PATIENTS AT LOCAL HOSPITALS WHO WERE ASSESSED AS HIGH-DANGER VICTIMS TO PROVIDE ADVOCACY, INFORMATION, AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. EDUCATION & OUTREACH: WC&S DELIVERS TRAINING AND PRESENTATIONS ON IPV AWARENESS AND PREVENTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS, STUDENTS, CLERGY, CORPORATIONS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS. IN FY 2022, WC&S STAFF DELIVERED 118 DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS TO 1,825 STUDENTS AND PROVIDED IPV TRAINING TO 1,769 PROFESSIONALS. ALSO HOUSED IN OUR EDUCATION & OUTREACH DEPARTMENT IS THE MENS (MEN EMBRACING NONVIOLENCE AND SAFETY) PROGRAM, WHICH IS AN INTERVENTION GROUP FOR MEN WHO ABUSE THEIR INTIMATE PARTNERS. THESE MEN ARE EITHER COURT-ORDERED TO THE PROGRAM OR ARE SELF-REFERRED, AND OUR WORK FOCUSES ON CHALLENGING THEM TO CHANGE THEIR BEHAVIORS AND STOP BEING ABUSIVE TO THEIR PARTNERS AND CHILDREN. THE MENS PROGRAM IS A FEE-BASED SERVICE, AND IS 1 OF ONLY 4 FULLY-CERTIFIED BATTERER INTERVENTION PROGRAMS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THE MENS PROGRAM SERVED 298 PARTICIPANTS AROUND ALLEGHENY COUNTY. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS HOUSED IN THE EDUCATION & OUTREACH DEPARTMENT INCLUDE: SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANTS, REFUGEES, AND LIMITED ENGLISH SPEAKERS; COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT GROUPS FOR SURVIVORS WHO FACE GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS TO SEEKING SERVICES; AND SPECIALIZED COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORT GROUPS AND OUTREACH FOR IPV SURVIVORS WHO ARE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, AND/OR QUEER. FINALLY, WC&S' EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM STANDING FIRM DELIVERS TRAINING TO EMPLOYERS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND BEYOND TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO PARTNER VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE AND REFER THOSE AFFECTED BY IPV TO APPROPRIATE LOCAL RESOURCES. INCREASINGLY, STANDING FIRM IS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND DEVELOPING TRAINING FOR LARGE COMPANIES WITH MULTIPLE LOCATIONS ACROSS THE U.S. BY EXPANDING WC&S' REACH THROUGH THE EMPLOYER COMMUNITY AND BEYOND SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA, SF IS ENHANCING PREVENTION ACTIVITIES AND REACHING A GREATER NUMBER OF CITIZENS IN NEED OF REFERRAL FOR ASSISTANCE AND SAFETY.