Women's Bureau Inc

ADVANCING WOMEN THROUGH ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

TRANSITIONS IS A SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR WOMEN. TRANSITIONS OFFERS RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT AVERAGING 6-9 MONTHS AND OUTPATIENT AFTERCARE FOR CONTINUED RECOVERY AFTER DISCHARGE FOR TRANSITIONS RESIDENTS UPON SUCCESSFUL IN-HOUSE PROGRAM COMPLETION. OPENED IN 1996, THIS FAMILY-FOCUSED PROGRAM IS THE ONLY LONG-TERM TREATMENT FACILITY FOR RECOVERING WOMEN THAT ALLOWS THEIR CHILDREN TO RESIDE WITH THEM DURING TREATMENT IN NORTHEAST INDIANA. TRANSITIONS IS CERTIFIED BY THE INDIANA DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH AS AN "ADDICTIONS SERVICE PROVIDER AND IS A CARF-ACCREDITED RESIDENTIAL SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROVIDER. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES GROUP EDUCATION TO TEACH RECOVERY SKILLS, PARENTING SKILLS, LIFE MANAGEMENT, AND MORE. INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING IS OFFERED WEEKLY FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THEIR ADDICTION AND THE TRAUMA WHICH OFTEN HAS BEEN A PART OF THEIR LIVES. THE GOAL AT DISCHARGE IS TO EMPOWER FAMILIES TO NOT ONLY BE HEALTHIER BUT ALSO MORE CAPABLE OF BECOMING SELF-SUFFICIENT HOUSEHOLD UNITS IN THE COMMUNITY. NEARLY 95% OF TRANSITIONS' CLIENTS ARE SINGLE PARENTS WITH LIMITED FAMILY SUPPORT. MORE THAN 50% OF THEM MEET THE CRITERIA FOR HOMELESSNESS AT ADMISSION. MANY TRANSITIONS CLIENTS DO NOT HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO RESIDE UPON DISCHARGE FROM THE PROGRAM. THE CHILDREN WHO ARE ADMITTED WITH THEIR MOTHERS RANGE IN AGE FROM INFANCY TO 12 YEARS, WITH CHILDREN UP TO 17 YEARS OF AGE HOSTED FOR VISITATION. MANY WOMEN ENTER THE PROGRAM WHILE PREGNANT AND DELIVER THEIR INFANT WHILE IN RESIDENCE AT TRANSITIONS. THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHILDREN ARE CHINS ("CHILDREN IN NEED OF SERVICES" AS A RESULT OF PARENTAL NEGLECT OR ABUSE). FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN RAISED IN AN ADDICTIVE ENVIRONMENT, PROGRAM SERVICES THAT IMPART STRUCTURE, ROUTINES, AND HEALTHY ROLE-MODELING OF APPROPRIATE SITUATIONAL BEHAVIORS ARE CRUCIAL. TRANSITIONS STRIVES TO PROVIDE THAT STRUCTURE FOR THE CHILDREN WHILE HELPING THEIR MOTHERS OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A LIFE OF RECOVERY FROM DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION.

REACT (RESPOND, EMPOWER, ADVOCATE, COLLABORATE, TREAT) (FORMERLY THE RAPE AWARENESS PROGRAM - RAP) BEGAN IN 1981, AND IS THE ONLY MULTI-SERVICE PROGRAM OF ITS KIND IN NORTHEAST INDIANA. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES A RAPE CRISIS HOTLINE, STAFFED BY VOLUNTEERS, PROVIDING PHONE SUPPORT SERVICES 24 HOURS/DAY, 7 DAYS/WEEK. A FULLTIME LICENSED THERAPIST PROVIDES LONG TERM AND INTENSIVE INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING TO ALL SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AGES 5 AND OLDER. REACT STRESSES PREVENTION AS WELL AS TREATMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS AND AGENCY COLLABORATION. FUNDING FROM VOCA AND ICADV AND PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS SUPPORTS THIS PROGRAM. IN 2018, APPROXIMATELY 60 CLIENTS (ADULTS, CHILDREN, TEENS, AND FAMILIES) WERE SERVED IN ALLEN, STEUBEN, NOBLE, WELLS, ADAMS, WHITLEY, KOSCIUSKO, AND DEKALB COUNTIES.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS FORT WAYNE IS THE NEWEST PROGRAM AT THE WOMEN'S BUREAU. THE DRESS FOR SUCCESS FORT WAYNE PROGRAM'S PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT TOOLS FOR WOMEN WHO CANNOT AFFORD AND/OR DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES CRITICAL TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT. THE WOMAN DOES NEED TO HAVE A REFERRAL FROM ONE OF THE 50 COLLABORATING AGENCIES OR WITHIN OUR TRANSITIONS PROGRAM. IF THE WOMAN IS SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING A JOB, DRESS FOR SUCCESS FORT WAYNE WILL PROVIDE A WEEK'S WORTH OF APPROPRIATE CLOTHING FOR HER TO START HER NEW JOB. DRESS FOR SUCCESS ALSO PROVIDES SCRUBS FOR CLIENTS WHO ARE EMPLOYED FOR HOSPITAL OR NURSING HOME JOBS PLUS BLACK PANTS AND BLACK SOFT-SOLED SHOES ARE PROVIDED FOR CLEANING JOBS.THE CAREER CENTER OPENED IN FEBRUARY 2014 AND BEGAN OFFERING ASSISTANCE WITH RESUME DEVELOPMENT; WRITING COVER LETTERS AND THANK YOU NOTES; DOING MOCK INTERVIEWS; AND OFFERING ASSISTANCE WITH JOB SEARCHES.