South Brevard Womens Center Inc

TO ASSIST IN CREATING SAFE, HEALTHY, SELF-SUFFICIENT LIVES BY PROVIDING SUPPORT, EDUCATION, COUNSELING, INFORMATION AND SERVICES TO SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC, DATING, AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE, AND THOSE SUFFERING THE ILL EFFECTS OF POVERTY, HOMELESSNESS, AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.

VICTIM ADVOCACY:THE WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE INTERVENTION TO THOSE IMPACTED BY INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE. INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE INCLUDES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BATTERY, SEXUAL ASSAULT, STALKING, AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING. ADVOCATES EMPLOY VARIOUS SUPPORTING SERVICES, GUIDING SURVIVORS THROUGH THE COMPLEX LEARNING PROCESS TO COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA. THESE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES INCLUDE SAFETY PLANNING, ASSISTANCE OBTAINING EMERGENCY SHELTER, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT DURING SEXUAL ASSAULT EXAMS, LEGAL ADVOCACY, CASE MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION. ADVOCACY EMPOWERS SURVIVORS AS THEY CREATE A PLAN FOR MOVING FORWARD SAFELY AFTER VICTIMIZATION, ENSURING THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD, AND RIGHTS ARE RESPECTED. IN 2023, VICTIM ADVOCATES ASSISTED 2,811 CLIENTS, PROVIDING 36,251 INDIVIDUAL SERVICES.

COUNSELING:THE WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDES INDIVIDUAL, GROUP, AND FAMILY COUNSELING SERVICES ON-SITE OR THROUGH TELEHEALTH TO WOMEN, MEN, AND CHILDREN. FREE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES. OUR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES PEOPLE FACE WHEN DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.IN 2023, THE COUNSELING PROGRAM HELPED 250 INDIVIDUALS WITH A TOTAL OF 3,072 COUNSELING SERVICES.PREVENTION & YOUTH PROGRAMS:THE WOMEN'S CENTER, THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH EASTERN FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE, PROVIDES A VIOLENCE PREVENTION STRATEGY PROGRAM THAT EMPOWERS BYSTANDERS TO HELP REDUCE POWER-BASED PERSONAL VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE WOMEN'S CENTER'S VIOLENCE PREVENTION EDUCATORS ALSO PRESENTED AT VARIOUS COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONAL OUTREACH EVENTS REGARDING SUCH TOPICS AS CONSENT AND BYSTANDER INTERVENTION. WE BELIEVE POWER-BASED VIOLENCE CAN BE PREVENTED IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND AWARENESS.IN 2023, THE PREVENTION PROGRAM PRESENTED TO 2,538 STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGH 151 DIFFERENT EVENTS.SELF-SUFFICIENCY:THE WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDES BASIC SURVIVAL NEEDS FOR AT-RISK CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. SURVIVAL NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED BY OFFERING FOOD, DIAPERS, TOILETRIES, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, CLOTHING, AND FURNITURE VOUCHERS. IN 2023, THE WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDED 496 INDIVIDUALS WITH 3,209 SERVICES.

SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES (SAVS):THE WOMEN'S CENTER HAS BEEN THE CERTIFIED RAPE CRISIS CENTER FOR BREVARD COUNTY SINCE MARCH 2017, AND PROVIDES 24-HOUR ADVOCACY SERVICES THROUGH THE SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES PROGRAM (SAVS). THE SAVS RAPE HELPLINE (321) 784-HELP (4357) IS ANSWERED 24 HOURS A DAY TO OFFER SUPPORT, INFORMATION ON REPORTING OPTIONS, COORDINATION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMS, REFERRALS FOR COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO ASSIST ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY SEXUAL VIOLENCE. SAVS VICTIM ADVOCATES ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS PER DAY TO PROVIDE IN-PERSON EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND ACCOMPANIMENT TO VICTIMS WHILE THEY GET FORENSIC EVIDENCE COLLECTED.IN 2023, THE SAVS PROGRAM ASSISTED 1,686 VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT WITH 16,777 INDIVIDUAL SERVICES. THE 24-HOUR HOTLINE PROVIDED 989 CRISIS HOTLINE SESSIONS, PERFORMED 58 SEXUAL ASSAULT FORENSIC EXAMS AND PROVIDED 79 EXAM ACCOMPANIMENTS. THE SAVS PROGRAM OFFERS SUPPORT TO VICTIMS AS WELL AS THEIR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND OTHERS IMPACTED BY THE CRIME. THIS ALLOWS THE WOMEN'S CENTER TO OFFER A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HEALING. SAVS RELIES HEAVILY ON OUR VOLUNTEER VICTIM ADVOCATES, WHO TOOK 1,768 HOURS IN ON-CALL SHIFTS FOR OUR 24-HOUR ADVOCACY PROGRAM.

EMERGENCY SAFE & TRANSITIONAL HOUSING:THE WOMEN'S CENTER PROVIDES EMERGENCY SAFE HOUSING FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. IN 2023, 27 ADULTS AND 29 CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH 3,359 EMERGENCY BED NIGHTS. ADDITIONALLY, 4 ADULTS AND 1 CHILD WERE PROVIDED 106 EMERGENCY BED NIGHTS AT HOTELS. THE WOMEN'S CENTER ALSO PROVIDES LONGER-TERM HOUSING FOR HOMELESS WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN THAT INCLUDES COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT THROUGH OUR TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM. IN 2023, THE AGENCY PROVIDED 6,248 BED NIGHTS AND 1,233 OTHER SERVICES TO 16 ADULTS AND 13 CHILDREN.