Young Womens Christian Assn

YWCA OF HELENA IS DEDICATED TO THE NATIONAL YWCA MISSION OF ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. THE YWCA OF HELENA IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING HOMELESS WOMEN WITH SAFE, AFFORDABLE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND ASSISTANCE IN ACCESSING AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

WINGS - WOMEN INITIATING NEW GROWTH AND STABILITY IS A STATE-ENDORSED SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER RECOVERY PROGRAM THAT OFFERS HOLISTIC WRAP-AROUND CARE FOR WOMEN WHO EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS, CO-OCCURRING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, POVERTY, JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT, AND IF WOMEN HAVE CHILDREN, ARE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.THE 24-ROOM SHELTER IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND HOUSES BOTH WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. WINGS CONSISTENTLY OPERATES AT CAPACITY, HOUSING AN AVERAGE OF 24 WOMEN AND 20 CHILDREN AT ANY GIVEN TIME. OPENINGS OCCUR WHEN WOMEN CAN SAFELY TRANSITION TO THE COMMUNITY AFTER THE TYPICAL 12-24 MONTH WAIT FOR COMMUNITY HOUSING. A STUBBORN WAITLIST FOR SERVICES IS OFTEN 20 NAMES LONG.WINGS CONTINUES TO BE THE ONLY PROGRAM IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT SERVES WOMEN OF ANY AGE, OF ANY FAMILY STATUS, AND HOUSE CHILDREN OF ANY AGE WITH THEIR MOTHERS. IN 2021, WINGS HOUSED 43 WOMEN AND 24 CHILDREN. 85% OF THE WOMEN WHO PARTICIPATED IN WINGS WERE JUSTICE SYSTEM INVOLVED AND 100% WERE HOMELESS AND LIVING AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. OF THE WOMEN SERVED, 81% WERE MOTHERS. THE WINGS PROGRAM RECEIVES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING FROM CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS. IN 2021, CONTRIBUTIONS AND DONATIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $47,000.

THE CATERPILLARS PARENTING CENTER OFFERS CRITICAL INTERVENTIONS AND THERAPEUTIC SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR PARENTS. IT OFFERS SUPERVISED PARENTING, SAFE EXCHANGE, EVIDENCE-BASED PARENTING CLASSES, AND ONE-ON-ONE PARENTING COACHING. IN ADDITION TO OFFERING SUPPORT TO THE MOTHERS OF WINGS, ALL SERVICES ARE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AND OFTEN REFERRED FROM PARTNERS IN THE COMMUNITY SUCH AS THE DISTRICT COURTS, OUR LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER, AND CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.IN 2021, CATERPILLARS PARENTING CENTER HIRED ITS FIRST CHILD MENTAL HEALTH THERAPIST, CREATING THE CATERPILLARS COUNSELING CENTER. THE PROGRAM NOW OFFERS PARENT-CHILD INTERACTIVE THERAPY, FAMILY THERAPY, PLAY THERAPY, AND OTHER THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS FOR WINGS PARTICIPANTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS UTILIZING THE SERVICES OF CATERPILLARS.IN 2021, YWCA HELENA LAUNCHED CATERPILLARS CLUBHOUSE, A TRAUMA RESPONSIVE AND THERAPEUTIC CHILDCARE CENTER THAT IS LICENSED WITH THE STATE OF MONTANA. LICENSED FOR UP TO 24 CHILDREN, THE CENTER HOSTS AN ONSITE ROOM FOR SPEECH, PHYSICAL, OCCUPATIONAL, PLAY, AND OTHER THERAPIES. THE CLUBHOUSE UTILIZES INFANT AND EARLY CHILDHOOD MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION, COACHING, AND SUPPORTING CHILDCARE STAFF TO WORK WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA. THE CLUBHOUSE ACCEPTS CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAUMA, OUT-OF-HOME PLACEMENT IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND WHO LIVE AT OR BELOW 150% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE. THE CLUBHOUSE SERVES CHILDREN AGES 06 YEARS OLD AND OFFERS CRITICAL DEVELOPMENTAL AND SOCIAL EMOTIONAL INTERVENTIONS. THE CATERPILLAR PROGRAM RECEIVES A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING FROM COMMUNITY GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS. IN 2020 COMMUNITY GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TOTALED APPROXIMATELY $97,500.

THE YWCA PROVIDES SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. EACH WOMAN LIVING AT THE YWCA HAS HER OWN PRIVATE BEDROOM AND SHARED USE OF THE KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM, COMMUNITY ROOMS, COMPUTER WITH INTERNET ACCESS, TELEPHONE, AND LAUNDRY FACILITY. THIS PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ALL THE ADMINISTRATION FOR ALL OF YWCA OF HELENA'S ACTIVITIES.

SOCIAL AND RACIAL JUSTICE