Services
SHELTER
Women's Services offers temporary shelter to women and their dependent children who have a need for housing due to domestic violence. We also offer shelter to women and children who are homeless due to other crises whose last permanent residence was in Crawford County.
Our 18 bed shelter opened its doors on January 9, 1978, and offers a safe, protective and confidential environment where guests are provided with the tools to heal and become self-sufficient. This includes information, referrals, counseling, support groups and case management assistance. Children residing in shelter may also receive counseling and participate in structured play activities to assist them in coping with their situation.
Each year, WSI provides nearly 5,000 days of shelter to approximately 260 women and children.
SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING
We offer supportive counseling services to adult and child victims/survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their significant others. Services include individual and group counseling, a 24-hour hotline, crisis intervention, and accompaniment to medical, police, or court proceedings. Information and referrals for related community resources are also provided.
LEGAL/SYSTEMS ADVOCACY
We can assist victims of domestic/sexual violence seeking legal relief from abuse. Women's Services staff are not attorneys and do not provide legal advice or referrals to specific attorneys. Staff provide options counseling, information and referrals, safety planning, advocacy and accompaniment, and assistance with filing Protection From Abuse Orders (PFA).
EDUCATION
WSI presents abuse awareness programs for schools, professionals, and various other community groups. The school-based abuse awareness programs are designed to reduce abuse through the education of school-age children, their parents, and teachers. Age-appropriate programs are presented to all children enrolled in Kindergarten, grades 3 and 5, and middle school students in western Crawford County's public schools and some private schools upon request. Abuse awareness programs are also offered to Headstart and publicly funded daycare programs.
In addition, Peer-To-Peer Harassment programs are presented to sixth grade students. Programs on dating violence and sexual harassment are also presented to middle and senior high school students in public schools. Educational programs about domestic/sexual violence and related issues are provided to over 50 public and private groups each year.