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| • | How to get Help | |
| • | Important Information about Domestic Violence | |
| • | A Survivor's Story | |
| • | About WHBW | |
| • | For Volunteers | |
| • | For Donors | |
| • | Current Events/Job Postings | |
| • | Resources | |
| • | Site Map | |
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Click here to view our FY 2007 Annual Report in PDF!
OUR PROMISE: To respect, empower and inform.
OUR VISION: To end physical, sexual, emotional and economic abuse and to promote cultural systems that foster justice, equity and safety.
OUR MISSION: To support, identify options and advocate for those who have experienced domestic violence and serve as a catalyst for social change.
ABOUT US: Formed in 1974, WHBW has evolved into the largest service provider for battered women in Vermont. In addition to providing emergency shelter and housing advocacy, WHBW offers 24-hour hotline services, legal advocacy, programs for children and many educational outreach programs. We believe that all women and children have the right to live without fear of battering - sexual, physical, emotional, or financial.
OUR VALUES: Our core values and beliefs are integral to all that we do.
•
We value justice. We recognize that domestic violence is rooted in oppression
and that all forms of oppression are interconnected. Therefore, in our
struggle to end domestic violence we work to change institutions that
covertly support the abuse of power between individuals and groups of
people.
•
We value equality. We support the equitable distribution
of power and privilege throughout society.
•
We value equitable distribution of resources. We recognize
that poverty and lack of resources are major barriers to safety and
autonomy, and therefore work to improve the economic opportunities available
to women, children and other disenfranchised people.
•
We value gender equality. We recognize that gender oppression
is a root cause of domestic violence and work towards the eradication
of misogyny and sexism.
•
We value self-determination. We work to expand the choices
available to individuals who have experienced domestic violence, including
religious freedom, reproductive choice, and sexual orientation and gender
identity.
•
We value safety. We work with our communities to protect
the emotional, sexual, and physical safety of individuals who have experienced
domestic violence and to hold perpetrators responsible for their actions.
•
We value the varied perspectives of individuals who have
been abused. We establish mechanisms to gather and incorporate input
from these individuals so that their perspectives guide our work.
•
We value collaboration. We work to involve broad segments
of our communities in taking a stand against domestic violence. We also
link with other movements for social justice.
•
We value diversity. We work towards cultural competency
and to ensure that access to services and resources are equally accessible
to all individuals who have experienced domestic violence.
Programs and
Services
All of our services are
free, confidential and open to all. No staff
member or volunteer is allowed to disclose that we are working with a
particular family or to share information about a service user without
direct consent from the service user. We cannot respond to any requests
from other agencies or individuals about specific services a service user
may be accessing. We also take careful measures to maintain the
confidentiality of the shelter location.
The 24 Hour Hotline,
(802) 658-1996 or 1-800-ABUSE95, is available 24 hours a day. This confidential
hotline is available to abuse victims and their family, friends, colleagues,
service providers and other concerned members of our community. Members
of the deaf community can access the hotline by TTY.
We provide the following services:
• Safety
planning and shelter screening
• Emotional support and options counseling
• Referral for our emergency shelter
and shelter screening
• Crisis intervention
• Information about domestic violence
• Housing, welfare, legal
and social service referrals and advocacy
• Referrals to other services available within WHBW
• Assistance and referrals around parenting issues, SRS, family support
systems, etc.
• Follow-up services
The Shelter & Housing Services Program
assists and supports survivors of domestic violence and their children
in their own search for emergency, transitional and permanent housing.
WHBW takes measures to maintain the confidentiality of the emergency
shelter location. Victims of domestic violence in need of shelter are
referred to shelter staff for screening through our 24-hour hotline.
The Shelter and Housing Program assists survivors of current or recent
domestic violence in breaking free from abuse by providing the following
services:
• Short-term space in our emergency
shelter for survivors of current or recent domestic violence, or advocacy
for space in an area safe home.
• Advocacy and
options counseling for safe, emergency housing when WHBW's emergency
shelter options are not available or feasible.
• Advocacy at
and referrals to numerous social service providers, particularly in
the realm of public benefits (welfare), housing and other economic-related
issues.
• Assistance
in the search for and securing of safe and affordable housing using
individualized housing search plans.
• Advocacy
and referrals for basic needs such as food, clothing and financial assistance.
• Emotional
support and options counseling around a wide variety of needs.
• Parenting and communication skills
modeling and support.
• Information
about domestic violence.
•
Risk
assessment and safety planning.
• Follow-up services and ongoing support.
The Children's Program advocates for the rights
and needs of children in the shelter and in the community who have experienced
domestic violence. We assist children in crisis and in transition through
one-on-one mentoring and educational and supportive playgroups for children
ages 3-12. We work with mothers to aide them in parenting in the midst
and/or aftermath of living with domestic violence.
The Children's
Program provides the following services:
• Age appropriate
play groups (ages 3-12). .
• One-on-one advocacy and support for children
and youth.
• Assistance in enrollment in day care, school, summer programs.
• Mental health, educational
and social network referral and advocacy.
• One on one advocacy and support for children and youth.
• Parenting
support, educational, referral and skills development.
• Community consultation, education and training
as it relates to children, youth and domestic violence.
The Legal Advocacy Program provides
assistance to women in shelter as well as offering information and
referrals through our hotline. To support
victims in making informed decisions, the Legal Advocate provides
information about district and family court and the legal process and
advocates for and with victims throughout the criminal and civil court
process. We cannot, however, act as an expert witnesses in criminal or
civil proceedings.
In Family Court,
the Legal Advocacy Program provides the following services:
• Provides a weekly informational
program for plaintiffs in Permanent Relief from Abuse Order Hearings
• Individual advocacy with plaintiffs
and service users during Permanent Relief from Abuse Order hearings
provided by the Legal advocate and volunteer advocates.
• Meets with Chittenden Family Court
Judges at the beginning of each rotation.
• Works with the court to ensure the
Single Day Docket is running smoothly.
• Assists victims
in applying for temporary orders when advocates are available.
• Attend other relevant court hearings with service users
as advocates are available.
In District Court, the Legal Advocacy Program provides the following services:
• Advocacy, support and
information about the court process for victims during the criminal court
process
• Consults with victims and
State’s Attorney and Victim Advocates regarding prosecution, conditions of
release and sentencing.
•
Work with the court to help ensure the process is
conscious of victims and their children’s safety
needs.
• Attend hearings with victim witnesses as requested and
when available.
We also offer Partner
Support in conjunction with the Domestic Abuse Education Project
(DAEP). This program is designed to provide support
and information to the partners of DAEP participants. Through this project,
WHBW hotline volunteers and staff initiate contact with partners of
DAEP participants. It also provides a link between DAEP group leaders,
Correctional Services Specialists and the victim.
Services offered
in this program consist of:
• Initiate phone contact with partners of DAEP
participants
• Ongoing advocacy, support and education about Probation
and Parole system.
• Referrals to other WHBW programs and community
resources
• Educate partners about the
role of DAEP
• Facilitate relationship
between Department of Corrections, DAEP group leaders and victims upon
request.
• Active participation in DAEP
tri-agency supervision meetings and involvement in the structure of the
inter-agency system.
Our Education and Outreach Program provides
reliable, up-to-date information and resources about domestic violence,
including how to offer support to victims and survivors. We actively
raise public awareness about the complex effects of domestic violence
on individuals, children and communities. Our education staff and volunteers
speak at schools, in the workplace, and to community groups and churches
on a wide variety of domestic violence related topics. Last year, we
reached over 3,422 county residents through more than 135 outreach events,
workshops, trainings and speaking engagements. We also reached countless
others via public service announcements and printed materials. Education
and Outreach opportunities include:
· Speakers:
WHBW provides speakers to a wide variety of groups, including colleges
and universities, churches, service clubs, workplaces, community groups
and other organizations. Topics include Domestic Violence 101, Teen
Dating Violence 101, Children and Their Violent Play, The Effects of
Domestic Violence on Children, How to Help Someone Who Is Abused, and
Intimate Partner Violence and Healthcare.
· Professional
Trainings: The professional training component targets
those who are involved in assisting abuse victims and their dependents,
such as health professionals, law enforcement agencies, social service
organizations, schools, religious groups and corporations. Trainings
are tailored to meet the needs of each organization.
· Workplace
Violence Prevention: The professional training component
works with businesses, agencies and corporations to prepare employees
to address workplace violence issues. WHBW staff has been working on
an innovative domestic violence program with the City of Burlington
to train department heads, supervisors and employees.
·Workshops
for Students: Workshops include Teen Dating Violence
101, Bullying and Teasing, and Identifying Unhealthy and Healthy Relationships.
These workshops are provided to high schools and middle schools throughout
Chittenden County.
Domestic Violence Materials, Brochures, and Resources:
WHBW provides brochures, resources, and other materials to educate the
community about the issues of domestic violence. These materials have
been placed in waiting rooms of doctor offices, the walls of high school
classrooms, the offices of clergy, the bathrooms of corporations, and
resource tables at community organizations.
To schedule a speaker, training or workshop, or to request materials contact Jeanne at 1-802-864-0993, x1077 or send an e-mail to jeannek@whbw.org.
Community-Based Prevention
through Community Networking: our staff actively participates
in policy work, community education and the support and development
of system's consciousness of the needs of battered women and children.
These forums include but are not limited to:
• Chittenden County Domestic Violence Task Force
• Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence
• United Way of Chittenden County
• Vermont Council on Domestic Violence
• KidSafe Council
Through community events, health fairs, media advocacy, and material distribution, WHBW is active in efforts to encourage the community to take action to prevent domestic violence.
Support
Groups: We offer a weekly, drop-in-basis educational
support group for women who are either still in abusive relationship
or have already left their relationship. These evening groups are at
a confidential location and free childcare is provided. To
find out more about the groups or to sign-up for one, please contact
our hotline at 658-1996.
Committed to Providing Support For Underserved Populations, WHBW:
•
Maintains
TTY access to the hotline
• Provides
accommodations for victims who are deaf and victims with disabilities
in shelter
• Provides interpreter services for non-English speaking
service-users
• Provides American Sign Language interpreters for deaf
victims
• Works collaboratively with Deaf
Victim Advocacy Services
•
Works collaboratively with
SafeSpace
• Participates in ongoing meetings and collaborations with
VT Refugee Resettlement Project, VT Law School, VT Legal Aid and
immigration attorneys
• Participates in Women as Defendants sub-committee of the
DVTF and other efforts to address battered women who become criminal
defendants.
• Offers ongoing diversity trainings for staff and
volunteers
• Encourages lesbians, women of color and women with
disabilities to apply for positions in notices of
hire.
Between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2007
• Women Helping Battered Women served 5,594 individuals (2,292 adults and 3,302 children).
• We provided emergency shelter to 100 women and 133 children for a total of 8,026 bednights.
• An average of 26 new women called the hotline each month, accessing our emergency services and receiving support for the first time.
• 1,269 adults and children were assisted with filing for relief from abuse orders.
• 346 children received services at WHBW in the form of playgroups, individual support, advocacy, and shelter service.
• The hotline fielded 3,392 calls, assisting individuals in crisis and offering access to emergency services along with support and referrals.
• Over 6,925 individuals were reached through more than 273 outreach events and workshops.
• 96% of the people we served live in Chittenden County.
• 119 active volunteers provided over 6,396 hours of service: the equivalent of over three full-time positions. At $12.00/hour and up—without benefits—this contribution would be valued at approximately $76,752. This figure was equivalent to 8.5% of our 2007 budget.
• 20.7 full-time paid staff equivalents worked at WHBW.
• Our budget for FY 2008 is $1,086,254 and our cash budget is $1,068,805.
The Membership of WHBW includes nearly everyone who is
involved with our organization. It is composed of all current volunteers
(including committee members), current staff, all former members who
notify the Secretary in writing of their wish to continue as members and
all service-users who notify the Secretary in writing of their wish to be
members. Such notification will be valid for a one-year period.
The membership meets at least once each year to assess
the organization's progress, both programmatically and fiscally. In
addition, everyone in the membership is welcome to attend all other
organizational meetings including staff, steering, and other committees.
The Membership operates by consensus, except as noted in the by-laws.
The Steering Committee sets
long-term goals for WHBW and makes policy decisions. Sub-committees of the
Steering Committee do the research necessary to set policy and make
recommendations to the Steering Committee to achieve their goals.
Sub-committees generally meet at least once a month and are comprised of
Steering Committee representatives as well as community volunteers who
have an interest or expertise in the field. Sub-committees include:
• Human Resources
• Finance
• Resource and External Affairs Planning
Ad Hoc Committees and Teams
are formed by various components of the membership as necessary to tackle
specific issues and are disbanded when the task or tasks are
completed. The Staff includes full and part-time employees who
are hired to provide direct services or administrative support for the
organization. Some staff members act as liaisons to the sub-committees of
the Steering Committee.
About this Site
This site was designed and developed by the staff and volunteers of Women Helping Battered Women.
WHBW exists to serve all victims of domestic violence regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or socio-economic level. However, to reflect the fact that at least 95% of all cases reported to police or domestic violence hotlines involve heterosexual men battering heterosexual women, this website uses the pronoun "he" for the batterer and "she" for the victim/survivor. This does not mean that women cannot batter men or other women, or that men cannot batter their male intimate partners.
| Organizational Background |
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| Programs and Services |
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| Organization Structure |
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