Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women ages 15 – 44 in the United States – more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.
* 1 in 4 women will become victims of domestic violence in their lifetime
* 1 in 3 teenage girls will be physically assaulted by a boyfriend
* Domestic violence is the leading predictor of child abuse
* Boys who witness domestic violence in their homes are 1500 times more likely to perpetrate abuse later in life
* 50% of girls growing up in an abusive home will go on to be victims of abuse themselves (wcsp)
Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh was founded in 1974 by Ellen Berliner and Anne Steytler, it was one of the first six shelters in the United States for battered women.The mission of Women’s Center and Shelter is to end intimate partner violence in the lives of women and their children.
To accomplish this mission, Women’s Center & Shelter:
* Provides sanctuary from domestic violence for women and their children within a supportive community where confidentiality is guaranteed
* Informs women of the resources available to them
* Works with all appropriate organizations/agencies to create resources for women victims of domestic violence and their children
* Accompanies women as they proceed through the legal system
* Works with children to help them learn alternative responses to violence
* Educates the public about the needs of women, particularly those women who have experienced domestic violence
* Works for systems change to alter societal attitudes, behaviors and responses
In the 2010-2011 Fiscal Year, Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh served 10,943 individuals – women, children and some men – who utilized the domestic violence services provided.
These services include:
* Various Support Groups
* Legal Advocacy: provides free and confidential court accompaniment, support, information, and advocacy as women progress through the legal system.
* Medical Advocacy: WC&S Medical Advocates provide training for professionals within the healthcare system in an effort to enhance the healthcare system’s response to domestic violence. Advocates educate doctors, nurses and others on how to tell if a woman who is seeking medical treatment is being abused, and how to work with woman so that she feels comfortable in sharing with them what is happening to her. WC&S Advocates train those professionals to make referrals to the agency
* Education Programs: The nationally-recognized Hands are Not for Hurting
Share with your girlfriends!
Domestic violence is a serious issue in this country and I am glad you are bringing awareness to this issue. I remember we blogged a little about the importance of healthy relationships for a domestic violence center in town. It’s still hard to imagine that women live in this kind of terror. We should all do our part to get involved and spread the word. Thanks for this post.