WOMEN AWARE INC

WOMEN AWARE IS THE STATE DESIGNATED LEAD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGENCY FOR MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ. OUR MISSION IS TO PROMOTE THE SAFETY AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. WE SERVE ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, AGE, GENDER, RELIGION, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, MARITAL STATUS, OR MILITARY STATUS. EACH YEAR, WOMEN AWARE PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER TO 200 VICTIMS AND THEIR CHILDREN FACING IMMINENT DANGER. IN ADDITION, 3,000 INDIVIDUALS BENEFIT FROM OUR SAFETY NET PROGRAMS. THESE INCLUDE LEGAL ADVOCACY, COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, AND TRAUMA REDUCTION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN. OUR 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE SERVES AS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR MOST VICTIMS SEEKING SUPPORT IN THE COUNTY, REAFFIRMING OUR ROLE AS THE COUNTY'S PRIMARY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICE PROVIDER. WOMEN AWARE IS THE LEAD AGENCY OF THE MIDDLESEX COUNTY FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER (FJC)A CENTRALIZED HUB OFFERING COORDINATED SERVICES, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH 20 AGENCIES, FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, DATING VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, CHILD ABUSE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND ELDER ABUSE. THROUGH THE FJC, ADVOCATES GUIDE SURVIVORS IN UNDERSTANDING AND ACCESSING THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS. SURVIVORS ARE CONNECTED TO A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, CHILDCARE, AND MORE. SERVICES ARE SURVIVOR-DRIVEN, ALLOWING CLIENTS TO CHOOSE THE SUPPORT THAT BEST MEETS THEIR NEEDS.

LEGAL ADVOCATES HELP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS RECEIVE JUSTICE BY INCREASING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF, AND ACCESS TO, THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO THEM BY THE LAW. ADVOCATES CONNECT CLIENTS TO A NETWORK OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO ACCESS LEGAL COUNSEL, IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES. THIS YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN A 73% INCREASE IN COURT REQUESTED INTERVENTION BY ADVOCATES, WHICH IS A TESTAMENT OF THE GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FJC AND FAMILY COURT.