WOMEN'S CENTER OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

COUNSELING SERVICES: INCLUDES 24-HOUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE/CRISIS RESPONSE; SAFETY AND GOAL PLANNING; INDIVIDUALIZED COUNSELING; SUPPORT GROUPS; ELDER ABUSE SERVICES; INFORMATION AND REFERRAL. IN FYE 6/30/25 WE SERVED 3,958 UNDUPLICATED VICTIMS DURING 5,593 COUNSELING HOURS. IN ORDER TO CONNECT WITH SURVIVORS AND TO RECRUIT VOLUNTEERS, WE EMPLOYED VARIOUS COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND PREVENTION EDUCATION STRATEGIES. THOSE EFFORTS INCLUDED 78 ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMS REACHING 2,844 PEOPLE ALONG WITH 108 PRIMARY PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS, REACHING 3,969 STUDENTS.WE ALSO CONDUCTED 9 NEW COUNSELOR/ADVOCATE TRAININGS (PA REQUIRED TO WORK WITH SURVIVORS), WITH 47 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETING THE TRAINING, 12 SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOPS AND IN-SERVICES FOR OUR STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, AND 13 SYSTEMS TRAINING FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND 45 FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS.

LEGAL ADVOCACY AND COURT ACCOMPANIMENT: DURING THIS PERIOD INCLUDES 3,125 COURT ACCOMPANIMENT SESSIONS BROKEN DOWN AS: 46 EMERGENCY/AFTER-HOURS PFA ACCOMPANIMENTS 489 TEMPORARY PFA FILINGS 2,300 FINAL ORDERS 202 CRIMINAL AND ICC HEARINGS 88 DEFIANT TRESPASS ASSISTS.OUR LEGAL ADVOCACY AND OPTIONS COUNSELING INCLUDES ONSITE ASSISTANCE AT THE COURTHOUSE WITH COMPLETING THE PFA PETITION. ADDITIONALLY, AS PART OF THESE SERVICES, WE HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED BY OUR COURT ADMINISTRATION AS A RESOURCE TO PFA PETITIONERS TO PROVIDE PRE-COURT ORIENTATION FOR THEM IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR HEARING. EACH WEEK, OUR COUNSELORS RECEIVE A LIST OF UPCOMING PFA HEARINGS AND ARE CHARGED WITH CONTACTING THOSE INDIVIDUALS NOT REPRESENTED BY LEGAL COUNSEL TO CONFIRM THEIR HEARING DATES, PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HEARING PROCESS AND REASSURANCE ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY OUR LEGAL ADVOCATES AT THE HEARING. SAFETY PLANNING AND ADDITIONAL SUPPORT RESOURCES ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES FACED BY SURVIVORS SEEKING AN AFTER-HOURS PFA, OUR LEGAL SERVICES COORDINATOR REVISED OUR AFTER HOURS/EMERGENCY PFA PROCESS AND INFORMATION FORM, DIRECTING ADVOCATES TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ASSISTING HOTLINE CALLERS IN NEED OF SUPPORT AS THEY NAVIGATE THE CHALLENGES AND COMPLEXITIES OF THE AFTER-HOURS PROCESS. THE OUTCOMES WE SEEK INCLUDE: SURVIVORS ARE EMPOWERED TO ADVOCATE AND PURSUE ACCESS TO JUSTICE; ONGOING COOPERATION WITH ATTORNEYS, THE COURT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT CREATES STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS AND MORE EFFECTIVE COLLABORATIONS.