Women Aware

Women Aware aims to stabilize the lives of domestic violence victims, increase victim safety, and reduce barriers to services by providing clients with the protection and services they need to pursue safe and healthy lives. Our services are available to any victim regardless of race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, national origin, marital status, and military status. Each year, over Women Aware shelters over 300 Women and children in imminent danger; serves an additional 2,500 men, Women, and children in safety net programsincluding legal advocacy, counseling, support groups, and children's trauma reduction Women Aware's 24-hour crisis hotline is the first point of contact for the majority of victims seeking services in our county. We are the county-designated provider to complete safety and housing screenings for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Women Aware's crisis hotline bridges the gap between victims and services by connecting victims to safety planning, emergency shelter, legal advocacy, children's trauma therapy, and appropriate community referrals. Our emergency shelter is the cornerstone for safety, case management, and housing advocacy for victims of domestic violence in middlesex county, and aims to mitigate the trauma and distress of victims by providing supportive services and basic necessities to address the physical and emotional health and safety of victims and their children. During this reporting period, we offered over 22,000 bed nights to survivors fleeing abuse.

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.

Women Aware's non-residential program for children affected by domestic violence is called peace: a learned solution (pals). Pals is an evidence-based trauma treatment and supportive services program for child victims ages 3 to 12. Last year, 51 children accessed services.

The middlesex county family justice center (fjc) is located in ada-complaint space in downtown new brunswick within easy walking distance of family and superior courts and public transportation. Victim-survivors can walk in monday-friday and meet with an advocate. The fjc answers a need for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking by establishing a one-stop center where individuals can access justice, services, and healing, and meet with multiple service providers therapy; and responds over 9,000 calls through our 24-hour toll-free multilingual hotline.