Agency Focuses on Education and Prevention for Teens
For the second year in a row, WAA will mark National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week (observed during the first week of February) by educating teens and adults working with teens about abusive relationships.
On Feb. 13, the agency will team with other local service providers to present a community-wide teen dating violence training session, developed specifically for professionals working with teens in any setting.
All year long, WAA educators work with more than 2,000 middle and high school students, teaching them how to build healthy relationships early in their lives. In October, the agency launched a new partnership with Overbook High School, where 10 ninth-grade students now come together weekly to discuss peer relationships as part of WAA's Students Talking About Relationships (S.T.A.R.) program. The success of the program at Overbrook may mean the program will be expanded to other city schools next year.
"These trainings have become a safe space for teens to talk about their experiences, and to share their values and expectations related to relationships," said Azucena Ugarte, WAA's education and training coordinator. "In a non-judgmental way, WAA’s facilitator asks questions and reframes situations to allow students to express thoughts and feelings about experiences they've already had or witnessed in their own homes."
Funding Cuts Jeopardize Safety for Victims of Domestic Violence
WAA is currently experiencing a decrease in public support due to today’s economic recession. In response to a 15 percent cut to the emergency shelter budget through the City of Philadelphia Office of Supportive Housing, the agency has: streamlined expenses; eliminated 6 staff positions; restructured positions for the most efficient delivery of services and appealed to supporters to increase their annual giving.
However, state and city funding is expected to continue to decline over the next fiscal year, and private foundations and individuals have fewer resources to distribute.
Since WAA operates the only emergency shelter in Philadelphia for abused women and children, it is absolutely vital to preserve life-saving services for victims of domestic violence. Without the 100 beds and supportive services at the emergency shelter, victims of domestic violence and their children will be forced to choose between living on the streets or suffering at the hands of an abuser.
Be An Advocate for Survivors
WAA is committed to its mission and is urging supporters to advocate on behalf of our essential and unduplicated services.
Please call Mayor Michael Nutter of the City of Philadelphia and your City Council representative and tell them you will not support additional cuts to domestic violence services.
To contact the Mayor, call 215-686-2181. To find contact information for your City Council representative, visit http://www.phila.gov/citycouncil.
Holiday Giving Boosts Agency
After a slow start to WAA's holiday donation drive, gifts flowed in abundance following an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer announcing a need for donations. The public responded with hundreds of new toys, clothing and personal care items for WAA's clients.
The past holiday season also gave WAA the chance to reflect on one of the year's major highlights -- the agency’s first client to become a homeowner.
Emily Hamilton* arrived at the emergency shelter in 2006 with her 14-year-old son, Mark,* after years of living in an abusive marriage. The two moved into Sojourner House after receiving services from the shelter.
While at Sojourner House, Emily obtained a divorce from her husband. This proved traumatic and Sojourner House staff provided her with free counseling resources.
She used her experience in the medical field to secure part-time employment at two separate nursing homes while living at Sojourner House, and found time to receive her high school diploma. Staff also linked her with a local service provider to improve her credit rating and receive housing counseling. With these resources, Emily secured a mortgage and purchased a home.
“This is a home that the client can fully call her own, after working so hard to obtain self-sufficiency for herself and her son,” said Annette Owens-Johnson, program director of transitional housing services. “Through a lot of hard work and determination, the client was able to reward herself and her family by purchasing her first home.”
*Names changed to protect client confidentiality.
City Ordinance Provides Temporary Leave of Employment for Victims of Domestic Violence
In January, City Council enacted a new law requiring city employers to provide unpaid leave to workers affected by domestic violence, sexual abuse or stalking.
The legislation, introduced by Councilman Bill Greenlee and co-signed by Councilmen Darrell Clarke and Bill Green, passed with unanimous support from City Council. Victims may now take up to eight weeks of unpaid leave each year – time that they can spend seeking critical services for themselves and their children – without fear of losing their jobs.
To learn more about the ordinance, visit the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations online at http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations.
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