Prevention
Services
Domestic
Violence
Domestic violence is prevalent in the lives of many women and children
who enter a Women In Need shelter. Screening for at risk families
starts at shelter intake, but also continues throughout the shelter
stay because of the reluctance of women to identify themselves as
victims of abuse. Families at risk for domestic violence receive
counseling and education in the shelters and are linked to resources
that they may require such as assistance in accessing safe homes
and battered women’s shelters, medical and psychiatric services,
therapeutic services for children and legal advocacy.
Women
In Need’s SHINE (Safe Housing
In a New Environment)
is a supportive housing program with intensive supportive services
for women who have been victims of domestic abuse. Scattered site
apartments with access to social services help at risk women and
their families who have completed the WIN shelter programs to continue
their renewal and reach their goal of living independently.
HIV
Prevention and Education Program
The demographic profile of WIN clients closely parallels that of
high-risk populations throughout New York City. As a result, WIN
has developed a program with targeted outreach, health education
and risk reduction as the key elements. WIN provides HIV prevention
workshops for clients in each of our programs, and staff training
to the direct care staff in WIN’s facilities. Clinicians,
assisted by peer educators conduct sessions, which consist of culturally
relevant materials that inform, educate and engage the client population
on issues of HIV prevention. Goals of the workshop are to increase
awareness of the risks and prevention methods of HIV and other sexually-transmitted
diseases; promote testing for HIV and provide referral information
for testing, counseling and HIV/AIDS care services.
Foster
Care - Aging Out
Women
In Need’s WISH (Women In
Supported Housing) is a supportive
housing program with intensive supportive services for young women
(ages 18-24) with children who have aged-out of the foster care
system. Scattered site apartments with access to social services
help these fragile young mothers and their families who have completed
the WIN shelter programs move towards self-reliance.
In
response to the challenges posed by homelessness – particularly
among women with children, WIN initiated a unique supportive housing
program for special populations of formerly homeless women with
children. There is a significant and documented need for supportive
housing and specialized services for these special populations of
young women with children. Nationally, there is evidence that when
young people “age-out” of foster care, as many as 40
percent will become homeless (New York City Independent Budget Office,
2004). Close to 25 percent of young people aging-out of foster care
experience homelessness within the first year (New York Times, April
2003).
Supportive
services include individual, group and family counseling, intensive
case management, advocacy, and workshops. Vocational and educational
services are provided, and include job readiness skills training,
job placement, and post-employment support services. Mothers are
also assisted in enrolling their children in neighboring schools.
Substance abuse treatment and counseling is available at WIN’s
licensed Manhattan and-Bronx-based clinics, as are mental health
assessments and referrals, as needed. Other issues are addressed,
including early childhood sexual and/or physical abuse. Education
on daily living and basic life skills are provided, with a special
focus on young mothers aged-out of foster care. Many of these young
women have never learned basic living skills, have never had a home
of their own, and have little or no notion of how to parent.
Workshops
and groups are designed to enhance the skills of young mothers and
instill positive role modeling. Many of these young mothers lack
self-esteem, and have had little or no nurturing by adults. Workshops
and groups focus on basic daily living skills, advocacy, empowerment,
managing anger, negotiating public benefits systems successfully,
budgeting, basic financial literacy, building community support
systems, and pre-employment readiness skills. The groups also serve
as a forum for ongoing encouragement and peer support. Helping young
mothers learn how to structure their own lives creates an environment
conducive to learning.
|
Related
Links
National
Domestic Violence Hotline
CDC
- AIDS Hotline
NY
Department of Health (NYDOH) |
