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- Are you in crisis? Call our 24 Hour Crisis Line
- (530) 626-1131, (916) 939-6616
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Mission Statement The
Guiding Principles Sexual assault and domestic violence are destructive to individuals, families, communities and society. Everyone has a right to live in a safe and secure environment, physically, emotionally and mentally. Violence breeds violence, resulting in a cycle of violence and victimization. Victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are not responsible for that violence. Everyone, regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, disability, immigration status, sexual orientation, age or socioeconomic status, is entitled to equality and freedom from violence, and deserves unfettered access to advocacy, support and services. For these reasons,
it is our responsibility to work toward the prevention and elimination of sexual
assault and domestic violence. The prevention and elimination of sexual assault and domestic violence will be achieved through positive social change. Thus, it is our
responsibility as an agency to foster a community culture that will work for the
prevention and elimination of sexual assault and domestic violence. Social and economic empowerment of individuals and the larger community will advance the prevention and elimination of sexual assault and domestic violence. Open, candid and respectful dialogue fosters collaboration and community change. Therefore, it is our responsibility to engage in work that enables empowerment and openness. In order to prevent
and eliminate sexual assault and domestic violence, it is our responsibility to
collectively embrace our mission and leave behind individual belief systems.
History The Women's Center was founded in 1980 by members of the El Dorado County Commission on the Status of Women to meet the needs of displaced homemakers. During an 18-month period, we served over 500 women. The Women's Center was awarded the National Association of Counties Achievement Award in 1981 in recognition of its achievements with our displaced homemakers program. In 1981, the Women's
Center shifted its focus to providing services to victims of domestic violence
when it became apparent that many of our displaced homemakers were fleeing
violent relationships. It was felt that dealing with only their material
needs did not adequately prepare them for their new, independent roles.
Individual and group counseling services and legal assistance began to be
offered at this time for battered women. The Women's Center was given an
Outstanding Achievement Award for Community Service in 1984 by the El Dorado
County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, the legal program, which
assists battered women and sexual assault survivors in obtaining custody,
dissolution and temporary restraining orders, was honored in 1987 by the State
Bar of California, Board of Governors for outstanding delivery of pro bono
legal services. For a short period in 1984, the Women's Center offered a diversion service for batterers. A contract licensed Marriage, Family and Child Counselor provided individual and couple counseling to batterers and their partners. This program ended due to lack of funding. In March of 1990, thanks to a United Way Sacramento Area Add-Venture Grant, we started offering group counseling services to both court-mandated and self-referred batterers. The program was developed with the input and involvement of local criminal justice agency representatives. It is known today as MAAP, Men's Alternatives to Abusive Patterns. In 1985, the Women's Center added a sexual assault program to provide services for survivors of molest and rape. An outreach rape prevention program to high school students was implemented. We are members of the Sexual Assault Response Team which provides hospital accompaniment and support for victims of sexual assault. Also in 1985, the
Women's Center started an emergency shelter for battered women and their
children needing a safe, non-violent place to stay while re-organizing their
lives. A year and a half later we purchased a shelter house and moved
out of the original leased shelter. The down payment for the facility
was paid entirely by community donations. In 1991 we moved to a larger
15-bed shelter thanks to a grant we obtained from the California Community
Development Black Grant Program which paid for the purchase and renovation of
the new facility. In 1989, we obtained a
three year grant from the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning to
develop a rural advocacy model for enhancing the criminal justice system's
response to domestic violence cases. This model, once completed, can
then be adopted by other rural communities in California. The final report for
this grant was completed in December, 1995. We continue to provide telephone
legal technical assistance to any rural agency within California. In 1990, California's
Governor Deukmejian presented the Women's Center with the annual Victim Services
Agency Award for "outstanding service to victims of domestic violence and
sexual assault and their families." Current services include:
a 24-hour crisis line; individual counseling, drop-in and group support for
victims; emergency food, clothing and transportation; legal assistance and
accompaniment; crisis counseling for sheltered children; hospital and court
accompaniment and advocacy; information and referral; group counseling for men
and women who have battered their partners; community education; school prevention
programs; and training for volunteers. Over 26,000 victims have been served to
date. In 2007, after 27 years of serving the western slope of the county from our center in Placerville, we began expanding our programs to Cameron Park and El Dorado Hills. We currently provide education programs in Cameron Park and El Dorado Hills middle and high schools, and can provide scheduled appointments for legal and counseling services in El Dorado Hills. The Center is the only
local agency providing specialized services to domestic violence and sexual
assault victims and their families and is recognized in the community and among
helping professionals for its expertise in domestic violence and sexual assault
issues. We have a stable and
experienced paid staff of 23, many of whom have over 15 years experience in the
fields of domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, the agency
has a longstanding history of attracting and maintaining volunteers. Over
1,200 volunteers have participated in various aspects of Center activities
(crisis line, peer counseling, group facilitation, legal advocacy, hospital and
court accompaniment, clerical, public speaking, etc.) since 1981.
Currently, there are 46 volunteers assisting our organization in various ways,
including direct service
operations, management consulting, Web site development, fund development,
event planning and Board technical support. The ten-member Board of Directors, comprised of community volunteers with a diversity of expertise, is actively involved in the planning, support and development of the agency. Job Opportunities-There are no Job Opportunities available at this time.
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