Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
| Abbreviation | WC&S Pittsburgh |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1974 |
| Founder | Ellen Berliner and Anne Steytler |
| Founded at | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Purpose | To create a community of safety, healing, and empowerment for children and adults affected by domestic violence |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States |
Region served | Greater Pittsburgh area |
| Website | www |
| Remarks | WC&S Pittsburgh is one of the first six domestic violence response and prevention centers established in the United States |
The Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh was founded in 1974 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and provides services for victims of domestic violence. It was one of the first six centers for domestic violence that was established in the United States.[1][2][3]
The Women's Center works in conjunction with Allegheny County, the City of Pittsburgh, and surrounding municipalities to provide support for victims of domestic abuse.[4][5]
Nicole Molinaro has been the president and chief executive officer of the organization since 2018.[6]
History
[edit]Founded in 1974 by Ellen Berliner and Anne Steytler, the Women's Center & Shelter was one of the first six centers for domestic violence response and prevention to be established in the United States.[7][8][9][10] Many of its board members and other volunteers over the years have been prominent members of the Pittsburgh community, including television news anchor Sally Wiggin[11][12][13] and philanthropist Rachel Mellon Walton.[14]
Originally situated in a small storefront in the Pittsburgh area, Berliner and Steytler founded the center to be a safe environment for women to meet after discovering the staggering prevalence of domestic violence committed against women in the United States.[15][16]
Today, the Women's Center & Shelter is a resource for around 7,200 individuals per year; seeking refuge from domestic violence.[17] The organization has resources available for women, men, gender non-conforming individuals, and children who have suffered abuse and is also positioned to provide a safe haven for individuals to heal from their trauma. The center is a resource for providing step-by-step legal guidance, dispute resolution, counseling, child-care, and child violence alternative programs.[18]
Center staff and volunteers[19] have also worked to educate civic and business leaders, healthcare providers,[20][21] journalists,[22][23] law enforcement officers, attorneys and judicial system personnel,[24][25] teachers and school administrators,[26][27] and members of the general public[28] about the cycle of domestic violence and ways to safely interrupt or prevent that cycle.[29] In 1993, "beatings [were] the leading cause of injury for women 15 to 44, and the second worst for women of all ages," according to United States Surgeon General Antonia Novello." That year, beatings caused more injuries to women than cancer and car accidents combined.[30]
According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, roughly four out of every five victims of intimate partner violence between 1994 and 2010 were female.[31] "'We see as many upper-middle-class professional women as we see lower-income women,'" said Janet Scott, who was the community education and training director for the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh during the early 1990s.[32]
In 1994, Sylvia Choi, M.D. became a center volunteer. While still performing her medical residency, she developed and implemented a medical outreach initiative, which she subsequently expanded into a program that provided routine medical examinations and immunizations for the children of domestic violence victims.[33]
In 1995, the Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh received a $250,000 grant from the Vera I. Heinz Endowment to create a violence prevention curriculum for early-grade elementary school students.[34] That same year, it also received $49,188 from Pittsburgh's Federal Home Loan Bank toward the $731,659 estimated cost of rehabilitating twelve rental units that would be used to provide housing for domestic violence victims and their children.[35]
In 1999, the center partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield on a public service advertising campaign, "Some women need to know their place...this is it" to raise awareness among women about the domestic violence prevention and response services available to them.[36][37] That same year, the center also began its partnership with Bell Atlantic Mobile to distribute cell phones to women at risk of harm from abusers. Each of the phones were pre-programmed to quickly reach an emergency service line by pressing one button that dialed 911.[38][39]
Programs and services
[edit]The Women's Center & Shelter has several departments and outreach programs that provide victims of domestic violence with free and confidential support. The organization provides a holistic-minded approach of healing; through supporting and empowering victims of domestic abuse.
Programs and resources provided through the Women's Center & Shelter include:[40][41][42][43]
- 24-Hour Hotline
- Emergency Shelter
- Legal Advocacy
- Medical Advocacy
- Individual and Group Support Sessions
- Children's Counseling Center
- LGBTQIA+ Advocacy
References
[edit]- ^ "Our History". Women's Center & Shelter.
- ^ Donovan, Dan. "Specter visits women's shelter." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, January 23, 1990, p. 13 (subscription required).
- ^ Perlmutter, Ellen M. "Survival gear: Annual fund-raiser seeks clothes for battered women." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 6, 1993, p. 15 (subscription required).
- ^ Hasch, Mike. "Domestic court hears cases of 'need and dependence, not love.'" Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, March 4, 1991, pp. B1 and B4 (subscription required).
- ^ Bryant, Jean. "Program aids homeless children." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 7, 1993, p. 77 (subscription required).
- ^ "Ask The Advocate Podcast: Helping Victims From Underrepresented Populations" (video of interview with Molinaro). Ridgway, Pennsylvania: CAPSEA, Inc., February 7, 2022).
- ^ Park, Katie. "Ellen Berliner: Founder of Women's Shelter and Center of Greater Pittsburgh." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 8, 2011, p. 13 (subscription required).
- ^ Gibb, Emily. "Social activist co-founded Women's Center and Shelter." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 18, 2010, p. 12 (subscription required).
- ^ Pitz, Marylynne. "Half-century of activism unites Merton honorees." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 3, 1996, pp. B1, B4 (subscription required).
- ^ "These finalists quietly make a difference in their neighbors' lives." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 31, 1998, p. 45 (subscription required).
- ^ "Emcee Sally Wiggin," in "Which of these women will take home the 1998 Athena Award...Find out at the 1998 Athena Awards Luncheon." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 28, 1998, p. 128 (subscription required).
- ^ "Wiggin to speak at Alice Paul dinner." Indiana, Pennsylvania: The Indiana Gazette, February 25, 1998, p. 10 (subscription required).
- ^ "People on the move." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 19, 1999, p. E6 (subscription required).
- ^ "Cocktails with Mrs. Walton," in "Seen." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 22, 1999, p. C3 (subscription required).
- ^ "Our History". Women's Center & Shelter.
- ^ Gallagher, Jim. "Merry season brings more misery, crime." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 20, 1982, pp. 1 and 4 (subscription required).
- ^ "Who We Are". Women's Center & Shelter.
- ^ "What We Do". Women's Center & Shelter.
- ^ "Outstanding Citizen: Giving of themselves." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 6, 1997, pp. B1 and B2 (subscription required).
- ^ Voas, Sharon. "Hospital reaching to battered women." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 28, 1994, p. 12 (subscription required).
- ^ "Mercy hospital will try to do more for battered women." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 30, 1994, p. 30 (subscription required).
- ^ "Obtaining legal protection from abuse." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 12, 1994, p. 75 (subscription required).
- ^ "Where to turn for help." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 13, 1994, p. 64 (subscription required).
- ^ Fuoco, Linda Wilson. "Police step up efforts to combat vicious cycle of domestic violence." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 10, 1994, p. 61 (subscription required).
- ^ "Countywide: Women's shelter gets grant." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 9, 1998, p. 27 (subscription required).
- ^ Lee, Carmen J. "Nonviolence the standard for abused children." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 11, 1993, p. 17 (subscription required).
- ^ Reaman, Denise. "Abusive-dates program reaches into classroom" and "Communicating helps read the warning signs." Allentown, Pennsylvania: The Morning Call, April 7, 1994, p. 57 (subscription required).
- ^ Kalson, Sally. "More funds sought for awareness of partner violence: Women's Center reports campaign successful so far." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, February 15, 2012, p. A9 (subscription required).
- ^ "Abused wives need a plan for protection." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 29, 1993, p. A9 (subscription required).
- ^ Voas, Sharon. "Big event and big domestic violence." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 29, 1993, pp. A1 and A9 (subscription required).
- ^ "Domestic Violence Statistics." Austin, Texas: National Domestic Violence Hotline, retrieved online June 12, 2023.
- ^ Voas, "Big event and big domestic violence," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 29, 1993, pp. A1 and A9.
- ^ "Community Champions: Jefferson Awards: Dr. Sylvia Choi: A Volunteer Making a World of Difference" (advertisement). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, p. A15 (subscription required).
- ^ "Anti-violence program." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 20, 1995, p. 31 (subscription required).
- ^ "Funds for Housing," in "Las Vegas a good bet for homes, jobs." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 1, 1995, pp. H1 and H3 (subscription required).
- ^ "Some women need to know their place...this is it" (advertisement). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 1, 1999, p. 10 (subscription required).
- ^ "Some women need to know their place...this is it" (advertisement). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 4, 1999, p. 9 (subscription required).
- ^ "Carpenter, Mackenzie. "Potential victims of domestic abuse to get cell phones to report attacks." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 15, 1999, p. D3 (subscription required).
- ^ Haynes, Monica L. "Donating old cell phone can curb domestic abuse." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 23, 2000, p. D1 (subscription required).
- ^ "County United Way allots $21 million to 72 groups." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 19, 1989, p. 4 (subscription required).
- ^ Hopey, Don. "Awareness of domestic violence brought to life by 2 at shelter." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Pittsburgh Press, October 2, 1990, p. 11 (subscription required).
- ^ Bryant, Jean. "For victims, getting help can end years of pain." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 13, 1994, p. 64 (subscription required).
- ^ "The top seven." Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 28, 2002, p. A3 (subscription required).
