The mission of Women's Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh is to advance the safety and wellbeing of victims of intimate partner violence and prevent and respond to intimate partner violence through social change. Founded in 1974 as one of the first six domestic violence shelters in the nation, WC&S has been a leader in advocacy for victims of IPV. We strive to deliver comprehensive, personalized, and empowerment-based direct services to survivors of IPV. We also work with local partners to advocate for systems change around structural and policy issues related to IPV.

Women’s Center & Shelter works with IPV survivors to address barriers and make careful arrangements to safely leave abusive relationships. WC&S strives to make its programs and services as accessible and personalized as possible. Our advocacy is survivor-centered, with each individual client shaping the services provided. Advocates work with and on behalf of IPV survivors, meeting them where they are in their healing journeys and supporting the choices each survivor makes. This approach empowers each survivor by recognizing her as the expert on her situation and unique set of needs. Our Advocates address four major areas of healing in their work: Justice—seeking legal, economic, and social resolutions to issues created by the abuser Autonomy—respecting each survivor’s right to determine her path forward Restoration—working with survivors to regain physical and emotional control over their lives Safety—working with individuals and communities to protect against physical, emotional, psychological, economic, and sexual abuse By offering information, emotional support, basic needs provisions, responsive advocacy, and connections to community resources, WC&S reduces barriers to justice, autonomy, restoration, and safety.

Each year, Women's Center & Shelter reaches more than 8,000 adults and children with the following comprehensive programs and services: -24-Hour Hotline, which provides counseling and emergency response to IPV victims -Children's Program, which provides a safe, nurturing environment for children healing from trauma -Civil Law Project, which provides free legal representation to clients -Education and Outreach related to IPV prevention for professionals and other community members -Emergency Shelter, which provides safety, counseling, and advocacy to adults and children in immediate danger -Empowerment Center, which offers non-resident services such as support groups, Immediate Needs Coordination, and services for refugees, immigrants, and limited English speakers -Legal Advocacy which helps clients navigate the court system and obtain Protection From Abuse orders -Medical Advocacy for patients admitted to local hospitals and for medical professionals in need of training In addition, WC&S is the only IPV agency in Allegheny County with its own batterer's intervention program, as well as a program for IPV victims referred by the Office of Children, Youth, and Families.

WC&S’ management team establishes objectives at the beginning of each fiscal year and closely monitors them on a monthly basis. We compile the annual numbers and report them to our state organization, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Below are some of WC&S’ major objectives and outcomes for the upcoming year, most of which we anticipate exceeding: Hotline: 4,000 duplicated crisis callers will receive 1,000 hours of counseling Emergency Shelter: 250 adult Shelter residents will receive 6,681 hours of counseling Empowerment Center: 285 non-resident survivors of IPV will receive 2,600 hours of counseling through individual therapy and support groups Children’s Program: 300 child victims of IPV (both resident and non-resident) will receive 8,000 hours of direct service through the Children’s Program Education: 450 presentations, trainings, and tabling events will be delivered in the community Legal Advocacy: 3,000 adult victims of IPV will receive 6,000 hours of Legal Advocacy Success and healing outcomes look different for every survivor, but a common thread that connects the experiences of many WC&S clients is a decrease in stress and depression levels. Scientific studies indicate that high levels of stress and depression interfere with decision making skills, increase irritability and anxiety, and decrease energy for dealing with difficult life circumstances. Our Outcomes Committee has found, based on data collected from more than 1,000 clients over 5 years, that women report lower perceived stress and lower depression after 2 weeks in Shelter and at exit points compared to their times of entry. Last year, 79. 8% of residents reported feeling less depression after using WC&S’ services. WC&S Advocates also regularly distribute satisfaction surveys to clients using the Hotline, Legal Advocacy, Emergency Shelter, Children's Program, and Non-Resident Support Groups.

Last year, thanks to a successful capital campaign, WC&S completed a total renovation of its facility, increasing Shelter beds from 36 to 48 and adding an area to shelter clients’ pets onsite. In December 2017, WC&S added to its prevention efforts through a strategic merger with STANDING FIRM. STANDING FIRM equips employers in Southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond to recognize and respond to partner violence in the workplace and refer those affected by IPV to appropriate local resources. In Allegheny County, WC&S is the largest IPV agency and is the only one that offers the following programs: Civil Law Project – WC&S’ staff attorneys provide free assistance to IPV survivors with legal proceedings involving complex safety needs. MENS (Men Embracing Nonviolence and Safety) Program – WC&S’ batterer’s intervention program provides 10 weekly intervention groups to IPV offenders in various offsite locations. Program sessions last 24 weeks. CYF Program – WC&S has a contract to work with families referred by the Department of Human Services’ Office of Children, Youth, and Families (CYF). These cases involve both IPV and child abuse, and they tend to be some of the most dangerous cases that WC&S sees. WC&S’ five CYF Advocates also provide training, coaching and consultation to CYF caseworkers throughout the county. RIL Team – In 2016, WC&S received federal funding to hire a team of staff dedicated to making all IPV services more accessible to Pittsburgh’s growing population of immigrants, refugees, and limited English speakers (RIL clients), both onsite and at partner organizations. In fall 2018, WC&S added an attorney specializing in both IPV and immigration issues to the RIL Team. Immediate Needs Coordination – Since 2015, this program has provided much-needed assistance with basic needs—such as applying for public benefits, seeking assistance with utilities, and securing financial support for school enrollment—to Civil Law Project clients. In spring 2018, WC&S began extending this program to other non-resident clients (i. e. clients who are seeking counseling, advocacy, and legal services from WC&S). WC&S’ long-term vision is to end IPV in the lives of women and their children. We work toward this by identifying areas to extend our community reach and by strengthening our existing services. In the last three years, WC&S has grown from a total staff of 49 to more than 70 as we continually strive to deepen our services and make our life-saving programs more accessible.