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Mission Statement
Women Are Safe, Inc. (WAS) is here to serve the immediate needs of victims of domestic violence in Hickman, Dickson, Humphreys and Perry Counties in Tennessee through core services: 24-hour hotline, safe, temporary shelter; court advocacy, transportation, education about the dynamics of domestic violence, support groups, referrals to community resources, and advocacy, and to support change through legislation that will end domestic violence toward women and their dependent children in Tennessee and nationwide. Furthermore Women Are Safe, Inc. will work diligently to change societal attitudes which condone violence toward women through public education programs
Our Accomplishments:
In addition to providing shelter to almost 500 families, WAS has been instrumental in establishing domestic violence coalitions in Dickson, Hickman, Humphreys and Perry Counties, helped influence the formation of Men Against Domestic Violence, established the Outreach Office in Centerville, provides Teen Dating Violence Prevention interactive skits for youth and skits for adult audiences, sponsors an annual P.O.S.T. certified law enforcement training, as well as in-service for other professionals, and provides a Children’s Program and Perry County Rural Outreach Program.
Our History:
Women Are Safe, Inc. (WAS) began in 1987 as a voluntary effort of concerned women of Hickman County to provide information and safety to women and children who were victims of domestic violence. In 1989, volunteers were recruited and trained to operate the hotline and safe homes and emergency services to battered women and their children in Hickman County. In March, 1990, the service area expanded to include Dickson, Humphreys and Perry Counties and the shelter facility opened in October, 1991. It is the only domestic violence shelter in these four counties. The shelter facility provides a safe place for up to 15 women and children to explore their options and rebuild their lives. In October 2001, WAS moved offices into 131 West End Avenue, Centerville, the Domestic Violence Outreach Center. With the Outreach Center, WAS now provides a conference room for WAS business as well as community meetings, women’s and children’s clothes closets, space to store donated goods for clients, a children’s room for play therapy activities, drop in counseling and access to other services. The Outreach Center has made WAS an accepted and acceptable part of the community, allowing other agencies and individuals access to our programs and resources. WAS is a non-profit organization and provides services at no cost.
In order to accomplish our mission, WAS currently employs four full time and four part time staff, all who have considerable training and experience in the field of domestic violence. Each woman’s story and needs are different. Advocates work with clients to assess their needs and explain their options. Some clients may only need a bus ticket to relatives in another state. Other clients need all we can provide plus a myriad of assistance from other agencies in the community such as medical care, counseling, financial assistance, job training or education, housing, legal aid, child care, and employment.
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Our Services
For more information about any of the services provided by Women Are Safe, please call our hotline number :
Hotline Number: 1-800-470-1117
- Hotline ~ Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Shelter ~ Safe, temporary shelter is available for victims of domestic violence within our service area.
- Court Advocacy ~ Our court advocates can accompany you to court and provide information about Orders of Protection and other legal options available to victims of domestic violence. Please note: Court advocates do not provide legal advice, but may direct you to resources for affordable legal representation.
- Support Groups ~ Support groups meet regularly in each of the four counties served by Women Are Safe. Please call our hotline number and ask for details.
- Counseling ~ Both group and individual counseling for adults and children who are victims of domestic violence is available through Women Are Safe.
- Clothes Closet ~ Women Are Safe provides clothing for victims of domestic violence as well as to others in need. Please call our hotline number to find out how to make arrangements for visiting the clothes closet.
- Community Education ~ In addition to assisting survivors and their children, WAS staff presents a Teen Dating Violence Prevention interactive skit in area schools, as well as presenting to numerous businesses, civic and church groups. WAS also provides training for law enforcement, mental health caseworkers, emergency medical technicians and any others who request our services.
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When Calling Our Hotline
Calls are answered by staff, trained volunteers, or by an answering service who will take a message for the oncall staff to call you back immediately, or if you cannot receive a call back, will patch you through to the staff.
Who Are The People Answering The Phone ?
- Imperfect humans who really want to help you
- Many of them are volunteers
- They have different experiences with domestic violence
- some may have friends or family members who have been victims of domestic violence
- some may have experienced domestic violence in their own family
- some may have no personal experience but just want to help
- Education and training levels will differ
- all staff and volunteers will have had special training
- All of them are there because they really don't want you or your children to be abused
- They are there to listen
- To help you talk
- And perhaps to direct you to safe shelter in your local area
- Volunteers do not give advice, but they will discuss your options with you.
- Volunteers can help you make a safety plan, and can make arrangements for staff to help you with an Order of Protection or accompany you to court, if you choose.
- They may not always say the exact right thing
- Just let them try to help get you through the moment so that you can live another day
- Just grab the line and let them reel you in
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Email Us
These email addresses are for non-emergency contact. If you need help immediately, please call our hotline number.
- For questions regarding funding, job opportunities, community education,
training events, contact the Executive Director: vanessa@womenaresafe.org
- For questions regarding community education, training events, donations, Shop 'til It Stops Thrifty Boutique, or events and services, contact the Community Outreach Director : korie@womenaresafe.org
- For questions regarding fundraisers, our Wish List, events, and tax deductible donations, contact the Program Assistant : program@womenaresafe.org
- For questions regarding Childrens' Support Groups, Teen Dating Violence
Prevention programs, donations of toys and Christmas help, contact the
Childrens' Advocate: shannon@womenaresafe.org
- For questions concerning Court Advocacy and Outreach and Orders of
Protection in Humphreys, Dickson, and Perry Counties, as well as Support Group in
Perry County contact our Court Advocacy Program Director: wastn@bellsouth.net
- For questions regarding needed repairs and food and supplies for our
shelter, contact our Shelter
Manager: rhoni@womenaresafe.org
- For questions regarding Court Advocacy and Outreach and Orders of Protection
in Hickman or Dickson Counties contact the Hickman County Court Advocate:
maryjo@womenaresafe.org
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Job Opportunities
No positions are open at this time, however we are always in need of volunteers. For more information, please see How You Can Help.
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