YWCA details 2nd part of vision statement

Editor’s note: This is the second of a four-part series of articles on the YWCA’s new vision statement and what it means for the local community.

Independent staff and submitted information

The YWCA’s new vision statement – By lifting voices and providing safe spaces, the YWCA of Van Wert County will empower all to maximize opportunities and advocate for systems change — presents four clear action areas that center around the work the YWCA does locally. Each service and program provided falls within one of these four areas: Lift Voices; Provide Safe Spaces; Maximize Opportunities and/or Advocate for Systems Change. This week, the YWCA will take a deeper dive and explain in detail how it provides “safe spaces” in the Van Wert community.

The YWCA of Van Wert County provides safe, stable, supportive housing and intensive case management for all survivors, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, or race. Its services are listed below: 

• Emergency/Long-term Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, and Sexual Assault Services and Shelter
• Sexual Assault Hospital Response
• Legal Advocacy
• Adult and Youth Case Management and Safety Plans
• Therapy Services
• Economic Empowerment and Employment Assistance
• Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault 24-7 Hotline: 567.259.9501

“In addition to developing our new Vision Statement, we also recently renamed our Victim Services Department to Survivor Servicesbecause we know that when a person leaves their violent situation — as soon as they walk through our doors, they become a survivor,” said Director of Survivor Services Jamie Evans.  

Not only does the YWCA of Van Wert County provide safe spaces internally for survivors living within its facility, it also provides safe spaces for community members through programming such as the Summer Food Program, Women’s Circle, Girl’s Circle, Unity Circle, and The Council for Boys and Young Men. For a detailed description of each of these programs and services, visit www.ywcavanwert.org.