2015 Annual Report

2015
ANNUAL
REPORT
Women Organized to
Make Abuse Nonexistent
www.womaninc.org
WELCOME
Hello Friends,
Thank you for taking a moment to learn about our organization. 2015 was a big year for
W.O.M.A.N., Inc. and we are excited to share our accomplishments with you!
As in years previous, we continued to serve survivors of domestic violence. This year,
however, we widened our scope to include loved ones of survivors. 2015 marked our first
offering of a support group designed for loved ones of survivors looking to further their
understanding of domestic violence and to explore ways they can support the survivor they
love.
Our Echando Pa’lante (which translates to Moving Forward) program has grown exponentially
with support from the Blue Shield of California Foundation. The program focuses on training
survivors to become domestic violence advocates at W.O.M.A.N., Inc. and prepares
participants to handle domestic violence disclosures, facilitate support groups, provide
outreach presentations and offer counseling. Stay tuned for our forthcoming open house in
2016, facilitated and planned by members of Echando Pa’lante!
Our Domestic Violence Information and Referral Center (DVIRC) utilizes technology to share
resources and best practices. The success of this membership based system lies in the
collaborative approach of over 40 member agencies. Expanding to include organizations in
Sacramento and Los Angeles, we welcomed six new agencies to the system in 2015, moving
us closer to our goal of a statewide system.
Valuing the contribution of volunteers at W.O.M.A.N., Inc., our team is designing a hybrid
training program which incorporates the fundamentals of adult learning. Replacing a number
of lecture hours with online learning modules, the hybrid training accommodates a variety of
learning styles, making the training more accessible to a wider range of participants. We are
excited to announce that this program will launch in Spring, 2016.
In terms of our organizational development, we are proud to have established six long term
strategic goals that provide a guidepost in making decisions and moving forward as a team.
You can learn about these goals in our report.
As you read on, you will find testimonials from a volunteer and a survivor. I hope these stories
help illustrate our impact on the community. All of our exciting new projects, as well as our
longstanding programs would not exist without community interest and support.
Thank you again, and please enjoy our annual report!
Jill Zawisza
Executive Director, W.O.M.A.N., Inc.
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OUR MISSION & GOALS
Our Mission:
W.O.M.A.N., Inc. (Women
Organized to Make Abuse
Nonexistent) supports those
impacted by domestic violence
using an innovative approach to
services and programs that
build stronger, safer
communities.
Our 2015-2018
Strategic Goals:
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W.O.M.A.N., Inc.
W.O.M.A.N., Inc. supports those impacted by violence using an innovative
approach to services and programs that build stronger, safer communities.
Inputs
 37 year history in the
community
 7 staff members
 6 board members
 55+volunteers who
provide over 1,000
hours of service each
month
Outputs
 10,000 support line
calls
 200 survivors in
therapy or support
groups
 100 Latina program
members
 17,000 DVIRC hits
Activities
 Drop in peer counseling
services
 24-Hour Support Line
 Therapy program
 Support groups
 Volunteer program
 Community Education
 Latin@ Program
 Echando Pa’lante
 Domestic Violence
Information and Referral
Center (DVIRC)
Outcomes
 Increases in self-worth and
self-esteem, decreased
isolation
 Development of more extensive
support networks, advances in
economic standing
 Occupational opportunities, the
establishment and
maintenance of healthier
relationships
 Improved physical and mental
health, positive outcomes with
children
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2015
Over 10,000
support line
calls received
Healthy
Mother’s
Workplace
Coalition
Award
200
survivors
in therapy
& support
groups
Over
17,000
Hits on the
DVIRC
2015
100
Latina
program
members
W.O.M.A.N.
Inc. voted
a top rated
non-profit
4nd Annual
Doggie Walk
Over
1,000
hours of
training &
outreach
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W.O.M.A.N., Inc. continues to offer innovative
services and programs to the community while
maintaining strong financial stewardship over its
resources.
For the last year $0.83 of every dollar raised went
directly to program services, a considerable
achievement for an agency of our size.
(with expenditures of $735K).
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W.O.M.A.N., Inc.
SUPPORT AND
REVENUE
Thank you volunteers!
W.O.M.A.N., Inc. recorded $93.9K in value for over 5,000 hours
volunteer time this year, a significant 9.8% of total Support.
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A SURVIVOR’S STORY
Our participants make tremendous changes for themselves, their children and their
communities. We asked a long term participant for some reflections on her healing
process.
1) How long were you in the abusive relationship?
Back in my home country of Guatemala I experienced Domestic Violence for 16 years.
2) What made you realize you wanted to heal from what happened to you?
I knew that when I came to the United States, after leaving the abusive relationship, that
I needed help. I was too afraid to seek help. I was scared. I was at a bus stop and I
guess this woman could tell that something was wrong because she told me that I
needed help. She referred me to La Raza where they referred me to W.O.M.A.N .Inc.
3) What was the healing process like for you? Did you have any epiphanies (or ‘ah
ha’ moments)? Was there a specific point in the process where you thought, ‘hey,
I really am going to be okay’?
My healing process is still on-going. I have been out of the abusive relationship for a
long time now but I am still healing from it. There are some days that are good and some
days that are not so good. But with therapy I have been able to feel a bit better.
4) How has W.O.M.A.N. Inc., inspired you? How has W.O.M.A.N. Inc., helped in
your healing process?
When I first came to W.O.M.A.N. Inc., I met with Argelia (who used to manage the Latina
Program, and now serves as a Support Line Counselor), and she helped me a lot. She
referred me to support groups and to individual therapy. I was really scared to talk but
being a part of support groups and individual therapy helped me a lot.
5) What is the best thing about participating at W.O.M.A.N. Inc.,?
Coming to support groups and receiving therapy. Being surrounded by people with
similar stories, similar situations. Participating in Enchando Pa’lante is the best thing
because I get to talk to other women and do fun art activities. I enjoy coming to these
monthly meetings.
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A VOLUNTEER’S STORY
1) When did you first get involved with
W.O.M.A.N., Inc.?
I first got involved with W.O.M.A.N Inc December
of 2014 and the entire journey has been very
enjoyable and life changing – from the wonderful
staff and volunteers, to the people who I have
encountered on the line and occasionally during
walk-ins.
2) What inspired you to do anti-violence
work?
Anti-violence is a cause that I truly believe in. I
have personally experienced domestic violence
and have seen the detrimental effects it creates not only in myself but also in the people around
me who are affected. The effects of violence are devastating and I hope to somehow stop the
transfer of violence so ideally no one will have to go through what I and others have been
through.
3) What kind of opportunities have you been involved with here?
I volunteer every Friday from 9am-1pm in the office on the crisis line as a peer counselor and am
now a paid support line advocate as well.
4) How has your involvement impacted your life?
W.O.M.A.N Inc has changed my life! Through the process I became more conscious of systemic
violence, privilege, isms, that domestic violence happens in all demographics, importance of
self-care, importance of non judgmental understanding, listening, and patience, to name a few.
It’s beautiful to be a part of a passionate community. I’ve also made some amazing friends
through the process as well. Did I mention how fabulous the staff, volunteers, and the rest of the
W.O.M.A.N. Inc. community are? I’m just so grateful to be a part of the W.O.M.A.N. Inc.
community!
5) What pieces of wisdom would you share with new volunteers or community members
who are interested in supporting W.O.M.A.N., Inc.?
I wouldn’t call this wisdom, but what has helped me is not taking what the survivors say or how
they act too personally. Also self care is really really important because this kind of work is
difficult and we are more susceptible to experiencing vicarious trauma. Finally the W.O.M.A.N.
Inc. community is very supportive so don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help.
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HOW CAN
YOU HELP?
$1,000
...will provide 75 hours
of crisis counseling on
our 24-hour support line.
$750
$500
...will provide survivors
35 hours of one-to-one
or family therapy.
...will enable 30 monolingual
Spanish speaking survivors
to receive support in their
native language.
$100
..will help us to provide 5
hours of community
education on healthy
relationships.
Make a tax-deductible donation at: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/WOMANINC
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Special Thanks to:
•
Olivia Nevitt for all her work on the annual report.
•
All our amazing volunteers for
hours of support.
•
Our 2015 board members; Sara Miller, Simi
Grewal-Singh, Mary Kate Bacalao, Kathy Jeffery,
Antoinette Terrana and Allison Cristando.
•
Our key supporters, who include the San
Francisco Department on the Status of Women,
Blue Shield of California Foundation, and the
Mental Wellness Foundation Inc.
•
To our resilient, inspiring & fierce program
participants.
•
All our donors, community supporters and
organizational partners.
•
Our staff: Maureen Egan, Mary Martinez, Alicia
Padillapaz, Adilia Preciado, Paolo Souto, Elena
Alvarado-Strasser, Carolyn Cherry, Stephanie
Colorado, Argelia Gomez, Sara Lee, Joy LeRoy,
and Shaena Spoor.
thousands of
Thank you for helping make 2015 a phenomenal
year for W.O.M.A.N., Inc.!
11
333 Valencia Street, Suite 450
San Francisco, CA 94103
24/7 Support Line: (415) 864-4722 or (877) 384-3578
Business Line: (415) 864-4777
WWW.WOMANINC.ORG
Blog: https://womaninc.wordpress.com/
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