Welcome to our website!
As you browse the site, you will find information on our history, programs, values and information on how to become a volunteer. Our team hopes you find this website easy to navigate, and that it ignites your curiosity and desire to engage in the work of ending domestic violence.
Since 1978, W.O.M.A.N., Inc. has offered survivors of domestic violence comprehensive services, tailored to meet their individual needs. In reading our history, you will see a lot has changed over our agency’s 35 years. W.O.M.A.N., Inc. has experienced programming and funding shifts, changes in leadership, and exponential growth.
The past few years have been amongst the most transformative in our history. Well known for our service provision, on average, W.O.M.A.N., Inc. serves approximately 15,000 community members a year. Over the past few years, we have taken a dual approach to serving survivors; both directly (see the GET SUPPORT tab) and working collaboratively with other community organizations located in San Francisco Bay Area, as well as throughout California to better enable advocates to serve survivors, and create and strengthen networks of social change.
Our innovative system, the Domestic Violence Information and Referral Center (DVIRC) utilizes technology as a tool to share resource information and best practices. The success of this membership based system lays, in part, on the collaborative approach of over 40 member agencies. In the coming years, we seek to scale this system state-wide. This system helps advocates better assist survivors as they look for assistance with shelter, therapy, legal help, etc. As a result, advocates have been given more time to spend with survivors one-on-one, offering peer counseling, safety planning and emotional support.
Volunteers are key to W.O.M.A.N., Inc.’s success. Over the past couple of years, they have offered close to 20,000 hours of service to the agency and the survivors we serve. Understanding the importance and value of volunteers, currently, our team is designing a domestic violence training for volunteers that will incorporate the fundamentals of adult learning, including incorporating different learning style techniques, and making the training more accessible to a wider range of volunteers by utilizing technology and through online learning modules.
We are proud of our work and the services we provide to work towards ending violence in our community, but we know we couldn’t engage in this work without the help of our community supporters.
It isn’t always easy to recognize how as a community member, you can support an agency and its work. However, there are many different opportunities and ways of giving to our agency. If you click on GET INVOLVED you can learn about these various opportunities.
Throughout this site, you will also find stories of how impactful, empathic and comprehensive our service has been for domestic violence survivors. Please help scaffold these life-changing services by making a donation today. I assure you that no matter how small the amount, your support is pivotal in helping us sustain our services to survivors.
Finally, thank you for taking the time to learn about W.O.M.A.N., Inc. Please remember to visit our website, read our blog posts, learn about upcoming events, and the impact of our programs. I’ll leave you with a beloved quote from Margaret Meade that truly sums up the W.O.M.A.N., Inc. team, “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
I hope you join our small, but committed group as we work toward the goal of ending domestic violence together.
In solidarity,
Jill L Zawisza
Co-Director, W.O.M.A.N., Inc.