Young Womens Christian Association

YWCA HAMILTON IS DEDICATED TO ELIMINATING RACISM, EMPOWERING WOMEN, AND PROMOTING PEACE, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, AND DIGNITY FOR ALL. THE PRIMARY PROGRAMS INCLUDE RACIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY, A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES LIKE SERIOUS PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTIONS, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND DV CRISIS HOTLINE WHICH SERVES SURVIVORS OF DV ABUSE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND A YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM FOR GIRLS AND BOYS. ALL PROGRAMS ARE ROOTED IN THE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES OF TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, HOUSING FIRST, AND HARM REDUCTION.

DOVE HOUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER AND CRISIS HOTLINE PROGRAM: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. IT INCLUDES ANY BEHAVIORS THAT FRIGHTEN, INTIMIDATE, TERRORIZE, MANIPULATE, HURT, HUMILIATE, BLAME, INJURE, OR WOUND SOMEONE. THE YWCA HAMILTON DOVE HOUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER IS THE ONLY SHELTER IN BUTLER COUNTY. THE CRISIS HOTLINE (1.800.618.6523) IS STAFFED 24/7/365. WE ARE ONE OF THE LOWEST BARRIERS DV SHELTERS IN THE STATE, ACCEPTING ALL SURVIVORS OF DV, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE WHO NEED PROTECTIVE SHELTER. WE ACTIVELY REFER FOR NEEDED SERVICES. OUR SHELTER WAS THE FIRST TO ACCEPT PETS IN OHIO AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO PROMOTING SAFETY FOR ALL DEPENDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE WITH PAWS, FUR, AND WHISKERS. PROFESSIONAL STAFF INCORPORATE TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, HOUSING FIRST, AND HARM REDUCTION IN ALL ASPECTS OF SERVICE TO SUPPORT HEALING, PROVIDE A SENSE OF SAFETY. WE WORK TO HELP SURVIVORS ACCESS SAFE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND START A JOURNEY TOWARD A LIFE WITHOUT VIOLENCE.

GOODMAN PLACE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM: WE HELP TO ELIMINATE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS IN VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. YWCA HAMILTON'S GOODMAN PLACE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM IS FOR HOMELESSNESS INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE DISABILITIES LIKE SERIOUS PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION. SERVICES INCLUDE SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY HOUSING, CASE MANAGEMENT, SELF-SUFFICIENCY SKILLS EDUCATION, AND REFERRALS TO OTHER NEEDED RESOURCES TO HELP MAINTAIN HOUSING. THE PROGRAM OPERATES EVIDENCED BASED PRACTICES OF TRAUMA INFORMED CARE, HOUSING FIRST, AND HARM REDUCTION. THE BELIEF THAT STABILIZED HOUSING IS THE FIRST STEP IN HEALING AND GROWTH IS A PRIMARY DRIVER OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF CARE WHICH IS PERSON CENTERED.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS: FIERCE GIRLS PROGRAM: WE KNOW THAT TODAY'S STRONG GIRLS ARE TOMORROW'S WOMEN OF INFLUENCE. YWCA HAMILTON IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING GIRLS THROUGH SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING THROUGH EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM THAT INSPIRES GIRLS TO BE FIERCE - FEARLESS. INDEPENDENT. EDUCATED. RESILIENT. CONFIDENT. ENGAGED. FIERCE GIRLS PROVIDES IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING TO GIRLS IN GRADES 7-12 TO BUILD SKILLS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR CONFIDENCE AROUND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS TO AVOID VIOLENCE AND HARM. THEMES ADDRESS SELF-IDENTITY, STORYTELLING, COPING STYLES, THE INFLUENCE OF TEEN VIOLENCE, SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND/OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON GIRLS' LIVES, AND POWERFUL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT GIRLS IN OUR COMMUNITY. ADDITIONAL FIERCE GIRLS PROGRAMS OFFERED TO GRADES 3-6 ARE DESIGNED TO HELP GIRLS DEVELOP A HEALTHY FOUNDATION WITH FEMALE IDENTITY, FRIENDSHIPS, AND BODY IMAGE. THE CURRICULUM IS FROM THE ONE CIRCLE FOUNDATION AND PROVIDED IN COLLABORATION WITH ENVISION PARTNERSHIPS. MEN OF HONOR PROGRAM: YWCA HAMILTON SEEKS TO DEVELOP FUTURE ALLIES IN THE FIGHT TO ELIMINATE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS. TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THIS MUST INCLUDE MEN. THE ONE CIRCLE FOUNDATION MEN OF HONOR PROGRAM IS A GROUNDBREAKING, EVIDENCE-BASED CURRICULUM. IT IS A TRAUMA RESPONSIVE, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING FOR YOUNG MEN AGES 13 YEARS AND OLDER. IT FACILITATES THE EXPLORATION OF RIGID AND HARMFUL GENDER NORMS WHILE DEVELOPING DEFINITIONS OF HEALTHY MANHOOD, RESPECT, AND NON-VIOLENT BEHAVIORS. WE OFFER STRONG ROLE MODELS TO HELP YOUNG MEN DEVELOP A FUTURE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE, CLARITY OF PURPOSE, AND DEDICATION TO CREATE HEALTHY FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. EMPOWERED YOUNG MEN FIND BELONGING AS THEY BUILD CHARACTER AND STRENGTH ON THEIR JOURNEY TOWARD BECOMING RESPECTFUL LEADERS AND CONNECTED ALLIES.

RACIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM: YWCA HAMILTON IS A KEY INFLUENCER AND LEADS LOCAL ACTIVITIES AROUND RACIAL JUSTICE TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE WORLD FOR BLACK, INDIGENOUS, AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. THE THREE FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND CIVIC/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. YWCA HAMILTON CREATES ANTI-RACIST CULTURES WHICH PROMOTE JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION. YWCA HAMILTON FACILITATES THE DECONSTRUCTION OF SYSTEMIC RACIAL DISPARITIES THROUGH ADVOCACY AND POLICY CHANGE. KEY ACTIONS INCLUDE THE CREATION OF THE COALITION AGAINST HATE TO DENOUNCE HATE INCIDENTS LOCALLY, SUPPORT VICTIMS, AND PROVIDE EDUCATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ELIMINATE RECURRENCE. HEALTHCARE WORK INCLUDES EDUCATION REGARDING THE CAUSES OF BLACK AND BROWN INFANT AND MATERNAL MORTALITY AND THE PROMOTION OF ACTIONS TO REVERSE NEGATIVE TRENDS. THE RACIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM WORKS WITH SCHOOLS TO ADDRESS RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ACCESS, DISCIPLINARY POLICY, AND GRADUATION RATES, WHILE PROMOTING EQUITABLE SYSTEMS THAT LEAD TO STUDENT SUCCESS.