WOMEN'S CENTER OF MID-MINNESOTA

The Women's Center has been empowering women and children through a variety of programs since 1978. Our oldest and largest program is a 24-hour emergency shelter for battered women and their children. In addition to physical safety, the shelter provides personal advocacy, information and referral, support groups, and education for the larger community about violence and its effects.

An offshoot of shelter services, the Peaceful Alternatives and Life Skills program (P.A.L.S.) Is our violence prevention program for elementary schools; it is available to schools everywhere through our published manuals.

Our third, and newest, program is the Alex & Brandon Child Safety Center. Opened in 2000, the Safety Center offers a safe and kid-oriented environment where families in crisis can visit with each other under supervision by trained staff. Parents who are divorced and have unsupervised visits with their children but are experiencing conflict over visitation can also exchange their kids at the Center without having contact with each other.

• Providing 24-hour emergency shelter and advocacy services for battered women and their children.
• Offering a safe and family-friendly place for court-ordered supervised child visitation and for safe exchanges of children for unsupervised visits with the non-custodial parent.

Our contributions to the community include:

• Developing a violence prevention program P.A.L.S. for elementary schools.
• Creating partnerships with schools and other organizations interested in promoting positive social change.
• Educating professional and the general public about the effects of violence on our community.

Battered Women's Program
The Women's Center multi-faceted Battered Women's Program includes 24-hour emergency shelter for women and their children, information and referral advocacy, and support groups.

Q & A For Women
Domestic violence victims often have many questions about their situations. Learn where to go in times of crisis. Get support and find options you may never have dreamed of. Best of all, discover that you're not alone.

P.A.L.S. Program
The P.A.L.S. Program is a proven, comprehensive violence prevention program for elementary schools which includes practical conflict resolution skills for students in K-6 grades. For additional information, or for a P.A.L.S. Order Form, click here or contact the Mid-Minnesota Women's Center.

Alex & Brandon Child Safety Center
The Alex & Brandon Child Safety Center is a welcoming facility that provides a family- friendly place where abused or neglected children can visit with their parents in safety. The center also allows parents to exchange their children for unsupervised visits safely and without conflict.

Volunteer Program
The Mid-Minnesota Women's Center offers terrific and self-satisfying volunteer opportunities. Use your skills or learn new ones to help make your community a safer place to live.

Women Rising
Women Rising is a bi-annual newsletter providing helpful articles and information for people who are interested in learning about or staying in touch with the Women's Center of Mid-Minnesota. The newsletter contains interesting statistics, resources, information, helpful support group contacts, legislative updates and much more.

For additional information or to contact one of our advocates, contact us anytime at 218-828-1216 (voice or TTY). Your call is completely confidential.