| BATTERED WOMEN'S PROGRAM |
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The Mid-Minnesota
Women's Center is committed to providing safety and inspiring
hope for all women and their children. The services we offer to
fulfill this commitment are:
Battered Women's Shelter Our trained advocates staff a highly secure building 24 hours a day. We provide a physical and emotionally safe place for adult battered women and their children free of charge. The shelter is handicapped accessible and open to women of all ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, educational levels, and socio-economic backgrounds. While women are at the shelter, our compassionate staff help inform them of all available options, support them in their decision-making and personal growth, assist them in accessing various community resources, and help them deal with the legal, social services, law enforcement, educational, and medical systems. Our Foster Grandmothers are available to care for the children that come to the shelter in a fun and educational environment while the mothers work on putting their lives back together. 24-Hour Crisis Line  218-828-1216 (voice or TTY) or 888-777-1248 (toll-free in Minnesota). Answered by our trained staff and volunteers, this line provides crisis intervention, support, information, referral, and advocacy for battered women and their friends and families. We also provide information and referral for people who call with concerns related to violence or abuse either regarding themselves or a loved one. Legal Advocacy At the Women's Center, we assist resident and non-resident women with filling out and filing Orders for Protection (OFPs) and Harassment Restraining Orders (HROs) with the court. Upon request, we also provide courtroom advocacy to women during hearings. Support Groups We have two free community support groups: one for battered women and one for children from violent homes. Both groups meet on Tuesday evenings. Two of our skilled advocates alternate facilitating the women's group, while the child advocate facilitates the children's group, assisted by our Foster Grandmothers and volunteers. For location or more information, call the Women's Center. Community Education The Women's Center does presentations on battering, the effects of violence on children, dating violence, and related topics. We'll present to school classrooms (elementary through college), community organizations, and professional groups. We also make presentations on the P.A.L.S. Program, conflict resolution in general, and other topics in which our staff have expertise. For more information, to inquire about our services, or to speak with an advocate, please contact us anytime at the following: Women's Center of Mid-Minnesota P.O. Box 602 Brainerd MN 56401 Email: mmwomctr@brainerd.net Call (voice or TTY) us at 218-828-1216 |