Mission/History :: Programs & Services
:: Employment
Abused Women's Aid in Crisis (AWAIC) has the vision of a community with
no domestic violence. Everyone has a right to live in a fear-free environment.
AWAIC is committed to eliminating domestic violence by helping people
to live and love without violence.
Our long range goals include:
- Ensuring 100% of the people in the municipality of Anchorage, including
children know about domestic violence and how to get help
- A zero turn down of vitims in danger who come to the shelter
- Providing comprehensive emergency response to every occurrence
- Providing a comprehensive transition services program including support
services, childcare, and vocational education
AWAIC is a non-profit agency, governed by a volunteer board of directors. The
agency employs 43 employees and uses scores of volunteers. AWAIC receives
funding from the federal and state sources, the Municipality of Anchorage,
United Way, coporate, foundation, and private donations.
History
In the fall of 1976, a volunteer group determined Anchorage women decided to address their concerns about domestic violence in the community. Hard work and persistence resulted in the creation of a safe home for battered women and their children in August 1977. Initially, the shelter provided only temporary, emergency refuge where victims could escape abuse and have time to consider their options for the future.
As AWAIC’s staff collected more information on domestic violence, its programs expanded to include the dynamics of battering, addictive behavior patterns, traditional male/female roles and how violence is perpetrated in society. The non-residential services program has enabled AWAIC to reach out into the community, offering information and skill-building groups for non-resident women. It also provides community education through public and school presentations.
In Janaury of 1983, AWAIC opened the doors of its present facility. For
the first time all of AWAIC’s programs were in one building. The 52-bed
shelter allows women and children a stay of up to three weeks. Extentions
are approved on a case-by-case basis.
It is unfortunate that society needs a domestic violence program. Given
the need, it is fortunate that a shelter does exist, as well as an educational
program for victims and batterer's. Only through the awareness and efforts
of many can we continue AWAIC’s services and hope to achieve our goal of
eliminating domestic violence from our community.
AWAIC annually provides approximately
- 16,000 safe-nights to women and children,
- 1,500 hours of group and individual advocacy to non-residential clients,
- 140 community education presentations to over 5,000 participants.
AWAIC does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.
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