WIZO Helping Women - WIZO Florida

WHAT WE DO

Since its inception, the women of WIZO have stood for women’s rights and helped women in all levels of society. Adapting to emergent needs, our social efforts today specifically target women living with violence, single mothers and teenage girls at risk, all while developing young vibrant social women leaders.

HOW WE DO IT

WIZO provides opportunity, security and equality for women by offering programs for women empowerment, legal aid centers, support groups for single parents, and a safe haven for battered women in shelters.

WIZO’s main goals for WOMEN are:

• To empower women across Israel.
• To raise the number of women in positions of power and influence.
• To promote policies and legislation that aim to achieve gender equality.
• To reduce violence in Israeli society.

To achieve these goals WIZO operates…

Empowerment & Leadership Programs for Women and Girls

WIZO runs programs for single mothers, battered women and girls at risk in difficult situations. These programs empower them to lead independent and stable lives. On the other end of the spectrum, WIZO holds courses and workshops in community leadership and politics for those who exhibit leadership qualities and ambitions. Through these courses, women and girls develop their skills and bring improvements to their communities.

Legal Aid and Advice

WIZO offers legal aid and advice in WIZO branches, in online forums, and through a help line, all staffed by volunteer professionals. Areas of advice include sexual harassment, rights of women at work, and family law.

Legislation and Policy

Since the first Knesset, WIZO has had a representative on various government committees. WIZO continues to play a significant role in discussions, initiatives and legislation, which impacts the status of women and women’s rights to this day.

Reducing and Treating Domestic Violence

WIZO runs two Battered Women’s Shelters in a protected and secluded environment for women and their children and prepares them for independent and violence-free lives. WIZO also operates Centers for the Prevention of Violence where families come for treatment while staying together and a Help Line for Violent Men seeking assistance.

WIZO USA sponsors the following PROJECTS:

WIZO GINA FROMER SHELTERS FOR BATTERED WOMEN

Jerusalem & Ashdod

There are at least 200,000 women who are victims of domestic violence and abuse in Israel. They and their children are not safe in their own homes and most of them have nowhere to go. WIZO runs two shelters to provide a safe and secluded environment for battered women and their children.

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THE JANET BURROS CENTER FOR THE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE

Jerusalem

Domestic violence often destroys families. But it doesn’t have to. When the family can be helped and the abuser rehabilitated, WIZO steps in. This not only saves the family, but it prevents the abuse from continuing to the next generation.

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Without WIZO

Families living with a violent father are at physical risk as well as risk for failure. Often, kids do not want to come home and cannot concentrate in school. They perform poorly academically and may develop a host of psychological and emotional issues. Without intervention, violence will continue, and the family will suffer.

With WIZO

WIZO’s three Centers for the Treatment and Prevention of Violence are dedicated to stopping acts of abuse and to help violent members of the family deal with difficulties in a non-threatening way. The individual and group programs are run at the center while maintaining the family unit and eliminating violence. The staff includes social workers who specialize in anger management and the treatment of domestic violence as well as dedicated volunteers. The centers specialize in the effects of abuse on children and offer group and individual counseling for children. Our centers have saved hundreds of families from violence.

WIZO USA’s Janet Burros Center treats approximately 400 women, men and children annually, (65% women, 30% men and 5% children). Violence in the family is a phenomenon that requires long-term treatment for change of behavioral patterns and establishment of normal coupling relationships and parenting. Change is usually seen in individuals after 3-4.5 years of the treatment process, although there are shorter treatments enabling behavioral change and cessation of violence. The center provides two types of treatment: Direct treatment (psychotherapy for the abused/perpetrators and children/teenagers exposed to domestic violence. Individual and group treatment, parental guidance, treatment of couples and more); and Community intervention, development of prevention programs and coordination of services (increase of public awareness through various tools, development of services, creating cooperation with auxiliary services, implementing prevention programs, etc.)

Why Do We Need You?

WIZO needs additional funds in order to be able to help all the families that turn to us.

“The house is so much calmer. We all work together to talk through the issues instead of screaming and yelling. It is a group effort but it works.”

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THE HELP LINE FOR VIOLENT MEN

Janet Burros Center

It is estimated that there are 200,000 battered women and 600,000 children who are exposed to domestic violence in Israel. Most programs that aim to reduce domestic violence focus on removing the wife and children from the home. WIZO believes that it is possible to reduce domestic violence by treating the violent person himself and we are dedicated to doing so.

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Some of the PROGRAMS available for WOMEN are:

Being Parents Program

Parents of children aged 3-6 coming from disadvantaged populations are provided with training in emotional, cognitive and literacy development for their children. This guides them to address common challenges such as sleep problems, toilet training, transitions, setting boundaries, and children in the smartphone age.

Vocational Training for Women in Shelters

Comprehensive workshops teach battered women in shelters vocational skills in order to become financially independent after leaving the shelter. Women are matched with a trade or profession to suit their skills. Developing responsible work habits, proper conduct with employers and strengthening self-image in the workplace are integral aspects of the program.

Program for Women undergoing Separation and Divorce

Dedicated to impoverished women with low income, who are often without a supporting family, this program provides a wide variety of services and support, including legal assistance, group therapy, and financial and occupational counseling.

First Time Parents Program

An innovative pro-active program, “First Time Parents” strives to empower first time young mothers, and to aid them in obtaining access to existing support services, available in the community. The program provides much needed tools and creates a support network of mothers, councilors, caregivers and professionals to offer support to the mothers from the moment they detect their pregnancy, throughout the entire first year of the child’s life. It mainly targets new immigrants from underprivileged populations as well as young women with no family support.

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