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FAQs  About Women In Distress

1. How can I get help?
2. What services does Women In Distress offer?
3. How can I access your services?
4. Are services provided only to Broward residents?
5. Are men eligible for participant services?
6. How do you determine if a person is appropriate for counseling at Women In Distress?
7. Do you help people with other abuse besides physical?
8. How many participants can be sheltered at once?
9. What is the length of time a participant can stay at the shelter?
10. Are children sheltered with their mothers?
11. If the shelter is full, what other options can Women In Distress Offer?
12. Where can children go while their mothers receive services?
13. What do you do for the participants on holidays?
14. How do you help participants with housing and employment?
15. Is there an age limit for children to enter shelter?
16. Can you shelter elderly people?
17. Can women or men volunteer to come for counseling or do they need to be court ordered?
18. Is there a fee to stay at the shelter? For outreach counseling?
19. Can pets be brought into shelter?
20. How is Women In Distress funded?
21. How can people donate clothing or furniture to participants?
22. Will the Thrift Store pick up donations?
23. Do you send advocates to do outreach work for victims who are unable to come to the Jim & Jan Moran Family Center on their own?
24. Are there any other shelters in Broward County or the State of Florida?

FAQs About Domestic Violence

1. How can I report domestic violence?
2. What is the profile of a victim of domestic violence?
3. Why do women/men stay in abusive relationships?
4. What is the importance of a restraining order and how does it help?
5. What does it cost to get a restraining order?
6. How successful are the service programs?
7. If child and elderly abuse are mandatory reportable offenses, why is spousal abuse not in the same category?
8. Why is battering considered a "learned behavior" instead of a sickness or mental disability?
9. Is anger management an appropriate referral for batterers?
 

1. How can I get help?
Call our Crisis Hotline at 954-761-1133.

2. What services does Women In Distress offer? 
Women In Distress provides a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, food and clothing, individual and group counseling, children’s counseling, emergency and community resources, referral services, parenting classes, advocacy and case management, community presentations, prevention programs for schools, training for police officers and health professionals, media information, community coordination with other agencies, and more. Call the 24-hour crisis line at 954-761-1133 if your need is not on this list and we will provide you with alternative resources.

3. How can I access your services?
By calling the 24-hour crisis line at 954-761-1133. Victims may call that number and family, friends, police, judges, or social services agencies to make a referral.

4. Are services provided only to Broward residents?
No, we will provide assistance to anyone who calls. Women In Distress is a member of the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a group of 42 domestic violence centers located throughout the state. While our primary service area is Broward County, we do not deny services based on geographic location. If possible, we can refer a participant to more convenient services anywhere in the United States.

5. Are men eligible for participant services?
Yes, please call the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline for more information: (954) 761-1133

6. How do you determine if a person is appropriate for counseling at Women In Distress?
We have a screening, assessment and evaluation procedure by advocates who work with participants to develop a plan and determine neccessary services.

7. Do you help people with other abuse besides physical?
Yes, our advocates provide services to Domestic Violence victims regardless of the form. Our Shelter services are for those victims in imminent danger.

8. How many participants can be sheltered at once?
We currently have 100 emergency beds located at a confidential shelter in Broward County, and hope to expand our capacity to 132 beds in the near future.

9. What is the length of time a participant can stay at the shelter?
The average stay is 45 days,  but participants may stay up to three months if they meet certain criteria. We tailor a safety plan to meet individual participant needs.

10. Are children sheltered with their mothers?
Yes, women and their children live in apartments together. Mothers are responsible for caring for their children. Due to the communal living aspectof living in our shelter, boys 14 and olde may be housed in our special populations wing, however these decisions are based on space availability and re nmade on a case by case basis.

11. If the shelter is full, what other options can Women In Distress Offer?
As part of the Broward Homeless Initiative Partnership, we provids referrals to other agencies with shelter services in Broward County when all of our beds are full. If relocation is required, Women In Distress utilizes domestic violence shelters throughout the state or county.

12. Where can children go while their mothers receive services?
Children are cared for by childcare specialists in our children’s respite facilities at the shelter the Jim & Jan Moran Family Center. While we do not provide day care throughout the day, our respite facilities allow participants to leave their children in a secure environment with trained professionals while they attend counseling sessions, case management or simply meet with a staff member. Day care and after school care is provided at various licensed facilities throughout the county with grant funds from Broward County and the state of Florida. Children also receive counseling services and participate in supportive activities.

13. What do you do for the participants on holidays?
The Jim & Jan Moran Family Center is closed on weekends and holidays, but our shelters operate 24 hours a day,  7 days a week, all year long. Holidays are special times at shelters and we try to make them special for our participants with special outings, tickets to community events, or group meals to share in the holiday spirit. The Broward County community truly embraces our participants during the holiday season with gifts, food, and tickets to activities and events.

14. How do you help participants with housing and employment?
By referral to the Housing Authority or to resources provided by friends of the agency and previous participants. Information about job opportunities and apartments with low rent is always welcome.

15. Is there an age limit for children to enter shelter?
Due to the shared living arrangements in our shelter, if a participant has a son 14 or older the family is considered for our special popultions wing. We evaluate each situation individually based on the space available at the time. We also try to make arrangements for a more appropriate shelter or living space to provide care for the participant and her family if we are unable to assist them. Outreach services are available for all ages.

16. Can you shelter elderly people?
Yes, Women In Distress serves people of all ages.

17. Can women or men volunteer to come for counseling or do they need to be court ordered?
Most of our participants volunteer to attend our program. We work with each participant to determine their best options for our various programs.

18. Is there a fee to stay at the shelter? For outreach counseling?
There is no fee for victims to stay at our shelter or for our outreach services at the Jim & Jan Moran Family Center.

19. Can pets be brought into shelter?
Unfortunately, we cannot accept pets into shelter at this time. However, service animals are always allowed to accompany anyone seeking our services.Women In Distress plans to open a pet shelter as part of our Capital Expansion Campign. For more information on the campaign and how to give please click here.

20. How is Women In Distress funded?
We are funded through grants, Thrift Store revenue, general contributions, special events, foundations, cities, seminar revenue, investments/ miscellaneous, and non-cash contributions.

21. How can people donate clothing or furniture to participants?
Donations of gently used clothing, furniture, household items and more are accepted at our Thrift Store and new items are accepted at he Jim & Jan Moran Family Center. For more informaion please click here.

22. Will the Thrift Store pick up donations?
The Thrift Store is able to pick up large donations such as furniture and other large donations. Please click here for more informaion.

23. Do you send advocates to do outreach work for victims who are unable to come to the Jim & Jan Moran Family Center on their own?
Satellite offices are available in an effort to reach all quadrants of the county. We also offers services at Broward County Family Success Centers. As increased funding is obtained, Women In Distress tries to expand services to reach across Broward County.

24. Are there any other shelters in Broward County or the State of Florida?
There are 42 state-certified domestic violence centers maintaining shelters throughout Florida. Women In Distress is the only accredited, state-certified center in Broward County.




FAQs About Domestic Violence

1. How can I report domestic violence?
- Call 911 to report to the police.
- Call Women In Distress to ask for assistance or shelter at 954-761-1133.
- Call the Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96 ABUSE for reportingabuse to children or elderly.

2. What is the profile of a victim of domestic violence?
There is no single profile. Victims come from all walks of life including all incomes, races, religions, and economic levels.

3. Why do women/men stay in abusive relationships?
There are many reasons for a person to stay in an abusive relationship. Fear is the #1 reason. Many have no knowledge of available help, some fear losing their children, some fear being alone, some are without economic income and feel they have no skills to be employable, and some have very low self-esteem. If you know someone or think you know someone in this situation, please do not ask them why they stay. Instead, offer them our crisis line number and your emotional support.

4. What is the importance of a restraining order and how does that help?
A restraining order is a legal document that records the history of abuse, harassment, etc. of what the victim is experiencing and enables the police to respond appropriately to different situations. It empowers victims and enables them to come forth for counseling and receive protection from law enforcement.

5. What does it cost to get a restraining order?
Since October 2003 there is no cost.

6. How successful are the service programs?
Women In Distress has an excellent reputation in the community with unqualified credits since 1979. Accreditation from the Council on Accreditation for Children and Family Services (COA) was achieved in 2002.

7. If child and elderly abuse are mandatory reportable offenses, why isn't spousal abuse ?
The Florida Legislature does not mandate it as a mandatory reportable offense, as “spouses" are considered adult, self-action and choice capable.

8. Why is battering considered a “learned behavior” instead of a sickness or mental disability?
Battering refers to physical and emotional abuse, and there are many sick and mentally ill men who do not batter. Learned behavior is a common thread among most batterers.

9. Is anger management an appropriate referral for batterers?
Persons with anger management issues have difficulty controlling their anger in more general situations and can become violent with anyone. However, batterers are primarily abusive towards their spouse or children and function appropriately in other settings or with other social interactions.