ACWC

The Atlantic County Women's Center (ACWC), is a non-profit social service agency dedicated to empowering and supporting women, children and families. The main office is located in Linwood, and a second is in Northfield.

//Linwood Office//: ACWC 1201 New Rd Linwood, NJ 08221-1129 (609) 601-9925

//Northfield Office//: Alternatives To Violence 201 Shore Rd Northfield, NJ 08225 (609) 646-6775 ‎ ====There is also a **confidential** Emergency Shelter Location. This address is not available to anyone to protect those that need to use it. For information, including directions to it, call the 24-hour hotline, **1 (800) 286-4184 or (609) 646-6767**.====

This center may operate out of Atlantic County, but the services provided are offered to anyone who is willing to travel to the location. Victims are most likely from with in the surrounding area, coming from as far as North Jersey and Philadelphia.
 * // Violence Intervention Program //**. VIP “works to reduce the physical, psychological and emotional trauma and recurrence of domestic violence, sexual assault and incest experienced by victims and their families." VIP includes many free services aimed at helping the women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.

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• **Counseling** is offered to ease the psychological and emotional effects domestic violence may have on the victim(s) and their children who may have witnessed the violence or are victims themselves. ====== ====• ** Assistance in legal advocacy **. The ACWC cannot offer an attorney or legal representation to the victims but they do have a Legal Services Coordinator on staff who can support those who need the help. Twice a month, free legal consultations are held in conjunction with the Cape/Atlantic Legal Services. ====

• ** Community Education ** provides awareness through presentations to further understand and spread awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault issues.
= = // **Child Care Network** (CNN) // is a Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, promotes and enhances existing child care services and works to develop and increase the supply of quality and affordable child care in Atlantic County. • **Work First New Jersey/Temporary Assistance For Needy Families/ Transitional Child Care** ** provides ** participants who are employed full-time or receiving TANF cash assistance with a children under 13 or a special needs child up to 19, you are eligible to receive full-or part-time child care. •**New Jersey** **Cares For Kids** ** provides childcare for low income parents. ** •**Child Care Resource and Referral** ** provides parents with up to date child care information specific to the area. ** •**Family Day Care** ** provides childcare to five or less children within the household. ** •**Child Care Food Program** provides reimbursement to registered family day care providers for meals served to children in their care. You are paid for up to two meals and one snack daily for each child. •**Child Care Heath Consultant Coordinator** ** is **a registered nurse who supports family day care providers and child care center staff with guidance and technical assistance regarding the health and safety of the children in their care. The CCHC offers answers to specific medical questions, immediate telephone advice, on-site consultation visits, health and safety-related trainings and health supervision of children. •**Abbott** **School District** **Services and Early Childhood Program Aid** ** is ** legally required to provide full-day, full-year preschool programs for 3 and 4-year-olds.

==== While women may be the majority of the victims in need of the ACWC’s help, teenagers, both male and female, along with young children and infants, are also assisted by the ACWC. This is because the center is dedicated to helping the unseen victims of domestic abuse, which are the children. While they may or may not be physically hurt, the psychological and emotional pain they may feel from seeing their mother being injured, can really be traumatic, resulting in long term social problems. Children who witness this behavior are more likely to commit violent acts once they grow older. ==== ==== These programs are very effective. The coordinators of these programs put a lot of time and heart into these programs making sure all women and children get the help and assistance they need. In 2006, 73,749 domestic violence offenses were reported to authorities. Only 31% of these cases resulted in an arrest. A total of 1,720 women, 1,903 children, and 6 men were sheltered by the various domestic abuse programs offered throughout the state back in 2006. A graph, created by the New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women, shows that a little over 5,000 calls were placed to domestic violence hotlines in Atlantic County. Nearly 10,000 more calls were placed by citizens living in Gloucester County, overshadowing all the other counties polled by the NJCBW. ====

To use these services families and school personnel can contact ACWC. Phone (609) 601-9925 Fax (609) 601-2975 Email: webinfo@acwc.org

Atlantic County Women’s Center 1201 New Road, Suite 240 Linwood, NJ 08221

For information about the emergency shelter, or any of the other VIP resources, call the 24-hour hotline: 1 (800) 286-4184 or (609) 646-6767.

//Helpful Resources:// ACWC: [|www.acwc.org] Domestic violence toward women: Recognize the patterns and seek help: [| http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/domestic-violence/WO00044] New Jersey Coalition for Battered Women: []