1. Berks Women in Crisis: A Service-Learning Opportunity
Bryan Hugues
&
Crystal Edwards
9. December 2009

2. History of BWIC

3. More History

4. Who BWIC Helps?
Mainly women and children who have endured sexual and domestic violence.
Women looking to file PFA’s.
Women needing shelter and protection from physical harm

5. Mission
To provide support, safety, and security for victims of sexual and domestic violence.
To continue being the leading organization in Berks County to provide assistance to those who can not keep themselves or their loved ones safe.
To provide support services, shelter, law services, and counseling to those in need.

6. Partners Mary’s Shelter The Hispanic Center
SAM (Service Access and Management)
TASC(Treatment Access Service Center)
CARON Foundation

7. BWIC Legal Services Can supply an attorney for PFA hearings
Lawyers can go to court with victims
Will accompany victims to police interviews when discussing matters of abuse and violence

8. Statistics
24% of sexually active girls younger than 13 years old reported that their first intercourse was non-consensual (Abma, et. al., 1998).
Three out of four rapes/sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows –a friend, classmate, or date (Greenfield, 2000)
Witnessing parents being abusive or experiencing child abuse increases the risk for dating violence for both boys and girls. (Makepeace, 1997)

9. Statistics cont’d
A study of eighth and ninth grade male and female students in North Carolina indicated that 25 percent had been victims of non-sexual dating violence and 8 percent had been victims of sexual dating violence. (Foshee, Linder, et. al., 1996)
Studies estimate between 2.3 and 10 million children are exposed to intimate partner violence in the U.S. each year. (Carlson, B.E., 1984)

11. References All statistics retrieved from: