Community Support Services

Counseling and Case Management

Counseling services cater to the unique and individual needs of domestic violence survivors and are provided free of charge. The needs of program participants vary; some survivors are still in abusive relationships and are seeking strategies to leave or just to stay safe, others have left and desire counseling to deal with the trauma they have experienced, while others may have been out of an abusive relationship for many years but are still dealing with the emotional aftermath. Individual counseling provides a safe space for survivors to talk about and work through the trauma of domestic violence.

Group counseling provides an opportunity for survivors to realize that they are not alone and lessen the isolation they have experienced often created by the abuser to further control the victim.

Case management helps survivors set goals toward self-sufficiency and independence from their abuser and allows access to community resources for wide-ranging services such as housing options, immigration information, social services, food stamps, legal assistance, childcare, and other needed services. Program staff advocate for victims and help them navigate through the various support systems.

All services provide safety planning, and childcare is available. Counseling and Case Management services are available in both English and Spanish.

For more information, please call (908) 355-1995 ext. 228.

Skills Training and Empowerment Program (STEP)

STEP is a workforce development program designed specifically for victims of domestic violence. The goal of the STEP Program is to address the unique issues of victims such as safety, financial abuse, asset protection, and self-sufficiency. The program provides support in the areas of skills development and employment support.

STEP provides these services through individual coaching, workshops in the areas of financial management and other career planning topics, and access to the STEP computer lab. This mobile computer lab provides participants access to online employment resources, resume and cover letter creation, and training in using computer programs such as Word, Excel and Outlook. Each client is given a flash drive for document storage to maximize safety. Corporate mentor volunteers join the computer lab and workshops to share their experience in the workplace.

For more information, please call (908) 355-1995 ext. 218.

Domestic Violence Liaison

YWCA Union County provides a Domestic Violence Liaison (DVL) between our agency and the Union County Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P) offices to provide support and advocacy to their clients who are victims of domestic violence. The YWCA also has a DVL based out of the Emergency Department (ED) of Trinitas Medical Center in Elizabeth, providing on the spot support and resources for victims of domestic violence coming into the ED for medical treatment.

For more information, please call (908) 355-1995 ext. 231 or 232.