Programs and Services

The Battered Women’s Project provides comprehensive support, advocacy, crisis intervention, emergency shelter, and transitional services to individuals whose lives are affected by domestic violence in Aroostook County. BWP responds to the needs of victims of domestic abuse with a number of programs, all of which are based upon a strengths-based, empowerment-focused model that support victims in establishing safety in their personal lives and facilitates healing from the effects of their abuse through the creation of supportive connections with others and with their community.

Each of the Battered Women’s Project's direct service programs operate with a number of common objectives. These include the provision of the following supports: strengths assessment and goal planning including assistance in the creation of an individual/family safety plan, emotional support, education regarding the dynamics of domestic violence, and advocacy and linkages with other community social services and expanded social supports that fit survivors' self-identified goals toward establishing lives free from family violence. BWP provides services free of charge for any person victimized in an intimate relationship and their children.

24 Hour Hotline Program
The hotline is the main point of access for Battered Women’s Project Services. An advocate is available 24 hours a day to provide crisis intervention and safety planning including emotional support, education, information and referral to other BWP programs as well as external community supports.

Emergency Shelter Program
Temporary housing for up to 30 days (a two week extension is sometimes possible) in our three Emergency Shelters for women and children who are homeless as a result of family violence. During their stay, shelter residents are provided with material assistance, emotional support, referrals and advocacy in linking with appropriate community social services necessary to achieve their individual safety and self-sufficiency goals, which may include acquisition of permanent housing, financial assistance, job development, child care, and transportation; as well as advocacy with the courts and criminal justice system necessary to ensure safety from their abuser on exit from shelter. Residents are often surprised at the "homey" and comfortable environment in our three sites. Thirty-four beds are currently available nightly in Aroostook County.

Transitional Services Program
The Battered Women’s Project’s Transitional Housing Services Program offers safe, affordable housing and supportive services for up to twenty-four months for women and their children who are starting over after leaving a violent relationship. The goal of transitional services is to support families in achieving safe and self-sufficient lives outside of the abusive relationship.

Community Support Group/Individual Advocacy Program
This program offers free, individual support, education and advocacy as well as community-based day and evening support groups in various locations throughout Aroostook County. Support group services are available free of charge at various outreach sites for victims of domestic violence.

Legal Advocacy Program
Our court advocates provide lay support services at Aroostook County Courthouses in Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou, Ft. Kent & Madawaska. Services include assistance in obtaining Protection from Abuse Orders, assistance in filing for Parental Rights and Responsibilities and Pro Se Divorce as well as links to pro bono attorney services.

Community Response Program
This program provides education and training with agencies, organizations and the general public designed to increase sensitivity and awareness about domestic violence, to change the attitudes which allow violence to continue, to enable the public to perceive the limitation of domestic violence as a community task, and to provide citizens with strategies to prevent domestic violence. The goal of our Community Response Program is to foster Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence in Aroostook County through the creation of an effective coordinated community response that promotes safety for victims, holds abusers accountable and ultimately eliminates domestic violence. In addition, BWP’s School-based Youth Advocacy Program works to create a sustainable program of on-going education and support services in Aroostook County's schools to raise awareness about teen dating violence, healthy relationships and non-violent choices.

Volunteer Program
Our work would not be possible without the active involvement of a committed group of volunteers. The Battered Women’s Project offers a comprehensive 30+ hour training a number of times throughout the year to individuals interested in assisting in providing direct services to victims of domestic violence. Our training includes education about the dynamics of domestic violence as well as skills training in crisis intervention, peer support, and advocacy on the hotline, in shelter, in court and in the community.

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