In order to lead the struggle to end domestic violence, Women Against Abuse advocates on behalf of survivors and the programs that serve them.

Policy

The Public Policy team at Women Against Abuse participates in the legislative process at all levels of government with the goal of influencing policy that impacts survivors of domestic violence and their families.

Women Against Abuse engages survivors in the advocacy process through civic engagement sessions and letter writing campaigns for residential clients, by involving survivor representatives in legislative meetings, and through the work of the Women Against Abuse Advocacy Committee.

Each year, Women Against Abuse develops a policy agenda that is created through a client-driven advocacy process benefitting from the direct experience of the survivors of domestic violence who receive services at Women Against Abuse. To learn more about our policy agenda for this year, visit our Public Policy page.

Systems Change Work

In addition to legislative advocacy, Women Against Abuse works to eliminate barriers to care for survivors of domestic violence who are accessing services throughout the city.

The goal of our systems change work is to ensure that regardless of which city system or “door” a person experiencing domestic violence enters – whether it is an emergency room, a homeless shelter, or a 9-1-1 call -- the system is trained and equipped to sensitively screen for domestic violence, provide an initial intervention and link victims with appropriate safe supports.

In addition to targeted work in a number of city service systems, we are proud to work with our sister agencies and city partners to improve Philadelphia’s response to domestic violence as a holistic continuum of care. Learn more about Philadelphia’s citywide plan to end domestic violence!

Coordinating our system efforts to identify underlying trauma related to domestic violence will expand our capacity to protect and serve our entire community, and change the social norms that perpetuate violence.