Our Strategic Plan

Introduction

The mission of Women Against Abuse (WAA) is to provide quality, compassionate and nonjudgmental services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing intimate partner violence, and to lead the struggle to end domestic violence through advocacy and community education. We fulfill our mission through innovative programs and community collaborations, serving approximately 10,000 people each year.

A Letter from our Executive Director and President

Today more than ever, it is critical to acknowledge that domestic violence is something that any of us can experience. Despite our tremendous strides forward and the significant growth we have experienced in our service delivery, the issue of intimate partner violence continues to take lives and devastate families.

WAA’s core programs, such as emergency housing and legal services, have been at the heart of our work since we were founded over 47 years ago. This strategic planning process provided WAA with the space to thoughtfully reflect on what is going well, and what we need to do to sustain and strengthen the organization for the future.

I am excited about our future as we innovate and strengthen the organization, services, and advocacy.

Together, we are building for our future – a future free from intimate partner violence!

En Solidaridad,

Joanna Otero-Cruz

Executive Director and President

Our Process

WAA was excited to partner with Anavi Strategies to develop this 5-year strategic plan. Together, we spent eight months analyzing organizational data, conducting interviews with team members and external partners, and facilitating strategic planning sessions with Board members, organizational leadership, and staff. Client survey data and focus group results have been integrated throughout the strategic plan to ensure the voices of survivors are front and center.

The following high-level aspirational strategies form the roadmap we will focus on over the next five years:

Deliver consistent high-quality client experiences
Ensure sustainable organizational resources
Build an organizational culture in which staff thrive
Strengthen external partnerships
Prioritize accessibility across the organization

Priority #1: Deliver Consistent High-Quality Client Experiences

Ensure ALL clients can access services in a nurturing and seamless manner.
Enhance customer service and evaluation tools to better understand client experiences to strengthen services.
Deepen our impact by being laser focused on resources and staff capacity for our core programs.

Priority #2: Ensure Sustainable Organizational Resources

Review and realign team structure and capacity for the Finance, Advancement and Human Resources departments through a bi-annual organizational audit.
Broaden funding sources and strengthen donor engagement.
Boost board engagement to support fundraising efforts for unrestricted funds.

Priority #3: Build an Organizational Culture in which Staff Thrive

Prioritize staff well-being, retention and professional growth.
Develop an organization-wide system for data documentation, reporting and decision-making.
Actively encourage self-care and increase access to mental health support and mentoring opportunities.

Priority #4: Strengthen External Partnerships

Strengthen organization-wide standards for community-based partnerships to ensure all communities have access to services.
Develop robust community engagement strategies to respond to the unique needs of all survivors.

Priority #5: Prioritize Accessibility Across the Organization

Recruit and promote employees reflective of the communities we serve.
Strengthen internal supervision and communication channels across the organization.
Expand access to training and resources for all staff.