OUR HERSTORY

Born out of the socio-political activism of the 1960’s and 70’s, the Atlantic County Women’s Center was organized as a consciousness-raising group closely affiliated with the National Organization for Women (NOW). In 1975, these five “founding mothers” began by forming a 24-hour rape and sexual assault counseling hotline from their homes. In response to an increasing number of domestic violence calls and few social services resources, volunteers established their homes as “safe houses” to provide women and children with emergency shelter from their home situation.

From these humble beginnings, the ACWC has evolved and expanded its services to include: a Violence Intervention Program, a Child Care Network for resource and referral, a Home to Work Program for displaced homemakers and a Women Source Training Institute. Our reputation as a professional women’s agency in the forefront of advocating for women’s welfare issues is well-deserved and a source of strength and pride.