About Us

FLORIDA RESOURCE CENTER FOR WOMEN AND
CHILDREN, INC.

The Florida Resource Center for Women and Children, Inc., was founded
in July, 1999 and serves as advocates for battered women and children in
Palm Beach County, Florida with a concentrated effort for those who live
in Riviera Beach and north as well as the Belle Glade area and provides
emergency shelter and support services to victims/at risk of family
violence. Our mission is to provide individuals with the
opportunities for safety, positive life changes, personal growth,
esteem building, education, technical assistance, case
management and policy development/leadership roles in our
community. We aspire to provide a standard of excellence in our
programs and services that inspire mutual trust, respect and an
understanding that the violence perpetrated against our clients is
grounded in an abuse of power by an offender and reinforced through
intimidation and coercion. We are committed to helping, healing and
ending violence against women and children in our community.

Riviera Beach and Belle Glade are low-income communities that have been
targeted by Palm Beach County as high crime areas with a great need for
social services. There are numerous incidences of domestic violence,
sexual assaults, dating violence, stalking, drug arrests, teen pregnancy
and school drop-outs. Many children live in homes that are violent and
they often become trapped in the cycle of violence that surrounds them
and then learn to repeat violent behavior in their own relationships.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement statistics from 2006 show there
were 5,589 reported incidents of domestic violence in Palm Beach County
including 12 murders, 97 sexual assaults, 116 stalkings/intimidation, and
5,364 assaults. Domestic violence continues to be one of the most
unreported crimes; therefore, we know the amount of assaults reported
is only 1/7th of the amount of actual incidents.

In Palm Beach County, we have had a 13 year old (whose mother
suffered from spousal abuse) shoot and kill his teacher, many angry
students bringing guns and other weapons to school and countless
children turning to fighting to solve conflicts with others. Recently a staff
member asked a group of 25 children (ages 7 and 8) how many of them
had witnessed family violence - 21 of them raised their hands and then
expressed fear and anxiety over their situations.

FRCWC exists to restore peace to violent families. We offer the support
and caring that is needed to assist those who have been hurt both
physically and emotionally.

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MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Established safe emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence
Provide domestic violence training to:

Riviera Beach Police Department
VA Hospital Staff
City of Riviera Beach-Department Heads
Palm Beach County Courthouse Staff
Barry University Social Work Students
Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County
Columbia Hospital Health Care & Governance Staff
Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County
Palm Beach Community College

Collaboration with Palm Beach County State Attorney's Office, Riviera Beach
Police Department and Victims Services of Palm Beach County to form North
County Domestic Violence Initiative
Collaboration with Barry University Staff for Domestic Violence research in
underserved population groups research, data collection and published
findings
Only Palm Beach County site for Rainbow/Prism Curricula
Partner with Columbia Hospital to implement pilot community health initiative
Established and Administer West Palm Beach Housing Authority's family self-
sufficency program
Partner with Susan G. Komen Foundation to provide Breast Cancer
Education and Patient Navigation to victims/at-risk of Domestic Violence
Executive Director is winner of 2006 Sorotimist International Making A
Difference For Women Award
Nominee for "Celebrating Solutions Awards"
Executive Director is member of the board of directors of the Homeless
Coalition of Palm Beach County
Staff has received many honors and awards