YWCA of Greater Lawrence, Inc.

The YWCA of Greater Lawrence was founded in 1892 to support women moving from rural areas and overseas to work in local mills. We support more than 15,000, primarily low income people annually in Greater Lawrence, Haverhill and the North Shore. Women's services include: health advocacy linking under/uninsured women and families to health services and information; domestic violence and sexual assault services including full-time court advocacy to help women obtain protective orders; permanent housing and transitional housing for women fleeing domestic violence and pregnant/parenting teens and their children; health, recreational and fitness programs; and economic empowerment programs leading to self-sufficiency. Youth services include: year-round child and after-school/vacation care for children ages 1 month-13 years; gender-specific programs for girls including Girls Lead, a leadership development program for girls in middle school; youth and family health, recreation and fitness programs; and the Child Advocacy Project, free support to child victims of sexual abuse and non-offending family members. Our Early Learning Center is a U.S. Dept. of Education Center of Excellence. We also coordinate the City of Lawrence Mayor's Health Task Force, a coalition of nearly 80 nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and health care providers working to enhance community health and well being. Over 70% of YW employees are Latino and speak Spanish.