Metropolitan Center for Women and Children

Volunteer Opportunities: Yes

History

In 1986, Metropolitan Battered Women’s Program was founded as a private 501(C)(3) non-profit organization in Jefferson Parish to offer services for victims of violence. In 2006, Metropolitan Battered Women’s Program was renamed Metropolitan Center for Women and Children (Metro), in order to identify more closely with the nature of the organization’s mission.

• Metropolitan Center for Women and Children was first founded to provide a 2nd stage (transitional shelter) for those victims fleeing violence in their homes. As a result, Metro opened the first transitional shelter for battered women in the state of Louisiana.
• In 1990, Metropolitan Center for Women and Children expanded its services to the increasing number of survivors residing in St. Charles, St. John, and St. James Parishes.
• In 1992, Metro opened an emergency shelter with the capacity for housing 15 women and children.
• In 2003, Metro purchased an office/shelter complex to serve survivors residing on the Westbank of Jefferson Parish.
• After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Metro began providing services for sexual assault victims to the Greater New Orleans area (Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines, St. Tammany, St. Charles, St. John, and St. James Parishes).
• In 2007, Metro started offering services to survivors of human trafficking.
• Currently Metropolitan Center for Women and Children offers individual and group counseling for domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking survivors. Metro also provides a children’s program, legal advocacy, and community outreach for the Greater New Orleans area.

Metro is primarily funded through state, federal, and local grant monies, as well as donations of clothing, food, personal care items or household items from private sources, cash and gift card donations.

Metropolitan Center for Women and Children has a clear mission and goals focused on providing services for survivors of trauma through trauma-informed care. As an agency Metro constantly researches best practices to seek new ways to assist survivors. Metropolitan Center for Women and Children wants to help families regain their physical and emotional strength, resulting in empowerment and transformation. As survivors become stronger, the community is strengthened. Metro is also active in community education and outreach, operating on the premise that an informed public makes for a safer and more concerned citizenry.

Mission

To break the cycle of violence and aid survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking through advocacy, intervention, empowerment and transformation.