About Us
Mission
The mission of the Bay Area Women’s Center is to eliminate domestic violence and sexual assault. BAWC provides free-of-charge crisis intervention, advocacy and safe haven to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault; and violence prevention education to the community; while actively pursuing social change.
Major Objectives
Our major objective is to create a comprehensive community response to domestic violence and sexual assault through emergency shelter and counseling services, advocacy, and violence prevention education.
Philosophy
BAWC maintains the right of every person to live free of fear, as an autonomous individual. To this end, the agency provides services, free-of-charge, that address the needs of victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
History
Bay Area Women’s Center was founded in 1975 by a small group of concerned women in Bay County. Since that time, BAWC has grown considerably both in the number of people served and types of programs offered. The Center serves any individual whose life has been impacted by domestic violence or sexual assault, including secondary victims (often the children of survivors). Services are targeted in Bay and Arenac counties; however, people from throughout mid-Michigan and beyond take refuge at our facility. Through the years, BAWC has continually expanded the capacity to shelter and serve the needs of survivors. In 2000, BAWC opened a custom-built facility with a 32-bed shelter where we still reside.