Counseling, Support, Advocacy
Bay Area Women's Center has a long history in providing domestic violence and sexual assault services within Bay and Arenac Counties. Counseling, support groups and advocacy services are available for victims of domestic or sexual violence, regardless of their age, gender or background.
Individual Counseling
The Domestic Violence Program Director and the Domestic Violence Case Worker meet with individual clients to develop and implement progressive service plans that are geared toward client empowerment.
Support Groups
BAWC provides several ongoing weekly support groups to assist and support individuals involved in domestic violence relationships.
Two groups are held at the Bay City site. An Arenac County support group is available to serve the clients of Arenac County and is held at the satellite office in Standish. A group is also provided to incarcerated women at the Bay County jail who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Through a support group setting, these women are allowed to gain a better understanding of themselves and the dynamics of their victimization. In all the groups, members have the opportunity to give each other support, and work on issues such as the dynamics of domestic violence, safety planning, recovery from trauma, self-determination, goal setting, self-esteem, and a wide range of human potential topics.
Advocacy
Our advocates assist our clients with a variety of needs, including personal assistance and referrals to local resources.
Personal Assistance
Non-residential clients are provided with clothing, food, and personal needs, and they are referred to other providers for additional assistance in these areas.
Referrals
Clients are referred to other agencies or other services within the agency as needed or requested by the client. Bay Area Women’s Center maintains a strong commitment to collaboration within the community.