YWCA is on a mission and YWCA Delaware is making it our own!
To empower women and eliminate racism, we must meet our clients where they are most vulnerable and provide the compassion and services that place them on a path to self-sufficiency and prosperity.
Our vision is that all women and their families can achieve their full potential in a world without discrimination.
This requires a focus on the future, anticipating the needs of our clients, and creating innovative solutions to the problems they most often face – poverty, unsafe living conditions, lack of reliable and affordable childcare, and under- or unemployment.
We are evolving our services to meet the changing needs of our clients today and in the future.
We remain rooted in rich history, but our approach to serving our clients is holistic, strategic and innovative.
Nationally, YWCA advocacy issues include lobbying for pay equity and hate crimes legislation, increased funding for Head Start and passing the Violence Against Women Act. Locally, through our programs, we are changing lives and restoring hope for women, their families, and our community!
Community Housing Program ↘
YWCA Delaware's Home-Life Management Center is home to YWCA Delaware's Community Housing program which includes Emergency Shelter, "SCHE" Joint Transitional Housing and Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) and Diversion services.
YWCA's innovative residential program provides a spectrum of supportive services in a safe and stable environment for women and men with children and two-parent families who find themselves destitute. These services are designed to teach valuable life skills and assist the families to become gainfully employed, permanently housed and completely self-sufficient.
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Emergency Shelter
Our emergency shelter receives referrals via Centralized Intake, 1-833-346-3233.
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Joint Transitional Housing & Rapid Re-Housing
We rapidly re-house homeless women and families, offering financial aid, case management and support.
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Diversion
Our Diversion program assists families with identifing alternate housing arrangements.
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Community Health
Our free Community Health Services are available to help assist all New Castle County residents.
Economic Empowerment ↘
YWCA Delaware supports Delawarean's economic development needs by providing counseling, education and training in personal finance management, homeownership, work readiness and self-employment.
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Homeownership
Our HUD Approved First-Time Homebuyer course covers money management, credit score and loan options.
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Foreclosure Prevention
Behind in your mortgage payments? Need help navigating your way back on track? We are here to help. We offer several options to help you get back on your feet and save your home from foreclosure. Download our intake packet, complete the required paperwork and submit all of your documents to our Intake Specialist to receive expert advice and assistance from a housing counselor. No incomplete packets will be accepted, so please refer to the included checklist.
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Career Development
We assist with navigating job opportunities, transfering skillsets and re-branding for new prospects
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Entrepreneurial Support
We offer technical skills and tools to position business owners for success and sustainability.
Racial and Social Justice ↘
YWCA Delaware’s Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) program increases participants understanding of systemic racism and the inequities it creates. In 2022, 76% of RSJ participants felt empowered to engage in ongoing actions to effect eliminating racism in their own communities.
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MLK Day of Service
Join us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 15, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church, 730 Halstead Road, Wilmington, DE for a Day of Action dedicated to advancing real systemic change in the racial and social justice space.
This event will provide a platform for community engagement as we unveil our advocacy priorities for 2024. Come and discover how your actions can make a meaningful impact on public policy and contribute to positive transformation -
Book Study - The Asian Experience by Andrea C. Nakaya
Details coming soon!
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Transformational Racial Healing Circles
Transformational Racial Healing Circles (TRHC) are an opportunity to gather and share our personal stories and truths in a brave space.
This six-consecutive-week online program, guided by a trained facilitator, aims to see the shared humanity that lives in all of us by promoting ways to heal from past wounds, establish mutually respectful connections across racial and ethnic lines. This workshop helps participants build trusting, diverse community ties that better represent our shared humanity. -
Racism in America: The History We Didn't Learn in School
This six-week history course raises the knowledge and awareness of untold history in America. This course begins with the history of enslaved Africans in the country that is now known as America in 1619 and goes through the history of voting rights and suppression up until 2023.
Week six of the course challenges participants to explore actions to change systemic racial injustice and ensure a more equitable, diverse, inclusive, and just society. The course includes lectures, Q&A sessions and small group discussions.
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Racial Justice Challenge
Our Racial Justice Challenge is a virtual learning tool designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership.
New content is released on weekdays and participants log on to the challenge app on their phone or visit the website and are presented with 21 days of activities such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, or reflecting on personal experience. -
White Ally Workshops
In our White Ally Workshop, you’ll learn how to use active listening, empathy, and personal storytelling to promote racial equity. It is designed for white allies to develop skills to engage racism skeptics in productive conversations with friends, family, and neighbors.
This workshop is designed to help white allies see the task of using their influence to bring other white people along on their lifelong mission of dismantling racism. Participants will leave with the opportunity to build a support system with other white allies and continue to develop the skills learned in the workshop. The workshop will use the curriculum designed by Dr. David Campt’s White Ally Toolkit. -
On the Menu: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Workshops
In today’s multicultural workforce it is more important than ever that organizations make Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) a priority. DE&I efforts create meaningful, systemic, change toward more equitable environments.
YWCA DE has developed “On the Menu” a series of DE&I sessions designed as 90 minute programs which can be adjusted to 60 minutes if there are time constraints for your organization. The four workshops can be done separately or as a full series covering cultural identities and competence, unconscious bias, inclusion, and microaggressions.
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Let's Talk Webinars
Our monthly webinars provide a platform for guest panel speakers and viewers to share their professional, academic, volunteer, or lived experiences in the RSJ field to help increase community engagement and public awareness of issues impacting our local communities.
Youth Development ↘
We build the strength of the community by empowering youth to maximize their personal and educational potential. Our comprehensive and innovative college and career preparation and diversity and leadership workshops for at-risk youth, give students a unique opportunity for an accomplished future. Our program challenges youth to become independent thinkers advocating for their own success while building their self-esteem, social competence and employability skills.
Our in-person, hybrid and virtual workshops for middle and high school girls are free.
For more information on these programs, please contact Ty Randolph, Youth Program Manager: 302.224.4060, ext. 215 or trandolph@ywcade.org.
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YW Leaders
YW Leaders collaborates with YWCA Delaware’s Youth and Racial and Social Justice programs to provide a forum for discussing racial equity and inclusion. This program creates a framework to help students become the driving force behind social change. Facilitator-led sessions teach effective communication, self-discipline, collaboration, and conflict resolution training. The curriculum provides skillsets to help serve students throughout their academic and professional careers.
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ESTEEM
YW’s Esteem consists of stand-alone or a series of workshops that target issues our youth face today. Individuals, schools or organizations may choose one, two or all of the workshops – whatever fits your needs. Workshop topics include: character building leadership/self-awareness and respect, conflict resolution/problem solving/decision-making, diversity, teen dating violence prevention and establishing healthy relationships and consent, and employability.
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Healthy Relationships and Teen Dating
This workshop for students in grades 6-12 focuses on defining boundaries, self-esteem, aspects of healthy & unhealthy relationships, consent, dating violence and effective communication skills. This workshop uses interactive exercises to foster participation and discussion.
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Request a Workshop
To request a workshop, contact Ty Randolph, Senior Youth Program Manager at (302) 224-4060, ext. 215 or email trandolph@ywcade.org.
SARC ↘
Providing Healing, Hope and Empowerment to Survivors
YWCA Delaware’s Sexual Assault Response Center (SARC) provides comprehensive, free and confidential rape crisis services to sexual assault survivors and domestic violence survivors aged 12 and older and their non-offending family members, friends, and partners throughout the State of Delaware. SARC is committed to providing healing, hope and empowerment to individuals whose lives have been impacted by sexual violence whether the assault happened yesterday or many years ago. If you or someone you care about has been sexually assaulted, reaching out for help can be the first step toward recovery and healing.
For immediate assistance and information on your options, call our crisis helpline at (800) 773-8570. SARC assists survivors in need of medical, police and legal accompaniment, supportive telephone counseling, aftercare follow-up services, individual and group counseling, as well as information and referral to vital community services.
SARC is committed to providing emergency sexual assault and domestic violence responses to all Delawareans who need it. Please note that while the SARC helpline is available 24/7, the wait times for specalized services after regular business hours (6 a.m. to 6 p.m. excluding holidays) may be delayed due to increased requests for our services during these unprecedented times.
Here to Help – SARC Services
We offer a variety of services and are only a call away.
24/7 Sexual Assault Response Helpline (800) 773-8570
24/7 Medical and Legal Accompaniment
Information and Referral to Resources
Aftercare Follow-Up Case Management Services
Individual Trauma Informed Sexual Assault Counseling
Support Groups
Community Outreach and Prevention Education
Center Locations: Newark, Wilmington & Georgetown
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Understanding Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
By fostering an understanding of sexual assault and domestic violence, we not only break the silence surrounding these often-taboo subjects but also create a foundation for empathy, support, and healing. It is crucial to recognize that survivors may carry invisible scars, and our collective responsibility is to provide a safe space for them to share their experiences without judgment.
Educating ourselves and others about the signs, effects, and resources available for survivors is a powerful step towards creating a culture of prevention and support. It is through awareness and empathy that we can collectively contribute to breaking the cycle of silence and stigma.
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Yoga Support Group
We’re offering Yoga Support Groups for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and for victim service providers. In a safe and supportive environment, each session will blend the therapeutic benefits of yoga with mindfulness techniques, offering a holistic approach to well-being.
Led by an experienced and compassionate trauma-informed yoga instructor, each session aims to provide a space for relaxation, self-discovery, and gentle healing. Whether you are navigating personal challenges or simply seeking a moment of tranquility, this session is designed to nurture your mind, body and spirit.No prior yoga experience is necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing, and bring an open heart and mind. Mats and props will be provided.
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Get Involved and Support our Efforts
Volunteer
Sexual Assault Response Advocates, or SARAs, provide support to survivors of all forms of sexual and domestic violence through trauma-informed, survivor-centered care. Our advocates staff the 24/7 Helpline and accompany survivors to medical and legal services.
Learn more about becoming a Sexual Assault Response Advocate – Volunteer Brochure. Click the button below to fill out a SARC volunteer application today. Questions? Please contact Debbie Litten, SARC Victim Services Director at (302) 273-1302.
Interested in making a donation to SARC? For more information, contact Elizabeth McCourt, Sexual Assault Response Center Director, at (302) 273-1301 or email emccourt@ywcade.org. -
SARC Locations and Annual Report
SARC Main Number 302-273-1300
SARC Helpline 800-773-8570Sexual Assault Response Center
New Castle Office
15 Read”s Way, Suite 200
New Castle, DE 19720Georgetown Office
20123 Office Circle
Georgetown Professional Park
Georgetown DE 19947Wilmington Office
Healing Space
709 N. Madison Street
Wilmington, DE 19801