Passaic County Women's Center, a multi-service division of NJAC, is the state designated lead domestic violence and sexual assault agency in Passaic County since 1986. With a mandate as the only shelter in the county exclusively serving battered women and their children, PCWC has maintained a commitment to providing a full spectrum of services including emergency shelter, case management, individual and group supportive counseling, 24-hour hotline access, community education services, referral and information, Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) services, Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) services, and legal advocacy to our clients.
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Services Offered
Hotline PCWC offers a 24-hour hotline for anyone seeking emotional support and/or information about domestic violence, sexual assault, or any of our programs. We can also provide referrals to our community partners for other types of assistance. Please call our hotline number 973-881-1450 to speak with a PCWC hotline worker.
Supportive Case Management Located at 1027 Madison Ave. in Paterson, trained case managers provide one-on-one supportive case management. This includes, but is not limited to, education; referrals; advocacy to social service agencies; and accompaniment to court, hospitals, and police departments.
Individual Counseling Any type of domestic violence or sexual assault can be a traumatic experience. Through counseling, survivors can work with a counselor to decrease the emotional stress that often occurs as a result of domestic violence or sexual assault. In a safe and confidential setting, counseling is provided to survivors age 13 and up, and any friends or family who may be affected by the trauma as well. (For our children's services, please click here.) If you would like to make an appointment, please call 973-881-0725. Walk-ins are welcome on business days between 9:00am - 5:00pm.
Support Groups Support groups are available for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, age 13 and up, at various times throughout the year. (For our children's services, please click here.) Survivors often benefit from support groups because they can connect with other survivors in a safe environment, with facilitation by a trained professional. In addition to feeling a connection with others, survivors benefit from using a variety of methods of healing such as talk, art, and other psychoeducational activities. And most of all, survivors come to realize that they are not alone. Please call 973-881-0725 to find out more information about our current groups.
Fees and Payment
All services of Passaic County Women's Center are free and confidential.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale
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A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.