Women's Harm Reduction Program
Our Women’s Harm Reduction Program is the only holistic, gender-responsive program in Milwaukee working solely with women referred as an alternative to incarceration. It is the only program that has consistently studied and been trained in the emerging research on what works and best practices for justice-involved women.
We offer real opportunities for change to women in conflict with the law through harm reduction strategies that allow women to change unhealthy behaviors gradually and progressively. The objective is that participants will make measurable, positive changes that improve the quality of their lives and decrease unhealthy and unsafe behaviors.
In a safe, supportive environment, women develop skills, abilities and the confidence to create safer and healthier lives for themselves and their children. Women choose to participate in the programs based on their personal needs as well as what may be mandated by the court. For some women, immediate goals may be basic needs – shelter, food, clothing, mental health or medical care. Once these goals are met, they are read to set longer range goals based on what they intend to achieve while at the Benedict Center.
In a safe, supportive environment, women develop skills, abilities and the confidence to create safer and healthier lives for themselves and their children. Women choose to participate in the programs based on their personal needs as well as what may be mandated by the court. For some women, immediate goals may be basic needs – shelter, food, clothing, mental health or medical care. Once these goals are met, they are read to set longer range goals based on what they intend to achieve while at the Benedict Center.
With guidance from their counselors, women begin to take an active role in managing their own health and welfare needs and participate in classes and groups to gain the insight and the skills needed to change their lives.
Who We Serve
Each year the Benedict Center serves up to 400 women involved with the criminal justice system in Milwaukee, most of whom suffer the consequences of abject poverty, have inadequate, unsafe housing or no housing at all, and have an average educational achievement at the sixth grade level.
Women referred to the Center come in need of basic educational and employment skills, substance-abuse treatment, trauma counseling, anger and stress management and cognitive behavior development. About 72 percent of women served by the program are African American and Latina, with an average age of 34. Nearly 80 percent report a diagnosis of some form of mental illness. Additionally, 78 percent of participants report they have been sexually, physically or emotionally abused. Only 25 percent are employed; many can’t hold jobs because they lack the skills or experience or because of behavioral problems associated with drug and/or alcohol abuse or mental health issues.
What We Offer
When women come through the doors of the Benedict Center for the first time, they quickly become part of a caring community where women encourage and mentor each other. After orientation, they participate in a series of assessments, followed by a meeting with a case manager to plan their individual programs and set goals based on requirements of the referring agency, our assessment and evaluation of risks and needs and the individual's personal needs and choices.
Each month we gather together for a celebration of accomplishments, share stories and a good meal. Guests are always welcome.
Because multiple, complex issues lead women to criminal activity, an evidence-based holistic engagement must occur to make positive change possible and sustainable. Typically several aspects of their lives must be addressed, including treatment for past trauma, stress and anger management, cognitive-behavioral strategies, educational immersion and skill building to support healthy lifestyles and family- sustaining employment. Women need to build these interlocking strengths to overcome the interlocking deficits of their past.
Adult Basic Education provides academic instruction in an environment that encourages learners who have been discouraged in their past educational efforts. Working in small groups or with one-on-one tutoring, each student gets personalized attention as they work toward educational enhancement and, for many, work to earn a GED or HSED. The Benedict Center offers a state-certified outpatient AODA treatment program based on stages of change. The program helps women change unhealthy behaviors through a step-by-step process with the belief that any movement in the direction of reduced harm is positive in and of itself, improves the quality of their lives and decreases unhealthy and unsafe behaviors. Individual and small group counseling is offered as well as aftercare.
In Anger and Stress Management, women learn more about how to control unhealthy emotions and become better equipped to avoid making impulsive decisions by responding more appropriately to stressors. Women analyze their own behaviors and learn how to change their responses in order to strenthen relationships, make better decisions, live more safely and communicate more effectively.
Parenting and Family Nurturing classes assist women and their children to build more effective ways of communicating. The focus in on the whole family, child development and the impact of incarceration and addiction for women who have lost custody or are in danger of losing custody.
Women's Sexuality was specifically designed for women who have traded sex for drugs, shelter or other commodities. Women explore the nature of their own sexuality, address the realities of abuse, learn to establish personal boundaries, and develop a stronger more positive belief in themselves.
Seeking Safety helps women learn to create their own sense of safety when past trauma threatens to undermine their recovery. With this class, they learn to develop positive alternatives to coping patterns that are no longer useful.
Moving On helps women develop alternatives to criminal activity by building the skills for healthy relationships and more effective behavioral choices. As women begin to recognize and enhance existing strengths and access community resources, they develop an array of personal strategies, including decision making, problem solving, assertiveness and emotional stability.
Success Works focuses as much on the characteristics needed to keep and be successful on the job as on the basics of how to apply and get hired. Participants learn customer service skills, conflict resolution, resume building and interview skills as well as gain volunteer or transitional work experience.
Second Chance offers women who have legal requirements that must be met as specified in deferred prosecution agreements, diversion agreements or other pending court cases that require they complete programming at the Benedict Center receive program as mandated by the courts. This may include any or all of the above classes as well as drug screening.
Mind, Body, Spirit supports personal health, mental well-being and spiritual wholeness as an integral part of recovery. Monthly guests share information about programs, strategies and resources in the community.
