In July 2006, Women In Distress inaugurated the Department of Social Change. The department’s purpose is to create collaborations throughout Broward County to educate; change perceptions; and advocate for non-violent standards of behavior, so that domestic and dating abuse is unacceptable by anyone, anywhere, at anytime in any way.

The Department provides community, professional, and youth education on domestic violence and prevention. It provides information on domestic violence and its impact on the community to the media faith, professional and neighborhood organizations, multicultural and multilingual associations, and special needs communities to promote prevention of domestic violence.

Today, the department has a full-time staff of four as well as 20 AmeriCorps Members. The department has increased its presence in the community and continues to grow to educate the community on intimate partner violence.

Social Change programs include youth-based education on bullying prevention, conflict resolution, healthy relationships, and social change. We are currently working with youth in Broward County Schools, Broward Juvenile Detention Centers, Broward Alternative Schools, After-school programs, Girl Scouts, etc.

Our community education provides training and informational tables to community based groups, such as faith-based groups, health fairs, clubs, colleges, etc. Our professional education provides training to all different groups of professionals who are looking to learn more about intimate partner violence and can be created to meet the needs of organization/company.

Some trainings we provide include domestic violence 101, domestic violence for childcare workers, domestic violence in the workplace, domestic violence and effects on children, domestic violence and animal abuse, etc.

All of our trainings are free and we offer CEU’s for a nominal fee. For more information or to request a training, please contact Director of Social Change Erica Herman.