The Alexandria Office on Women is dedicated to empowering women and their families by promoting equality, safety, and access to opportunities and services through advocacy and education.  The Office on Women is dedicated to the fair, compassionate and respectful treatment of ALL people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression

What's New

• Volunteer with the Expect Respect Program The Office on Women's Expect Respect program is seeking a group of volunteers to present an educational program which promotes healthy relationships to Alexandria youth. The vounteers present to 7th graders and high school students throughout the school year. The expected volunteer commitment is four to six hours per month and volunteers must have the flexibility to present during the school day. Volunteers are required to complete a one day training. The training will be held on Saturday, January 9th, from 9 to 4 pm.  In-class observations will be scheduled after training is completed. For more information, please contact Kim Hurley at 703.746.5030 or kim.hurley@alexandriava.gov.
• Children's Holiday Party. This year's Children's Holiday Party, for children and mothers recently served by our Domestic Violence Program, will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009.  At the party, families reunite with past shelter friends and staff, eat, and take pictures with Santa Claus, among other events. Each mother and child also receives a bag of gifts to wrap and place under their own tree on Christmas Day. Over one hundred families look forward to this exciting event annually, and our community's generosity is what makes it such a success.
  
  We are accepting donations now at the Office on Women, located at 421 King Street, Suite 400, Alexandria, between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If you wish to donate children's toys or other gifts, please provide newly purchased, unwrapped items.  We will provide each mother with wrapping paper to personalize each child's gift.  For mothers' presents, we request that you donate gift certificates to local stores in denominations of $25.00.  This way each woman will have the opportunity to purchase something special for herself. 
  
  If you would like to participate in the party this year, if you need help deciding what to purchase, or if you have any other questions about donating for this event, please call Shannon or Stephanie at 703.838.4911. Thank you so very much for helping to make this a great day in the eyes of the children and families we serve.
• The 2009 Walk to Fight Breast Cancer
  This year's Walk to Fight Breast Cancer took place on Saturday, October 24. Just under 1200 people registered to participate in the Walk, which raised over $130,000 in registrations, donations, pledges and sponsorship. All proceeds from the Walk support the Alexandria Breast Cancer Walk Fund at Inova Alexandria Hospital, which provides free mammography and other diagnostic screenings for Alexandria women who are not adequately insured and could not otherwise obtain critical medical screenings.  To date, the Walk Fund has helped over 5,000 women obtain critical preventative and diagnostic care.  For more information regarding free mammograms, please call the Office on Women at 703.746.5030.
• New Text Message Number Announced for Teens
  Starting September 1, the Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy (ACAP), Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria (SAPCA) and the Alexandria Gang Prevention Community Task Force will launch a new text message number for youth to ask questions about sex, love, relationships, drugs, alcohol and gangs. Teens can text the word SEX, the word DRUGS, or the word GANGS to 30644 and receive answers to specific questions about these topics. ACAP, SAPCA, and Gang Prevention coordinators and trained staff will answer teens’ questions within 24 hours.  To read more click here.
• Volunteer as a hotline companion with the Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program. If you are looking for a dynamic volunteer experience with the chance to make a difference, the SARA program is the volunteer opportunity for you. The SARA program is looking for compassionate listeners, both English speaking and bilingual, who would be comfortable talking to sexual assault survivors and their families. SARA requires volunteers to complete 40 hours of training to become a hotline companion. While the initial training commitment is intensive, the commitment following training is two hotline shifts per month.  Volunteers can work anywhere accessible by phone. SARA training sessions meet two evenings a week from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Monday and Wednesday and on two Saturday mornings over a five week period. Click here to view our hotline companion description.  For more information or to register for the SARA training, please fill out our volunteer application.  You can also contact Stacey at stacey.mccullough@alexandriava.gov.
• Alexandria Campaign on Adolescent Pregnancy Wins National Award
  ACAP was selected as a winner in the 16th annual National Health Information Awards.  The magazine Get Real received a Merit Award in the magazine category for government/public sector division. 
• The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program needs volunteers to work as Shelter Supervisors at the Battered Women's Shelter
  As a program that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, volunteers play a key role in providing services to those affected by domestic violence. Volunteers with our program interact personally with individuals in need -- an opportunity that many find extremely fulfilling. Primary responsibilities include answering the crisis hotline and supporting the women and children residing at the safe house. Volunteers are mainly needed weekends, holidays and daytime weekdays. If interested, please contact Jen Clayton at 703-838-4911 or via e-mail: jen.clayton@alexandriava.gov.  To download, complete and fax back a volunteer application, please click here.
• The Alexandria Domestic Violence Program is also looking for volunteers to assist with Children's Support Group on Tuesday evenings, and with children's activities at the Battered Women's Shelter. Volunteers must complete 12 hours of mandatory training focused on the unique needs of children who have witnessed violence in the home. Call or email Jen Clayton (see contact information above).
• The 5th Annual Women Mean Business Silent Auction to Benefit the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer
  Women Mean Business (WMB) of Alexandria, the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Old Town, and the Alexandria Office on Women hosted the 5th annual WMB Silent Auction to benefit the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer on June 18.  The Auction raised over $19,000 for the Alexandria Breast Cancer Walk Fund for Early Detection and Education at Inova Alexandria Hospital. 
• Survivors Support Group
  The Sexual Assault Response and Awareness (SARA) Program is offering support groups for survivors of sexual assault beginning in Fall 2009. The groups offer a safe, supportive environment for participants to connect with other survivors. Members will gain further knowledge and understanding of the effects of sexual violence and how to develop healthy coping skills. All interested individuals are required to meet with the group facilitators before group begins. For further information or to sign up, click here or contact Jen McLish at 703-746-5030.
• Women's History Walking Tours, which guide listeners to various historic destinations of notable Alexandria women, are now available as podcasts in 30 minute, 1 mile, 1.5 mile, and 4 mile formats.

In A Crisis? Call Us Now! 
Counselors are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.

Sexual Assault Hotline: 703.683.7273 TTY 711
Domestic Violence Hotline: 703.838.4911 TTY

Sexual Assault Counselors are also available to chat with you through the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.