Women’s & Children’s Alliance

For 40 years, the Women’s & Children’s Alliance (WCA) has been at the forefront of providing services to women, men and their children healing from domestic abuse and sexual assault. Since its founding, the WCA’s crisis program has evolved into one of the most vital, unduplicated, comprehensive programs in our community and region. The WCA is proud to be a community leader in providing these critically needed services. We’ve been an important community partner for 110 years and providing safe places for women to live has always been at the core of our mission.

VISION

To foster a community where individuals thrive in safe, healthy relationships.

MISSION

Safety, healing and freedom from domestic abuse and sexual assault.

WCA provides Safety to domestic abuse and sexual assault victims through our two 24-hour crisis hotlines, our domestic abuse shelter, safety planning assistance, and court advocacy.
We provide Healing through therapy services, support groups, and client advocacy.
We provide Freedom through case management and residential classes in financial literacy, nurturing parenting, and life skills.

Through these core values we hope to provide security, hope, and empowerment and to break the cycle of violence. For more information on these and other services, a see our Get Help section.

CORE VALUES

Empowerment—Fostering potential
Respect—Recognizing and honoring the dignity of all
Integrity—Consistent in word and deed

HOW OLD IS THE WCA?

Providing safe places for women to live has been at the core of our mission for over 100 years. The WCA started in 1910 as the Boise YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association). It was established to provide a safe place for young single women to live, eat, and socialize. In addition to room, board, and other basic services, the YWCA offered classes, camps, and community service opportunities to Boise women for decades.

In the early 1980s, the YWCA began transforming into the organization that we have today. During this time, the Rape Crisis Alliance and domestic violence Crisis Center were established to continue embodying the mission to provide a safe place for women in new ways. In 1996, we officially became the Women’s and Children’s Alliance.

DO YOU HAVE SERVICES FOR MEN?

Despite our name, we do provide services to men who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence; 1 in 7 men have been a victim of intimate partner violence and 1 in 71 men have been a victim of a rape in their lifetime.

To find out more about our services please call our 24-hour crisis lines and speak with a Client Advocate. You can also attend our attend our “If These Walls Could Talk” tours or check out our other resources and learn more about what we do.

WHAT ABOUT TEENS?

The WCA cannot accept teens in our shelter or for counseling without a parent or guardian. However, we recognize that teens are often the victims of sexual assault and abusive dating relationships, and may not always want to talk about it with their parents. We have collected some helpful links to resources tailored to teens and their parents.

I’M INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING. HOW DO YOU USE VOLUNTEERS AND HOW CAN I GET STARTED?

Volunteers are a vital part of the WCA and are used everywhere in the organization, in administrative roles, as court advocates, in the thrift shop, and at outreach events. The first step is to attend an “If These Walls Could Talk” tour. Email our volunteer coordinator or call 208.343.3688 ext. 41 if you are interested in volunteering or would like to know more.

DOMESTIC ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AREN’T BAD HERE IN BOISE. WE’RE A VERY SAFE COMMUNITY, RIGHT?

That’s a very common misconception. The statistics across Idaho are very similar to national statistics. One in four women will be abused in her lifetime; and one in six men. It doesn’t matter whether they live in Boise or anywhere else. Our tour “If These Walls Could Talk” would be a real eye-opener for you. While the problem isn’t any worse here than the rest of the nation, it’s still a problem that we’re working every day to change.