OUR WORK
YWCA Utah is working every day to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Since its founding in 1906, YWCA Utah has fought for marginalized people through direct service, education, research, and advocacy. We remain rooted in a rich history, but our approach to serving our clients is holistic, strategic, and innovative.
Domestic Violence & Residential Services ↘
YWCA Utah was the first domestic violence shelter in the state of Utah, serving generations of women and families. Today, through direct services to survivors and their families, we are setting new standards for trauma-informed, equitable, and effective programs and services.
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Women In Jeopardy Emergency Shelter
YWCA Utah's licensed emergency shelter supports survivors and their families by providing case management, children’s services, housing coordination, job-skill training, and mental health referrals. Our shelter serves not just as a means of safety, but also provides a community for healing. Our goal is for survivors to build self-determined lives, and ensure survivors thrive beyond their time on our campus.
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Kathleen Robison Huntsman Apartments
The Kathleen Robison Huntsman Apartments at YWCA Utah feature safe, secure, affordable housing for domestic violence survivors and their dependent children. YWCA Utah’s dedicated supportive services focus on healing, increasing access to opportunity, and building community to support the path toward self-sufficiency.
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The Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center
The Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center (SLAFJC) provides free and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and elder abuse by providing critical referrals to community and co-located partners. The goal of the Family Justice Center is to reduce domestic violence by connecting individuals to services and educating survivors about their rights.
Children's Services ↘
YWCA Utah provides an environment of inclusion, belonging, and healing where children and teenagers on our campus are able to develop valuable life skills. We are dedicated to providing life-saving intervention for Utah’s future generations.
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Children's Advocacy
The majority of survivors who live at YWCA Utah are children. We support children with individualized case management, groups focused on building life skills, academic support, and a calendar of recreational activities and events.
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After School, Teen Program, and Drop-in Childcare
All children on YWCA Utah's campus have access to after school programming where they can receive support with their academics, while their parents work. Our Teen Program provides safe, structured, and educational programming for teens living on our campus, while they build community. Parents also have access to free, drop-in childcare services, so they can focus on caring for themselves and their own urgent needs.
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Lolie Eccles Early Education Center
Since 1966, YWCA Utah has provided outstanding early education to families in our state. The Lolie Eccles Early Education Center at YWCA Utah provides full-time childcare, preschool, kindergarten, and summer camp. In order to increase accessibility on our campus, we also provide scholarships to children of domestic violence survivors living in the Kathleen Robison Huntsman apartments. . Our approach to the daily classroom experience includes valuing each child’s individual needs and background.
Equity & Advocacy ↘
YWCA Utah’s mission requires deep commitment and action to developing and maintaining a strong foundation of equity in all aspects of our work. We are actively reflecting and engaging in a collaborative effort to create a more equitable organization.
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Race & Gender Equity
YWCA’s mission requires deep commitment and action to developing and maintaining a strong foundation of equity in all aspects of our work. We are actively reflecting, imagining, navigating, learning, and engaging in a collaborative effort to create a more equitable organization. We believe a more just society is possible and it requires our active participation.
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Public Policy Advocacy
YWCA Utah is a leading voice for advocacy and empowerment. Our public policy work recognizes the need to make systemic changes to improve the lives of all marginalized people. Our public policy agenda centers racial and gender equity in affordable housing, child care, domestic and sexual violence, mental health, and reproductive justice.
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21-Day Challenge: Until Justice Just Is
YWCA Utah’s 21-Day Challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. The Challenge invites community members to foster personal reflection and act on ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.
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Color Collective
The Color Collective is a designated community space and multi-genre program for Queer, Womxn, Femmes & Non-Binary Persons of Color who are living in Utah. This program is designed for participants to come together for healing, empowerment, and reconciliation in their experiences of racism, sexism, and other intersectional oppressions. The Color Collective programming will include education and dialogue, community collaboration, highlighting POC community organizing in Utah, self-care practices, and forming new connections with other like-minded individuals.