Common Questions

WHAT COMMUNITY NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED BY YOUR AGENCY?
Charlottesville and the surrounding counties are experiencing a critical and increasing need for affordable behavioral health services. Due to severe budget cuts at the state & local level, the demand for services for the uninsured is rising, the community supply of counseling & psychiatric services is decreasing, and cost and waitlists are escalating. Our work with the Community Mental Health & Wellness Coalition highlights the severity of this issue. This coalition includes representatives from nearly 20 entities (e.g. Charlottesville Free Clinic, Region Ten, Martha Jefferson Hospital, University of Virginia, OAR). Quotes from community partners:

Community members with moderate mental health symptoms are transitioning into serious symptoms due to lack of services.
The situation is forcing people to self-medicate with illegal drugs.
Available mental health care is extremely limited. Barriers include... long waiting lists, affordability, and communication difficulties.

The following quote from Mental Health: A Report of the Surgeon General also demonstrates need: "The United States leads the world in understanding the importance of overall health and well-being to the strength of a nation and its people. What we are coming to realize is that mental health is absolutely essential to achieving prosperity. ...4 out of the 10 leading causes of disability for ages 5 and older are mental disorders. " And according to the World Health Organization, major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the US for ages 15-44. Lastly, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, anxiety and depression affect nearly one quarter of all women, a rate twice as high as men.

HOW MANY CLIENTS DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION SERVE EACH YEAR?
In 2011, The Women's Initiative will serve 1,200 women through our core programs. These programs include:

Individual counseling & support group services for uninsured women.
Community outreach efforts in some of Charlottesville's most impoverished neighborhoods.
On-site activities that focus on mental health & wellness.

WHAT ARE THE OBJECTIVES OF YOUR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING PROGRAM?
The objective of our Individual Counseling Program is to bring high quality, sliding scale counseling services to uninsured women. Women who receive services will experience a significant reduction in symptoms related to mental illnesses such as depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. By the completion of therapy, women will have gained tangible skills to maintain mental health & wellness. This personal growth results in increased self-sufficiency, improved interpersonal relationships, and increased job stability. This benefits the individual, her children, and our community.

WHO ACCESSES SERVICES? WHAT IS THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA? WHAT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS ARE SERVED?
The women we serve bear tremendous responsibility. They are uninsured and underinsured women who have been traumatized. They are single mothers with young children who are struggling with financial uncertainty. They are caretakers who find themselves painfully isolated. And they are front-line providers like nurses, foster care parents, social workers and teachers who give of themselves endlessly. What do these women need? They need comprehensive, affordable mental health services. They have survived distressing life circumstances, they are the caretakers of their families, and they are essential to the strength & vitality of our community. They come to us because they are striving for a better life.

In 2010, the majority of women served through our individual counseling program were low-income and uninsured. Depression, anxiety & adjustment disorders were the top diagnosis with trauma from past emotional and physical abuse being a common thread. Predominant symptom severity was moderate to severe. 73% of women completed their therapy in 12 sessions or less. Diversity in 2010: 53% Caucasian, 28% Hispanic, 7% African American, 3% Asian and 10% unknown/other. Ages ranged from 18-64+, with approximately 60% of the women falling between the ages of 18-45. The majority were single, separated or divorced. 54% were mothers with 1-4 children and 36% had a high school diploma or less.

HOW IS YOUR AGENCY FUNDED?
Philanthropic support for our agency's programs continues to be strong and varied. Since 2008, the number of individual donors contributing to our agency increased by 110%. In 2010, contributions from individuals, corporations, foundations and events all increased. Overall revenue from 2009-2010 increased by 46%, positioning our agency to strengthen programs, hire essential staff and build for the future. Key income by revenue source in 2010 was as follows:

Fees for Services: $17,715 (4%)
Grants: $93,790 (22%)
Individual Donors: $229,206 (54%)
Events: $37,700 (9%)
In-Kind: $48,161 (11%)

TOTAL: $426,572 (100%)

HOW DO YOU EVALUATE THERAPEUTIC OUTCOMES:
The Women's Initiative utilizes My Outcomes software to track client progress. This diagnostic measurement tool focuses on four key areas: personal well-being, interpersonal relationships, social interaction, and overall sense of well-being. In 2010, for those clients who completed their counseling, 81% experienced an increased sense of personal well-being and 79% saw improved interpersonal relationships. 96% of clients surveyed reported that we provide a non-clinical, welcoming setting and a knowledgeable, supportive staff.

Most important to report about our agency's accomplishments is the continued positive feedback we receive from our individual counseling clients. Women get better at The Women's Initiative. They repeatedly comment that our office and staff help them feel welcome and supported at each step in the journey of recovery and healing. In the words of one client: "With the help of The Women's Initiative I am finally able to move past years of pain. Thank you!" And this, "If it wasn't for your organization, I'd be in a VERY bad place. ... Being able to afford counseling since I was laid off and have no insurance and my unemployment ran out was a godsend."