Women Helping Women Seeks To Serve The Oxford Community

By Hannah Fierle

Miami University journalism student

With the increased focus of late on women's rights and women's issues, organizations that advocate for and support women have an opportunity to grab the spotlight. Women Helping Women is one of those organizations, focusing specifically on the areas of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Started in the 1970's, Women Helping Women initially sought to empower women by teaching them to do what were considered traditionally masculine tasks, like changing a tire. The organization took on its contemporary role when women involved expressed a need for services in situations of domestic violence and sexual assault.

"Our job is to do whatever the survivor needs," says volunteer coordinator Bre Shisso. "We want to inform them of all their options and resources and support them every step of the way."

Women Helping Women has two offices, one in Cincinnati and one in Oxford. The Cincinnati branch responds to the city and its surroundings, while the Oxford branch serves the greater Oxford, Middletown, Hamilton, and West Chester communities.

The organization’s office in Cincinnati handles cases of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking, while the Oxford location deals only with sexual assault cases. Although the name may imply the agency is just for women, they stress that services are available to individuals of any gender identity.

Personal Service For Survivors

For the three full time employees at Women Helping Women's Oxford office, their goal is to provide personalized, individual support for survivors of sexual assault. This may include accompanying clients to hospital visits or any legal meetings or hearings, or providing emotional support and counseling.

The organization is completely confidential and employees cannot offer legal advice, nor are they obligated to report an incident to law enforcement.

"Our service is very individualized, since each person will find healing through different things," Shisso says. "Some people find healing through getting a protection order or being validated through a court process, while some people just need the emotional support and meeting other survivors in group sessions to begin to recover."

In addition to interpersonal resources, the agency also offers a 24-hour hotline.

In 2015, the agency served more than 14,000 clients through both offices. While the numbers for 2016 are not yet available, the organization was on track after the third quarter to serve 16,000 individuals between both locations.

With its location in Oxford, Women Helping Women has begun a partnership with Miami University, providing students another resource when dealing with cases of sexual assault on campus. In November, Miami graduate Nora McVey began work as the organization's Campus-Based Interpersonal Violence Support Specialist.

"We hear statistics and we know these incidents are taking place, but when I’m on campus and working closely with students, it becomes very real," says McVey. "It’s rewarding to meet people who become comfortable sharing their stories and realize that they have someone in their corner, but it’s also very challenging when dealing with this sort of trauma."

Challenging And Rewarding Work

The women at Women Helping Women emphasized both the challenges and rewards of their work. Although they may encounter individuals at their most vulnerable, they say they're also are able to witness the triumph of healing and recovery.

For Caitlin Rettenmaier, Director of Butler County Services, she is often confronted with a different set of needs due to the rural demographic of the Butler County area. This can mean arranging transportation for clients to get to the hospital or legal appointments or arranging temporary shelter if it's deemed unsafe for an individual to return home.

"This is the most meaningful job I’ve ever had," says Rettenmaier. "It’s most rewarding for me to see how the community comes together as partners in a time of crisis. That’s the biggest lasting impact that we hope to carry forth."

For more information about Women Helping Women and its services, visit https://www.womenhelpingwomen.org or call the Oxford office at (513) 977-5541

The lobby of Women Helping Women's office situated in Oxford's Stewart Square. -- Photo by Hannah Fierle