A Resource and Community Center

*Building Our Community from the Inside Out*

Abby's House is a group of students, staff, faculty, and community members whose goal is to operate a Center for Women and Families at Western Oregon University. We serve as a Resource and Referral Center and a community connector.

Abby's House Mission Statement:
Abby's House, Western Oregon University's Center for Women and Families, is an on-campus resource center and meeting place, serving students, staff, faculty and members of the surrounding community. Abby's House services include a resource library, educational programming, peer advising and mentoring, and support services.

Women and their families are welcome to use Abby's House resources. Abby's House provides time and space for support or networking groups to meet in a nurturing, comfortable and confidential atmosphere.

Abby's House Goals:
l Link people with needed resources
l Provide a safe and comfortable place to meet
l Include a resource library
l Nurture in support groups of all kinds
l Reach out to those needing support, including parenting and pregnant students
l Provide self-help seminars in such topics as self-defense, stress relief, crime prevention, etc.

l Provide a Newsletter

l Provide a reading area.

Empowerment and Outreach:
Abby's House will regularly sponsor programming in order to inform and benefit members of the campus and surrounding community. These activities may include brown bag lunch seminars, guest speakers, discussion groups, workshops, and videos. Abby's House facilitators, advocates, and student interns will organize these events. The topics of these activities may include:

l Coping with Stress
l Depression
l Domestic Violence
l Sexual Harassment
l Self-defense
l Gay and Lesbian Issues
l Health Issues
l Crime Prevention through Environmental Design

l Relationship

Services:
Resource Library and Reading Area. The library includes books, periodicals, pamphlets, videos and other resource materials. The library contains works on a wide variety of issues. The purpose of the library is to build a collection of materials focusing on women's and family issues. Donations are gladly accepted.

Abby's House Program and Events:

- Former governer Barbara Roberts lecturing on Women in Politics

- Annual Silent Auction

- Tea with Abigail

- Women's Health Issues Forum

Educational Programming and Support Group Events have included:
l Depression and the Holidays awareness event
l Lecture on Building Community from the Inside Out
l Self-Help Resource Fair

Peer Advising and Mentoring:
Both peer advising and mentoring will be available. These services provide assistance in locating resources, a chance to have questions answered in an informal, non-threatening environment and a chance for students who are new to WOU to connect and collaborate with others.