We provide one-on-one outreach, group programming, and connections to housing, behavioral health treatment, benefits, educational resources, employment assistance, and more.
Ensuring women have consistent one-on-one support & are connected to stable housing, medical care, behavioral health treatment, benefits, and more.
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Virtual & in-person groups that focus on trauma-healing, relationships, wellness, health, education, and more.
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Court reminders, court accompaniment, and oral & written progress updates to judges and District Attorneys.
Learn more about our comprehensive services and how we can help those in need.
Individualized Plans
Tailored service plans based on evidence-based needs assessments.
Personal Outreach
Regular, personalized outreach and case management from a dedicated team member.
Service Referrals
Warm handoffs to housing, behavioral health treatment, education, medical appointments and other social services.
Public Benefits
Assistance with connecting to or reinstating public benefits.
Employment Help
Support with job readiness, job searching and on-the-job assistance.
Wellness Workshops
Weekly virtual group wellness workshops.
Community Events
In-person community events and celebrations.
Court Support
Court reminders, appearances, progress letters and coordinated advocacy.
Smartphone Access
Access to a smartphone with at least 6 months of paid service.
Basic Needs
Assistance with basic needs, including MetroCards, care packages, toiletries and clothing.
Aftercare Support
Support for participants transitioning out of case management services.
Family Reunification
Family reunification and parenting education (coming soon!).
The Women’s Project is an innovative alternative to detention (ATD) and incarceration (ATI) program for women in New York City. Our team of reentry care coordinators, social workers and an attorney provide trauma-informed, culturally-competent and gender-responsive services.
We help women stay safely in the community and avoid incarceration, offering the support they need to rebuild their lives.
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Sophia[Name Changed] is a young mother and survivor of intimate partner violence. She struggled for over a decade with a drug and alcohol addiction contributing to bouts of homelessness.
Sophia* is a young mother and survivor of intimate partner violence. She struggled for over a decade with a drug and alcohol addiction, contributing to bouts of homelessness. At the age of 30, she was arrested for robbery and sent to Rikers Island, where she discovered she was pregnant with her third child. At that point, the Bronx Defenders reached out to TWP.
When TWP first met with Sophia, she expressed a desire to go to in-patient treatment and reunite with her other children. TWP crafted an individualized support plan for her release, including securing a spot in a women’s residential treatment program where she could focus on her sobriety and address her pregnancy.
After the judge approved Sophia for release from Rikers, TWP accompanied her to the treatment facility, continuing one-on-one emotional support and advocacy to encourage her success.
TWP also supported Sophia by providing prenatal resources, basic needs (transportation, PPE, and newborn supplies), court updates, and help with obtaining vital documents, including state identification. At the residential treatment center, she gave birth to her baby and successfully completed the program by maintaining sobriety.
After one year, her criminal case was dismissed.
Following the dismissal of her criminal case, Sophia moved into her own apartment with her baby and regained custody of her other small child. Sophia expressed that while working with TWP, she felt able to parent her children for the first time since becoming a mother.
*Names have been changed for privacy
The Brooklyn Defenders referred Dara[Name Changed] to TWP while she was being held at Rikers on felony weapon charges. As a young mother, Dara carried a history of trauma, including childhood sexual abuse,
The Brooklyn Defenders referred Dara* to TWP while she was being held at Rikers on felony weapon charges. As a young mother, Dara carried a history of trauma, including childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and homelessness. In her early meetings with TWP at Rikers, she expressed a strong desire to leave jail, reunify her family, find employment and find housing.
With these goals in mind, TWP worked closely with Dara on an individualized service plan to present to the judge as part of a bail application.
Upon her release from Rikers, TWP connected her to supportive housing program for women and provided her with a cell phone, clothing, Metrocards, community resources and one-on-one emotional support.
Dara actively participated in TWP workshops and community events, and used weekly appointments
with TWP staff to discuss her goals and planning, parenting and family dynamics, past traumas and their impacts on her and self-care. During this time, she completed a job training program, received a trade certification and found employment.
Six months after her release from Rikers, with advocacy from TWP, the judge granted Dara an alternative to incarceration (ATI) disposition, issuing a mandate of community service and continued work with TWP. During that time, Dara maintained employment, secured a Section 8 housing voucher, and moved into her own apartment.
One year after joining TWP, Dara completed her ATI mandate and her felony charge was dropped to a misdemeanor, with no prison sentence. Dara was reunited with one of her children and continued to voluntarily participate in TWP aftercare services.
*Names have been changed for privacy
The Legal Aid Society referred Tina[Name Changed] to TWP after she was arrested and held at Rikers on felony drug possession charges and $150,000 bond. With no arrest history and a significant language barrier, Tina was in her early 30s and facing years in prison.
The Legal Aid Society referred Tina* to TWP after she was arrested and held at Rikers on felony drug possession charges and $150,000 bond. With no arrest history and a significant language barrier, Tina was in her early 30s and facing years in prison.
TWP created an individualized plan to allow Tina to remain in the community as she waited for her case to resolve. The intake process revealed that Tina needed support with housing, benefits, and trauma processing due to a history of domestic violence.
Through TWP’s advocacy, the judge agreed to release Tina to TWP for pretrial services in addition to electronic monitoring. TWP set Tina up with a supportive housing program, and provided her with a cell phone to stay connected to her TWP point person for emotional support. Together, they worked on connecting Tina to HRA benefits, health care
and dental care. TWP provided regular progress updates to the court and was able to advocate for reduced restrictions on her electronic monitoring. After working with TWP for 9 months, Tina entered a plea to reduce charges, and entered a 7-month DOCCS program, followed by parole.
Tina’s criminal defense attorney noted:
“I wanted to emphasize that Tina was looking at a prison sentence with a minimum of 8 years and a maximum of 20 years. The prosecutor originally was offering a 3-year prison sentence plea.
Because of [TWP’s work] and the court update letters, it was impossible for the prosecutor to deny how successful Tina has been during her pre-trial release. That is how they eventually came down to agree to a [program]-mandated sentence. If it were not for TWP, Tina would have never been released from Rikers and would have been looking at years in prison.”
*Names have been changed for privacy
“We couldn’t do our work at the same level without The Women’s Project. Their commitment to the women enrolled in their programming, and to providing excellent, client-centered, and trauma informed services is unparalleled.”
Sasha Fisher
Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society, Women’s Pretrial Release Initiative
“It is a pleasure to collaborate with the Women’s Project team because I know our shared clients are receiving the highest quality support available.”
Lorie Goshin
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
“When I had a client with no record, facing an A-1 felony, and sitting in Rikers with $150,000 bond, TWP sprung into action to not just advocate for our client’s release, but to make sure everything was set-up so she could be successful and supported if released. Thanks to TWP, we were able to get the client released pre-trial and ultimately ended with a highly favorable disposition that would have been impossible without TWP. The TWP team was in constant communication and went far beyond any organization I’ve worked with. They are a tremendous resource for anyone they work with.”
Legal Aid Society Staff Attorney
[The Women’s Project team members] undertake the tremendously challenging task of finding and serving the humanity of female defendants in criminal cases; notwithstanding the allegations against those defendants, [staff at] the Project probe the trauma and dysfunction that leads to crime, such that their clients are able to recover and thrive in safer communities. My clients and I are deeply grateful for their hard work.
Ishan R. Banerjee
Criminal Defense Practice, Legal Aid Society of New York
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Your donation empowers women with individualized support, case management and essential services, providing them with the tools to rebuild their lives and avoid incarceration. Together, we can create brighter futures and stronger communities. Donate today and make a difference!
All referrals must come through defense counsel. If you are not defense counsel but know someone who might benefit from our services, please contact us, and we can reach out to the assigned attorney.
The Women’s Project is a program of Wildcat Service Corporation – a member of The Fedcap Group.
Learn more about Wildcat Services and The Fedcap Group.
Wildcat Services: For over 50 years Wildcat has provided programs and services to persons impacted by the criminal legal system. Wildcat seeks to accompany people in identifying success and achieving self-sufficiency.
The Fedcap Group: Wildcat is a member of The Fedcap Group - empowering 250,000 individuals each year worldwide to achieve economic and social well-being.
