Center for Women and Families

Shelbyville Office:

Mt. Washington Office:

West Louisville Office:

Agency History

The Center's proud history of helping people in need dates back to April 30, 1912, when 300 Louisvillians met to organize a local chapter of the YWCA. To fully become an advocate for those we serve, the Board of Directors voted on November 20, 1989 to end its national affiliation with the YWCA, and incorporated as The Center for Women and Families.

In 1975, responding to an urgent, unmet need, the Rape Crisis Program began offering care to victims of rape and sexual assault. Later that year, the Creative Employment Program was born, building on an already long tradition of helping low-income women achieve economic self-sufficiency. In 1977, the Domestic Violence Shelter opened as the first domestic violence shelter in Kentucky.

In 1983, an outreach office opened in New Albany, Indiana, allowing The Center for Women and Families to serve 7 Southern Indiana counties (Clark, Floyd, Harrison, Orange, Crawford, Scott, and Washington) as well as 7 seven counties in Kentucky (Jefferson, Bullet, Shelby, Spencer, Trimble, Henry, and Oldham).

The Center maintains a budget of $2.5 million, with revenue from a variety of sources, and employs over 70 professionals at 7 different offices, all committed to empowering, healing, enriching, and advocating for women and families.

The Rape Crisis Program has for over 21 years helped women, men, children and infants who are victims of rape and sexual assault, as well as their family members and friends. In 1996 the Rape Crisis Program assisted nearly 1,300 victims, provided over 1,000 sessions of counseling and therapy, and nearly 350 hospital runs were made.

All services provided at the Rape Crisis Program are free and confidential. Services available are listed below: