Partnerships

Partnerships

There are many opportunities through the Women & Gender Studies department that engage students in exploring their career interests through field experience opportunities and internships. Internships are highly valued not only in this department but throughout the University, allowing students to make connections, explore different opportunities, and achieve a better understanding of the career they would like to pursue. The Women & Gender Studies department is constantly expanding its public and private partnerships locally and nationally. To learn more about these opportunities, feel free to make an appointment to talk with a faculty member.

Field Service Placements

CHILD, Inc. - Domestic Violence Advocacy Program: This program helps to empower victims of domestic violence by guiding them through the Family Court system as they seek protection from their abusive partners.

CHILD, Inc. - Family Visitation Center: This program provides supervised exchanges for off-site visitation, or monitored on-site visitation for children from homes where there has been domestic violence or sexual abuse.

Wilmington Police Department - Victim Services Unit:  The Victim Services Unit of the Wilmington Police Department is staffed by social workers and Certified DV Specialists. The staff works closely with the police, following up with victims of domestic violence. The services provided by the unit include crisis and supportive counseling, information, referral and advocacy within the criminal justice system. Additionally, the staff provides victims with court accompaniments, assisting them in pressing charges, and intercedes on their behalf with the prosecution and probation departments.

People's Place - SAFE (Shelter Advocacy Freedom & Empowerment): SAFE provides a safe environment, shelter, and support for women and children in domestic violence situations in Kent and Sussex Counties. Emergency shelter (45 days) in a safe supportive environment is provided. In addition to providing shelter, family therapy, case management and transition services are provided, helping families to establish a new safe home environment on their own with improved skills and resources.

State of Delaware Department of Correction - New Castle Probation and Parole, Domestic Violence Unit: The Department of Correction's mission is to protect the public by supervising adult offenders through safe and humane services, programs and facilities. Students in this practicum will work with both DV survivors and offenders. Students will also gain experience in both family and criminal court. Students will serve roughly 60 survivors per summer through their work with the Victim Services Advocate. In this capacity, the student will provide advocacy, support, information and guidance to victims on the continuum of victims serviced within the criminal justice system. Students will also interact with offenders as they work with and receive training from State Parole Officers.

State of Delaware Department of Justice - Victim Witness Assistance Program: The mission of the Department of Justice is to enforce the laws of the state in a fair, efficient and effective manner, and provide legal services to State agencies, boards, commissions, officials and the public. The Victim Witness Assistance Program is part of the Criminal Division of the Department. Victim Service Staff, whether Specialists or Social Workers, work on the team with prosecutors, paralegals and investigators to prosecute criminal charges in either Superior Court, the Court of Common Pleas, and Family Court. Victim Service Staff help meet this mission by providing services to victims and witnesses of crime so that they can fully participate in the criminal case.

Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence: DCADV is the statewide, nonprofit coalition of agencies and individuals working to stop domestic violence in Delaware. DCADV works in partnership with direct service providers, government officials, and business and community partners to promote equality in relationships and strive to alter the social conditions that allow violence and abuse to occur.