Category Archives: COVID-19

COVID-19 Update

June 25, 2021

Women’s Resource Center
Serving: Barrington, Warren, Bristol, Little Compton, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, East Providence, Newport and Jamestown.

  • Staff is communicating at this time via phone, text and video to continue to deliver core services and meet client needs.
  • We are holding phone and video conference meetings with managers, caseworkers, support staff, team members and board members to keep the lines of communication open and manage our operations.
  • Our website and social media platforms have the support and hotline phone numbers prominently displayed and communicated, and direct anyone in danger to call 911.
  • We are working with law enforcement and social services in our area to ensure our referral phone numbers and other ways to contact our key staff members are known.
  • We are monitoring the wellbeing of families living in our shelters to ensure their counseling and support needs are being met.
  • Our Newport office has resumed in-person services. Procedures are as follows:
    • Advocates are available 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays.
    • We ask all drop-in and restraining order clients to call first to schedule an appointment so staff is able conduct a health screening prior to entering the office. Same day appointments are likely available. All appointments will be 45 minutes long to allow time afterward to clean and disinfect areas.
    • Our waiting areas are not open at this time. We require all visitors to wear face masks and utilize our hand sanitizer before entering the building. An advocate will direct you to our meeting room where there is a plexiglass shield for your safety.
    • If you do not feel comfortable entering the office, we have advocates available for resources, support and safety planning over the phone. Additionally, our advocates can assist with filling out restraining order paperwork over the phone. 

Current services being offered are:

  • Hotline: 401-846-5263 
  • Court advocacy
  • Law enforcement advocacy
  • Counseling
  • Support group
  • Shelter
  • Transitional housing
  • Family Violence Option Advocacy Program (FVOAP)
  • Prevention services

If you are unable to talk on the phone, email us at info@wrcnbc.org, or reach out using the Contact Us form on our website and someone will be in touch.

COVID-19 Crisis: No Person Left Behind

Message from the Interim Executive Director

March 17, 2020

Dear Friends:

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has hit home locally, and the Women’s Resource Center has responded by transitioning to remote services, effective yesterday.

This means that staff in our Newport and Warren offices are working remotely from home in an effort to stem the spread of the virus to other staff members, their families, clients and the broader community.

Health concerns are our top priority, as is ensuring those affected by domestic violence can continue to get the help they need.

Rest assured, we remain available to support anyone experiencing domestic violence in our communities throughout Bristol and Newport Counties.

It’s a critical time because we want no person left behind when it comes to dealing with intimate partner violence.

  • Staff is communicating at this time via phone, text and video to continue to deliver core services and meet client needs.
  • We are holding phone and video conference meetings with managers, case workers, support staff, team members, and board members to keep the lines of communication open and manage our operations.
  • Anyone visiting our office locations in Newport or Warren will be directed via signage to call our Domestic Violence Crisis Support and Shelter Hotline phone numbers.
  • Our website and social media platforms have the support and hotline phone numbers prominently displayed and communicated, and direct anyone in danger to call 9-1-1.
  • We are working with law enforcement and social services in our area to ensure that our referral phone numbers and other ways to contact our key staff are known.
  • We are monitoring the well-being of families living in our shelters to ensure their counseling and support needs are being met.

As this is a stressful time for all, it can also be a time for increased situational intimate partner violence to occur. Now more than ever, people and families seeking our help will need someone to talk to, a safe haven to turn for assistance and sheltering, and the very best in counseling services that we can provide.

Some of our sources of funding and support have been disrupted, ie. our annual fundraiser has had to get postponed. Please consider helping us continue our important and critical mission and meet the demand for our services. Even a small amount can help us to provide:

  • Counseling
  • Advocacy
  • Law Enforcement Liaison Work
  • Shelter Program
  • Hotline Call Staffing
  • And More

Your donation – in whatever amount – is much appreciated by us and those we serve.

Thank you for your continued support of WRCNBC.

In solidarity,

Jessica Walsh
Interim Executive Director

Critical update: Transitioning to Remote Services

To our clients and community,

We have been closely monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation. We are deeply concerned about the health and safety of our clients and broader community.

In an effort to slow the spread of the virus, and to ensure that our staff are healthy and able to provide supports to those experiencing domestic violence in our community throughout this public health crisis, we have made the very difficult decision to transition to remote services starting Monday, March 16.

We are still here to support anyone experiencing domestic violence in our community!

We will use phone, text, email, and video to continue to meet client needs. Please reach out using the phone numbers or email below, and we will work with you to establish the form of remote communication and support that works best for you.

Here are our phone numbers:
Domestic Violence Crisis Support: 401-846-5263
Shelter Hotline: 1-866-236-2474

If you are unable to talk on the phone, email us at: info@wrcnbc.org and someone will be in touch.

Always remember, if you are in danger, call 911.
We will keep you updated as this situation evolves.

Please stay safe and well,
The Team at the WRC