These days, women and girls remain vulnerable to violence and exploitation. In the news, we often hear about cases of abuse of women in their homes, in their workplace, and in public places.
To address this concern, the The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc., established the Haven – National Center for Women. In this article, we shall discuss all about this center — its vision and mission, target clients, programs, services, and more.
What is the Haven – National Center for Women
The Haven – National Center for Women is a 24-hour residential care facility that provides temporary shelter, care, and protection to women who are victims of gender-based violence. These are women, aged 18 to 59 years old, who have been abandoned, abused, maltreated, and/or exploited. They need protection and other services that will promote their healing and recovery.
In addition, the Haven serves as a substitute “home care” for women. It provides direct interventions to women victims of gender-based violence or those who are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.
Notably, the Haven – National Center for Women admitted its first clients on August 25, 1995. It was officially inaugurated on September 30, 1995, with then President Fidel V. Ramos as the guest of honor.
Vision and Mission
The Haven – National Center for Women envisions “a community where disadvantaged women are empowered to fulfill their rights and enjoy fundamental freedom.”
The Haven’s mission is “to provide protective and rehabilitative services, promote and protect the rights and welfare of disadvantaged women.”
Objectives
The main objective of the Haven is to enable disadvantaged women to restore their normal social functioning towards family reunification and community. It also seeks to enable them to resolve their problems and regain their self-worth and dignity through the provision of protective and rehabilitative services.
Specifically, the Haven aims to achieve the following:
- Provide a wide range of services for the care, protection, recovery, rehabilitation and development of disadvantaged women;
- Facilitate social preparation of disadvantaged women for eventual family reunification and community reintegration;
- Collaborate with stakeholders in advocating for the promotion and realization of the rights of disadvantaged women; and
- Serve as a source center for training, research, program development, and policy formulation related to residential care for disadvantaged women.
Target Clients
The target clients of the Haven – National Center for Women are women ages 18 to 59 years old, and their children ages below 7 years old, who need temporary shelter for protection and security reasons.
Located in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, the Haven caters to clients from cities and municipalities in Metro Manila.
Programs and Services
The Haven provides integrated and holistic services for women who are victims of gender-based violence, or those who are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. Its programs and services include:
- Individual and group counseling;
- Medical and legal assistance;
- Self-awareness sessions that will build women victim-survivors’ self-esteem;
- Stress reduction/crisis management sessions;
- Livelihood/entrepreneurship development;
- Spiritual enrichment; and
- Socio-cultural activities and other activities.
General Polices
Meanwhile, here are some general policies of the Haven regarding admission, length of stay, visitation, and discharge:
Admission
Women may be referred to the Haven by local government units (LGUs), government organizations (GOs), non-government organizations, law enforcement, people’s organizations, and concerned citizens. They will be assessed by a social worker to assess their eligibility for admission.
The following required documents must be prepared and submitted to the Haven prior to admission:
- Referral letter form referring agency;
- Social Case Study Report or Case Summary;
- Medical Certificate;
- Medico Legal results;
- Sworn Statement;
- Police Report/Complaint; and
- Birth Certificate.
The Haven will review the documents. Women who are found to be not eligible for admission will be referred to the appropriate agency.
Length of Stay
A woman’s length of stay in the Haven ranges between six months and one year, depending on the assessment of the social worker, and as reflected on her treatment/intervention plan. The length of stay will also depend on the woman’s behavior while at the center.
Visitation
Women at the Haven may be visited by their parents, siblings, relatives, and other next of kin. Visitation time is between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm every Tuesday and Thursday (and Saturday or Sunday, depending on the case). Visitors must present a valid ID and proof of affinity to the women before entry into the center.
Discharge
For each client, a pre-discharge conference will be done by the rehabilitation team, to assess her readiness as well as that of her family. A women’s case is considered terminated if any or a combination of the following conditions are met:
- The woman is assessed to have a better understanding of her problem and her capacity to cope with situations;
- The woman has shown capability to undertake every task and is hopeful about the future;
- Rehabilitation goals have been achieved, as planned; and
- For court-related cases, and Order of the Court indicating that the case is terminated has been received.
Upon termination, the social worker will facilitate the woman’s transfer or placement, as follows: reintegration to her family/relatives; job placement; independent living; or transfer to another center or institution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some frequently asked questions about the Haven – National Center for Women:
1. What is the Haven – National Center for Women?
The Haven – National Center for Women is a residential care facility that provides temporary shelter, care, and protection to women who are victims of gender-based violence, including those who have been abandoned, abused, maltreated, and/or exploited.
2. What are its vision and mission?
The Haven is envisioned to be a community where disadvantaged women are empowered to fulfill their rights and enjoy fundamental freedom. Its mission is to provide protective and rehabilitative services, as well as to promote and protect the rights and welfare of disadvantaged women.
3. Who are its target clients?
The target clients of the Haven are women ages 18 to 59 years old, and their children ages below 7 years old, who need temporary shelter for protection and security reasons.
4. What are its objectives?
The Haven’s general objective is to enable disadvantaged women to resolve their problems, regain their self-worth and dignity, and help prepare them for reintegration with their family and community.
5. How can I learn more about it?
You can learn more about the Haven by getting in touch with the facility through its contact details, which are given below.
Contact Information: Haven – National Center for Women
Address: NorthGate Ave., Filinvest Corporate City, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila
Telephone: 02 889 1412 / 807 1588
Email: hfw.foncr@dswd.gov.ph
Website: https://ncr.dswd.gov.ph/centers-and-institution/haven-for-women-hw/
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
Thanks to the Haven – National Center for Women, women who have been abandoned, abused, maltreated, and/or exploited can be protected as they work towards recovery, healing, and empowerment. Indeed, the center lives up to its name as a “haven” for disadvantaged women and their children!
As part of the department’s initiatives in dealing with cases of gender-based violence, the DSWD uses the Gender-Responsive Case Management (GRCM) model. Check out this article to learn more about this model of intervention!