Our Programs
What we believe...
The Asha Project, Inc. (Asha) believes in the existence and provision of culturally specific methods to better address the elimination of gender-based violence including the sexual exploitation of women and children in African American communities. Our belief is that in order to adequately address family and intimate partner violence and promote healthy living, we must address the truths of historical and daily life trauma experiences of the community. Further, we believe that we must simultaneously confront intersecting racialized socioeconomic and other factors that contribute to or aggravate violence and abuse between intimates, in homes and in the community.
Anger management and Parenting Classes
Here at The Asha Project, we take a non-judgmental approach with self enrolled and mandated anger management and parenting class. Our classes are crafted to fit your cultural and gendered needs. We're here to help and serve!
Human Sex Trafficking Help
When you are ready to get out of the trap of sex trafficking and exploitation, contact an advocate today. We can help!
About Us
Who we serve
- Victims and survivors of domestic/sexual violence
- Sex trafficking victims
- Abusers/Harm doers
- Families of victims/survivors.
- While we are culturally responsive to African American women survivors, we work with many people regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality or disability.
How Asha arrived at End Abuse WI
The Asha Project, formerly Asha Family Services, Inc. (Asha) is a unique and distinct entity at the DV state coalition, End Domestic Abuse WI as of January, 2017. Asha's work began in 1988 in the city of Milwaukee and is founded by Antonia A Drew Vann, now Norton who continues to lead its program design, development and services. Asha continues as the state of Wisconsin's first African American, culturally specific domestic abuse victim serving organization in WI and is also one of the first such organizations in the United States. Asha has a long distinct and rich history of providing culturally responsive, trauma informed programs and services, amassing numerous awards and recognitions for its pioneering work including influencing changes in policy and practice.
History
The Asha Project (Formally Asha Family services) began providing its services as follows:
- Sex Trafficking Victim Services 1988
- Domestic and Sexual Violence (DV/SA) Victim safety services-1989.
- Children who witness violence services-1990.
- Children’s DV safety groups in Schools-1993 to 2007
- DV/SA Victim Case management- 1989
- DV Community Education – 1989
- In Prison Support Groups for female victim services,
- In Prison Education Groups for men, 1990,
- Opened victim offices in District Attorney’s Office 1992 to 2002,
- Crisis Intervention Team with MPD District 5 Police Station 1995-97
- Ujima Men’s Program 1994, a non-traditional abuser treatment program culturally specific to African American men who abuse and batter women.
- State licensed Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Clinic-1995-2012
- Opened Victim services offices in Madison, WI.
- Healthy Beginnings Project (Black Health Coalition of WI) Asha DV/SA, substance abuse and mental health counselor see pregnant women in Milwaukee County Jail-1995-2005.
- HIV and STD testing, treatment and prevention – 1999-2011 State of WI
- Transitional Housing for women released from Prison-2006 to 2010,
- Transitional Housing (long-term) for victims of Domestic, Sexual and Dating Violence and their children who are homeless due to victimization-2007-2010,
- Employment training and skill building. Sistahs’ Café & Deli– 2008-2011 - under redevelopment.
- We are constantly adding new services guided by the needs of the community. Contact us today for more information.
About Us
Who we serve
- Victims and survivors of domestic/sexual violence
- Sex trafficking victims
- Abusers/Harm doers
- Families of victims/survivors.
- While we primarily serve African American women and men, we work with many people regardless of race, religion, gender, sexuality or disability.
Why is there a need for culturally specific programming?
Many underlying problems such as poverty, which later manifest themselves in drug and alcohol dependency, domestic and sexual violence, incarceration and child abuse and neglect are often times socio-culturally anchored. As a result, when traditional agencies and methods attempt to meet the needs of some individuals and families from the African American community, the underlying currents, which are actually factors in the cause of the problems, are not adequately addressed, understood or even respected. The issue of domestic violence is complex within the African American community. This complexity is further compounded by problems along racial lines, historical trauma and discrimination, a lack of access to services in the community, and providers' inadequate cultural knowledge of daily issues for victims of abuse residing in the community.
Key Programs
Programs are trauma informed and culturally responsive to African American populations age 18 and up
- Domestic Abuse victim/survivor crisis services that includes Safety Planning, Lethality Assessment, Intake and more.
- Domestic Abuse Case Management services that includes survivor driven goals and safety.
- Domestic Abuse victim/survivor case management services for older African Americans aged 50 plus.
- Sex trafficking survivor services.
- Ujima Men’s Program a non-traditional abuser treatment program culturally specific to African American men who abuse and harm women.
- Temporary Housing (long-term) for victims of Domestic, Sexual and Dating Violence and their children who are homeless due to victimization.
- We are constantly adding new services guided by the needs of the community. Contact us today for more information.
