The Women's Policy Institute's Domestic Violence Team with Assembly Member Mark Stone, Author of the bill

Did you know that when you support W.O.M.A.N. Inc., you can help to make an impact across the state of California? In addition to providing services to survivors of domestic violence in San Francisco and the Greater Bay Area, W.O.M.A.N. Inc. also advocates for public policies to improve systems that help survivors gain the resources they need to live lives free from violence.
 
W.O.M.A.N. Inc. is a proud sponsor of AB 1579, the Healthy Babies Act of 2014, which will be heard in the California State Senate Appropriations Committee this week, August 15, 2014. AB 1579 would allow low-income women to become eligible for CalWORKS benefits during the second trimester of pregnancy. Many of us think of pregnancy as a time of joy, however, for pregnant women who are experiencing domestic violence, it can also be a time when abuse escalates. UC San Francisco found that domestic violence is the single most common health problem seen amongst pregnant women, and this poses significant risks for both women and their infants.
 
This bill would provide greater financial resources for pregnant women experiencing domestic violence, giving them greater financial freedom to leave their abuser. W.O.M.A.N. Inc., own Mariya Taher, Community Liaison Manager, has been working hard to pass this bill, as a fellow with the Women’s Policy Institute.
 
Your support is crucial to our ability to advocate for public policies, in addition to providing services to survivors in our community including therapy, support groups and our 24-hour support line. Please consider supporting the work of W.O.M.A.N. Inc., to end domestic violence by making a gift of $25 today through Network for Good!



You can also show your support for AB 1579 by sending a letter to your state representative asking them to support this bill.
 
1) Call their office - If you live or work in one of the locations listed below, please call your Senator today. Your senator is a member of the appropriations committee and will be voting on it on Thursday, August 14th. Let them know you're in support! All calls and voice-mails will be counted! Let's show them this bill has a strong backing by enumerating their offices with calls by 1pm on Thursday, August 14th.
 
Locations: Los Angeles County, Yreka, Redding, Auburn, South Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Grass Valley, Folsom, Placerville, El Dorado Hills, Susanville, Quincy, Alturas, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Pacific, South San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Long Beach, San Fernando Valley, Orange County, Irvine.
 
You can learn who your senator is by clicking here. 
 
Thank you for all that you do for W.O.M.A.N. Inc., We could not do this work without you!
 
Sincerely,

 
Jill Zawisza
Executive Director