Providing safety, support and hope for more than 140 years
For more than 140 years, YWCA Mohawk Valley has been there for women and families in our region.
Founded in 1885, the organization has changed quite a bit over the years. For nearly 100 years, generations of area women knew the YWCA through its Cornelia Street location in Utica. It was a place for recreation, classes, girls’ groups and gathering, and it was also home to some of the area’s first rape crisis services.
Today, from its home at 7 Rutger Park, YWCA Mohawk Valley’s work is focused on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. It is difficult work, and the need continues to grow.
For someone experiencing violence, reaching out for help can be the beginning of a long road. YWCA advocates are there from that first call, helping with crisis intervention and safety planning, accompanying survivors to court, medical appointments and law enforcement proceedings, and helping them navigate systems that can feel overwhelming, especially while trying to heal and rebuild a life.
In 2025, YWCA Mohawk Valley answered more than 4,000 crisis calls and texts and provided more than 54,000 domestic and sexual violence services in Oneida and Herkimer counties.
The organization also operates two emergency domestic violence shelters in Oneida County. Last year, 63 people found safety through those shelters, and another 163 people were served through rapid re-housing programs that help individuals and families move toward stable housing.
Other services include short-term one-on-one therapy, survivor support groups, information and referrals, sexual assault services on college campuses and prevention education in area schools.
Children and families are also an important part of the work. YWCA Mohawk Valley operates the Herkimer
County Child Advocacy Center and supports the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center.
Prevention is another piece of the mission. Along with education and outreach, YWCA offers programs that
address abusive behavior. In 2025, 119 men participated in Crossroads, its 26-week offender program. All survivor services are free and confidential.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Each October, YWCA Mohawk Valley observes Domestic Violence Awareness Month, joining organizations across the country in raising awareness, supporting survivors and remembering those who have lost their lives to domestic violence.
Among the month’s signature events are Take Back the Night gatherings, which include a march, survivor speak-out and candlelight vigil. They are powerful evenings that give survivors a place to be heard and give the rest of us an opportunity to listen and better understand how domestic violence affects people in our own communities.
There are ways to support YWCA throughout the year, too. Attend one of its fundraisers, nominate someone for the annual Salute to Outstanding Women, help a survivor and their family during the holidays through Adopt a Family, purchase an item from the organization’s wish list or help spread the word about available services.
YWCA Mohawk Valley has served this area since 1885, and while its role has changed with the times, its presence here remains important.
