Benedict Center, Inc.

The Benedict Center provides services and advocacy for justice-involved women so they can live safer and healthier lives for themselves, their children, and the community.  Each year, 200 women are referred to the Women's Harm Reduction Program as a community-based treatment alternative to incarceration.  Participants learn the tools, practice the skills, and receive the support they need through mental health and substance abuse treatment as well as parenting classes, adult education, and employment services.  At the Milwaukee County House of Correction, we serve 250 women per year through our Women's Reentry Program.  Women begin the healing journey with a specially-designed curriculum to begin addressing trauma, addiction, and interpersonal violence.  They increase skills through cognitive behavioral therapy, parenting, employment, and mindfulness classes.  Women also create individualized reentry plans.  The Sisters Program helps over 400 women per year engaged in street-based sex work, including trafficking.  The Sisters Program provides a harm-reduction approach that includes street outreach and two drop in centers where women can begin their healing journey.  The Community Justice Program and our direct services are mutually reinforcing efforts.  Our agency advocates for best practice and cost-effective policies for women in the criminal justice system.  We focus on a public health approach that helps women address issues including violence, trauma, poverty and addiction while treating them with dignity and respect.

Mission: An Interfaith nonprofit agency committed to achieving a system of criminal justice in the greater Milwaukee community that operates fairly and treats everyone with dignity.