About Us
Imagine creating positive change
For 30 years, THE PROGRAM for Women & Families has been providing women offenders, their children and at-risk youth with opportunities to build healthy and productive lives. We teach life skills, provide support and hope, and offer opportunities for success. Underlying our work is the belief that individuals should be treated with dignity and respect. Ultimately, those we serve create positive change in their own lives and in our community.
By educating and supporting women offenders, their children and at-risk youth, we help to make Lehigh Valley communities a better place to live by:
- reducing crime and delinquency
- improving livability in our urban neighborhoods
- reducing unemployment among the under-skilled and under-educated
- promoting self-sufficiency by strengthening our communities’ most vulnerable families
THE PROGRAM for Women & Families, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, is the only nonprofit organization in the Lehigh Valley that addresses the special needs of women transitioning out of the criminal justice system. The agency was founded in 1980 as THE PROGRAM for Female Offenders of the Lehigh Valley. We changed our name in 1993 to THE PROGRAM for Women & Families to emphasize our belief that the women we serve achieve greater success when the needs of other family members, especially their children, are addressed.
Each year we serve close to 2,000 individuals with more than 50,000 hours of direct service. Our success is due in part to the dedication and support of our board of directors, donors, volunteers and staff. We have an important strategic partnership with Lehigh County, operating its work release facility for women — the Women’s Residential Community Center. We collaborate with many local service providers to offer our clients comprehensive services and an extensive referral network.