Middlesex County’s first Domestic Violence Conference will take place October 24-25, 2024. For more information, visit the Middlesex County Family Justice Center website.

24-Hr Hotline 732-249-4504 | We welcome relay calls Women Aware
| Hablamos Español

Women Aware

About

Message from the Chief Executive Officer

“The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.”

Women Aware is rooted in compassion for those we serve. Our initiatives grow out of the challenges survivors face as they negotiate safety for themselves and their children. Our exceptional team moves families beyond abuse by providing a safe refuge, comprehensive case management, counseling and legal advocacy. Our vision for a society where individuals can live free from violence and injustice motivated us to take the lead on establishing the Middlesex County Family Justice Center in downtown New Brunswick. All services are free and confidential. Our culturally-diverse staff speaks multiple languages, giving a voice to vulnerable populations.

We are changing lives. In a typical year, we shelter 250 women and children, serve an additional 2,000 men, women, and children in safety net programs, answer 7,000 hotline calls, and leverage over one million dollars in client assistance. We empower those along their journey offering hope for a brighter day, a better future.

The financial health of our agency remains strong. We remain committed to cost control and operating efficiencies. We will continue to be the cornerstone for safety, support, and hope for victim-survivors of domestic violence in Middlesex County.

Bio

Phyllis (Philly) Yonta, Chief Executive Officer, joined Women Aware in 2007. Formerly employed by the New Jersey State Police in the Victim Services Unit, she worked with the Division of Criminal Justice to provide statewide training on advanced techniques in the prosecution and investigation of domestic violence cases. She has been recognized by the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence, the New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs of GFWC, and Douglass College for her contributions in the field of domestic violence. Philly holds Master’s Degrees from Seton Hall and Rutgers University. In all of her endeavors, she hopes to partake in mishpat (God’s blessed society), where all are included and there is enough for everyone. Philly is happily married to Pastor Vincent Yonta.