Who We Are > History
50 years of impact in the Southwest Ohio region
Founded in 1973, Women Helping Women (WHW) prevents gender-based violence and to empower all survivors.
WHW provides evidence-based prevention and expert crisis intervention and support services for survivors of dating violence, sexual violence, domestic violence and stalking in Hamilton and Butler, Ohio Counties (including sexual violence crisis services to Brown and Adams Counties).
WHW operates from a public health framework that operates under a survivor centric core value. WHW meets the needs of our region and serves over 7,000 clients annually.
1973-1979
Founders
- Jill Bley
- Lucy Crane
- Debbie Cripps
- Becky McKinney
- Linda Sattem
Executive Directors
Roxanne Qualls & Leonna Durham
Programs
- 24-Hour Hotline
- Support Groups
- Assertiveness & Self-Defense Training
- Speak Outs
- Public Speakers Bureau
- The Aid to Battered Women Project
- Hamilton County Rape Crisis Center
- Hospital Personnel Training
24-Hour Hotline Established
3,105 calls received in 1978 alone
1980-1989
Executive Directors
Helen Magers
Executive Directors
Ann MacDonald
Notable Event
1989: First national observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Notable Event
“She Screams Without Sound” vigil
Programs
- Rape Awareness Task Force
- Cincinnati Coalition on Domestic Violence
- Educational video called “Good Touch, Bad Touch”
- Support groups (including a men’s group)
- 24-hour hotline
- 56-hour Volunteer training
- Court Advocacy
- Speaker Series
- Partnership with Law Enforcement
1990-1999
Notable Events
- 1991: Rape is declared an epidemic of violence for the first time in public discourse due to a very sharp rise in reported rape cases
- 1994: The O.J. Simpson trial brings domestic violence to the forefront of popular culture, causing a surge in reports of Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Programs
- Annual Meetings
- Domestic Violence Court created
- Support Groups
- 24-hour hotline continued
- Partnership with Emergency Rooms
- Sunday Salons
1997-1999 Service Numbers
- 22,260 Services
- 17,300 Survivors
2000-2014
Executive Director
Kendall Fisher
Notable Events
2001: First national observance of Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Notable Events
- 2003: Women Helping Women re-brands to the Rape Crisis and Abuse Center of Hamilton County (RCAC)
- 2008: “Rape is not a defining word.” WHW changes name back to original name to empower survivors
- 2013: WHW opened its office in Butler County
2015 – Present
President & CEO
Kristin S. Shrimplin
Notable Events
- 2016: Establishes Rural Services in Brown and Adams Counties
- 2016: Establishes offices at University of Cincinnati & Miami University
- 2017: Opens office in Adams County, expanding services to both Adams and Brown Counties
Notable Events
- 2018: DVERT
- 2022: Launches Francie Garber Pepper Survivor Equity Fund
- 2023: 10 million Growth Campaign
- 2024: Expands to Clermont County
