page_title: Women's Coalition of Milwaukee
section_title: Women's Crisis Line
hierarchical_section_title: Women's Coalition of Milwaukee / Projects / Women's Crisis Line
caption_attribution_description: English: wcl 1981
context_page_description: Women's Coalition of Milwaukee operated from 1972 to 1987 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was founded by individual members of Milwaukee's local National Organization for Women chapter. The Women's Coalition proposed to "serve as an advocate for women; to interpret to the community at large the special concerns and problems of women." The first original bylaws of this feminist organization is "To form a coalition of feminist groups ... to combat sex discrimination ... to provide assistance to new feminist groups and create alternative institutions within the women's movement ... to educate women regarding their legal rights, vocational possibilities and personal health ... to serve as an advocate for women; to interpret to the community at large the special concerns and problems of women."
context_section_description: The first project of the Women's Coalition of Milwaukee, still running today at Milwaukee's Good Samaritan Medical Center, was started to provide people with help that was not being given by other existing social services and was set up as a feminist institution. Approximately thirty volunteers served at all times to cover alternate four-hour shifts and all workers at the Women's Crisis Line were women. This was because the center was created for women and was therefore run by women; additionally these women could relate to the other women in need. The information provided by the callers and workers was used to identify where there was help needed in the community which then led to the formation of the Sexual Assault Counseling Unit, the Sexual Assault Treatment Center, and the Task Force on Battered Women. The crisis line was a successful first project for the Coalition because the Coalition bylaws strived "to develop alternative institutions within the women's movement." The center, being a feminist institution, also adapted a feminist philosophy as The Crisis Line's policy statement stated, "No matter what your personal views, when counseling, you should suggest all the alternatives to a particular woman's problem (non-sexist, of course) and leave the final decision up to her ... As women, we feel this society treats us with disrespect, treats us as if we are sick or crazy because we do not fit the mold they have made for us ... Women in this country for too long have had other people (men) make their decisions, and we will at no time perpetuate this ..." The Women's Crisis Line was not only helpful, it was successful. "In its first month of operation, the Crisis Line received 119 calls, and one year later, in January 1974, the monthly total reached  755. By mid-1977, the Crisis Line reported that the number of calls received each month averaged between 1,200 and 1,500. The major areas of concern expressed by callers included relationships, family conflicts, divorce, depression, legal issues, and pregnancy and other health concerns. Many callers sought referrals to local professional and social service providers knowing that Crisis Line staff made referrals only to those individuals and services with an established record of fair and sensitive treatment of women. Sexual assault accounted for 30–35 calls per month, and potential suicides constituted 10 calls each month."
  Due to gaining of momentum, idea of the Women's Crisis Line to go independent and break off from the Women's Coalition of Milwaukee stemmed from Crisis Line Director Karen Coy. The group wanted to become independent mainly because of financial reasons though not all members were in favor of the split. In May 1975 it became an independent organization but remained in close communication with the Women's Coalition of Milwaukee by continuing to work with them on other projects in the Milwaukee area. Though split, the Women's Coalition of Milwaukee is often referred to as the independent organization's 'mother' agency. The organization then transferred to the Counseling Center of Milwaukee as they found sponsorship in 1979 and later became affiliated with the Women's Health Institute at Good Samaritan Medical Center in 1986.
  The Women's Crisis Line not only helped the community, it also raised awareness which started other programs as a result. One of the programs that was created through the crisis line was the Sexual Assault Counseling Unit in the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office. Previously, there had been cases of officers of the Milwaukee Police Department being insensitive and even discriminatory when approaching cases of sexual assault. The tipping point of the Coalition was when Sharon Senese observed a police officer approach a victim of sexual assault saying "If women want to prevent rape, they should keep their legs crossed... How many rapes do you really think are rapes?". The Anti-Rape Council was then formed because of the initial efforts of Sharon Senese which influenced members of the Crisis Line, Coalition, NOW, League of Women 
caption: Chris Doerfler, Director of Women's Crisis Line 1981
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