AWARE’s story began in 1969 with the filing of its Articles of Incorporation, but it wasn’t until 1977 that the organization found its true purpose. A group called the Jackson Area Council for Battered Women emerged, driven by a commitment to address family violence, support victims, and fill a void in local resources. Recognizing the need for an established agency to secure funding and provide structured support, the Council collaborated with the Jackson Area Substance Abuse Clinic, and in December 1977, AWARE — Abused Women’s Assistance and Resources — was born.

In those early days, AWARE operated with a 24-hour crisis line, one dedicated staff member, and a network of passionate volunteers who offered face-to-face crisis intervention, emergency food, and safe housing through volunteer homes. By February 1978, this commitment had evolved into a coordinated network known as HELPLINE, which offered expanded information and referral services across Jackson County.

In 1978, one of AWARE’s founders, Wanda Goetz-Beiswenger, obtained funding from multiple sources, including a grant from the Jackson YWCA Trust Fund, to remodel a building for a dedicated shelter. This critical milestone provided a safe haven for battered women and marked a turning point in AWARE’s ability to offer lasting support to survivors.

With community support from organizations like the Jackson Community Foundation, the Weatherwax Foundation, and others, AWARE moved to its permanent home at 706 W. Michigan Avenue in 1997. Over the years, AWARE expanded its services to meet the evolving needs of the community, adding sexual assault counseling in 1980, legal advocacy in 1996, and opening the Jackson County Family Visitation Center in 2012. Today, AWARE remains a vital force for change and hope, committed to empowering survivors and fostering a community free from domestic and sexual violence.