ABOUT PADA

People Against Domestic & Sexual Abuse of Jefferson County, Inc. (PADA) has been in the Jefferson community for over 25 years.  PADA originated in 1978 as Women Reaching Women, which at the time was primarily a grass-roots organization dedicated to helping women with substance abuse issues.  In 1988, a domestic abuse component was added to the organization’s mission.  Over time, the organization evolved to focus primarily on domestic abuse.  In 1992 the organization was incorporated, and in 1995, the name was changed to People Against Domestic Abuse.  In 2004, PADA recognized the need to expand services to victims of sexual abuse and sexual assault.  We became People Against Domestic & Sexual Abuse (PADA) in 2004 and provide domestic and sexual abuse/assault intervention services.

PADA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.  Major funding comes from Jefferson County, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, United Way of Jefferson and North Walworth Counties, and United Way of Watertown.  PADA also relies on fundraising events, private donations and grants to cover the costs associated with our intervention services. 

PADA has 3.5 FTE employees; an Executive Director, Attorney Advocate, full-time Bi-Lingual Advocate, and Part-Time Advocate.  Volunteers assist with coverage of our 24-hour crisis line and other tasks.

PADA provides the following services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse in Jefferson County:

• 24-hour crisis line
• Individual Counseling
• Support Groups (in English and Spanish and for teens)
• Legal and other advocacy (including free legal representation)
• Sexual Assault Advocate Program (medical advocacy)
• Linkage to other community resources
• Community Education
• Emergency Housing

In addition, PADA is committed to providing age and/or culturally specific services to children and teens, victims of abuse in later life (elder abuse), and Hispanic/Latino victims of domestic and sexual abuse. 

Each year PADA takes a thousand or more crisis calls and serves several hundred individuals.  We are honored to be able to help people in our community and make Jefferson a great place for us all to live!