Women and Children's Advocacy Network

History of WCAN

Our Roots

The origins of the Women and Children’s Advocacy Network (WCAN) are based in the Coalition for the Homeless. Beginning in 1990, the Coalition sponsored The Women’s Issues Committee and the Children and Youth Committee. These committees were comprised of community representatives who met on a monthly basis to address the needs of women and children experiencing homelessness. Beginning in 1997, both committees began holding annual forums for women and families in the homeless community. These forums provided participants with resource information as well as the opportunity to voice their concerns about the needs of those experiencing homelessness.
In 1998, the Women’s Issues Committee held a one-day women’s conference, “A Time for Me,” which offered informative workshops for women experiencing homelessness. That same year, the committee also put out “FeMail,” the first Street News newspaper in Louisville dedicated to issues involving homeless women. In 2001, the Women’s Issues Committee organized and hosted the first Health Conference for Women and Children Experiencing Homelessness.
The Children and Youth Committee devoted much effort to organizing Camp Golden Bear, an annual two-day camping event for single women and families experiencing homelessness that began in 1997. In 1998, the Children and Youth Committee also organized the first Family Fun Night for families to come together for a night of fun, food, and family activities. Passport Health Plan joined with the Children and Youth Committee in 2001 to plan “Zoo Safari,” a free day at the zoo for families experiencing homelessness. This is now an annual event that continues to thrive with the support of Passport.
When the Coalition for the Homeless restructured its organization in 2002, the Women Issues and Children and Youth Committees were disbanded. Representatives from both committees decided to combine their membership and continue the work they had been doing.
Representatives began meeting in January of 2003 to organize a new group that would focus on the needs of women and children in the community who are at the greatest risk. The “Women and Children’s Advocacy Network” (WCAN) was created from these meetings. We developed our mission and vision statements and statements of philosophy and purpose at our first WCAN retreat, held at the Kentucky Foundation for Women’s Hopscotch House in eastern Jefferson County. Our retreat has become an annual event when we reflect on our work, enrich our team effort, explore our creativity and plan for the upcoming year.
One of our first new events as an advocacy group was a Community Roundtable Discussion. This forum was held for professionals in August 2005 to identify gaps in services, share concerns, network and provide support. Over 44 agencies sent representatives to participate in the discussion. We presented the results of our survey to identify the needs of women and children experiencing homelessness and advocated for the development of a resource center for women and children.
Since January 2003, WCAN has organized and hosted annual health events for homeless women and families. These health events, based on the first Health Conference for Women and Children Experiencing Homelessness in 2001, have evolved to include partnerships with up to 40 other service providers in our community. We have partnered with Lens Crafters, Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, and Phoenix Health Center to provide women and children with free prescription and reading glasses. We continue to host, organize and staff our annual two-day overnight camp, Camp Golden Bear. We have partnered with many organizations in our community who have provided volunteers, food, camping items, and funds to help pay for the services and lodgings at Cedar Ridge Camp, the local camp facility where Camp Golden Bear is held.
Not only have we continued the work that we began, but we also continue to grow in our efforts and our commitment to serving women and children at risk in our community. It is our hope for the future to grow our membership and secure a sponsor