about us

YWCA Clark County, founded in 1916, is a mission-driven, multi-service organization dedicated to empowering women, preventing violence and eliminating racism and other forms of oppression. Each year, YWCA Clark County serves over 10,000 women, children, youth and men, including victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse; youth aging out of foster care; homeless preschool children; and women in jail. Through direct service, education and advocacy, YWCA Clark County strives to build a community of peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.

YWCA Clark County is affiliated with YWCA USA, the oldest and largest women's membership movement in the United States. Three hundred and twenty-three YWCAs operate across the country, representing approximately 2 million women, girls and their families. The movement's mission is to empower women and girls and to eliminate racism. This is the guiding principle for all YWCA programs.

These pages introduce you to the many facets of our organization, including our programs and services. We invite you to learn about us, and join the YWCA family! To gain some general information about us and learn about our specific services, please visit the what we do page. If you are interested in learning more about our organization's history in Clark County, visit the history page.

Our Mission

The Mission of YWCA Clark County
is to build a community of peace, justice,
freedom and dignity for all people.

The YWCA focuses on empowering women,
preventing violence and eliminating oppression.

Quality Assurance
YWCA Clark County strives to provide the highest quality services possible and to treat all participants, volunteers, staff and supporters with ultimate respect for individual choice and diversity. If you have a concern or compliment about our work, we would like to hear from you. Please provide us with your comments in one of the following ways:
• Place a comment in one of our two suggestion boxes, located in the community office lobby and at the SafeChoice shelter
• E-mail qualityassurance@ywcaclarkcounty.org
• Mail to:
Attn: Quality Assurance
YWCA Clark County
3609 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98663

YWCA USA

MISSION: The YWCA USA is a women's membership movement nourished by its roots in the Christian faith and sustained by the richness of many beliefs and values. Strengthened by diversity, the YWCA draws together members who strive to create opportunities for women's growth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. The YWCA will thrust its collective power toward the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, and by any means necessary.

YWCA USA

YWCA Northwest Regional Council

World YWCA

VISION: A fully inclusive world where justice, peace, health, human dignity, freedom and care for the environment are promoted and sustained through women’s leadership.
PURPOSE: The World YWCA unites national associations in a worldwide women’s volunteer membership movement. Inspired by the Christian faith, the purpose of the World YWCA is to develop the leadership and collective power of women and girls around the world to achieve human rights, health, security, dignity, freedom, justice and peace for all people.

World YWCA