Since early 2007, a collaborative group including representatives from United Way of Westmoreland County, Blackburn Center, Seton Hill University, YWCA of Westmoreland County and Westmoreland Commission for Women and Families has been committed to improving the status of women in Westmoreland County.   The initial work of this collaborative included developing a comprehensive research report that examined the status of women with regard to pay equity, poverty, leadership, health and well-being and violence.  The report was released at the Status of Women in Westmoreland County Summit, which was attended by approximately 200 business, public sector and nonprofit leaders.  

To read the full report, click here.

See Prayer Breakfast Financial Stability Presentation, click here

Current Initiatives
 
The Status of Women Summit was just the beginning of this work.  A vision and short-term goals have been developed to improve the status of women.
 
To read the vision and short-term goals for the Status of Women in Westmoreland County, click here.
 
The project team has developed committees to develop strategies that address two of the issues highlighted in the report:  reducing the number of female-headed households living in poverty and women in leadership roles.  Additionally, the project team continues its efforts to raise awareness and action around improving the status of women, most specifically through a newly organized Status of Women Speakers' Bureau.
 
A corps of trained volunteer speakers is available to make presentations to organizations, businesses and community groups about the status of women report.    Speakers present the research findings and provide an update on current activities with the goal of helping organizations become more aware of the status of women and what we can all do to improve it.  The half-hour presentations emphasize that these issues are important to our entire community and that improving the status of women enhances the overall health and well-being of everyone in Westmoreland County.
 
Some key findings include:

• The median salary for Westmoreland County women is 75.3% of the county male median.
• In 2006, 41% of female-headed households in Westmoreland County lived at or below the poverty level.
• 84% of Westmoreland County older adults living in poverty are women.
• Women hold just 5% of corporate leadership positions in larger companies in Westmoreland County.
• 62% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police, and even so, the local domestic and sexual violence center provided over 12,000 hours of counseling and 4,364 days of emergency shelter last year.

To schedule a presentation at the group's convenience or learn more about the Status of Women in Westmoreland County Speakers' Bureau, please call 724.834.7170, ext. 30.

Resources for Members of the Status of Women in Westmoreland County Speakers' Bureau

Trained Status of Women speakers can access report forms and evaluations online.

To access the Speakers' Bureau presentation report, click here.

To access the Speakers' Bureau evaluation, click here.

For a list of 12 Things You Can Do to Improve the Status of Women in Westmoreland County, click here.