Family Counseling Center

Stree Mukti Sanghatana has always been on the forefront trying to decimate violence against women by establishing regular networking channels with local and state level NGOs with the  common agenda of working on developing awareness about violence against women, the various redressals available, field level mobilization and intervention regarding gender equity and legal rights, conducting regular training and research for dissemination and policy changes. 

SDG compliance :

SMS’s many activities align with the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations. Our FCCs address the following SDGs in particular:

 Case work process :

The counselling process followed by all FCC is as follows :

• Step 1 Registration
• Step 2 Counseling
  Step 3 Letter to respondent
• Step 4 Respondent counseling
• Step 5 Individual and Joint counseling
• Step 6 Reconciliation/Legal recourse

Counseling activity : 

The core activity of Family Counseling Centre (FCC) program was initiated as an outcome of the phenomenal awareness created through our play ‘Mulgi Zali Ho’. Annually, our Family Counseling Centers (FCCs) assist 2,500 survivors of domestic violence through intervention-based counseling. Beyond counseling, we provide emotional support to survivors to develop coping skills, helping them access services like medical, police, legal, livelihood training, child custody, and temporary shelter. Our trained counselors and volunteers also work with all involved families (survivors, respondents, and their families) to find amicable resolutions.

Community awareness activity : 

Community support and networks are key to preventing gender-based violence. We conduct over 150 annual outreach activities, reaching 15,000+ participants, to sensitize communities. These interventions educate masses on legal rights, substance abuse consequences, mental health, child rights, and gender equity through interactive discussions, poster exhibitions, street plays, and film screenings.

Youth awareness activity : 

Youth engagement helps young people build self-identity, understand social expectations, and fosters belonging and community investment through participation. Interactive activities cover topics like relationship management, sexuality education, legal/constitutional rights, and de-addiction.

Community counsellor program :

The Community Counsellor program strengthens informal community leaders by providing them with a year-long training program (one session per month). This equips them with the information, skills, and capabilities to effectively respond to domestic/gender-based violence, guide survivors, and refer them to our centers.

Stake holder training : 

Stakeholder training is a key part of our Family Counseling Center’s work. It focuses on equipping various stakeholders (including fieldworkers in local & common networks, other counselors, and government officers) with essential skills to negotiate and prevent conflicts from escalating.

Local and common NGO Network:

The Family Counseling Centers aim to strengthen local NGO and activist networks to promote gender equity and equality. These collaborations build capacity, help address systemic issues, and allow NGOs to combine resources for greater impact.

Community meetings

Poster exhibitions

Outreach programs

Awareness through film/documentary shows

Local and common network meetings

Youth awareness

Local and common NGO Network:

One of the core objectives of the Family Counseling centres is too strengthen collaborations of local network of NGOs and activists, build capacities of local network members and give momentum for promoting gender equity & equality. Such networks also help in addressing local/common systemic issues requiring coordinated efforts. Networking also allows for NGOs to combine their resources, skills to amplify influence. 

The basic premise for functioning of Stree Mukti Sanghatana’s FCC is to :

• Mitigate/protect women from domestic/societal/state violence.

• Arrange temporary shelter for women facing domestic violence/gender based violence

• Seek systemic interventions for redressal of gender based violence/gender based violence. 
• Create awareness through legal literacy.

• Work towards empowerment of women to bring about holistic development of women in the society.

• Initiate social interventions in event of  violence against women/gender based violence. 

• Assist individuals with their personal/social problems.

• Conduct awareness campaigns for prohibition of dowry, gender sensitization, marriage registration, premarital counseling, effective parenting, legal literacy, women’s health and nutrition, nurture mental health, female feticide, etc.

• Provide internship opportunities to students from different academic streams to orient them about magnitude of gender based violence and various redressals available to them. 

• Provide vocational guidance and arrange for vocational training and employment for needy youth/women. Support other women’s organizations doing similar work.

• Guide, train and support organisations/activists interested in establishing counseling centers.

• Advocate self-reliance and create a supporting ecosystem for women.

• Develop theories and interpret different perspectives on gender based violence.

• Organise sensitization programs on issues and laws related to women.

• To provide a common platform for stakeholders to connect on common issues and to arrange for meetings/workshops/trainings for the same.