In 1974, the New Jersey Division on Women (DOW) was established as a pioneering state agency for women’s advocacy throughout the State. Today, DOW is proud to continue the tradition of advocating for women’s rights and opportunities through the funding of organizations, agencies and programs that provide a variety of services to the women of New Jersey.

To create, promote and expand the rights and opportunities for all women in the State of New Jersey.

The Division conducts research leading to public policy to support the development, coordination and evaluation of programs and services for women.

DOW is comprised of the Office on the Prevention of Violence Against Women (OPVAW) and the Office on Women’s Policy & Research, Support, Education, Employment & Training unit (OWPRSET). DOW's dedicated staff develops, promotes, and expands women’s rights in the areas of poverty and welfare, employment and wages, work and family, the economic and social aspects of healthcare, violence against women, and women’s civic and political participation in their communities.

OPVAW provides legislative analysis, public education and policy and program development on issues of violence against women, including domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence and sexual harassment. OPVAW currently administers and/or provides funding for the following projects:

• Advisory Council on Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board
• Police Domestic Violence Reimbursement Grant
• Governor’s Advisory Council Against Sexual Violence
• Rape Care & Prevention Program
• Sexual Violence Primary Prevention Program
• Women’s Shelter Grants

OPVAW’s Rape Care & Prevention Program funds the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, SCREAM Theater at Rutgers University and 21 county sexual violence programs that provide individual and group counseling services; 24-hour sexual assault crisis and information hotlines and 24-hour accompaniments with rape survivors through medical, law enforcement and court proceedings. These sexual violence programs also provide prevention and education activities in their schools and communities.

OWPRSET promotes researched based policy decision making, monitors legislation that affects the interests of women, presents oral or written testimony at legislative hearings, and develops new legislation and other policy initiatives in conjunction with coalitions, organizations and other governmental agencies. The OWPRSET presently administers and/or provides funding for the following projects:

• Deployed Military Spouses Assistance Program
• Displaced Homemaker Centers
• Hispanic Women Demonstration Resource Centers
• Job Training Centers for Urban Women
• New Jersey Women’s Micro-Business Credit Program
• NJ Advisory Commission on the Status of Women
• NJ WomenCount
• The Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline
• Women’s Referral Central Hotline

The OWPRSET assists thousands of women in attaining economic self-sufficiency through Displaced Homemaker Centers, Hispanic Women Demonstration Resource Centers and Job Training Centers for Urban Women; these centers offer supportive counseling, workshops, computer literacy training, help in job placement, as well as English As A Second Language (ESL) classes and other services that meet the needs of eligible women.