Coastal Conversations
Some people find their life’s work almost by accident. Claudia Ratzlaff found hers nearly 40 years ago and never looked back.
When she joined what was then the Atlantic County Women’s Center, now known as AVANZAR, in 1986, she began a career dedicated to standing beside survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, helping them rebuild their lives when everything else had been taken from them.
Over the next four decades, she helped guide the organization through tremendous growth, ultimately serving as its chief executive officer before retiring in June 2026. Her leadership helped transform AVANZAR into one of the region’s most vital safety nets, providing survivors with not only emergency shelter and crisis support, but also a pathway toward safety, dignity and independence.
I spoke with Claudia about AVANZAR’s remarkable growth over the years, the challenges survivors continue to face today, and what it will take for our community to keep showing up for those who need us most. This conversation is especially meaningful as it reflects on her extraordinary career and the legacy she leaves following her recent retirement.
Before we get to that, mark your calendar: on Friday, Aug. 7, from 6 to 10 p.m., AVANZAR will celebrate “51 Years of Empowerment” at The Wave at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino. Guests can enjoy an evening of delicious food, a cash bar, chef-crafted cocktail and mocktail tastings, live music and basket raffles, all while supporting AVANZAR’s ongoing mission to empower survivors and strengthen our community. Get tickets here: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/w78Tfw?vid=1rcmmr.
Here are some excerpts from our Coastal Conversation:
AS: What inspired you to pursue a career in advocacy and nonprofit leadership, and what led you to become CEO of AVANZAR?
CR: I always felt compelled to be an advocate for vulnerable populations and decided to pursue a degree in social work. I had the opportunity to work at the New Lisbon Developmental Center for a year and then came to The Atlantic County Women’s Center, now AVANZAR, in 1986.
AS: For readers who may not be familiar with AVANZAR, can you tell us about the organization’s mission and the communities it serves?
CR: AVANZAR works to fulfill a mission to empower individuals and families by working to secure their physical safety, emotional well-being, individual freedom and economic equality. We are the lead agency in Atlantic County for domestic violence and sexual assault victim services. We provide workforce development services in Atlantic and Mercer counties, early childhood education support services through the Grow New Jersey Kids Technical Assistance in seven southern counties and statewide services for child victims of human trafficking.
AS: AVANZAR has evolved significantly over the years. How has the organization grown, and what are some of the most important services it provides today?
CR: Our core services throughout our history are 24/7 crisis hotline for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, emergency shelter, transitional housing, advocacy services and counseling. We have added programs such as PALS- Peace A Learned Solution for child victims of domestic violence and their non-offending parents, Abuse Intervention Program services seeking to end recidivism of offenders of domestic violence, sexual violence prevention services that focuses on supporting the community to promote healthy relationships among young people. Our most recent addition is a housing readiness program that focuses on supporting individuals to gain and retain housing through advocacy and individualized support.
AS: Domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking remain critical issues. What are some of the biggest challenges survivors face when seeking help?
CR: Economic and housing insecurity keeps vulnerable families from achieving personal safety and sustainable self-sufficiency.
AS: How does AVANZAR work to empower survivors and help them rebuild their lives?
CR: Through client centered trauma informed programming that provides unconditional positive regard to all, offering information, resources and referrals for necessary wrap around services, advocating for them within systems and assisting them to see choices that are available to them.
AS: What role do community partnerships play in advancing AVANZAR’s mission?
CR: We could not succeed without a community of service. No one organization can do it all and Atlantic County as a committed community of organizations and individuals working to improve the quality of life for all.
AS: Can you share a success story or accomplishment that highlights the impact AVANZAR has had in our region?
CR: The success story is AVANZAR’s story. A 51-year history of answering the hotline, providing free and confidential services, shelter and crisis outreach to area hospitals, police stations, and family and municipal courts. Countless individuals and families have been supported in their darkest hours because the community supports the work we do.
AS: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the future of AVANZAR, and how can the community support its mission?
CR: AVANZAR is looking to expand our reach by adding volunteers, and individual and corporate donors to ensure our work can move forward. We need the community to partner with us to end interpersonal violence.
With Claudia at the helm, it’s easy to see why AVANZAR has been trusted by this community for more than five decades. Her steady, unwavering commitment to survivors reflects the spirit of the organization itself, one built on showing up, again and again, for people in their hardest moments. A heartfelt thank you to Claudia Ratzlaff for sharing her time and her insight into the work AVANZAR does every single day. If you’re looking for a way to give back locally, her closing message says it best: this is work that takes an entire community, and there’s a place in it for all of us.
Coastal Conversations highlights people in our community who are making a meaningful impact. If you know someone who would be a great fit for a future column, please contact me at ShoreCoastalConversations@gmail.com.
From the shore to your door, let’s keep the conversation going.
