Our Mission
The Houston Area Women's Center helps individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence in their efforts to move their lives forward. We provide shelter, counseling and advocacy to support them in building lives free from the effects of violence. We seek social change to end domestic and sexual violence through community awareness and education. Our services are confidential and available to everyone.
Our Philosophy
The Houston Area Women’s Center embraces the feminist belief that all individuals should have equal access to political, legal, economic, and social rights. We strive to create a community, especially for women, that embraces diversity, recognizes oppression, promotes empowerment, and supports the right of all individuals to self - determination. We eagerly work for the day when violence against women is part of history rather than a part of our daily lives.
Our Services - always confidential and free of charge
Crisis Intervention - Hotline Services
Shelter and Support Services
Counseling and Advocacy
Children and Youth Services
Community Education
Volunteer and Professional Training
Crisis Intervention 24-Hour Hotline Services
We provide confidential support services and information for domestic and sexual violence survivors and their friends and family through two 24-Hour Hotlines. In 2008, our Domestic Violence Hotline assisted 39,137 survivors, friends, and family members, and our Sexual Assault Hotline served 2,921.
Domestic Violence Hotline 713-528-2121
TDD 713-528-3625 Toll Free 800-256-0551
-
Intake services for our shelter and counseling programs.
-
Information and referrals for survivors and their concerned friends and family members.
-
Immediate assistance in English and Spanish. Accommodates all other languages and the hearing impaired through a language line.
-
Outreach counseling and advocacy services provided for individuals with special needs.
-
Emergency transportation for domestic and sexual violence survivors to achieve personal safety.
-
Safe Harbour Program arranges temporary emergency shelter in the event that all local shelters are at capacity.
-
Domestic Violence Accompaniment Advocates (DVAA's) are on 24-hour call in order to accompany and advocate for survivors at local hospitals.
Sexual Assault Hotline 713-528-RAPE (7273)
TDD 713-528-3691 Toll Free 800-256-0661
-
Information, counseling and referrals for survivors of sexual violence and their concerned loved ones, including women, men, children, and youth.
-
Immediate assistance in English and Spanish. Accommodates all other languages and the hearing impaired through a language line.
-
Outreach counseling and advocacy services provided for individuals with special needs.
Sexual Assault Accompaniment Counselors (SAAC's) are on 24-hour call in order to accompany and advocate for survivors at local hospitals, police stations and courts.
Shelter & Support Services
Our 36,000 square feet, 125-bed shelter is dedicated to women and children victims of domestic violence. In 2008, we provided safe shelter and support services to 1,138 women and children.
Shelter Operations
Our Shelter is located at an undisclosed location and supports 24-hour surveillance and security personnel The day-to-day operations of our shelter are crucial in meeting the basic daily needs and the safety and security of all clients. The overall operations of our shelter require:
-
Security Services (safety of people and property)
-
Food Services (effective operations of kitchen and pantry
-
Building Services (maintenance and upkeep of buildings)
-
Safety & Risk Management (safety of daily operations)
-
Emergency Management (planning for all emergencies)
The Logistics
Living Quarters for 125 Clients
Counseling Services
-
Individual and Group Counseling services for women, youth, and children
-
Parenting education and support groups
Case Management, Career and Advocacy Services
-
Assistance with safety planning, goal setting, and referrals to additional community services
-
Housing advocacy and legal assistance and referral services provided during individual appointments and weekly informative meetings
-
Career Counselor provides assistance with skills assessment, career planning, financial assistance for education and training, life skills training, and obtaining proper attire for interviews and employment uniforms
Children and Youth Services
-
On-site early childhood daycare provided in the Sunshine Learning Center
-
Arrangements for HISD schooling
-
Children's Enrichment Programs- after school, field trips and events are organized for children of all ages.
On-site Health Clinic
Additional Amenities
-
Cafeteria style dining room serves three nutritious meals each day
-
Women's and Children's Libraries
-
Bench-lined Courtyard Garden
-
Covered Age-appropriate Play Areas
-
Friday-night Movies
-
Meditation Garden
Counseling & Advocacy
Our highly trained and compassionate counselors and advocates provide essential services to adult, child and youth survivors of domestic and sexual violence. We offer individual counseling and support group counseling options for adult and child survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and incest. Our groups serve adult and child survivors of domestic and sexual assault and/or sexual abuse, and witnesses to domestic violence. We also serve friends and family of adult survivors of sexual violence and the non-offending parents or caregivers of child survivors of sexual assault.
Domestic Violence Adult Counseling
We provided counseling to 2,439 adult survivors of domestic violence in 2008.
-
Individual and group counseling for all survivors of domestic violence
-
Adult & Child Counseling & Support Services
-
Outreach counseling and advocacy services provided for individuals with special needs.
Education/support groups for non-offending family and friends of survivors
-
Services provided in English and Spanish. Other languages accommodated
-
Provide expert testimony in civil and criminal cases
Sexual Assault and Adult Incest Survivors Counseling
We provided counseling to 3,046 adult survivors of sexual violence and their friends and family in 2008.
-
Individual and group counseling for all survivors of sexual violence, including some 12-week curriculum-based incest survivor groups.
-
Adult & Child Counseling & Support Services
-
Outreach counseling and advocacy services provided for individuals with special needs.
-
Services provided in English and Spanish. Other languages accommodated.
-
Education/support groups for non-offending family and friends of survivors
-
Provide expert testimony in civil and criminal case
-
Advocacy Services (Client, Housing and Legal)
In 2008, our Housing Advocacy provided for 635 adult and child clients.
-
Client Advocacy assists clients with information and access to other community resources and filing Victim Compensation claims.
-
Housing Advocacy assists clients in assessing housing options, including information and referral, access to transitional housing, affordable housing, and rental/utility assistance.
-
Legal Assistance works with clients to obtain information on legal rights and options, protective orders, and other legal information.
Children and Youth Counseling
We provide services to assist young survivors of violence, as well as reach out to area schools in an effort to prevent future violence through education and awareness. In 2008, we counseled 1,157 children and youth affected by domestic violence and 262 affected by sexual violence. We provided court services to 320 children and 1,133 family and caregivers involved in the criminal justice system.
Counseling for Children
-
Individual and group counseling for children (ages 5-18) who have witnessed domestic violence.
-
Individual and group counseling for children (ages 5-18) who are survivors of sexual abuse and incest.
-
Therapeutic childcare provided for the children of adult clients (under age six) during domestic violence survivor's support group.
Counseling for Youth
Children's Court Services
-
Education, advocacy, support and accompaniment for children and their families who are involved in the criminal justice system.
-
Assistance with Crime Victims' Compensation applications
-
Updates on the case status and parole.
Prevention Through Education
-
Parent education on the effects of violence on children and youth.
-
Age appropriate outreach education to Houston area students on healthy relationships, teen dating violence, and sexual assault.
Community Education
In addition to survivor services, we strive for the eventual elimination of violence through awareness campaigns, community education and training and prevention efforts.
-
Provides presentations on the topics of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, teen dating violence, and domestic and sexual violence.
-
Provides agency representatives for educational presentations, agency tours, and various community awareness events.
-
Offers a variety of presentations designed with age of audience, cultural relevance, and respect in mind.
To request a presentation, tour, or fair in the Houston area, email speaker@hawc.org, or call 713-528-6798 ext. 2270.
Volunteer And Professional Training
We offer training opportunities to increase awareness and prepare students and professionals to work effectively with survivors in a variety of related fields.
Hotline & Advocacy Volunteer Training
Direct Services training on domestic and sexual violence is offered to staff, volunteers, interns, and professionals. Training serves to educate on the issues, increase awareness and sensitivity, and prepare volunteers to work directly and/or indirectly with survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Training sessions are offered in English throughout the year. Visit our Volunteer page to learn about opportunities and to view our training schedule.
Direct Services training for college credit through specialized classes are offered at Rice University. Here, students learn about domestic and sexual violence issues, including practical experience by answering the hotlines.
Completion of the Hotline and Advocacy Training (both classroom and practical) and subsequent direct services experience are prerequisites for the Community Education Training.
Professional Training
Training series designed specifically for law enforcement, educational institutions, human resources, clergy, medical and legal professionals to assist them with understanding the issues of violence as they relate to their profession.
Quarterly professional training provided to all agencies with which we have a collaborative agreement to provide services.
Call 713-528-6798 ext. 2264, or email ybevill@hawc.org for information on available training opportunities.
Call 713-528-6798 ext. 2270, to ask about a presentation on domestic & sexual violence, teen dating violence or our prevention program.
Visit our wish list to identify items most needed by our clients at this time.
|
