A Rose Among Thorns
Working to End Violence in Our Community
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A Rose Among Thorns Working to End Violence in Our Community |
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Montgomery County Women’s Center Mission: To provide safe shelter, crisis intervention, conseling and support services to victims/survivors of family
violence, sexual assault and abuse in Montgomery and surrounding counties, and to provide education to the community about
such issues. History of the Agency The Montgomery County WOmen’s Center became an autonomous, locally-governed agency on January 1, 1987 after the merger
of the Family Violence Outreach (FV) Advisory Committee, a satellite of the Houston Area Women’s Center and the Montgomer
Country Rape Crisis Coalition. FVO had provided non-residential counseling services, a family violence hotline, education and emergency shelter in hotels
since 1982. A formal Shelter for Abuses Women and Children was opened in the summer of 1985. The Rape Crisis Coalition had provided voluntary education and advocacy since 1980. In the fall of 1986, a formal program
was organized and a staff member hired to provide a 24-hour crisist hotline, accompaniment for the victim through the medical
and criminal justice processes, and education and advocacy on issues around sexual assault. The Montgomery COunty Women’s Center receives funding from teh United Way of Montgomery County, United Way of the
Texas Gulf Coast, government grants or contracts, local contributions and fundraising efforts. Services are provided in mulitple locations to victims of family violence and sexualt assault or abuse in Montgomery, Nort
Harris and Northwest Liberty counties. The WOmen’s Center provides face-to-face counseling, safe shelter and legal advocacy to over 1,500 adults and children
each year. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE TO CLIENTS. Facts About Domestic Violence TDHS estimates 11,000 women and children live in abusive homes in Montgomery COunty A woman is battered every 15 seconds in this county Battering is the single major cause of injury to women in the United States Over 70% of batterers grew up in violent homes 1 in 8 high school students will be involved in a violent relationship before graduation from high school In 60% of violent homes where the female partner is beaten, so are the children More children than adults are served in battered women’s shelters 97% of the cases of domestic violence are women who are abused by men Violent families are found in every income category, ethnic background, racial group, educational level and
profression Battering is the single major cause of injury to women in the Unites States 80% of Texas spousal abuse cases are unreported because of fear of reprisal 1 out of 2 women will be abused at some time in her life by her husband or intimate partner Battered women have twice as many miscarriages as non-battered women Facts About Sexual Assault According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a woman is raped every 2 minutes The age of sexual assault survivors ranges from 2 months to 99 years The average age of rape victims is 16 to 24 years 13% of adult American women have been victims of at least one forcible rape 3 out of 4 rape victims know their attackers Only 16% of rapes are ever reported to police. Rape remains the most under-reported violent crime. Nearly 31% of all rape victims develop Rape Related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (RR-PSTD). RR-PTSD dramatically increases women’s risk for major alcholo and drug abuse problems Shelter for Battered Women The shleter, which opened in 1985, is operated at an undisclosed location for security reasons. It can house
up to 31 victims of family violence and their children at a give time, for up to 66 days, and averages about 600 individuals
each year. While in shelter, women and their children receive or have access to: Food, clothing, and basic living essentials Advocacy with the medical, criminal justice system and social service systems Individual and group counseling A children’s counselor to work specifically with the children’s needs Prescription medications Legal Services, including an attorney to represent them in protective orders or other family law issues Information and referral to other community resources Non-prescribtion medications, school supplies and personal care items Family Violence Outreach The family Violence Outreach program currently operates out of serveral locations in Montgomery and Liberty
counties, including the Woodlands and Conroe. The program provides: Legal services program which provides legal representation in areas of divorce, child custody, protective orders
and other family law issues Individual and group counseling for victoms of family violence A telephone hotline for shelter intake, peer support and crisis intervention, as well as information and referral Accompaniment and advocacy with the medical, criminal justice and social service systems Individual and counseling for adolescent and child victims of abuse Rape Crisis Program Like Family Violence Outreach, this program operates out of serveral locations in Montgomery and Liberty counties,
including The Woodlands and Conroe. The program provides: A 24-hour telephone hotline providing crisis intervention, peer counseling and information and referral Advocacy and accompaniment through the medical and criminal justice systems Individual and group counseling for male or female, adult or child, victims of sexual assault or abuse Hispanic Outreach Specialist to serve theneeds of survivors within the Hispanic community. |
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MCWM HOTLINE (24-hours a day) 936-441-RAPE (7273) TDD Access - 1-800-735-2989 Outreach Counseling The Montgomery County Women’s Center Outreach Counseling Program is available in serveral locations in Montgomery
and LIberty counties, including The Woodlands and Conroe. The program provides: Professional counseling, advocacy and crisis intervention to survivors of family violence and sexual assault, including
childhood incest. Counseling is provided to adults and children in the individual and family setting. Accompaniment through and advocacy with the medical, criminal justice and social service system A variety of support and therapy groups and counselors to assist in deciding which group is appropriate for the client Referral to other agency programs, including legal, shelter and other services Child care during some counseling sessions and groups (ask for specific times and places Evening appointments Community Education The Montgomery County Women’s Center offers educational programs free of charge to local churches, business, organizations,
schools and other interested groups. PResentations include an agency overview, volunteer opportunities and the special needs
of the Women’s Center. Education programs include; The dynamics of domestic violence The effects of domestic violence int he workplace The dynamics of sexual assault Reducing the risks of becoming a victim of sexual assault (rape avoidance) Child Abuse Our school program, entitled "It’s all about RESPECT," stresses risk reduction and safety in the areas
of acquaintance rape, dating violence and sexual harassment. Programs are designed for students in grades 6 -12 and use a
combination of speaker, topical video and grup interaction. The goal of each program is to help protect students from dangerous
situations by giving them the tools necessary to make informed decisions in regard to personal safety. The three presentations that make up the program include: It’s all about Respect: Strategies for Avoiding Acquaintance Rape It’s all about Respect: Healthy Dating Relationships It’s all about Respect: Self-Esteem and Sexual Harrassment Additional presentations are given on date rape drugs and other domestic violence issues. Other Services The Montgomery County Women’s Center also provides: An educational scholarship prgram for Women’s Center clients Call to Protect which provides cellular phones to victims of family violence courtesy of Houston Cellular Rags to Riches Resale Shop which provides for the needs of clients while earning income for the agency from the sale
of excess merchandise. Tax deductible contributions from the community provide a wide range of merchandise, new and used,
including high quality women’s, mens, and children’s clothing, jewelry, toys, furniture and appliances. Local
business contributions provide additional items for home and office use. Volunteer Opportunities. The Women’s Center regularly seeks volunteers to meet the varying needs of our programs
and to serve victims of family violence and sexual assualt in our community. Opportunities include everything from helping
in the administrative offices with mailings to staffing the rape crisis hotline. Volunteer training is also avaiable on-line. Important Numbers For additional information about any of the Mongtomery County WOmen’s Center programs or the administrative offices: For Counseling For Shelter (24 hours) MCWM Hotline (24 hours)
Montgomer County Women’s Center
A United Way Agnecy
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