Help For Families Experiencing Domestic Violence and Victims of Sexual Assault

Established in 1981 by volunteers, the Family Crisis Center provides services to battered women, their children, and victims of sexual assault. It also provides extensive educational and violence prevention programs in Cameron and Willacy counties. A 10 member Board of Directors governs the organization, setting policy and being responsible for the financial solvency of the organization. The board meets monthly and employs and supervises the Executive Director. Currentlym there are 21 full time staff members and volunteers who perform duties and provide services, which benefit the clients.

Services provided by the Family Crisis Center are based upon the philosophy that women are victimized by rape and battering primarily as a result of their status as women. Every women in our society shares the potential to be battered or raped. Women do not ask to be victimized, women do not provoke victimization. Women are trapped into their victim status by a society that allows them only limited access to the job market, restricts their physical autonomy, and provides them minimal protection under the law while maximizing protection for the perpetrator of these crimes.

In keeping with the philosophy that raped or battered women are abused against their will, the Family Crisis Center employs a method of assistance called peer counseling. The Family Crisis Center believes their clients need someone who will listen to them and believe them that they do not need a psychologist. In this way, we encourage women to use their own strengths to trust their ability to solve their own problems. Society too often communicates to women that they must rely on others to control their lives: a father, a boyfriend, or a husband. We do not want to be another source of coercive power; our goal is to help women help themselves. There are always exceptions: as a result of repeated victimization’s or other mental health issues sometimes referrals must be made to mental health facilities for evaluation for medication or therapy.

The Family Crisis Center sexual assault program is all of Cameron and Willacy counties. Services for battered adults and their children include: a 24 hour hotline, accompaniment to the hospital, accompaniment to police interviews, and court proceedings, follow-up counseling for victims and their families, support groups and outreach services to Willacy county and Southern Cameron county with an office in Brownsville with full time staff to cover that area.

Educational programs dealing with the dynamics of family violence and sexual assault as well as information about the Family Crisis Center’s services are presented to civic organizations, church groups and professionals in appropriate service areas. Abuse prevention programs are also presented to all aged students, elementary schools through college.

In addition to these client-centered and educational services, the staff trains new volunteers in Harlingen and Brownsville to perform publicity, fundraising and clerical duties.

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Family Crisis Center 24-Hour hotline (956) 423-9304 616 W. Taylor Harlingen, Texas 78550 (956) 423-9305 (956) F: 423-9306 514 S. "E" Street Harlingen, TX 78550