Every 9 Seconds a Woman is Abused in the United States
Our Mission
To strengthen and empower families, individuals and communities through accessible counseling services, shelter services, education and advocacy.
All services at Family Services Women and Children’s Shelter are confidential and totally free of charge. Services through Family Services Counseling Center are based on a sliding fee scale so that they are accessible and affordable to everyone.
Victim Services
Crisis Intervention 24 Hour Hotline
409-832-7575 or Toll-free 1-800-621-8882
We provide confidential support services and information for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and their friends and family through our 24-Hour Hotline. If you call the hotline here are the services you can expect:
- Intake services for our safe house protection and information about supportive services such as counseling.
- Information and referrals for survivors and their concerned friends and family members.
- Immediate assistance in English and Spanish. (Other languages and the hearing impaired are accommodated through a language line.)
- Emergency transportation for domestic violence survivors to achieve personal safety.
- Accompaniment to the hospital for SANE examination.
Safe House Protection: Family Services of Southeast Texas’ Shelters
The shelter is dedicated to women and children survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The shelter is located at an undisclosed location and has 24-hour security surveillance. There are 65 beds plus cribs in the facility, and residents can stay there for 30 to 90 days while they prepare to make a fresh start apart from their abuser. Not only are housing needs met at the shelter, but residents are also provided with three meals a day through cafeteria-style food services, clothing, personal care items, access to libraries and computer labs, and age-appropriate play areas for children.
Counseling
Individual and group counseling is available to adults, youth and children. A licensed professional counselor conducts all sessions, and services are available to both resident and non-resident victims of domestic violence and sexual assault free of charge. (Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault do not have to stay at the safe house to receive free counseling services.) Residents at the shelter are invited to attend Empowerment Groups to offer hope and encouragement on a peer-to-peer level. Trained staff facilitate the groups.
Case Management & Advocacy
Shelter advocates meet with victims to assess their individual needs. Shelter advocates assist victims with the following, but not limited to:
- safety planning
- assistance in obtaining personal documents like birth certificates, drivers’ license, etc.
- food, clothing, toiletries, and other necessary items
- getting children enrolled in school
- scheduling appointments for mental health assessments, as needed
- scheduling counseling appointments
- arranging necessary transportation
- participation in groups
- helping with safety planning, job placement and financial planning
- location of low-income housing
- making referrals to legal advocates for legal services
- making referrals to additional community resources
Legal Advocacy
Emergency Legal Services. Family Services has a legal advocacy staff that works closely with a panel of attorneys who are retained to assist clients in securing protective orders and other emergency legal assistance from the courts. All legal advocacy services are free.
Non-Emergency Legal Services. Non-emergency legal services may be referred to a legal aid services company for assistance with divorces, suits affecting parent child relationships and other family law matters. All services are provided for free.
Legal Accompaniment. Legal advocates are also available to accompany clients to meetings with law enforcement and court hearings.
Crime Victims’ Compensation. Legal advocates can assist you with applying for Crime Victims’ Compensation if you qualify. Crime Victims’ Compensation can help provide you with financial assistance for crime related expenses that cannot be reimbursed by insurance or other sources. This program may provide you with assistance in paying expenses such ambulance fees, medical expenses, hospital bills, counseling, and relocation expenses.
Sexual Assault Advocate
A 24-hr crisis hotline is answered seven days a week, 365 days a year. The hotline is the first step in seeking help for sexual assault. Family Services employs trained advocates who will:
- provide crisis intervention
- help you create a safety plan
- find emergency shelter
- help you access counseling and legal advocacy
- arrange for a SANE exam and provide hospital accompaniment
- provide you with referrals to other resources in the community
- connect you with a legal advocate if you need help with legal matters
- provide accompaniment to meetings with law enforcement and court hearings
- assist you in filing paperwork for Crime Victim’s Compensation
Our advocates maintain a strict policy of confidentiality, but if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can use a nickname when you call the hotline.
Youth & Children's Services
Family Services Children’s Advocate works with parents on issues concerning their children and helps young people in adjusting to shelter life. The advocate ensures that all children and youth have adequate arrangements and supplies to attend school and works with the students on homework and other school projects. In addition, foster grandparents are available to help supervise children while their mothers are in the shelter facility taking care of other responsibilities. A secure playground is available, and activities are planned often to ensure that children and youth are thriving during their shelter stay.
Residential and non-residential services offers:
- free counseling for children
- information and referral to other community resources
- assistance/advocacy of The McKinney Vento Act
- liaison between family and school for any other needs
Outreach
In addition to Family Services Women and Children’s Shelter, which is located in Jefferson County, we also operate Piney Woods Safe House in Jasper County. The Piney Woods Safe House can be accessed by calling the 24-hour confidential hotline or by contacting the service directly at: Piney Woods Safe House: 409-384-1225
Speakers Bureau
Family Services has a speaker’s bureau and would love to come and speak to your group about domestic violence, dating violence, safe relationships, sexual assault and many other related topics
We also attend community events, organizations, health fairs, schools, etc. and enjoy having an informational booth for provide information about domestic violence and sexual assault and the free services available at Family Services of Southeast Texas. To arrange a speaker, please call 1-409-833-2668 and ask to speak to the community relations department.
Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women – more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
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