33 years of hope, healing and change

It is the mission of the Women’s Shelter of South Texas to prevent and ultimately end domestic violence and sexual assault in South Texas. In 2011, the agency is marking 33 years of service to the community. The agency is the only private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization specifically designed to provide services to adult and child victims of domestic and sexual violence across a twelve-county South Texas region which includes Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio counties. The agency continues to identify and serve additional victims each year. In 2010, 3,079 adult and child victims were served, a 7% increase from 2009 and a 26% increase from 2008. All services are provided at no cost to victims. Service delivery is emphasized for victims from rural and underserved areas, victims who are minorities, victims with disabilities, and victims with limited resources. To most effectively address the population of South Texas, all services are available in English and Spanish.

The agency’s Emergency Shelter and Supportive Services Program provides essential core services at no cost to victims including:

• Shelter/Safe House (65 bed) for women and accompanying children, including provision of clothing, food, and personal items for each individual and family
• 24-hour toll-free Crisis Hotline
• Crisis Intervention to reduce the immediate effects of trauma due to abuse
• Individual and Group Counseling for adults and children
• Case Management including referrals to resources such as employment, housing, educational opportunities, medical care, and childcare
• Youth Services including mentoring for school success, counseling, play therapy for young children, recreational activities, and summer activities
• Legal Advocacy including assistance regarding the justice system, obtaining protective orders, crime victims' compensation, court accompaniment, and legal aid referrals
• Rape Crisis Services including crisis intervention, hospital accompaniment at the regional rape trauma center, and counseling
• Rural Outreach Services provided in eleven rural counties and in rural Nueces County including safety planning, counseling, information and referral, community education, emergency shelter transportation, and legal advocacy through offices located in Bee, San Patricio, Kleberg, and Jim Wells counties