History

Three Rosenberg residents recognized the need for domestic violence services and founded The Fort Bend County Women's Center, Inc. At its inception, a crisis hotline was installed to provide emergency counseling and referral services.

Increased concern for the health and safety of abused women and children led to the acquisition of a shelter. A rented home in Stafford, Texas offered survivors shelter, food, clothing, respite, protection, and caring reassurance for themselves and their children.

A sexual assault component was added in 1986 and was expanded to include a part-time staff person. The Personal Accompaniment Volunteer program was added to provide clients with extra support. A Speaker's Bureau, which covers such topics as rape trauma syndrome, prevention, types of rape, and rape myths and facts were added. A George Foundation grant made the permanent acquisition of a shelter facility possible, and increased the shelter's capacity from 21 to 30 residents.

The new Resale Center yielded over $32,000 during its first year of operation.

The hotline expanded to a 24-hour service. Increased networking with Polly Ryan Memorial Hospital (now, OakBend Medical Center) provided immediate assistance to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

A 3,000 square foot home, donated by Mr. and Mrs. John Lipinski, was moved to the current shelter site, renovated by the Knights of Columbus and converted into a facility for mothers with teenage boys.

A children's program was added to work actively with client's children, provide assessment tools, parenting skills, experimental field trips and learning opportunities for children and their parents. Because many clients were leaving the shelter with insufficient skills to maintain an independent household, a transitional housing program was added. An adjunct to the children's component, funded by the Hogg Foundation, provided clients with rental assistance, in-home visits, and other support for an 8-month period after leaving the shelter. The program reduced the rate of women returning to their batterer from 65% to 10%.

Life skills services were added to the shelter program including attire for interviews, resume preparation and a computerized GED training program. Phase I of shelter renovation was completed. The Resale Center moved to larger quarters at 416 Highway 90A.

The Resale Center moved and expanded to open an "As-Is Shop," specializing in reduced price merchandise, and added a "Sweet Charity" furniture pick-up service.

A major reorganization of the Center, including a new management staff and upgrading of educational and licensing, was completed. The Director of Sexual Assault was made a full-time position, enabling further expansion of the Sexual Assault Program.

Phase II of the shelter renovations, and installation of a two-room building for the children's program was completed.

FBCWC's focus became a three-tiered approach to domestic violence: 1) continuation and expansion of Shelter programs, 2) increased education in the schools down to the elementary level to stop intergenerational violence by males, 3) non-resident counseling, childcare, literacy services, job training, case management and other supportive services that address the multiple needs of women who leave to begin new-violence free lives.

A capital campaign was launched that successfully raised over $2 million to build a new shelter.

The agency's new state-of-the-art shelter was opened. The new facility was built to house a capacity of 60-65 women and children, a 50% increase over the previous shelter. It allowed the Center to add features such as an on-site clinic and learning resource center. Also, the children's area more than doubled and a teen room was included so that teens' special needs could be addressed.

This year the Women's Center celebrates 25 years of service to Fort Bend County, Harris County and other surrounding counties. To date, the Women's Center has helped more than 18,000 women and children achieve violence-free lifestyles. Through fundraisers, donations and community support, the Center can continue to provide emergency shelter, crisis intervention, counseling, support services, and educational outreach to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children.