TW: Discussion of rape, violence, and domestic abuse
The month of March is here, which means not only is it time to set the clocks forward, but it’s also the time that we celebrate Women’s History Month. Women’s History Month celebrates the historical contributions that women have made to society. While it’s important to celebrate the great strides women have made over the years, it is also essential to look at the issues we are still facing. While many incredible women shine in the open each day, it’s necessary to understand what happens behind closed doors. Violence against women is still a widespread occurrence, affecting millions of women every year. According to RAINN, the largest anti-sexual assault organization in the United States, one out of six women has been a victim of an attempted or completed rape, and one in four women has been a victim of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. The impacts of these victimizations can be incredibly damaging and last a lifetime. So who is there to help?
The Women’s Center of Tarrant County is a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering survivors and helping them overcome violence, crisis, and poverty. Their dedicated team of employees and volunteers work around the clock to respond to victims of violence and guide them through their next steps. In addition, the Women’s Center offers various services, including general counseling, employment services, and violence prevention and education. On top of these in-office programs, they also have a rape crisis and victim services program. This program includes a 24/7 crisis hotline that is available for anyone to call and a team of victim advocates who respond to sexual assault victims at hospitals all across Tarrant County.
The Women’s Center of Tarrant County is committed to understanding not just the reach of their programs but also the changes in people’s lives as a result of those programs. From October 1st, 2020, to September 30th, 2021, the Women’s Center served 81,332 men, women, and children. Through their work, 75% of clients in their job assistance program were still employed at one year, 90% of clients receiving therapy achieved at least 75% of their goals to heal from the trauma of violence and/or improved their emotional and behavioral health, and 66,908 children and adolescents participated in the Play it Safe! child sexual abuse prevention program. Their impact reaches far beyond just the survivors and makes a difference in the lives of their families, friends, and loved ones as well.
I was introduced to the Women’s Center through my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, which partners with the Women’s Center for our philanthropy of domestic violence awareness. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to see firsthand the impact they have on the lives of others. Before I began volunteering, I had no idea of the scope of the issue at hand. Of course, I knew that domestic violence and sexual assault were pressing issues. Still, I had no idea just how many people faced this trauma every single day. Since my introduction to the Women’s Center, I have been genuinely inspired by the team of individuals who put so much of their time and energy into helping those in crisis and leading them onto a brighter path. They give hope to those who need it most, and they are a truly life-changing organization to so many in need.
Website: https://www.womenscentertc.org/
24/7 Crisis Hotline: 817-927-2737