Family Crisis Center of East Texas

THE BUSINESS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE Family Crisis Center of East Texas offers strong helping hand to victims of abuse

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE ELSWICK

Kelly Carver and Lizette Mendoza help victims regain a belief in themselves and provide empowerment over their situation.

the family crisis center of east texas

Family and domestic violence knows no social, economic, race or age constraints.

“We see low social-economic status people and we’ve seen people with educated backgrounds who may be considered pillars of the community,” said Kelly Carver, victim services coordinator for the Family Crisis Center of East Texas serving a multi-county region, including Shelby County.

Lizzet Mendoza is based in the Shelby County office for the Family Crisis Center of East Texas as a legal advocate for local clients served by the organization.

Kelly, her immediate supervisor, said the role Lizzet provides is vital.

“As a legal advocate you really are guiding our clientele through the criminal justice system,” Kelly said. “As a lay person, you really don’t understand the criminal justice system. That’s the thing about the legal advocate, they have that knowledge and are able to guide these clients through those resources.”

Those clients may be coming from homes or backgrounds where physical abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking were taking place. Kelly said drugs may often be at the root to the situation.

“One of the most rewarding things about my job is just making sure our community is educated about the services we offer. Knowledge really is power,” Kelly said.

Assistance provided by the agency’s staff can be vital in breaking the chain of domestic and sexual abuse.

Lizzet said the majority of her clients are Spanish speaking and some have immigration status issues.

“Sometimes we see their abuser is keeping documents away from the victim, or threaten them by saying they’ll call immigration,” she said. “A lot of times the victims are dependent upon their abuser, sometimes financially.”

In addition to helping clients maneuver through the legal system, the Family Crisis Center also helps clients take steps so they can become independent of their abuser, Lizzet said.

“We want to empower them,” she said. Lizzet said she loves to hear stories from clients who have visited with her and used services provided by the agency who begin discovering their abusive situation may have started long before they realized it.

“They start looking back at their lives and start picking out little things in their background,” Lizzet said. “They said ‘I didn’t realize that was abuse back then, but it was.’”

Melissa Wheeler, development director based in Lufkin for the Family Crisis Center of East Texas, said threatening abuse and actual abuse are among the most common forms of domestic violence.

“Physical and sexual abuse, or threats to commit them, are the most apparent forms of domestic violence and are usually the actions that allow others to become aware of the problem,” Melissa said. Coercion and threats, intimidation, isolation, emotional and economic abuse, and male privilege are all among power moves which can be put into place for abusers.

“We focus in on what is domestic violence and what is sexual assault,” Melissa said. “All of our services are completely free and confidential and that is really important. It’s not just the advocate side, but the counseling and the attorney needs too, because those are two big hindrances.”

“One of the most rewarding things about my job is just making sure our community is educated about the services we offer,” Kelly said. “Knowledge really is power.”

Lizzet said the training sessions the Family Crisis Center provides law enforcement personnel, educators clergy and others plays an important role in helping people recognize when abuse and crisis situations may be going on undetected.

“Another thing is that just because a victim and family leave the abuser, the problem does not stop – it’s a vicious circle,” she said. Kelly said the situation usually escalates when the victim actually leaves the abusive situation.

For victims having basic needs after leaving an abusive situation, there is a shelter operated by the Family Crisis Center in the East Texas region where food and a safe environment can be provided.

“That’s the most dangerous time for a victim, when they leave,” Kelly said. “It’s because the distribution of power and control is now being gained by the victim, or the survivor. Often times, the perpetrator of violence feels out of control, so they do whatever is necessary to attempt to regain that power over their victim,” she said.

Melissa said the Family Crisis Center helps victims regain a belief in themselves and provides them empowerment over their situation. “The agency’s vision is to end the culture of domestic violence and sexual assault,” she said.

“We provide confidential, nonjudgmental services that are holistic/comprehensive, victim centered, trauma informed, and family focused, with compassion and respect for every person served,” Melissa said.

“We focus in on what is domestic violence and what is sexual assault,” Melissa said. “All of our services are completely free and confidential and that is really important. It’s not just the advocate side, but the counseling and the attorney needs too, because those are two big hinderances.”

AT A GLANCE

WHAT:

The Family Crisis Center of East Texas

FOR WHOM:

Individuals who feel they are in immediate danger, should call 9-1-1. People needing assistance from the Family Crisis Center or who would simply like additional information can call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-828-7233. All of the agency’s services are confidential and offered free.

WHERE:

The Center Outreach Office is located at 616 Tenaha Street, Suite A, Center, Texas.

PHONE:

Center office number 936-427-5140

Hotline Number:

1-800-828-SAFE (7233)

Confidential text to:

936-552-9256

WEBSITE:

familycrisiscenterof easttexas.com