DWCC Learns About Comal County Crisis Center

Guest speaker at the May 11, 2018 meeting of the Democratic Women of Comal County was Stacy Hill, Executive Director, Crisis Center of Comal County (CCCC). The CCCC provides a range of services to victims of sexual and domestic abuse.

Highlights from Ms. Hill's remarks:

The CCCC started in 1986.

In 1992, shelter created, now shelters up to 56 people.

Until now, has been a reactive service. Since 2014, not “hiding” the shelter.

Now serving all types of family violence.

Non-residential services include:

Free counseling for children, men, women.

Locating needed legal services.

Case management.

Shelter (residential) services includes:

Shelter as long as needed.

Average: it will take seven times of leaving before a woman will leave for good.

Personal items available.

Get kids back into school.

Help get a job.

Find affordable housing (here or elsewhere).

Transportation is provided for women to get to work and transportation is arranged to get kids to school.

Prevention services include:

Children are the way to break the domestic violence cycle.

Really talking about consent, healthy relationships, really talking about body parts, toxic masculinity (why is it always boys doing the school shootings?).

Expressing feelings honestly.

What does a healthy relationship look like? What is controlling, what is manipulative? What are WE teaching our kids about healthy relationships?

Sexual assault services include:

CCCC responds to hospitals, to other locations, where sexual assault has been reported.

CCCC encourages sexual exam by a properly certified nurse.

No more victim blaming!

Stacy said there are always many volunteer opportunities.

Organize boutique, keep records, organize “stuff”, cooking.

Care for the children. Talking with clients, playing a game, helping with a resume.

Speak to others about violence, assault, control, manipulation… what is rape?

Right now, they are remodeling kitchen so are accepting all types of prepared food.

In response to a question, Ms. Hill's colleague Delia Saucedo explained “gaslighting”. “Gaslighting is a form of manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or in members of a targeted group, hoping to make them question their own memory, perception, and sanity.” --Wikipedia