The following article is the third article of a five-week series focusing on raising awareness about sexual assault and child abuse. April is both Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Awareness month and it is our hope to educate our local community on these two very serious issues. 2 in 5 women and 1 in 5 men will experience a form of sexual assault in their lifetime. Locally, the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center has been serving victims of domestic and dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse since 1978. Last year, HCWC served 2,111 victims of abuse (face-to-face) from Hays and Caldwell Counties. 749 of those were adult victims of sexual assault and 545 were victims of child abuse.
An act of kindness from a stranger can have long lasting effects on a person. It could be helping with car issues on the side of the road, or being there for someone in a time of crisis. In the last few years alone, sexual assault has been a crisis that has increased across the nation. The #MeToo movement has inspired victims and survivors to speak out and share their stories. This has resulted in more individuals learning that one of their loved ones has been affected by sexual violence at some point in their lives and they in turn want to take action and get involved in the movement. When a victim of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or child abuse goes to a hospital in Hays or Caldwell counties HCWC sends an Advocate to be with them. The Advocate can be a staff member, intern, or a community member. This is our Hospital Emergency Advocacy Response Team (HEARTeam).
HCWC Advocates have responded to 32 hospital calls since October 1, 2018, which is a 45% increase from last year. Volunteers who go through the necessary training to become Advocates are able to respond to the hospital and be a support system to a recent victim of assault. Anyone with a heart for victims can be an advocate. With the increase in hospital calls, HCWC is encouraging compassionate members of the community to volunteer their time to our HEARTeam.
