Since 1999, the goal of Victim Relief Ministries has been to mobilize the faith community in partnering with victim service organizations and law enforcement for the purpose of providing support and assistance to any victim of crime in our community. With the Biblical parable of The Good Samaritan as our model, we have established our mission to provide a system of faith-based assistance from highly trained local church volunteers of all denominations, reaching out to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of victims of crime. Our mission is to provide a system of faith-based assistance from highly trained local church volunteers of all denominations, reaching out to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of victims of crime .The Help Center has a partnership with 40+ trained Victim Relief Volunteers who answer calls from local law-enforcement.
For information on becoming a Victim Relief Volunteer contact Dr. Darril Deaton
Victim Assistance: We began our Victim Assistance program in July of 2006 funded in part by the Victims of Crime Act grant. The goal of the Victims Assistance Program is to decrease the devastating psychological, financial and emotional effects experienced by crime victims. Decreasing those effects on victims encourages them to be more cooperative with the criminal justice system and move toward independence and a healthier level of functioning. This progression in crime victims’ recovery diminishes the cycle of violence that spreads through families, and combats the continuation of crime thereby reducing the burden on our community.
Our Victim Assistance Program expanded this past year to serve children who are victims of abuse. We received two generous grants, one from the Rees-Jones Foundation and one from the Life to Life Fund of the Community Foundation of Abilene. This program is entitled “Children’s Haven” because we desire to provide a place of safety and refuge for these innocent victims. We provide professional counseling to them as well as parenting classes to those caregivers retaining custody. We serve many children in our local emergency children’s shelter and will begin providing services to clients of the new Kaufman County Children’s Advocacy Center. In 2008 we served 50 adult victims of crime and 49 children through the Children’s Haven program.
What is the Help Line? Our Help Line answers questions from all ends of the spectrum. These categories include assistance for abuse, angel food, clothing, chemical dependency, crisis intervention, employment, food, housing, literacy, medical and dental, mental health, transportation, support groups, utility assistance, toys at Christmas, assistance with school supplies, counseling, interpretation assistance, and adoption. We gave information and referral assistance to approximately 1250 callers. Our Help Line also coordinates distribution of school supplies to those in need, Holiday Food Baskets and Toys at Christmas.
2008 Assistance
School Supplies: 150 Holiday Food Baskets: 180 Toys at Christmas: 850
