First Step Of Wichita Falls Inc

TO PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, FREE FROM VIOLENCE, THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

FIRST STEP OF WICHITA FALLS, INC. (FIRST STEP) WAS INCORPORATED IN 1977 AS A SHELTER FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE. IT HAS PROGRESSED TO INCLUDE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. FIRST STEP'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, FREE FROM VIOLENCE, THROUGH OUTREACH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. THEY ARE COMMITTED TO PROVIDING SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT WITHOUT REGARD TO SEX, RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, DISABILITY, RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OR LIFESTYLE, WITH SAFETY BEING THE FIRST PRIORITY. FIRST STEP IS ONE OF THE FEW SHELTERS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS THAT PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER TO MALE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. FIRST STEP SERVES NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS, WHICH COVERS A TWELVE COUNTY RADIUS (ARCHER, BAYLOR, CHILDRESS, CLAY, COTTLE, HARDEMAN, FOARD, JACK, MONTAGUE, WICHITA, WILBARGER, AND YOUNG) AN AREA OF 10,260 SQUARE MILES AND AN ESTIMATED POPULATION OF 227,994.FIRST STEP SERVICES INCLUDE EMERGENCY SHELTER, 24 HOUR TOLL-FREE CRISIS HOTLINE, INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING, CRISIS INTERVENTION, MEDICAL AND LEGAL ADVOCACY, TRANSPORTATION, FOOD AND CLOTHING ASSISTANCE, AND INFORMATION AND REFERRALS TO ALL COMMUNITY RESOURCES. FIRST STEP OFFERS COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS RELEVANT TO OUR MISSION. IN THE 2020-2021 FISCAL YEAR, FIRST STEP SERVED 120 SHELTER CLIENTS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND/OR SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPRISING 94 FEMALES AND 26 MEN, OF WHICH 59 WERE CHILDREN FOR 2,570 DAYS. FIRST STEP SERVED 153 NON-RESIDENT CLIENTS. THE 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE ANSWERED 905 CALLS AND PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS. THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY, 18 PROTECTIVE ORDERS WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. FIRST STEP ASSISTED 30 INDIVIDUALS WITH LEGAL ADVOCACY AND ACCOMPANIED 21 INDIVIDUALS TO COURT.FIRST STEP OFFERED 119 PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS (TO BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS, HUMAN RESOURCE WORKERS, EDUCATORS, MEDICAL PERSONNEL, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL, COUNSELORS, REHABILITATION WORKERS, AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS) EDUCATING OVER 370 PARTICIPANTS ON DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE RELATED ISSUES.FIRST STEP PROVIDED INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN OUR REGION WITH 166CLASSES OF EDUCATIONAL TRAINING TO MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REACHING 1,427 YOUTH WITH VIOLENCE PREVENTION TRAINING.FIRST STEP PROVIDED 556 SESSIONS OF COUNSELING TO 125 CLIENTS. A TOTAL OF 22 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 185.75 HOURS OF SERVICE.