FIRST STEP OF WICHITA FALLS INC

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 ASSULT 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 2023-2024 FISCAL YEAR, FIRST STEP SERVED 272 SHELTER CLIENTS AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND/OR SEXUAL ASSAULT COMPRISING 201 FEMALES AND 71 MALES, OF WHICH 138 WERE CHILDREN FOR 6,586 DAYS. FIRST STEP SERVED 191 NON-RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS. THE 24-HOUR CRISIS HOTLINE ANSWERED 1,330 CALLS AND PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION, INFORMATION, AND REFERRALS. THROUGH LEGAL ADVOCACY, 7 PROTECTIVE ORDERS WERE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. FIRST STEP ASSISTED 15 INDIVIDUALS WITH LEGAL ADVOCACY AND ACCOMPANIED 15 INDIVIDUALS TO COURT.FIRST STEP CONTINUES TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON THE TOPICS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT UPON REQUEST. WE HAVE DELIVERED EDUCATION TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT (PATROL, PROBATION, AND PAROLE). WE HAVE PROVIDED EDUCATION TO LOCAL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISCTRICTS. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN HAPPY TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, CHURCHES, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS.FIRST STEP PROVIDED 909 SESSIONS OF COUNSELING TO 167 CLIENTS. A TOTAL OF 208 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 1,198 HOURS OF SERVICE.