Auction Celebrates 20 Years Of Advocacy For Children

Very few knew what happened in that little peach house but to those affected by child sexual abuse and their supportive family members knew it was the place that provided a child friendly environment in which to begin telling their story.

Hays Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) invites you to Release YOUR inner child and help us celebrate the 20th Anniversary of our children’s advocacy center, Roxanne’s House.

This year’s annual auction is slated for Friday, May 19th at 7:00 pm at Texas Old Town’s Sage Hall.

We will feature the work that started back in 1997 in the then peach colored two story “house” across the little HEB. Very few knew what happened in that little peach house but to those affected by child sexual abuse and their supportive family members knew it was the place that provided a child friendly environment in which to begin telling their story.

There, for the first time, children were able to tell a trained professional what happened to them, evidence that could later be used in criminal trial if an investigation led to prosecution. Just as important were the services that proceeded after that first visit.

Children and their supportive families received specialized counseling, sometimes in the form of play therapy for children too young for traditional therapy.

Roxanne’s House staff would then advocate on their behalf and assist families throughout the civil and criminal justice system.

In the first year, Roxanne’s House served 97 children. HCWC had always served children and families but even we didn’t expect the growth that would come in the years following.

In 20 years, that number totals 5,311 children from Hays and Caldwell counties. 410 children were served just last year in 2016.

Since then, the Roxanne’s House program relocated and is now housed on the same campus as the rest of HCWC.

The relocation allowed us to expand core services to include a sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE) room for children to be able to receive a medical exam in addition to other services.

The Annual Auction will have a silent and live auction, a delicious BBQ dinner by Black’s BBQ, raffles, games and entertainment. Tickets are $35 and available for purchase by visiting our website hcwc.org or contacting us at 512-396-3404.

We invite you to join us this evening to help us honor the work of Roxanne’s House and be our partner in the effort to end child abuse in Hays and Caldwell counties.

The Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center has a 39-year history of serving women, men and children in Hays and Caldwell Counties who are victims of family violence, dating violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

All HCWC services are free and confidential. For more information please visit www.hcwc.org or call 512-396-HELP (4357).