The Hays County Commissioners Court has proclaimed the month of October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Hays County and encourages all citizens to recognize and support the important work by area law enforcement agencies and the Hays-Caldwell Women’s Center (HCWC) in helping survivors of domestic violence and teen dating violence.
In 2014 in Texas 119 women were killed due to domestic violence. The HCWC serves survivors of family violence, sexual assault and child abuse in Hays and Caldwell counties and in 2014 provided direct services to 955 local victims of domestic violence – 674 of them from Hays County — and provided 8,396 days of shelter.
“It’s important we recognize this problem in our society and take measures to prevent it,” Hays County Judge Bert Cobb, M.D., said, thanking all those involved.
On September 28 the HCWC joined the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, police departments from Texas State University, San Marcos, Kyle and Buda, representatives from San Marcos, Hays, Lehman, Wimberley and Dripping Springs High Schools and San Marcos Academy to kick off the “Purple Ribbon” campaign to raise awareness of teen dating violence. Football players at these schools will wear the national symbol for domestic violence awareness – a purple ribbon – on their helmets for the 2015 football season. Volunteers will attend designated football games to hand out educational brochures on family and dating violence awareness. Game announcers will take to their microphones to share information during the games that can help identify and end relationship violence.
HCWC Director of Development and Community Partnerships Melissa Rodriguez expressed the HCWC’s appreciation for the great partnerships with local law enforcement and high school football programs.
To learn more about assistance offered by HCWC or to volunteer or donate, visit
www.hcwc.org. For immediate help call 512-396-HELP (4397).