Nonprofit expands help for assault victims

Northwest Assistance Ministries has new resources for victims of sexual violence

Northwest Assistance Ministries is expanding its services to help victims of sexual assault.

Earlier this summer, the nonprofit started a new costfree program to help sexual assault victims. The program, Sexual Assault Services, is run through the nonprofit’s Family Violence Center, which has been in operation for 25 years.

The new center serves a growing need — northwest Houston area served by NAM has the greatest number of sexual assault reports in the Harris County region, said Sheryl Johnson, director of NAM’s Family Violence Center.

Until now, northwest Harris County has lacked a costfree program to help victims of sexual assault.

“In order for people to get services, they would have had to travel to Conroe, Humble, Waller County or central Houston,” Johnson said. “The NAM service area is basically the size of Austin. They would have to be traveling some distance to get any type of support services.”

And obtaining services are crucial. Many victims, if not helped, become victimized again, Johnson said.

“Any time a violent issue is

not addressed for someone, it then becomes the acceptable norm; then it opens that person up to ongoing victimization,” Johnson said. “Victims need immediate intervention and long-term healing so they can continue to be a productive member of the community and a happy, healthy individual.”

NAM is using a state grant to implement the new program, Johnson said.

And, with the grant funds, the nonprofit recently hired a coordinator to run the new program, Kelly Carlson.

Carlson works directly with victims, providing them with counseling, case management, legal support and community referrals, said Tatiana Shams, NAM’s media specialist.

Carlson has more than 15 years experience working with sexual assault and domestic assault survivors.

“NAM is everything I believe in and my goal is to empower survivors, assist them in carrying out the decisions they make, and give them the support that may be lacking in their lives,” Carlson said.

The program is an arm of NAM’s Family Violence Center, which receives more than 1,200 hotline calls a month, and 1,800 clients a year.

The nonprofit will offer a graduated level of services as the program takes off, starting initially with community education and awareness and a hot line for victims.

Sexual Assault Services started a Hope and Healing public awareness campaign this summer, mailing information about the program to its 50 area support congregations and community service and business organizations, such as local hospitals and nonprofit services.

The information includes a poster to hang up with program details and business cards with the hotline number that can easily be passed out to community members.

During the next two years, NAM’s goal is to expand the program to add an additional staff member and to conduct hospital accompaniments. And eventually, the goal is to accompany the victims through the entire process, including the judicial process as well.

“Adding Kelly and these Sexual Assault Services, allows NAM to address an unmet need for the community NAM serves,” Johnson said. “The Family Violence Center offers an environment that is comfortable, welcoming and free of judgment. Our staff and volunteers work patiently with clients to determine their needs, assist them in reaching their goals and, more importantly, begin healing.”

The Sexual Assault Services hotline number is 281-885-4673 (HOPE).