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by Emily LeBlanc, SafePlace Counseling Services Manager Every day I read the news and see a new story about rape. It’s everywhere. It seems to be the newest hot issue to write and talk about. Part of me is glad. Rape needs more attention. According to RAINN, every 2 minutes someone in the US is […]
Read MoreAt least once a week I read the report for a young person being admitted to the Austin Children’s Shelter and there is almost always an eerie similarity; almost all have experienced multiple forms of abuse and neglect; hurt by family, friends, caregivers and the system. What I have seen, and research supports, is that […]
Read Moreby Jenny Martin, SafePlace Communications and Media Relations We use lots of buzz words and catchy phrases around SafePlace, but I’m pretty sure if I asked one of my friends if they were a courageous bystander they’d be confused. If you identify with my friends…here are some examples of what it means to us to […]
Read Moreby Diane McDaniel Rhodes, former Chief Program Officer at SafePlace Although I have worked with abuse survivors for the past nearly 30 years and supervised shelter and counseling and housing programs, I’ve learned most when people I love have been in abusive relationships. You’d guess staff at the local domestic violence and sexual assault programs […]
Read Moreby Danniel Zelaya, SafePlace Communications Department Intern I recently graduated from the University of Texas and can say I’ve met hundreds of people along the way. How could I not with the 50,000 student attendance and with me involved in several student organizations? Some, I was fortunate to get to know and add to my […]
Read Moreby Diane McDaniel Rhodes, former Chief Program Officer People ask about emergency shelter all the time. Either the idea of fleeing, or the idea of communal living strikes a chord of curiosity with most. The Kelly White Family Shelter was designed to offer survivors a place to begin to feel secure and hopeful for their future. […]
Read Moreby Susan Dunning, Major Gifts Officer Sarah Biedenharn was a good friend to SafePlace. This plaque commemorates her gift of $1million to create the Sally Biedenharn Endowment to honor her daughter and for the benefit of SafePlace’s building fund. Mrs. Biedenharn created the endowment in 2009 with an initial gift of $500,000. The remainder of […]
Read Moreby Jenny Martin, Communications and Media Relations “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I doubt many people will argue that they are unaffected by the media. So when articles like the one below are written, its purpose is not to nag and nitpick; it’s to let people know, […]
Read Moreby Coni Huntsman Stogner, Director of Transitional Services In the 15 years I’ve worked at SafePlace, I’ve often been asked how I can work here, and “Isn’t it depressing to hear about abuse all the time?” The interesting thing is that SafePlace is far from depressing. The families that come here are all looking to […]
Read MoreGuest post by Candace, survivor and former SafePlace client My story, like that of any survivor, is hard to share. Should I risk possible embarrassment and judgment from admitting I was in an abusive relationship? Or will it help drive me further into recovery by sharing my voice? During my time at SafePlace, one of […]
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