About us...
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HISTORY OF THE VICTIM ASSISTANCE CENTRE, INC.
The Victim Assistance Centre (VAC), is a non-profit organization
that has served the City of Houston and Harris County since 1986
by providing a wide array of services to meet the emotional,
physical, informational and financial needs of victims of violent
crime.
Marinelle Timmons, the Executive Director, founded the Centre
when she observed, as the founder of the first Texas Chapter of
Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD), that there were many
victims of violent crimes who fell outside the scope of the services
provided to the victims of drunk driving.
If a victim is unable to recover from the harm caused by a violent
crime, they have to endure what can not be repaired, sometimes for
the remainder of their lives. Emotional needs of victims can be
alleviated through one-on-one crisis counseling, free therapy
provided by a licensed professional counselor, court accompany-
ment, and personal advocacy. Physical needs can be addressed
by assistance in obtaining a protective order, safety planning with
the victim, social service referrals for emergency food, clothing or
shelter. Financial needs are addressed by providing assistance in
filing for Texas Crime Victim Compensation benefits or for
emergency financial assistance available through social services.
Informational needs are met through a 24-hour hot-line and
guidance through the Criminal Justice System process. Victims are
linked to the Texas VINE Program for information on jail status and
court events. Information is also provided to victims on their
statutory rights.
Each year VAC receives approximately 1,400 requests for services.
Referrals come from local law enforcement, family and criminal
courts, therapists, friends of victims and other agencies. The
Criminal and Family Law Courts rely on the remedial services
provided by VAC, for example, VAC's SAFE Family Program, one of
the country's largest and oldest supervised visitation programs for
children and non-custodial parents.
VAC also collaborates with Harris County Citizen Corp. And with
Victim Relief Ministries to prompt Harris County residents to be
prepared in the event of a terrorist attack.
The Victim Assistance Centre (VAC), is a non-profit organization
that has served the City of Houston and Harris County since 1986
by providing a wide array of services to meet the emotional,
physical, informational and financial needs of victims of violent
crime.
Marinelle Timmons, the Executive Director, founded the Centre
when she observed, as the founder of the first Texas Chapter of
Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD), that there were many
victims of violent crimes who fell outside the scope of the services
provided to the victims of drunk driving.
If a victim is unable to recover from the harm caused by a violent
crime, they have to endure what can not be repaired, sometimes for
the remainder of their lives. Emotional needs of victims can be
alleviated through one-on-one crisis counseling, free therapy
provided by a licensed professional counselor, court accompany-
ment, and personal advocacy. Physical needs can be addressed
by assistance in obtaining a protective order, safety planning with
the victim, social service referrals for emergency food, clothing or
shelter. Financial needs are addressed by providing assistance in
filing for Texas Crime Victim Compensation benefits or for
emergency financial assistance available through social services.
Informational needs are met through a 24-hour hot-line and
guidance through the Criminal Justice System process. Victims are
linked to the Texas VINE Program for information on jail status and
court events. Information is also provided to victims on their
statutory rights.
Each year VAC receives approximately 1,400 requests for services.
Referrals come from local law enforcement, family and criminal
courts, therapists, friends of victims and other agencies. The
Criminal and Family Law Courts rely on the remedial services
provided by VAC, for example, VAC's SAFE Family Program, one of
the country's largest and oldest supervised visitation programs for
children and non-custodial parents.
VAC also collaborates with Harris County Citizen Corp. And with
Victim Relief Ministries to prompt Harris County residents to be
prepared in the event of a terrorist attack.