Panhandle Crisis Center History, Mission & Philosophy
In April of 1984, the Perryton Business and Professional Women’s Club sponsored a child sexual abuse seminar given by Perryton Chief of Police Joe Hannon. From this seminar, a small group of Perryton residents began to see a need for a center to help victims of family violence and sexual assault. Social Worker Helen Bussey coordinated the efforts of several volunteers in the community to establish such a center. Among them were then Chief of Police Joe Hannon and Marian Holmes, a local attorney.
By September of 1984, Panhandle Crisis Center, Inc. was formally established to serve the three northeastern counties of the Texas Panhandle, Ochiltree, Hansford, and Lipscomb. An office was opened in Perryton. Shelter services were originally provided through arrangements with a local motel. Soon, a local church congregation offered a facility for use as a shelter under a cooperative agreement. In 1988, when continued use of the church’s facilities was no longer possible, the agency applied for and received a grant from the Don and Sybil Harrington Foundation. These funds allowed the Center to purchase a home for use as an emergency shelter.
Since 1984, committed citizens of Ochiltree, Hansford, and Lipscomb County, as well as board members, staff, and volunteers of the Center, have contributed much of their time and financial support in order to ensure this small, rural agency not only survived, but also thrived in order to fulfill its mission. Their combined efforts have resulted in a dramatic expansion of victims’ services over the years in order to meet the needs of the growing population requesting our services.
Today, Panhandle Crisis Center’s continuum of care for victims of family violence and sexual assault includes a 24-hour domestic violence and sexual assault crisis hotline, crisis intervention immediately following family violence or sexual assault, emergency shelter, emergency transportation and medical care, and 24-hour advocate response at hospitals and law enforcement agencies. PCC also provides individual and group counseling in English and Spanish to adults and children, employment training assistance, emergency financial assistance, information and referrals to other community resources, legal advocacy, transportation, and accompaniment. Education and prevention programs related to family violence and sexual assault are available to schools, youth groups, clergy members, community groups, criminal justice officials, and professional organizations.
Panhandle Crisis Center is truly an organization that is striving to end domestic violence and sexual assault. Like many rural service providers, we face continued challenges. These obstacles have only strengthened our commitment to battered adults and children and to those whose lives have been affected by sexual violence. Panhandle Crisis Center is an agency that has continued to question why victims residing in rural areas should have less access to resources. We have answered these questions by challenging ourselves to do more.
MISSION STATEMENT
Panhandle Crisis Center is a community-based organization for victims of family violence and sexual assault. Our primary purpose is to help, shelter, and support victims of family violence and to eliminate violence within the family.
The ultimate goals of the Panhandle Crisis Center are:
- Provide adequate quality of protection, shelter and other services for all victims of family violence and sexual assault who need such services.
- Provide short-term counseling and emotional support for victims of family violence and sexual assault.
- Help empower victims of family violence and sexual assault to become and remain self-supporting and self-sufficient.
- Promote public awareness and understanding of victims of family violence and sexual assault and provide appropriate referrals to the violent family member.
OPERATING PHILOSOPHY
Panhandle Crisis Center's operating philosophy is that we do not tell victims what they should or should not do. Our role is to offer support as victims consider their options and make their own decisions.