Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Safe Place® is a program of National Safe Place Network (NSPN).

Free.

Our therapeutic environment ensures children aren’t exposed to negative or violent interactions and can express genuine responses to both parents without “guilt.” Often, when there is a history of conflict, children don’t want to show happiness at seeing one parent for fear they will “hurt” the other parent.

It is during this temporary, transitional, and traumatic time that families are most in need of the services provided by Guardian House.

Please email your court order to [email protected] and include your name, phone number and the name of oldest child.  A staff member from our Intake Department will contact you to send intake paperwork within 2 business days.

A supervisor will be present at all times during the interaction between the parent and child(ren). The supervisor documents observed interactions and conversations during the visit; however, they do not record opinions or make recommendations. The supervisor is responsible to intervene and re-direct the non-custodial parent if policies are not being followed.

The role of the supervisor is also to help facilitate, as needed, interaction and connections between the parent and child. Additionally, the supervisor can assist with parenting questions, like how to discipline with time-outs and how to change a diaper. Parents are encouraged to take our free Parenting Education class and can put to practice what they are learning during visitation.

We understand that being supervised during visitation may feel uncomfortable at first, but parents and children typically adjust quickly to the situation.

We will need to review your court order to start the process for monitored exchanges or supervised visits.

Please email your court order to [email protected] and include your name and phone number.

A staff member from the Intake Department will contact you to schedule an intake appointment within 48 hours.

Family Service Association offers numerous professional counseling services including Individual, Couples, Family, Group, Substance Abuse Counseling, and Consultations.

We also provide educational groups such as Anger Management and Domestic Violence Prevention designed to help maintain personal wellness.

Services are offered locally in the San Antonio metropolitan area and our rural locations. The services are provided through a combination of at-home and office-based visits. Our licensed counselors are available on days, evenings, Saturdays, and by special appointment.

Our counseling professionals provide services to include working with children, youth, families, and seniors. Our team has many specialized skills to address a wide range of counseling needs. Services are offered for both short and long-term depending on individual needs. We are available to assist with the following:

• Anger Management
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• Child Sexual Abuse
• Depression
• Domestic Violence
• Grief Support
• LGBT Issues
• Life Skills
• Parenting
• Relapse Prevention
• Relationships
• Stress
• Substance Abuse
• Victimization from Crime
• And more!

Counseling services are now available in both in-person and telehealth formats at the discretion of the client, following an initial enrollment session in-person.

For more information, please contact the Family Service Behavioral Health Counseling team at 210-299-2406. 

Funding is provided by United Way, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, Client Fees, School Districts, Medicaid, Private Contracts, Private Insurance, Criminal Justice Division (CJD) Grant, and Office of Attorney General (OAG) Grant.

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free.

The Transformational Campus provides residential housing while clients work to overcome the issues that led to their becoming homeless.

Haven's Promise

• You will ALWAYS be treated with kindness, compassion, dignity, and respect.
• You will always sleep indoors, even in the Courtyard.
• You will receive three hot meals a day and any clothing you need.
• You will be connected to housing, through Haven Housing and our partners.
• You will be connected to medical care, dental care, eye care, and mental health care.

Over 150 partner organizations collaborate to provide comprehensive services, including:

• Housing
• Employment opportunities
• ID Recovery: Social Security card, birth certificate, driver’s license
• Application Assistance for Social Security, Disability, Medicare, SNAP
• Substance use recovery
• Detox
• Sober living
• LGBTQ services
• Medical care
• Eyecare
• Dental care
• Psychiatric services
• Counseling
• Help with abuse, trauma
• GED classes
• Support for parents
• Support for school-age kids
• Legal services
• Showers, laundry
• Computer use

Space on the Transformational Campus is limited and we cannot guarantee that a bed will be immediately available.

All services are at no cost to Haven clients.

• Computer Skills Classes
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free Computer Use

Thrive’s emergency shelter is housed on the campus of Haven for Hope and provides 10 young adults with shelter for up to 6 months.

The core services at our emergency shelter include not only basic needs of food and shelter but individually tailored and youth-directed case management plans to help young adults move forward in exiting homelessness.

Thrive assists young adults with linkage to resources such as ID recovery, counseling, medical services, gender-affirming care, educational opportunities, and vocational training in a safe and supportive environment.

Our focus is to help remove barriers that young adults may encounter in seeking services and help guide them toward their next move in achieving their goals.

LGBTQ youth and young adults.

Free.

The U.S. Army Family Advocacy Program (FAP) helps soldiers and their families recognize and meet the unique challenges of military lifestyles.

Our services include seminars, workshops, counseling, and intervention to help strengthen Army Families, enhance resiliency and relationship skills, and improve quality of life.

We are also dedicated to helping soldiers and their families with the complex challenges related to domestic abuse, child abuse, and neglect. We focus on prevention, education, prompt reporting, investigation, intervention, and treatment.

You can also call Military OneSource for more information and referrals.

• CONUS: +1(800) 342-9647">+1(800) 342-9647

• OCONUS: 00-800-3429-6477

• Collect with operator assistance OCONUS: 484-530-5908

Awaaz offers confidential peer support via our helpline.

All calls not directly answered are linked to a confidential voicemail.

Messages are returned by Awaaz advocates within 24 hours.

Awaaz advocates currently speak English, Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu, and Oriya.

For emergencies, call 911.

Awaaz provides clients with referrals to appropriate agencies and professionals for assistance with legal matters, medical services, emergency shelter, as well as marriage, family, and group counseling.

The Bexar County Family Justice Center can help you change the pattern of violence that dominates your life! At the Center, two agencies provide protective order assistance: (1) Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office - Protective Order Unit, and (2) Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.  

The DA Protective Order Unit is made up of trained Victim Advocates, Paralegals, Investigators, and Assistant District Attorneys to provide services to victims.  They can help you obtain information about criminal charges, explain the criminal justice process, and see if they can assist you with applying for a protective order in Civil District Court. If there is a legal conflict that prevents the District Attorney’s Office from providing you with protective order assistance, your case may be referred to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.  

If a protective order is granted by a Civil District Court Judge, it will order the person you filed against:

• Not to commit any violence against you.
• Not to come within a certain distance of where you live, work, and attend school.
• Not to communicate with you in any manner that is threatening or harassing, whether by phone, mail, or any electronic/online communication.
• Not to engage in any harassing, threatening, annoying, alarming, abusing, tormenting or embarrassing behavior towards you.
• Not to commit any of the above acts towards you or any other individuals covered by the protective order. 
• Not allow them to possess any weapons unless they are peace officers.
• Not to remove or harm pets or companion animals

• Family Violence: the law requires proof that (1) family violence has occurred and (2) family violence is likely to occur again in the future.
• Third Party: the law requires evidence that (1) you and the person you want protection from have (or have had) an intimate relationship with the same person, (2) that violence has occurred between you and the person you want protection from and, (3) the violence is likely to occur again in the future.
• Stalking: the law requires proof that you are the victim of stalking.
• Sexual Assault or Abuse: the law requires proof that you are the victim of sexual assault or indecency with a child. 
• Indecent Assault: the law requires proof that you are the victim of indecent assault.
• Trafficking: the law requires proof that you are the victim of trafficking.

Click here for additional information.

The Victim Assistance Division of the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office is available to assist victims of crime whose case was committed within Bexar County.

Victim Assistance personnel strive to keep victims informed of their statutory rights, the status of their criminal case, upcoming court proceedings, and referrals to the appropriate social service resources to assist them through this difficult and stressful time.

We offer the following services:

• general information about the criminal justice system and court accompaniment;
• notification of the status of your case in the court system;
• referral to social service agencies; aid in preparing an application through the Crime Victim Compensation fund;
• aid in completing a Victim Impact Statement; limited restitution collection and distribution;
• and aid in returning property involved in a criminal case.  

Click here for additional information.

 
Services are provided by Crisis Response Team members. This team is made up of police officers and caseworkers assigned to each SAPD substation.

The Family Justice Center (FJC) is committed to helping all victims of domestic violence. The FJC is available to men, women, and children of any age, economic, social, religious or ethnic group, and does not discriminate against any victim. All services provided at the FJC are free for victims of domestic violence.

Services include:

• Crisis Intervention
• Legal Help
• Protective Orders
• Family & Personal Services
• Healthcare & Counseling

Free.

Services are provided by Crisis Response Team members. This team is made up of police officers and caseworkers assigned to each SAPD substation.

Services include:

• Victims' services
• Violence prevention
• Crisis intervention counseling
• Case management
• Child and family counseling
• Support groups
• Information and referrals

Click here for tips to keep yourself and your children safe, as well as a checklist of things to remember when leaving an abusive situation.

Provides legal aid to low-income and immigrant families, as well as to victims of crime, domestic violence, and human trafficking.

Participants are offered legal information, and if necessary, referrals to legal aid or to other attorneys who may work on a sliding scale or a payment plan.

Our lawyers are experienced in multiple fields to offer clients the best legal advice on a wide range of legal issues:

• Guardianship – Legal help for family members of individuals who are unable to secure food, clothing, or shelter for themselves or need help making decisions.
• Wills – End-of-life legal preparations including power of attorney, simple wills, and probate management.
• Property Deeds – Assistance with transferring homes to loved ones during their life or upon death.
• Financial Wellness and Care – Legal aid for those who have limited ability to manage their personal finances.
• Immigration Assistance – Legal aid to help immigrants and refugees secure their legal immigration status. Every person has a unique situation. At Caritas Legal Services, we will try our best to find immigration relief that will allow you to stay in the USA and work legally. Caritas Legal Services have grants that can help immigration to reduce the fee or waive the fee.

Please contact Caritas Legal Services for additional information at (210) 433-3256.

Free

Psycho-educational parenting group exploring how experiencing Domestic Violence affects one's ability to parent and how exposure to it impacts children.

For more information, call the administration office at 210-930-3669.

Provides a variety of services suited to meet the developmental and emotional needs of each child at both our residential and non-residential facilities.

Play therapy techniques are used in individual and group counseling that is offered to help children process and heal from domestic violence.

Ongoing family case management services with a focus on the spectrum of needs of every child client are provided while maintaining an emphasis on meeting the academic needs of children identified as victims/survivors of family violence. Services are provided to every child.

For more information, call administration at 210-930-3669.

Victims and survivors of domestic violence receive individual counseling by appointment. Individual counseling focuses on personal safety, personal growth, development, and improving interpersonal relationships. Participation is voluntary and available to residential and non-residential clients.

Children’s counseling provides a variety of therapeutic services suited to meet the developmental and emotional needs of each child. Play therapy, and individual, and group counseling are offered to help children process and heal from domestic violence. Services are provided to every child at the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, as well as any child needing therapeutic services at our Broadway office.

Free

Legal representation through FVPS is generally focused on the areas of family law such as

• Protective Orders
• Divorce
• Child Custody
• Modifications, and Enforcements
• Or a combination of those services.

How to Apply

Applications for legal services with FVPS must be filled out. It is also important to include any relevant documents with your application, such as police reports, photos of injuries, court orders and documents, and any documents from Child Protective Services.

Apply online using fillable form(s) OR print, fill out, and mail downloadable form(s) to:

FVPS Legal Services Department
ATTN: Natalie Pruitt,
7911 Broadway,
San Antonio, Texas 78209

Fax: to 210-314-1016
Email to [email protected]
Phone: (210) 821-3823 or 210 930-3669 ext 2223

Once your application has been received and reviewed by the Department, you will be notified whether your application has been accepted.

Free for eligible participants.

This program is designed to engage perpetrators of family violence in recognizing the impact of their violence on children and complements BIPP.

The curriculum invites fathers to explore their childhood and how it may have shaped their beliefs and behaviors about fatherhood, as well as the concept that abusing a child's mother is abusive to children.

It also supports men in developing non-violent, nurturing, child-centered parenting practices.

Call the administration office at 210-930-3669 for more information.

Click here to view payment and forms information

 25-hour process and curriculum-based psycho-educational group to support Survivors in exploring their experiences and how domestic violence impacts children. Survivors are guided through processing their life experiences and considerations for healing and working towards optimal change and growth.

• 24-hour Crisis Intervention and Emergency Shelter
• Individual case management services
• Individual and group counseling for adults
• Individual counseling for children
• Legal services and advocacy
• Adult education
• Parenting Education
• Prepares families to transition to independent living through housing programs
• On-site primary medical and dental care
• On-site after-school program
• On-site pet shelter

Services are available in both English and Spanish.

Our Violence Intervention Program is one of only three State-certified Batterers Intervention Programs in Bexar County, reaching male, female, and LGBTQ perpetrators of domestic violence with a comprehensive curriculum.

The VIP program consists of group therapy for men and women who perpetrate domestic and family violence. VIP curriculum allows perpetrators to take responsibility for their abusive behavior and teaches them the fundamentals of a healthy, non-violent relationship. It is designed to cover different aspects of violence and family abuse.

If you are ready to end your abusive behavior, join one of our groups. The program consists of 20 group sessions that meet every week for two hours. If you are interested in joining, please set an appointment.

All services are offered in English and Spanish.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call (210) 930-3669, ext. 2101 or 2102.

• Every participant needs to have a personal email and access to a personal computer or smartphone (example: iPhone, Android)
• Participation in the VIP program is open to the public as well as persons referred by the court, CPS, probation office, or parole office.

Initial evaluation $25. This is a two-hour appointment to complete paperwork and meet one-on-one with a professional counselor.

Group sessions are $25 per session. The total amount of sessions is 20.

Pet Shelter

Up to 65% of domestic violence victims will delay or refuse to leave an abusive home out of fear of leaving their pets behind, but less than 3% of domestic violence shelters across the country provide shelter for family pets. We do.

FVPS, The Battered Women and Children’s Shelter is counting on your donation to help operate our pet shelter at our emergency facility. 

Click here to learn more.

Donation Center

Click here for a list of items needed, as well as other information regarding in-kind donations.

Volunteer

FVPS welcomes individual and group volunteers. Click here for details.

For more information, click here.

Group counseling for victims and survivors of domestic violence provides a safe environment to process emotions, share experiences, as well as become educated on the dynamics of domestic violence. The group sessions emphasize safety, learning how to take care of one’s self and assisting their children in the healing process. Sessions are available to residential and non-residential clients.

Participants must be female, and 18 years of age or older.

No fees.

To report violations against the Code of Conduct by clergy.

Clergy Abuse Reporting Procedures

Reporting Non-Clergy Abuse

Rights of the Survivor

Maria Goretti Network

Archiocesan Review Board

Archiocesan Review Board Bylaws

Implementation of Recomendations of the Lay Commission

Child Protection

Steve Martinez, LCSW, LSOTP
Director
(210) 734-7786

[email protected]

Storie Arredondo
Associate Director
(210) 734-7786

[email protected]

Norma Alvarado
Administrative Assistant
(210) 734-7786

[email protected]

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Free.

Here’s how Safe Place works:

Step One – A young person enters a Safe Place and asks for help.

Step Two – The site employee finds a comfortable place for the youth to wait while they call the licensed Safe Place agency. For the greater San Antonio area that is Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA).

Step Three – An RMYA staff member will talk with the youth to get more information and explain that an SAPD officer can escort them to the RMYA Bridge Emergency shelter.  If the child is agreeable, the RMYA staff will contact SAPD to transport the youth to the shelter. 

Step Four – Once at the Bridge, direct-care staff and counselors meet with the youth and provide support. Agency staff ensures the youth and their families receive the help and professional services they need.

This program is for youth under the age of 18 in need of immediate help and safety.

Safe Place® is a program of National Safe Place Network (NSPN).

Free.

Hello, precious woman. Your story matters. No one can take that from you. We believe you are here to help navigate the rest of your story.

We understand the reality of working in the industry. We offer counseling and mentorship. We want you to know we are here for you no matter where you are on your journey in life. We would love to have coffee and hear your story and see how we can be of support for you.

Finding community with women who can be trusted and have your best interest at heart is the first step to healing. We are such a community—women who have found ourselves in broken relationships, addiction, loss of hope, and in deep need of healing from the trauma of sexual exploitation. You will find community and support with the NSAGirls.

We offer a bi-weekly support group for your mind, body and soul. We have trauma therapies available along with resources in our community to help you live a whole, healed and productive life after your abuse.

This program is open to any woman or youth (13-18) who has been sexually abused, exploited, or trafficked.

Free