History

The Family Crisis Center, Inc. began when a group of concerned citizens saw a need.  It was just over 30 years ago that the first family moved into the shelter to find safety that was not afforded to them in their own home. A hotline had been established to give survivors a place to call for support and a group of committed community members along with Catholic Social Service worked tirelessly to make the Family Crisis Center a reality.  The Catholic Diocese of Dodge City purchased the residence that currently operates as the shelter facility and allows its use rent free.  The mission was to provide advocacy and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault while encouraging social change through education.    And that mission continues today.

It is estimated that since the beginning of the agency, we have provided services to over 25,000 survivors in central and south-central Kansas. Our families, our neighbors, our friends and we make up those numbers. We are the faces on those numbers. Our stories of abuse, trauma, courage and ultimately, survival comprise the foundation that we build on today. We must never forget those who have gone before us and forged a path in unchartered territories; the generous community members who supported this agency with their time and their finances, brave survivors who reached out a hand to find safety and compassion and sought the safety offered, the courageous advocates and volunteers who stood up with survivors and challenged the norms and pushed our thinking forward, and the strong people, who made the commitment to continue the work that began over 30 years ago.