The WOmen’s Center of Tarrant County

The Women’s Center opened its doors with a Helpline and Employment Program staffed by volunteers. Karen Perkins, Board President, became paid Executive Director.

Adopted a small volunteer rape crisis program, providing crisis intervention to sexual assault victims at one hospital and a 24-hour crisis hotline.

An outcry at a local school prompted the creation and launch of Play it Safe!®, a prevention and education program designed to teach children how to recognize, respond to, and report abuse.

Became a United Way Partner Agency with a grant of $33,000.

The Women’s Center staff grew from 15 to 30 and moved to a new facility on Hemphill Street.

Opened full-service office in the Arlington Human Services Center with new/expanded United Way funding.

Husbands of Board members created the first “Men Who Love Women” benefit which turned into an annual event.

Management staff expanded in response to organizational growth. New staff includes Director of Programs and Director of Business Operations.

Combined the Jobs NOW! program, a job placement program, and Project Self-Sufficiency under one program—which is now known as Employment Solutions.

Began annual “friend-raising” Cultivation Lunches, debuted first Women’s Center video, and hired a Director of Development.

Held inaugural Victory Over Violence Walk/Run to benefit the anti-violence programs of The Women’s Center.

Rape Crisis & Victim Services won a national best practice award for a collaborative partnership with the Arlington Police Department.

With 4 other organizations, began a five-year national demonstration program funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, the “Fort Worth Initiative”, to build organizational capacity of employment programs for low-income people.

Rape Crisis & Victim Services and General Counseling began providing children’s counseling services in FWISD Family Resource Centers.

Karen Perkins, founder and Executive Director for 25 years, retired. Laura Hilgart became President and Chief Executive Officer.

Began an $8.9 million capital campaign to build a new 26,000 square foot building on land next door to our existing building.

Rape Crisis & Victim Services began group counseling at Pine Street Rehabilitation Center and Federal Medical Center-Carswell.

In partnership with Cook Children’s Hospital, General Counseling launched a new case management program for children living in homeless shelters.

The Women’s Center completed construction and moved into its new state of the art facility which allowed for much needed program expansion.

Increased bi-lingual staff from 7 to 14 including therapists, case managers, trainers, and intake staff.

The Women’s Center produces new Play it Safe!® videos to replace existing 15-year-old videos.

Rape Crisis & Victim Services added an attorney and paralegal to address the significant legal problems experienced by victims.

The PEARLS program is launched to help older adults overcome depression and isolation. The Center is used as a model for future programs state-wide.

Play it Safe!® program grew to serve 138,000 children in Tarrant County.

PEARLS participated in a collaborative partnership that expanded services within three high-need zip codes – 76119, 76010 and 76082.

The Women’s Center’s PEARLS Program wins a National Association of Area Agency on Aging Award for Aging Innovations and Achievement.