Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce: Clear Lake Connections Podcast Episode 38 | Advocating To End Domestic Violence.

Press release from the Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce:

November 3, 2021

This week on Clear Lake Connections Podcast presented by UTMB Health: Meet Brenda Sykes, Executive Director and Kat Clemons, Development Director of Bay Area Turning Point. In this week’s episode, Brenda and Kat discuss the advocacy that Bay Area Turning Point provides to the Clear Lake Area and Harris County. Brenda and Kat also talk about the comprehensive services that are available to clients, the signs to look for when you feel like a loved one Is experiencing abuse and how people can donate and get involved this Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Bay Area Turning point has been around for 30 years and provides assistance to people who have been effected by domestic violence and human trafficking as well. They make sure that if an individual needs to leave from violence, they have a shelter that houses 72 adults and children at any time. Harris County is the 4th largest county in the united states and according to the 2010 census, they get 200+ calls daily. There is always a need to do more and Covid has caused them to lessen the amount of people that are in the shelters but they do have a hotel program for people to get service. These individuals that go through BATP get 3 meals a day, snacks and there is a child care center. They also have case managers on site and victim advocates that can help them with protective orders. Bay Area Turning Point also offers comprehensive services so people can leave in a better state than the came. They have advocates on call 24/7 so that an individual doesn’t have to go through the trauma and they have support, They have an outreach and education department to help people in the community. They try to take every component to advocating to end domestic and sexual violence. A few years ago they birthed the concept of having a program where they have a safe paws program where they work with the city of Webster and they will house your animal for you for up to 6 weeks and during this time you can check in with them.

All and all, many things can cause Domestic Violence but there’s but no one knows where it really comes from, it is a plethora thing from age old societal things. Kat and Brenda also talk about what it looks like when an individual comes in and needs help, how they advocate and the process of helping them get out of the abuse. The pandemic has put a whole different spin of things and getting law enforcement to understand these dynamics as they do safety planning with each person that comes in. Domestic violence can happen to anyone.

They are hosting their 30th anniversary Gala this Saturday and there will also be a 5k to bring awareness to these issues. They are taking donations for the Gala.

Domestic violence is not only in the home but it can be all around us.

If you are interested In volunteering there is an application online and you can also donate to their donation center on Egret Bay. They have a list on there on what their clients need on their needs list. www.bayareaturningpoint.org

This press release was produced by the Clear Lake Area Chamber Of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.