Family Guidance Center

One thing about FGC, we have some awesome clients! What a sweet surprise 🧺 Thank you!!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and in recognition of DVAM, FGC is hosting our annual Night of Remembrance vigil to honor and remember the victims who lost their lives to domestic violence. In Catawba County alone, we had 4 DV related homicides in 2021. We are honored to work with survivors every day and empower them to reclaim their lives.

Please RSVP at www.tinyurl.com/FGCVigil

Come join us at the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at the Sails! We’ll be here until 7p to share about our services and to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. We hope to see you here soon!

CVCC staff and students, if you are at Fall Fling today, stop by the Family Guidance Center’s table to pick up some resources and information about upcoming events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

It's almost that time again! We are gearing up for our annual Hope Tree program to support our clients and their families during the holiday season. As we collect their wish lists, we are also searching for folks who would like to sponsor a family or two.

This would be a great service project for a family, small business, church group, or any other organization looking to give back to the community. Your contribution would mean so much to the individuals and families we serve. They have already lost so much. Will you help us bring some light back into their lives?

Call or email for more details
828-322-1400 ext 301
[email protected]

Look who came to visit us today 🐕 We love having Fancy here 🥰❤️

Our Victim Services staff were honored to present to Katy Geymont and the CVCC Nursing School Seniors this week about sexual assault and domestic violence. We were also proud to train 30 new people in Darkness to Light, made possible by the CAPC of Catawba County.

Check out Recovery Happens in 2022 at CVCC beginning next week. Great resources, speakers, and information for those in recovery and those who love someone in recovery.

We said farewell and best wishes to Intern Nicholas today. He is finishing up his degree in Mental Health Counseling with Liberty University and we know he will serve beautifully wherever he lands. Thank you, Nicholas Proctor, for all of your dedication to the clients and the community this year. Best of luck to you and you always have a home here at FGC! 🎉is

Come visit us at our tent at Newton’s National Night Out at Southside Park!

Excited to be explaining our services to local families today!! Cardboard Castle Productions

Thank you to Eddie Marlowe and the Long View Police Department for bringing by this sweet ride today for the littlest survivors in our domestic violence shelter.

Please consider helping our families. Contact our office if you have any questions 828-322-1400

Yesterday's lesson/activity in our Life Skills class. Particpants read words from an abuser and nailed them to a wooden board. Afterwards, our DV Advocate/Case Manager removed the nails one by one. However, the holes remained. This symbolizes the lingering effect and impact of verbal and psychological abuse. Domestic violence can take many forms. In the end, our participants were reminded no matter what has been said to them, words do NOT define them or their future.

Life Skills is a 12 week course where participants learn about the impact of domestic violence, coping skills, boundaries, safety planning and much more. The course is no cost to participants. Please contact us today to learn more! 828-322-1400 x306

Looking for a way to help out survivors of sexual assault? We are accepting reusable bags with clothes to give suvivors as their clothes often get taken during evidence collection.
Fill a reusable bag with new or gently used clothing items. Then drop off during our office hours!

Can you sing? Dance? Rap? Or do you have a weird talent that no one knows about (yet)? Welp, you are cordially invited to perform at TOY’s Got Talent! TOY's hosting a talent show for youth on July 29th from 5-7:30. Come show us your comedy, musical abilities, dance, art, poetry, magic act, and more! The weirder, the more random, the better!

Fill out this form to register! bit.ly/TOYsGotTalent

The best acts will be invited to perform on the Charlotte Pride stage in August. So come through so we can celebrate you. Try before you deny. You can't do it wrong!

Come by the Farmer’s Market today until 1pm for beautiful local veggies and grab some information about our services. And thank you to Crooked Barn Farms for sharing your shade with us!

True Stories About the Moment Survivors Decided to Leave

"Why didn't you just leave?"

Our clients get this question a lot. The answer is not that simple. Read on to learn what these survivors were up against and when they knew they had to leave.

We are here for you. If you are ready to leave, call or text us 24/7 at 828-228-1787.

True Stories About the Moment Survivors Decided to Leave True accounts from survivors of domestic violence on the exact moment they decided to leave

United Way Newsletter - Domestic Violence Shelter visit

Thank you, United Way, for your continued support through the years.

United Way Newsletter - Domestic Violence Shelter visit You don't want to miss this. July 1, 2022 UNITED WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE "To increase the organized capacity of people to help others." News & Resources Domestic Violence shelter offers a home and hope B

Family Guidance Center updated their information in their About section.

Family Guidance Center updated their information in their About section.

Timeline photos

NCCADV condemns the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the right to abortion. Limited abortion access prevents many survivors from escaping their abusers and, in some cases, will result in escalated violence and death. Read our full statement at https://buff.ly/3luYeqb

Our shelter is full once again! Can you help us provide these care items to our residents as they face this time of uncertainty?

Don't get out much these days? Try shopping from our Amazon wish list! Items you purchase will be shipped directly to us. Check it out here: https://a.co/gxxsFCp

Thank you to Feetures of Hickory for donating your time today to help our agency serve survivors of domestic violence. If your team is interested in volunteering, contact us at 828-322-1400. We appreciate your continued support!

We appreciate the invaluable partnerships we have with all of our local law enforcement and the support that they provide for our agency and community every day. With your help, we are able to restore our clients’ sense of safety and help them seek justice as victims of crime. Thank you for all the work you do; it does not go unnoticed!

Suspect in Conover DV homicide is considered armed and dangerous. Please share.

Thank you to the Bethlehem Baptist Church youth group for volunteering your time with our agency today. We appreciate you!

Free classes will take place the first Saturday of every month. Get started this Saturday at 11am!

The first Saturday of the month we open our mats to the public for a FREE Womens Self Defense. Saturday May 7th 11 am! 😎👊

Check out our Hope tree. May is Mental Health Awareness Month. We recognize the struggles and difficulties our clients face and strive to provide hope during their challenging times.

There is Hope in Healing.

The kiddos who come to our shelter don't ask for much. They want the same things we all want: to feel safe, loved, and have a sense of normalcy. If you want to help some of these kiddos regain that sense of normalcy during such a stressful time in their lives, check out our Amazon wish list. We have some sweet kiddos in the shelter now who would love your help!

Shop now: https://a.co/dxv9m5s

📺 Movie night, anyone? Check out these films to learn more about the impact of sexual violence. Have you seen any of these? What other movies or shows have you seen that cover this topic?

The Hunting Ground
I AM EVIDENCE
Spotlight
Audrie & Daisy
The Invisible War
Precious
Anita: Speaking Truth to Power
Roll Red Roll
The Tale

Score A Better Future
Incorporating Credit Awareness along Your Financial Journey
Thursday April 28th
7:00 P.M. EST

Celebrate Financial Literacy Month with FICO. Take charge of your financial future by joining FICO® Scores expert Julie Wooding, along with special guests, Freddie Mac’s Letania Gonzales and The Finance Bar’s Marsha Barnes, for a conversation on the importance of knowing some of the key components of financial literacy. These experts will bust myths and offer practical tips to better understand your credit, discuss how to navigate credit management, and share tools that are available to empower you on your financial journey.

In partnership with Operation HOPE, all registrants will have access to a free one-on-one credit coaching session from non-profit financial well-being coaches to help attendees develop a plan to address their financial goals.

Register today! Here is a pdf version of the announcement for your use. If there is anything we can do to support you please feel free to contact us directly. We look forward to working with you.

Check out these FREE Women's Self Defense classes on the first Saturday of each month!

The first Saturday of the month we open our mats to the public for a FREE Womens Self Defense. Saturday May 7th 11 am! 😎👊

at the FGC office was a success! Did you wear denim to show support for survivors of sexual violence today? Tag us in your photos if so!

Don’t forget to participate in Denim Day! Denim Day started in 1999 as a day of action and awareness, we encourage people to wear denim to combat victim blaming and educate others about sexual violence. Tag us in your Denim Day selfies and photos!

Adolescent victims of sexual assault are less likely to report or access support than adults (one study showed 8-13% reported).

[Image of a person wearing over-the-head earphones a looking straight ahead. To the right is a teal block with white and yellow text that reads: Research estimates that women who have been sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday are twice as likely as others to be sexually assaulted after age 18.]







@StartbyBelieving

Only one weekend left to capture some beautiful moments for a hugely discounted price. Session attendees from last weekend are raving about the shoot. Book yours today and help survivors at the same time! Thank you Whitney Young Photography for offering this unique opportunity.

Whitney Young Photography is hosting a fundraiser in the month of April that will benefit our Sexual Assault program and clients. Below are the dates and times available.

04/23
04/24
04/30
05/01

All photo sessions will be at Glenn Hilton Park in Hickory. Each day there will be six 30 min slots:
morning 8, 8:30, and 9am;
evening: 5:30, 6, and 6:30pm.

Contact Whitney today before these time slots fill up!

[email protected]

🧘‍♀️🧘Interested in Trauma Informed Yoga? Join us this Thursday at the Hickory Art Museum for FREE yoga therapy. Email or text Kim Dunlap for more details. RSVP required!
📱 828-244-7164
📨[email protected]

Happy Healing Friday! What better way to celebrate Earth Day than through practicing horticulture therapy! Studies have shown that gardening or plant-based activities can be effective in reducing levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Today we encourage you to take some time for yourself and practice a horticulture activity, whether this be making a succulent garden, flower pressing, or simply taking a stroll out in nature!

Every response matters. Your response matters. Stop the cycle of silence and Start by Believing.

[Image of two people embracing. White text on a purple background reads: Sexual assault victims typically reach out to 2-3 people for support before reporting to law enforcement. Friends and family play a critical role in determining whether victims will report or access services.]







@StartbyBelieving