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Our History
Denton County Friends of the Family was founded in 1980 and began with a staff of two, 32 volunteers, a 900 square foot shelter, and $10,000 in funding. In twenty-seven years the agency has grown to a staff of 50, hundreds of active volunteers, a 4,400 square foot shelter, and over 1.5 million dollars in funding. Denton County Friends of the Family is dedicated to providing compassionate and supportive services to those impacted by relationship violence and sexual assault while partnering with the community to promote a society free of violence.
Throughout the years, the agency has remained true to its purpose and mission and operates a variety of programs and services to meet the needs of those seeking assistance. The agency serves over 4,000 individuals a year through the following programs: 24-hour crisis line, 26-bed protective residential shelter, adult counseling program, child and adolescent program, family services, parenting, structured community education, violence intervention and prevention, outreach advocacy, legal advocacy and accompaniment, thrift store, hospital accompaniment and involvement in the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. Several thousand children are educated each year through our community education programs.
Today, DCFOF is the sole provider in Denton County of shelter and free outreach services to those who have been affected by relationship violence and/or sexual assault. DCFOF receives funding from federal, state and local government agencies, the United Ways of Denton County and Lewisville, corporations, foundations, groups, and individuals. The agency looks forward to carefully designed expansion of existing programs and new initiatives to increase awareness of DCFOF services and to help end the generational cycle of violence.
Our Guiding Philosophies
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All persons have the right to live without fear, abuse, or oppression
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Working together, shelters, affiliated programs, and concerned individuals can change social attitudes about, and the response to, relationship violence and sexual assault
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Abusive individuals must legally and morally be held accountable for their actions
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Belief in the empowerment of all people and promotion of respect for one's self and others
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