Our History
In 1978, the Randolph County Council on the Status of Women conducted a county-wide assessment on the incidence of family violence. Based upon the documentation from this study, and pleas for help from victims, a Task Force was formed to provide limited services and seek funding for a comprehensive program. This Task Force evolved into a Board of Directors and Randolph County Women’s Aid was incorporated in October 1978.
Two important sources of support enabled Women’s Aid to develop a new and innovative domestic violence program. First, the city of Asheboro provided $40,000 in community Development Block Grant funds to acquire and renovate a large house to be used as a refuge for battered women and their children. This Shelter facility was deeded to Women’s Aid rent-free on the condition that it remain in use for victims of family violence.
Secondly, CETA Title II special Project monies were awarded in May 1979 to fund shelter expense and staffing, as well as comprehensive employment and training services for victims. From that time through September 1981, CETA funding provided the following services: temporary emergency shelter, 24-hour crisis intervention, individual and group counseling and therapy, educational and job training, transportation, child care, information and referral, and community education.
CETA funding was withdrawn on September 30, 1981. The loss of funding was accompanied by the loss of almost all the shelter’s furniture and equipment. Faced with a severe financial crisis, Women’s Aid entered an interim period from October through December to assess the potential for survival. Former staff and volunteers committed themselves to provide essential services during that time on a volunteer basis. Community support poured in and resulted in furnishings and appliances for the shelter, emergency food and household supplies and money for utilities, telephone, and other expenses. In January 1982, Women’s Aid faced the challenge of survival with a new, more active Board of Directors, two and a half staff positions, a new budget of $30,000 (compared to 1981 budget of $188,000), overwhelming community support, and renewed optimism. A committed staff of volunteers worked in all areas of the program. United Way of Randolph County allocated $7000 to Women’s Aid for 1982, and other funding sources were investigated. Although Women’s Aid could no longer provide funding for education and employment training, and a staff therapist was longer available, all of the original services were maintained.
Randolph County Women’s Aid, like many other shelter programs, has long recognized the destructive effects of violence on children. In the beginning, skeletal services, coordinated by Audrey Kennedy, Resident Supervisor (1980-1981), included structured groups and special activities for children. Services for mothers, including parenting education, were provided on an as-needed basis in peer counseling and support groups.
The name of the agency changed in 1986 to Randolph County Family Crisis Center. That year, the agency began Court Advocacy and Rape Crisis Programs. In 1988, the Phoenix Program and the Family Thrift Store were implemented. The former was begun to provide services to abusers to stop the cycle of violence in the family and the latter was started to help support the expenses of the agency. In 1990 the center purchased a house at the corner of Main and Academy streets for offices. The agency expanded into the Archdale/Trinity area in 2000, to provide advocacy services to that area of Randolph County as well.
The Randolph County Family Crisis Center has expanded services to include Advocacy Centers in Asheboro and Archdale, NC. All services are offered in English and Spanish at both locations. We have one emergency shelter located in Randolph County. RCFCC opened the Randolph County Children’s Advocacy Center in March of 2018.