Free, confidential services provided by The Purple Door
The Purple Door (TPD) logo can be recognized by many students on campus. It’s seen on banners, flyers and information sheets as TPD staff hands out information to students on campus throughout the year. The color signifies sexual assault awareness, and the organization aims to help women, men and children affected by domestic and sexual abuse.
TPD collaborates with Texas A&M-University Kingsville, but aside from this partnership they provide a range of services to the entire Kingsville community.
“To students and everybody that we help we offer counseling services, [and] we can help them through the legal process if that’s something that they want to do. We can do law enforcement accompaniment, if they do want to make a report we can go with them so that they’re not alone just to offer and provide that support, [and] we can work on helping them get protective order,” Sexual Assault Victim Advocate for TPD Tina Sanchez said.
All services provided by TPD are confidential and free.
“For the students there is Title IX. When they report to us it’s not mandatory for us to report to Title IX, but if that’s something that they want to do then we can help them through that process as well,” Sanchez said.
As a third party, TPD is not required to share any reported information with the university.
“Texas A&M University-Kingsville has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Purple Door. The goal of the MOU is to increase collaboration with advocates so that we can provide support to reporters. For example, Purple Door advocates are informed about university procedures and supportive measures to help guide students. Additionally, I’m able to connect students with an advocate and discuss resources that The Purple Door has access to with students who report an incident with my office,” TAMUK’s Title IX Coordinator Tasha Clark said.
Students can choose to also report to Title IX, but TPD will not share any information without a signed release.
“I think the biggest thing is for the students to understand that we don’t report to Title XI so if you’re not sure what your next steps are or you have questions, please call us. Like we are definitely here to help you navigate, like help you figure out what’s your best choices,” Nonresidential Service Manager for TPD Jennifer Radcliffe-Jones said.
TPD was founded in the 1970s by a group of women looking to target family violence.
“They, [the founding members of TPD], got together and started to provide a hotline and they would house people in their own homes and then from there it grew into an agency that evolved into also including sexual assault services but also education prevention counseling, including 24-hour shelter,” Radcliffe- Jones said
To better service men and children in the community the once Women’s Shelter changed its name and became a part of TPD system.
“[The shelter] always served men, women and children. [This is] part of the reason they changed the name,” Radcliffe-Jones said.
Kingsville’s Purple Door office covers 11 counties including Kennedy, Nueces, Kleberg and parts of Jim Wells County.
“We are the local domestic violence and rape crisis center,” she said, “so what services are offered in our physical location or physical shelter location in Corpus, we also offer them in our 11 counties.”
In the early 2000s The Purple Door started opening outreach locations so those seeking services didn’t have to travel to Corpus Christi.
In certain situations, TPD offers transportation to local sexual assault forensic exams. There are two locations located in the area the Kingsville office covers.
“Again, it’s whatever the client wants and how much they want us to be involved, but we are able to sit with them through the exam and be in the room with them during the exam so that they’re not alone,” Sanchez said.
Both locations, Driscoll Children’s Hospital, which takes patients up to 21 years old, and Doctor’s Regional Hospital, which takes patients ages 18 and above, are located in Corpus Christi.
Services provided by TPD encompass not only services for sexual assault survivors, but the partners of victims as well.
“If someone’s girlfriend or boyfriend has been sexually assaulted and they’re not sure how to handle that we can provide that service as well to help that person go to counseling and help them navigate how to be a supportive partner,” Radcliffe- Jones said
This service is provided to partners who need help learning how to support their partner whether the event happened while they were in a relationship together or prior.
“We also have other services the university can’t provide including things like relocation, helping somebody move out of their unit if they were abused or sexually assaulted in their apartment,” she said.
TPD also provides help to victims of child abuse that may now be affecting students.
“If it’s happened to you in your lifetime, we are an agency that can help you navigate that but also the people that are being affected by it, which goes back to the partners or siblings or parents, but especially partners and friends. You don’t have to be a client. You just call and ask us. We can help you figure out what next steps are. That’s what we’re here for” Radcliffe-Jones said.
TPD located at 205 E. King Ave., Kingsville and is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To contact the victim advocate in Kingsville call (361)248-3406.
To contact Sanchez about any sexual assault service call (361) 248-3349.
If you need immediate service call The Purple Door hotline at (361) 881-8888.
There is no obligation to complete services provided by TPD, the process can be stopped or started at any time.