A public hearing is scheduled for the next Cuero City Council meeting on December 9, regarding the zoning waiver for the child advocacy group Norma’s House to open an office at 1105 Hunt Street.
“We’re hoping that it will be okay,” Deane Novosad, executive director of Norma’s House, said. “We’ve already put a lot of work into this house.”
Residents in the neighborhood took exception to the non-profit’s new location at the October city council meeting. After the organization moved in and put a sign in the front yard, neighbors called into question whether a commercial business was authorized to open in a residential neighborhood. A petition was circulated and neighbors worried that home values could be negatively affected.
“We are not a day- care,” Novasad said. “We provide services to children who have been a victim of a crime.”
The mission of Norma’s House is to restore dignity, hope and security to children of Gonzales, Lavaca and DeWitt counties by uniting public officials and the community.
It is a place of healing.
Novosad said the non-profit works only by referrals from CPS or law enforcement, not walk-ins. Norma’s House, which is named after a Gonzales school counselor, provides medical and psychological evaluation as well as ongoing therapy.
Throughout the process, the advocacy group works closely with CPS, law enforcement and prosecuting attorneys to oversee each case until there’s a trial, a plea bargain or it's closed.
Originating in Gonzales, Norma’s House was the first rural Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in Texas. They have served Gonzales County for 25 years and Lavaca County for 11 years.
The Victoria CAC used to serve DeWitt County, but Norma’s House “was a better fit,” Novasad said.
She said they have never had to call the police to their offices for an incident. Norma’s House works with the victims of crime, not the offenders.
Offices in the adjacent counties are in residential areas as well, anchoring them as places of safety and protection. Of the non-profit’s 580 total case load, approximately 100 children are from DeWitt County. All their evaluations and therapy must currently happen outside DeWitt County.
When Norma’s House becomes operational in Cuero, the agency will be able to contract locally for medical evaluations and area child therapists to provide services in the county. Families will no longer have to drive out of town for appointments.
“Sometimes transportation is a problem for families,” Novosad said. “Also, law enforcement and CPS won’t have to take time out of their day for extra travel.”
Family Advocate Judy Parks said the rewarding part of her work comes when children become survivors, rather than victims.
Another part of the agency’s mandate is community education about child abuse. They go to churches and service organizations, such as the Lion’s Club or Rotary, to help them learn what to look for.
“And with the schools, it’s to let kids know, it is okay to tell someone if someone is hurting them,” Parks said. “It is a crime of secrecy, and a lot of times they don’t really tell.”
Novosad said that children often don’t understand until later the value of their service. She said a young lady recognized her in the grocery store and made a point of thanking her: “She told me ‘You saved my life.’ ” “Our ultimate goal is to work ourselves out of a job, but we’re happy to be here for the need that is there,” Novosad said.
The Norma’s House sign has been taken down, pending the decision by council.
