Russell House is a domestic and sexual violence service provider and shelter. We work towards empowering survivors of violence and increasing our communities’ safety in Phelps, Crawford, Dent, and Maries County.
Our History
Phelps County Family Crisis Services, Inc. was incorporated in Missouri as a non-profit organization on September 7, 1993. On January 24, 1994, its first emergency shelter opened for women and children fleeing from domestic violence. The first shelter was named after Dr. Barbara Russell, a local pediatrician who witnessed the effect of violence on families, which mobilized her to become a strong advocate and supporter of survivors and their children.
In addition to the emergency shelter, the organization expanded to include four outreach offices. In 2005, both the Phelps County Outreach Office, located in Rolla, and the Crawford County Outreach Office, located in Steelville, opened. A year later, the Dent County Outreach Office opened in Salem. Finally, in 2009, the Maries County Outreach Office opened in Vienna.
In 2006, the organization expanded to include sexual violence services. To better reflect the agency’s growth outside of Phelps County, the organization changed its name to Russell House: Response to Domestic and Sexual Violence in 2021.
Today, Russell House services include:
- Shelter
- Crisis Intervention
- Support Groups
- Counseling,
- Court/Legal Advocacy
- Hospital Advocacy
- Safety Planning
- Volunteer Program
- And Awareness Programs
Russell House staff provides community education about domestic violence and sexual assault to community organizations, faith communities, civic groups, and local businesses.
Become a part of Russell House’s history and support survivors of violence by donating, volunteering, learning about domestic and sexual violence.
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