Domestic violence is not just a private matter; it’s a public health crisis that affects people across our community and the numbers continue to rise. In Houston, one in four homicides in 2024 were due to intimate partner violence (IPV).
On October 7, 2024, Christa Bauer, a respected physical therapist, and a devoted mother, daughter, sister and friend, was tragically murdered in her Houston Heights home. Christa was pregnant with her third child and her husband has been charged with the crime. Intimate partner violence can affect anyone, regardless of race, age, socioeconomic status, or profession. However, pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.
Homicide is the leading cause of death among pregnant women in the United States. Each year, more than 320,000 pregnant women are abused by their partners, and one in three women will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. For women already in abusive relationships, the risk increases exponentially.
At the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC), we face this harsh reality every day. Christa’s murder sent shockwaves across state lines and affected many communities, including the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), where Christa was a well-known member. APTA, a 100,000-member professional organization, hosted its annual national conference in Houston from February 13-15, 2025, at the George R. Brown Convention Center. During the event, HAWC was invited to raise awareness about domestic violence and the role physical therapists can play in supporting survivors. Our team provided conference attendees with valuable resources on intimate partner violence education, safety planning and awareness.
HAWC has been at the forefront of supporting and empowering survivors for nearly five decades. We believe that safety is a shared responsibility among law enforcement, prosecutors, advocacy agencies, and the broader community. HAWC offers free, confidential crisis response services 24/7 through our hotline and live chat. Our services, which include crisis intervention, safety planning, counseling, and legal advocacy, are tailored to meet the needs of each survivor.