the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

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Table of ContentsIntroduction: History of <strong>the</strong> Battered Women’s Movement .......................................................................... 3Chapter 1: Dynamics of Family Violence ........................................................................................................ 9Chapter 2: Basics to Providing Advocacy ...................................................................................................... 14Chapter 3: Navigating <strong>the</strong> Legal System and Legal Options for Survivors .................................................... 24Chapter 4: Economic Options for Survivors .................................................................................................. 35Chapter 5: Housing Advocacy ....................................................................................................................... 43Chapter 6: Crime Victims’ Compensation Benefits ....................................................................................... 51Chapter 7: Connecting Survivors to Community Resources ......................................................................... 55Chapter 8: Coordination of Community Response (CCR) to Family Violence ............................................... 58Chapter 9: Battering Intervention & Prevention Programs (BIPP) ............................................................... 61Chapter 10: Doing <strong>the</strong> Work ......................................................................................................................... 63Additional Resources .................................................................................................................................... 65THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE2 | P a g e
Introduction: History of <strong>the</strong> BatteredWomen’s MovementBy Debby TuckerThe battered women’s movement internationally is an outgrowth of prior movements that counteredalcoholism, sexism, child abuse, racism, classism and homophobia. Today, our advocacy for respect andfreedom from fear for all is directly tied to <strong>the</strong> histories and continued development of <strong>the</strong>semovements. We learned from those who came before us. We continue as a movement and asindividuals to create a world where violence is no longer used by individuals, groups, or nations.First Sanctuary in <strong>Texas</strong>The first venture we know of to open a sanctuary in <strong>Texas</strong> was in Belton in 1875. The shelter wasestablished by Martha McWhirter as a refuge for battered women or those whose husbands spent cropmoney on Saturday-night binges. Women lived a communal life in <strong>the</strong> shelter which continued into <strong>the</strong>1890’s; and toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> residents became so prosperous <strong>the</strong>y donated money to Belton for civic causes.The Belton shelter still stands riddled with bullet holes from a time an irate husband assembled avigilante group and tried to shoot shelter residents out of <strong>the</strong>ir refuge. It didn’t work. The women shotback.The contemporary battered women’s movement in <strong>the</strong> United States was built on <strong>the</strong> efforts of those inEurope who had begun to recognize systematic use of violence against women and children andorganized to respond. The first modern shelter for battered women was founded in Chiswisk, England in1970 by Erin Pizzey. Her book Scream Quietly or <strong>the</strong> Neighbours will Hear published in 1974 gave rise to arenewed recognition of <strong>the</strong> needs of victims of domestic violence and <strong>the</strong>ir children. Del Martinpublished Battered Wives in 1976 as <strong>the</strong> culmination of her leadership of a Task Force on BatteredWomen of <strong>the</strong> National Organization for Women. Those of us beginning to organize what became <strong>the</strong>Austin Center for Battered Women invited her to speak in Austin in 1977. By <strong>the</strong> time Erin Pizzey came to<strong>the</strong> United States on a book tour to four cities in1979, one was Houston, groups were developingshelters all across <strong>the</strong> U.S.Formation of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Council</strong> on Family ViolenceThe <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Council</strong> on Family Violence (TCFV) wasfortunate to begin its work very early as <strong>the</strong>movement to end violence against women moved into <strong>the</strong> United States. I hosted <strong>the</strong> first meeting forTCFV in April of 1978 as <strong>the</strong> Executive Director of <strong>the</strong> Austin Center for Battered Women, which latermerged with <strong>the</strong> Austin Rape Crisis Center and is now SafePlace.Representatives from nine <strong>Texas</strong> communities: Austin (Debby Tucker), Corpus Christi (Ca<strong>the</strong>rineChambers), Dallas (Jane White), Denton, El Paso, Fort Worth (Lynn Bendslev), Houston (Toby Myers), SanAntonio (Ru<strong>the</strong> Lewin Winegarten) and Waco (Myrtle Taylor) resolved to form an organization that wouldTHE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE3 | P a g e
Page 4 and 5: provide a unified statewide presenc
Page 6 and 7: The Family Violence Prevention and
Page 8 and 9: The chapters that follow will provi
Page 10 and 11: Understanding the
Page 12: Leaving an Abusive RelationshipTher
Page 15 and 16: Helps Plan for Future Safety Helps
Page 17 and 18: What is Active Listening?Active Lis
Page 19 and 20: Focus on SafetySurvivors of family
Page 21 and 22: Safety PlanningAs advocates, we nee
Page 23 and 24: Would the informat
Page 25 and 26: Victims who witness the</st
Page 27 and 28: Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order
Page 29 and 30: Here is an overview of some of <str
Page 32 and 33: Family Law CasesFamily Law Cases ar
Page 34 and 35: A common way abusers instill fear i
Page 36 and 37: An Advocate’s Role…AssessExplor
Page 38 and 39: Pregnant women not eligible for Med
Page 40 and 41: Texas Advocacy Gui
Page 42 and 43: GuardianshipIn some cases, an adult
Page 44 and 45: Resources to AssessQuestions to Ask
Page 46 and 47: VAWA protections (VAWA)VAWA require
Page 48 and 49: These protections fall into a few d
Page 50 and 51: housing and homeless issues in <str
Page 52 and 53:
Individuals respond to traumatic ev
Page 54 and 55:
Relocation Rental AssistanceRelocat
Page 56 and 57:
Law Enforcement & Legal Services•
Page 58 and 59:
Chapter 8: Coordination of Communit
Page 60 and 61:
The end result of a well-maintained
Page 62 and 63:
The success of offenders in a BIPP
Page 64 and 65:
Finding SupportSince the</s
Page 66 and 67:
Economic Justice ResourcesNational
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