the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

At times, you may be challenged to work with internal and external agency colleagues with differentperspectives, opinions and working from different foundations. At times, <strong>the</strong> survivors you work with willpose challenging situations. You do not need to like every survivor who you assist.There will be successes and <strong>the</strong>re will be disappointments and learning experiences. By routinely doingan internal check-in, you streng<strong>the</strong>n your vision for <strong>the</strong> work. You may find it useful to identify <strong>the</strong> valuesand skills you bring to this work. Self-reflection can serve to prevent burn out and identify when youneed to set better boundaries.Good practice is to engage in healthy relationships in all aspects of your life. This includes using ethicalcommunication, good boundaries, respect, and healthy conflict resolution with <strong>the</strong> survivors you workwith, colleagues, volunteers, family and friends.Improving your knowledge about your organization will help you connect your day-to-day work with <strong>the</strong>organization’s mission. Review <strong>the</strong> mission, vision, values and culture of your agency to help recalibrateyourself from time to time. As you begin to feel comfortable in your position, you can later expand tobetter understand policies, funder requirements and strategic plans.Creating and fostering positive engagement with your community by promoting a CoordinatedCommunity Response that works cooperatively and seamlessly is vital to improve <strong>the</strong> outcome of manysurvivors’ lives. You and each of your co-workers play an important role in building and nurturingcollaborations on behalf of survivors.Lastly, recognize you are one in a larger movement to end family violence, abuse and oppression. Attimes, work may seem frustrating or endless. Advocates often join this movement for different reasons.Most are personal and motivate advocates when <strong>the</strong>y face difficult situations. Serve as a role model andpromote a culture of nonviolence, respect and empowerment with both words and actions.Informed by <strong>the</strong> Social Ecological ModelTHE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE20 | P a g e