the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

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Risks to disclosing information: Your agency has no control over what happens to that information once it is released. There will be a record that <strong>the</strong> client was served by a family violence agency. This could create a risk of being located.O<strong>the</strong>r agency service providers or individuals not affiliated with <strong>the</strong> family violence agency may expressfrustration about confidentiality policies and procedures. They may react with anger when <strong>the</strong>y hear, “Icannot confirm or deny if that person is here.” It is best to be courteous but firm. It is always a good ideato discuss any matters related to confidentiality with your supervisor.All client-related materials must remain secured inside your agency at all times. Requests for copies ofclient files or information should be processed through <strong>the</strong> Custodian of Record— a designated staffperson responsible for <strong>the</strong> security and maintenance of agency records.Subpoenas are court orders to appear in court to testify orproduce files. If you receive a subpoena to testify, speak toyour supervisor about how to proceed. All subpoenas forrecords must be processed through <strong>the</strong> Custodian of Records.DocumentationDocumentation (record keeping, service logs, case notes)exists to ensure staff and agency accountability, and entriesshould assist survivors in <strong>the</strong>ir process of seeking safety andself-sufficiency. Documentation requirements are different forvarious governing bodies such as funders, Board of Directorsand supervisory staff. Some staff, such as licensed counselorsor social workers, may have additional documentationrequirements set by <strong>the</strong>ir licensing board. In order todocument appropriately and accurately, it is important toNeed More?For an in-depth look at Confidentiality andDocumentation, review Confidentiality: AnAdvocate’s Guide offered by <strong>the</strong> BatteredWomen’s Justice Project.Click on <strong>the</strong> icon to download!understand what information is being recorded and why. Talk to your supervisor about your agency’sdocumentation policies and practices.General tips for appropriate documentation: Provide only <strong>the</strong> minimum information necessary to meet funder requirements and support yourwork. Make sure information that needs to be included is accurate and factual. Keep entries clear and concise and proofread your work. Never include a safety plan. Do not include excessive details or information that is not required in a client file. Do not make judgments, give opinions or diagnose.Batterers are often savvy or have attorneys who could potentially subpoena a survivor’s file through legalaction such as a custody case. It is <strong>essential</strong> to ask yourself <strong>the</strong> following questions so you will make goodchoices about what information to include, and how to include it: Could <strong>the</strong> information in <strong>the</strong> file inadvertently or unjustly harm <strong>the</strong> victim?THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE22 | P a g e
Would <strong>the</strong> information reveal <strong>the</strong> location of victim or compromise <strong>the</strong> victim or <strong>the</strong> children’ssafety?Does <strong>the</strong> information help increase <strong>the</strong> victim’s safety?Is this information necessary to increase victim safety, increase <strong>the</strong> offender’s accountability,comply with federal/state laws, and/or protect <strong>the</strong> agency’s liability?THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE23 | P a g e
Page 2 and 3: Table of ContentsIntroduction: Hist
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: Safety PlanningAs advocates, we nee
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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