the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

An Advocate’s Role…AssessExplore survivors’ financial history, values about money, resources and barriers. With a clear inventoryof financial strengths and obstacles, you can better support survivors to take steps toward financialempowerment and self-sufficiency.Get EducatedFinancial education is an important step to economic empowerment. It is beneficial for advocates totake financial literacy training in order to better support survivors with appropriate financial educationand money management training. Basic economic advocacy includes taking an inventory of income,resources and debts; creating a budget; and creating a plan for short and long-term financial goals.Inform and ReferAs you become familiar with survivors’ individual needs and goals, you can provide support as <strong>the</strong>ydevelop a financial plan and take steps to create a safe and independent future. To that end, it isimportant to develop a strong knowledge of <strong>the</strong> economic options available to survivors in <strong>Texas</strong>, aswell as information about local resources.‣ O<strong>the</strong>r consequences: Some batterers may force <strong>the</strong>ir partners to engage in illegal acts that mightinclude forcing <strong>the</strong>m to sign fraudulent tax documents or government benefits applications.Public BenefitsPublic assistance is available to those who qualify based on income and o<strong>the</strong>r eligibility criteria. Click here to order TCFV publications: Economic Options for Survivors Brochure, Family ViolenceOption Brochure, Family Violence Option Card for Survivors, Immigrants’ Access to PublicBenefitsTemporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF)TANF is a monthly cash grant (for children and <strong>the</strong>ir parents/relatives who are living with <strong>the</strong>m) that islinked to <strong>the</strong> parent’s/relative’s participation in work activities and cooperation with programrequirements.Survivors may claim Good Cause, also known as <strong>the</strong> Family Violence Option, to be exempted fromcertain requirements that would place <strong>the</strong> participant or child in danger.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE36 | P a g e