the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

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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
Child Support Requirement: If TANF participants need a waiver from <strong>the</strong> child supportrequirement, <strong>the</strong>y should inform <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>Texas</strong> Works Advisor at <strong>the</strong> local Health and HumanServices Commission (HHSC) benefits granting office.Work Requirement: If <strong>the</strong>y need a waiver from <strong>the</strong> work requirement, <strong>the</strong>y should inform<strong>the</strong>ir caseworker at <strong>the</strong> local workforce office.One-Time TANF (OTTANF)OTTANF is a one-time cash payment of $1000 for families incrisis. Recipients of OTTANF are not eligible to apply forTANF for 12 months.Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)This was formerly <strong>the</strong> food stamp program: SNAP isassistance to help low-income individuals, families andelderly people purchase food.<strong>Texas</strong> Advocacy GuideFor more comprehensive informationabout public benefits and victims ofdomestic violence and how you can assistas an advocate, see Chapter 11 in <strong>the</strong><strong>Texas</strong> Advocates’ Guide.Family violence is a basis for Good Cause exemption from Employment and Training (E & T)requirements. In order to receive a waiver for family violence from E & T requirements, a SNAP participantwill need to contact <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> Workforce Center, let <strong>the</strong>ir case manager know that <strong>the</strong>y are avictim of family violence and request Good Cause.MedicaidMedicaid is government-funded health insurance for low-income adults and children. Income eligibilityvaries by age of child. Medicaid automatically covers TANF recipients.To apply for TANF, OTTANF, SNAP or Medicaid, visit a local office and apply in person or submit anapplication online, by fax, or by mail. You can locate an office, do an eligibility screening, submit on online application or check <strong>the</strong>status of your case at www.yourtexasbenefits.com. You can locate an office, request an application by mail, start an application over <strong>the</strong> phone,check <strong>the</strong> status of your case or report changes by calling 2-1-1.For more information about HHSC benefits eligibility and processing, you can access and review <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong>Works Handbook at www.dads.state.tx.us/handbooks/texasworks.Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)CHIP is health coverage for children in families that earn up to 200% of <strong>the</strong> federal poverty level withsliding scale co pays.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE37 | 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 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 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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