the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

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provide a unified statewide presence. Given how little we knew about o<strong>the</strong>r state and national efforts,we chose <strong>the</strong> name <strong>Texas</strong> Commission on Family Violence and set out to incorporate at <strong>the</strong> Secretary ofState’s Office. Our application to incorporate was denied with <strong>the</strong> Secretary informing us that it was notpossible to be called a Commission unless <strong>the</strong> entity was appointed by <strong>the</strong> Governor and confirmed by<strong>the</strong> Senate! And that is how we became <strong>the</strong> <strong>Council</strong>…not knowing that in most o<strong>the</strong>r states <strong>the</strong> nameCoalition would be chosen for <strong>the</strong> statewide efforts.We sought to create opportunities for cooperation, coordination and collaboration with one ano<strong>the</strong>r andwith a myriad of professionals and o<strong>the</strong>r organizations coming into contact with victims, offenders and<strong>the</strong>ir children as well as to improve laws and policies to hold offenders accountable and increase <strong>the</strong>safety of victims. Our original motto was Share What You Have, Ask for What You Need.Prior to this formation meeting, several of those involved with <strong>the</strong> nine groups present initiated <strong>the</strong>provision of some emergency family violence services and began to analyze <strong>the</strong> challenges for batteredwomen and <strong>the</strong>ir children— many while responding to sexual violence. The Austin Rape Crisis Center, <strong>the</strong>first rape crisis center in <strong>Texas</strong>, opened in 1974, and we immediately began to receive calls from sexualassault victims but also from those caught in an abusive relationship. Victims would say things like, “Canyou help me? I wasn’t raped by a stranger…I was beaten and raped by my husband.” For me and someo<strong>the</strong>rs, this was our first awareness of individuals committing acts of violence against <strong>the</strong>ir wives orgirlfriends and children. There were also those among <strong>the</strong> early organizers of <strong>the</strong> TCFV who knew all toowell from <strong>the</strong>ir own family experiences that this was a reality. As o<strong>the</strong>r communities in <strong>Texas</strong> organizedto respond to sexual violence, <strong>the</strong>y too began to recognize <strong>the</strong>existence and need for services for victims of domestic violence.At <strong>the</strong> formation meeting we adopted a flat, non-hierarchicalstructure for working toge<strong>the</strong>r and appointed individuals to <strong>the</strong>Board of Directors to serve in roles mirroring those often found innonprofit boards. We also created roles particular to <strong>the</strong> work wesaw TCFV as performing on behalf of its members, <strong>the</strong> localshelters and o<strong>the</strong>r direct service providers as well as individualswho supported ending violence. As a result, our first “Chair” or“President” of <strong>the</strong> Board was called <strong>the</strong> Coordinator of InternalCommunication. Toby Myers with <strong>the</strong> Houston Area Women’sCenter was selected to hold this key position. Toby says it wasbecause she was working at a state agency, <strong>Texas</strong> ResearchInstitute of <strong>the</strong> Mental Sciences, and had access to toll-free calling.But it was much more than that.Tobey MyersAs a formerly battered woman who was providing help to o<strong>the</strong>rs, she embodied <strong>the</strong> combination ofpersonal experience, formal education (doctorate) and professional services (counseling) that we knewwould help articulate <strong>the</strong> mission and build <strong>the</strong> organization. When she stepped down as Coordinator ofInternal Communications, after two years, she remained on <strong>the</strong> board. She was <strong>the</strong>n elected to <strong>the</strong>position of Representative of <strong>Texas</strong> to <strong>the</strong> National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) andlater was designated as a life-time member when <strong>the</strong> bylaws were changed to a more typical structure.Toby consistently brought passion, persistence and perspective to <strong>the</strong> Board.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE4 | P a g e
The Beginning of Policy Advocacy for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> <strong>Council</strong> on Family ViolenceIn that initial Board structure we also had a Coordinator of Legislative Liaison, Gwen Gordon of Waco,since we knew we’d be approaching <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> Legislature to ask for changes in laws as well as to createfinancial support from <strong>the</strong> State for prevention and intervention. And <strong>the</strong>re were seven o<strong>the</strong>r criticalroles and responsibilities identified to ensure <strong>the</strong> growth and contributions of TCFV.In 1979, TCFV began work with Senator Chet Brooks of Houston/Galveston to establish a pilot fundingprogram through <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> Department of Human Services (TDHS). This program allowed for anappropriation of $200,000, which permitted <strong>the</strong> initial nine agencies to receive funding. In 1981, <strong>the</strong>following legislative session, Senator Brooks co-sponsored a bill with Representative Mary Polk of El Pasoto establish <strong>the</strong> Family Violence Program in <strong>the</strong> TDHS, now part of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> Health and Human ServicesCommission (HHSC). This bill aligned closely with <strong>the</strong> recommendations made by TCFV. It provided ongoingfunding for family violence services while establishing precedent with <strong>the</strong> state coalition and <strong>the</strong>state agency of cooperative work. With leadership from Senator Brooks, Representative Polk and manyo<strong>the</strong>rs, The <strong>Texas</strong> Legislature increased <strong>the</strong> funding to $1,000,000; and made it possible to support morethan 30 programs. All subsequent legislative sessions have continued to increase funding and <strong>the</strong>number of programs receiving state support.TCFV was also visible in <strong>the</strong> Capitol in legislation establishing protective orders, even though we wereinitially unsuccessful at including a criminal sanction for <strong>the</strong>ir violation. In 1981 we pushed for criminalsanctions. After that session, violating a protective order carried <strong>the</strong> consequence of a Class Amisdemeanor. From that point forward, TCFV advocated policy improvements and found importantallies to propose needed changes. Some of <strong>the</strong> leaders in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> movement have also becomemembers of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Texas</strong> Legislature: Juan Hinojosa, now a <strong>Texas</strong> Senator from McAllen, helped to startMujeres Unidas/Women Toge<strong>the</strong>r, sponsored significant legislation for TCFV, advocated for funding forprograms and later served on <strong>the</strong> Board of TCFV.The Beginning of Technical Assistance and Training for TCFVSimultaneously, TCFV emphasized its technical assistance and training to support advancement of <strong>the</strong>direct services to victims as well as <strong>the</strong> prevention of family violence. A staffed office was possiblebeginning January 1, 1982 with <strong>the</strong> assistance of a three-year declining challenge grant from <strong>the</strong> LeviStrauss Foundation. It was matched with donations from <strong>the</strong> Haas Foundation, The Trull Foundation, anddues from programs and members who believed in our mission. Eve McArthur and I, Debby Tucker, bothfrom <strong>the</strong> Austin Center became <strong>the</strong> initial staff of TCFV.We began responding to calls for technical assistance and day-to-day problem-solving. We toured everyshelter and family violence program in <strong>the</strong> State over that first year, learning things that would help usorganize an annual conference for our members. We wrote manuals, my favorite, A Stitch in Time SavesNine: Administering a Family Violence Shelter. When we wrote <strong>the</strong> legislation to fund local programs, wealso set aside 6% of whatever <strong>the</strong> Legislature appropriated for TDHS, and later HHSC, to administer <strong>the</strong>program. Ano<strong>the</strong>r 6% was set aside to be used to provide technical assistance and training. TDHScontracted with TCFV to provide significant technical assistance and support to <strong>the</strong> local programs. Withthis approach, of establishing special purpose set-asides, as funding grew for services <strong>the</strong>n both <strong>the</strong> stategovernment and <strong>the</strong> state coalition would also grow to fur<strong>the</strong>r support <strong>the</strong> advancement of <strong>the</strong> work.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE5 | P a g e
Page 2 and 3: Table of ContentsIntroduction: Hist
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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