the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

General (OAG) and provides victims with a substitute post office box address and free mailforwarding service.To apply: Applicants must meet with a local domestic violence shelter, sexual assault center, lawenforcement or prosecution staff member to discuss a safety plan and enroll in <strong>the</strong> program. Theadvocate <strong>the</strong>n submits <strong>the</strong> application directly to OAG. OAG will not accept applications directly fromvictims.Program DetailsOnce <strong>the</strong> application is approved, <strong>the</strong> participant will receive an authorization card from <strong>the</strong> ACP with asubstitute post office box address. The substitute address may be used to receive first class mail and legal papers, and for mostState and local government agencies Magazines, catalogues and packages (including prescriptions) will NOT be forwarded Nongovernmental entities such as banks, credit unions, credit card companies and privateutilities are NOT required to accept <strong>the</strong> ACP address, but <strong>the</strong>y may be willing to do so.Participants must renew <strong>the</strong>ir application every three years with a trained advocate.Participants must notify <strong>the</strong> ACP of a name or address change ten days prior to <strong>the</strong> change toavoid withdrawal from <strong>the</strong> program. For information for ACP participants about registering to vote, getting a <strong>Texas</strong> Driver’s License,and registering children in school, visits <strong>the</strong> OAG website athttps://www.oag.state.tx.us/victims/acp.shtml.Limits to Confidentiality: The OAG must disclose a participant’s true residential, business or schooladdress if: Required by court order, Requested by a law enforcement agency, Requested by <strong>the</strong> Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) for <strong>the</strong> purpose of CPSinvestigation, or Requested by Department of State Health Services (DSHS) or a local health authority for <strong>the</strong>purpose of making a notification of a communicable disease.These requirements for disclosure might mean that <strong>the</strong> ACP is not an appropriate safety tool for victimswhose offenders work or have connections in law enforcement, DFPS, or DSHS. It is important to discuss<strong>the</strong> limits of <strong>the</strong> ACP with victims during <strong>the</strong> screening process to ensure that it is a good fit for <strong>the</strong>irsafety needs.Housing Resources You can search for housing programs in your area at www.texashousingcounselor.org. Visit 2-1-1 <strong>Texas</strong> at www.211texas.org to search for housing resources in your area. Continuum of Care (CoC): HUD allocates homeless assistance grants to organizations thatparticipate in local homeless assistance program planning networks. Each network is called aContinuum of Care (CoC). CoCs allow local organizations to coordinate <strong>the</strong>ir efforts to addressTHE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE49 | P a g e