the essential guide - Texas Council on Family Violence

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The chapters that follow will provide a solid grounding upon which you can build your own way ofcontributing to <strong>the</strong> progress of this movement. The movement will continue to advance and improveonly if it stays open to new ideas and learning so please ask questions and make suggestions!Advocating for women and o<strong>the</strong>r victims of domestic violence can be very challenging and isn’t foreveryone. As someone who has been fortunate to be involved in most aspects of <strong>the</strong> movement. Iunderstand that each of us has to find our niche. You’ll find what you do in this movement not onlysupportive and life-changing for those you assist, but also personally life-altering.I welcome you to this movement and wish you <strong>the</strong> fulfillment that comes with knowing you are making adifference!Deborah D. Tuckerdtucker@ncdsv.orgDebby is <strong>the</strong> Executive Director of <strong>the</strong> National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence (NCDSV), a position she'sheld since <strong>the</strong> organization formed in 1998.In August 1996, Debby joined Sarah M. Buel, JD, in opening Tucker, Buel and Associates, a consulting firm offeringcustomized consultation and training to end violence against women. In May 1998, Sarah and Debby co-founded <strong>the</strong>National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence to sponsor conferences and provide customized training andconsultation nationwide. The National Center received funding from <strong>the</strong> Office on Violence Against Women of <strong>the</strong>U.S. Department of Justice to collaborate on trainings with <strong>the</strong> Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, <strong>the</strong>National Sheriffs' Association and <strong>the</strong> National Center for Rural Law Enforcement. These trainings educate lawenforcement officers on <strong>the</strong>ir responses to domestic violence and sexual assault.Tucker has extensive experience on <strong>the</strong> national level. She served as Co-Chair of <strong>the</strong> U.S. Department of Defense TaskForce on Domestic Violence from 2000-2003. She served as founding Chair of <strong>the</strong> National Network to End DomesticViolence during its leadership in <strong>the</strong> passage of <strong>the</strong> Violence Against Women Act in 1994. She is a member of <strong>the</strong>Advisory Committee for <strong>the</strong> State Farm Insurance initiated Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence, <strong>the</strong> Board ofAdvisors for WomensLaw.org and <strong>the</strong> National Leadership Committee of Jewish Women International.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE8 | P a g e
Chapter 1: Dynamics of Family ViolenceIn this chapter you will: Identify common terms and concepts applicable to family violence. Learn about <strong>the</strong> dynamics of family violence, tactics batterers use to control <strong>the</strong>ir partners, and<strong>the</strong> intended harms to <strong>the</strong> partners. Identify barriers to leaving an abusive relationship. Identify warning signs of a batterer. Explore <strong>the</strong> larger context of violence against women.The Language of Our WorkFamily Violence is a pattern of coercive, controlling behavior that may include physical, sexual,psychological, emotional and verbal abuse. Family violence centers on <strong>the</strong> concept of one personwanting to have power and control over ano<strong>the</strong>r with whom <strong>the</strong>y have an intimate or familiarrelationship. This pattern of controlling and abusive behavior is also referred to as Domestic Violence,Intimate Partner Violence(IPV), or Battering.All abusive tactics are harmful and wrong, but many are not against <strong>the</strong> law. The term Criminal FamilyViolence describes abusive tactics that are illegal and subject to prosecution.The legal definition of Criminal Family Violence (as defined by <strong>Texas</strong> Family Code 71.004): An actby a member of a family or household against ano<strong>the</strong>r member of <strong>the</strong> family or household that isintended to result in physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexual assault or that is a threat thatreasonably places <strong>the</strong> member in fear of imminent physical harm, bodily injury, assault, or sexualassault, but does not include defensive measures to protect oneself.The two most common terms applied to <strong>the</strong> population we serve are Victims and Survivors. In mostcontexts, it is preferable to use survivor because it emphasizes <strong>the</strong> strength and resilience of <strong>the</strong>individual. However, both terms are used frequently in this manual. Some systems, such as lawenforcement and o<strong>the</strong>r legal or governmental bodies, offer protections and services to victims of familyviolence. As such, <strong>the</strong> term victim is used when describing those programs and systems.Batterers use a pattern of coercive and abusive tactics to exert power, obtain and maintain control over<strong>the</strong>ir partners. O<strong>the</strong>r terms for batterer include Abusers, Offenders or Perpetrators.The legal definition of Batterers: Individuals who commit repeated acts of abuse, violence, orcontrolling behavior, or who repeatedly threaten violence against ano<strong>the</strong>r who is:1. Related to <strong>the</strong> batterer by affinity (marriage) or consanguinity (blood),2. Is a former spouse of <strong>the</strong> batterer,3. Resides or has resided in <strong>the</strong> same household with <strong>the</strong> batterer, or4. Is or was in a relationship with <strong>the</strong> batterer.See <strong>the</strong> glossary for o<strong>the</strong>r related terms.THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVOCATING FOR SURVIVORS OF FAMILY VIOLENCE9 | 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 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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