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Children Community DVAF

Update on the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund

Domestic Violence Assistance Fund-Update

By: Shannon Falk,
Project Manager

As an agency that convenes the community to discover opportunities to improve services, Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council convened a very special meeting of community stakeholders and survivors in 2016 to look at opportunities to expand the menu of services offered for families affected by domestic violence, and to increase victims’ access to services and safety. This discussion was a collective opportunity for our community to think about innovative ways to go beyond the way services were currently being offered. It was also an opportunity to hear directly from survivors about the needs and challenges they faced in the pursuit of safety.

The work of the community stakeholders led to the idea of developing a flexible funding project that could prevent families who experience domestic violence from entering homelessness and reduce the amount of time families need emergency shelter services. This in turn could prioritize increased access to services, meeting basic needs, increased economic stability, and increased safety.

Harris County Commissioners and their staff began meeting with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council in the Spring of 2020 to address the increasing challenges for those fleeing domestic violence. Leadership at Harris County recognized that the pandemic would increase the needs of victims of domestic violence, so the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund (DVAF) was established first with CARES ACT funding and later with ARPA funding. Administered by the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC), the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund provided flexible financial relief to domestic violence survivors through community-based organizations. The goal of the Fund is to rapidly and thoughtfully aid victims of domestic violence and their families with increasing access to services and improving safety. Organizations can do so by providing basic needs assistance (e.g., food) to reduce food insecurity, flexible emergency assistance to ensure safety from domestic violence, housing emergency financial assistance to limit homelessness, childcare assistance to facilitate continued employment, and daily living supplies and other needs (e.g., personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning supplies). Funding for evaluation of the project was included. The first round of funding was evaluated in 2021 and showed that victims who were fleeing had increased access to safety due to the funding that was provided through the Fund.

In 2022, Harris County Commissioners awarded HCDVCC an additional DVAF grant for approximately $4.7 million from ARPA funding to continue the work of the flexible funding project. Building on the success of the ARPA funded project, Harris County Commissioners created a line-item in the general county budget to award HCDVCC $1.5 million to continue the flexible funding DVAF project for all of Harris County. This marked a historic victory for victims of domestic violence to have an intentionally targeted and funded item within the County’s budget. HCDVCC continues to partner with 19 organizations to disperse throughout the County. Many of the organizations that participated in the fund focused specifically and solely on serving domestic violence survivors; however, there is a mix of grass roots organizations helping underserved communities as well as an agency serving human trafficking survivors.
Flexible funding has proven to be a low barrier, quick response approach to helping families with financial assistance that could prevent them from entering the homeless system as well as serving as a tool to help a family become safer. The concept of flexible funding support is being used across the nation by other domestic violence service providers, and it has been evaluated as a proven strategy to improve safety for survivors.

Harris County survivors have been able to use the funds for needs related to childcare, transportation (car repairs, car payments, and gas), utilities (electricity, gas, and phone bills), moving (deposits, furniture, and other moving expenses), and safety (security cameras and ring doorbell systems). In the past, some of these expenses would not have been regarded by participating agencies as “basic needs.” However, the significance of some of those items (security systems) to the well-being and mental health of survivors can be life changing. The top category of assistance provided was for food assistance which accounted for 20% of all disbursements, followed by daily living expenses and rental assistance, with 17% of total disbursements each. It is also worth noting that the research study being conducted by UTHealth has found that many clients receiving DVAF assistance are reporting a greater level of trust in the advocates that they are working with. This is a critical finding that demonstrates this flexible funding is not only helping stabilize the survivors with their immediate needs but also building stronger relationships with the staff and agencies who are assisting them which strengthens their support system and in turn their long-term stability.

In 2024, the Fund served 1,207 households with a total of 3,331 individuals within those households. A total of 2,558 households and 7,317 individuals have been served in 2023-2024. By partnering with community-based organizations (CBOs) throughout the county, the Fund was able to reach a wide range of diverse and marginalized communities.

  • Most survivors had children; 59% of all individuals served were children under 18 years old. This equates to 1,965 children served in 2024 and total of 4,398 children served in 2023-2024.
  • Most clients served were renters (64%) and another 32% were living in a shelter or other/unknown situation, while the minority (4%) were homeowners.
  • The clients served were all low income and below 60% AMI with 50% of survivors having no reported income. Other vulnerabilities included 47% of households considered uninsured, and 20% experiencing homelessness.
  • Most of the survivors served were female (96%); with 3% male survivors served and a remaining 1% who identified their gender as other.

While some of the survivors that were served lived near the DVAF organizations that served them, there were clients who came from almost every zip code in Harris County. Zip codes 77036, 77449 and 77077 were the areas where the greatest number of DVAF distributions occurred. There are a number of partner organizations that are located in the 77036-zip code or in the near vicinity and zip code 77077 is close to this zip code as well. 77449 is located north of I-10 and may be a result of trying to reach clients from the northern part of the county despite having minimal partner agencies there.

HCDVCC believes in the power of evaluation to give us the evidence and information necessary to make good decisions for future program investment. It is the best way to ensure that clients are being served effectively as well as ensure that these program dollars are put to good use. Briefly mentioned earlier, HCDVCC has employed Dr. Leila Wood, Professor and Director of Research and Evaluation, Center for Violence Prevention with the McGovern Medical School at UT Health Houston to design and implement a full evaluation of the DVAF funding. Work has included securing IRB approval, designing of survey instruments and tools, and interviews with participating agencies. Connections with all participating agencies of the Fund were made in August 2024 and the survey link was provided to those agencies to distribute to new clients receiving DVAF assistance. Some preliminary findings include:

Improving Survivor Safety

  • Addressing security concerns (Ring cameras, door locks, other safety technology)
  •  Gain access to housing and transportation that allows survivors to leave harm-doing partners
  • Giving survivors their own financial resources
  • Stabilizing transportation access to criminal justice and safety remedies
  • Pay for legal fees for divorce, custody, or other civil remedies

Increasing Survivor Economic Stability

  •  Increasing housing stability (paying rent, deposits, application fees)
  • Facilitating economic empowerment and stability (job training, education, computers for work at home jobs). Having seed funds to start small business
  • Paying for childcare
  • Transportation (fixing or getting a car) to go to work or school

Improving Survivor Physical and Mental Health

  • Reducing stress
  • Empowering survivors to meet their needs
  • Having resources for food
  • Having funds for appointments, testing, and other medical and MH procedures
  • Funding for medications while awaiting insurance coverage

Stabilizing the Needs of Children

  • Pays for child supplies and basic needs
  • Allows for funds for child mental and physical health needs while insurance is pending

Facilitating Greater Connection and Trust

  • Which means engagement in other helpful services (counseling, legal aid, economic empowerment support)
  • Can reduce feelings of isolation and depression

Reducing Occupational Stress of Advocates

  • Advocates can better meet survivor needs
  • Advocates have more avenues to help people improve their own safety
  • There is a clear process for the program, but it is flexible to both survivor and advocate use

The Harris County DVAF project is serving as a national model for how flexible funding can increase and expand avenues and pathways to safety that are victim-defined and survivor-focused. A recent case study highlighting this work was developed and presented by the National Safe Housing Alliance. This study has been shared with the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, in collaboration with the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. It is a beautiful example of how a community can be creative and focused on meeting the needs of those who have experienced trauma and amplifying how a community can intentionally focus efforts for meeting the needs of BIPOC communities.

Thank you to the Harris County Commissioners and staff members who worked to ensure that this project gained the support and confidence to meet critical needs of our most vulnerable community members. Thank you to the partners who work diligently to find ways to support families in our community. And most importantly, thank you to victims and survivors who show great courage in stepping out to seek assistance, increase safety, and find pathways for healing and hope. We are inspired by your courage and persistence.

Click here to learn more about the Domestic Violence Assistance Fund
Categories
Children Community

Building Brighter Futures: Harris County’s Early Childhood Resiliency Fund and the Impact of Community Collaboration

Building Brighter Futures: Harris County’s Early Childhood Resiliency Fund and the Impact of Community Collaboration

By: Katisha Chaney, LMSW, LCDC-I
Project Manager

In Harris County, something powerful is happening. A community of partners has come together with one shared mission: to build safe, nurturing, and resilient futures for children and families impacted by domestic and intimate partner violence. At the heart of this movement is the Harris County Early Childhood Resiliency Fund—a $5.3 million initiative that’s not only funding services but changing lives.
This incredible work is being led by the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC), in partnership with the Harris County Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity’s Early Childhood Initiatives (ECI) division. Since launching with support from the American Rescue Plan Act in 2022, ECI has focused on five foundational priorities: increasing access to affordable childcare, developing the early childhood workforce, ensuring equity for vulnerable families, supporting parent education, and using data to guide smart, impactful decisions. These priorities help make sure every child in Harris County has the support they need to grow, learn, and thrive.

Healing in Action
Over the past several months, 14 dedicated community agencies have used the Resiliency Fund to deliver trauma-informed, healing-centered care for children and their families. The services being offered are thoughtful, diverse, and tailored to each family’s unique needs. Children have participated in evidence-based therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, and Art and Play Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy—each one designed to help them understand their experiences, express emotions safely, and build the resilience they need to move forward.

What makes this initiative so special is that healing happens on every level. In addition to individual therapy, children have joined trauma-informed group sessions that help them connect with peers who understand what they’re going through. Families have participated in therapy together, rebuilding communication, trust, and emotional connection in a safe, supported environment. These sessions remind us that when healing happens in the family unit, everyone grows stronger.

There’s also been room for joy. Through recreational sports and group play activities, children have had the chance to just be kids again—to run, play, and laugh. These simple moments of fun are incredibly meaningful for children who have lived through trauma. They offer more than distraction, they offer a sense of normalcy, belonging, and self-confidence.

Empowering Parents as Partners in Healing
Equally important is the support offered to parents and caregivers. Healing extends beyond the child, and parents have stepped up with courage and commitment. Through parenting workshops and training sessions, caregivers have learned trauma-informed approaches to discipline, communication, and emotional regulation. They’ve gained tools to support their children’s well-being while also navigating their own healing. Families leave these sessions feeling more confident, more informed, and more connected to one another.

A Model of Community Collaboration
The heart of this initiative is its collaboration. The 14 agencies leading this work have done more than deliver services—they’ve built bridges. They’ve expanded access to culturally competent care, met families where they are, and created spaces of dignity and trust. Their efforts have been grounded in deep compassion and practical excellence.

To these agencies: thank you. Your work is not only vital—it’s inspiring. You’ve shown what’s possible when organizations unite around a common goal and put people at the center of the work. You are truly shaping what healing looks like in Harris County.

Looking Ahead
As we reflect on what’s been achieved thus far, it’s clear this is just the beginning. The families involved in this initiative have already shown incredible growth and resilience—but the need for support continues. This work deserves to be sustained and scaled beyond the current funding period, because the impact is lasting, and the potential is enormous.

What’s happening through the Early Childhood Resiliency Fund is more than a program—it’s a movement. It’s a living example of what happens when government, nonprofits, and community members come together with a shared belief: that every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and seen.

A Note of Thanks
Children exposed to domestic violence are some of the most vulnerable in our communities. But with the right care, they are also some of the most resilient. Thanks to the leadership of Harris County and the strength of our partner agencies, families are healing—and futures are being rewritten.

To every family who has participated, to every staff person involved in service delivery, and to every agency that continues to lead with heart: thank you. Your dedication is not just transforming lives. It’s building a better, brighter Harris County for us all.

Click here to learn more about the Early Childhood Resiliency Grant
Categories
Community

Man, We Just Need Spaces Like This – A Conversation That Changed My Perspective

Men sitting in a circle like a support group-listening and sharing about experiences

“Man, We Just Need Spaces Like This” – A Conversation That Changed My Perspective

By Kenneth Scott, Male Engagement Specialist

 

The other day, I was sitting with a group of young boys at a detention center, just having a real conversation. No judgment. No pretense. Just listening. As we talked, I asked a simple but powerful question:

“What would it take for you to change from the old you to the new you who you want to become?”

One of the boys sat back, thinking for a moment. Then, he looked at me and said something that hit me like a light bulb moment:

“Man, we just need spaces like this—to be able to communicate, open up, and hear from others that I’m not alone. Because I don’t know any better. I only know what I saw or see, but I’m able to see something else from their perspectives in the room.”

That answer stuck with me. Because he’s right.

So often, young boys—especially those in tough environments—don’t get spaces where they can just be real. Where they don’t have to act tough, hold everything in, or pretend they’re not struggling. They need spaces to talk, process, and hear that they’re not the only ones dealing with challenges. Spaces where they can actually breathe without judgment.

And when they do? That’s when change starts to happen.

Because when young boys don’t have these spaces, their unspoken pain can turn into unhealthy behaviors—anger, violence, and cycles of harm that carry into adulthood. Many of the same boys in these detention centers grow up without ever learning how to express themselves, handle conflict, or process emotions in a healthy way—and that can lead to abusive relationships, broken homes, and patterns of domestic violence repeating across generations.

But what if we could break that cycle before it even starts? What if we gave boys the tools to communicate, to manage their emotions, and to understand that real strength isn’t about control—it’s about connection?

Creating spaces for young boys to be heard today means shaping stronger men, better fathers, and healthier families tomorrow. It’s not just about their future—it’s about the future of the people they will one day love, lead, and protect.

Because sometimes, all it takes is knowing you’re not alone and seeing new perspectives to start believing a different path is possible. And that path can change everything.

Categories
PO Court

What is Protective Order Court?

As the Protective Court Mobile Advocate for HCDVCC, I provide support to the 280th Court.  This Court is a specific civil district court in Harris County that oversees protective orders.   It is located within the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center, 1200 Congress, in downtown Houston on the 1st floor. The Honorable Damiane Dianne Curvey is the presiding judge. 

Protective orders are civil legal lawsuits that restrict proximity to a home, work, school and prohibit certain behaviors like abuse, harassment and/or stalking of a survivor.  If the order is violated, the person can be arrested. 

To get a protective order, a survivor/applicant must have experienced family violence.  Family violence can be classified as physical assault, sexual assault, threats (with the intent to cause harm), harassment, and/or stalking. 

These orders are often seen as valuable tools in helping to establish boundaries and safety when ending an abusive relationship, however, applying for one and going to court can be a very stressful process.

Thankfully, there are several wonderful agencies that can help someone get a protective order free of charge.  The Harris County District Attorney’s Office’s Domestic Violence Division Protective Orders – Harris County District Attorney – Office of the District Attorney as well as Aid to Victims of Abuse avda.org are two local agencies who survivors can contact to apply for an order.    

Once a protective order is filed, court is a necessary step for the order to be granted and finalized.  To counter the stress an applicant/survivor might feel while in court, I work with survivors/applicants by providing:

  • Emotional support prior, during and/or after testimony. Getting to court, waiting for your case to be heard and/or having to testify can be hard.  My job is to make sure survivors/applicants feel supported during this difficult time.
  • Detailed safety planning that is tailored to the needs of that individual applicant. This planning can include an analysis of areas of vulnerabilities in the home, at work, with children or in the community, education about additional protective tools that may enhance safety like SMART 911, VINE or security cameras, and a discussion of plans of action if someone violates the protective order.  My biggest goal with a survivor/applicant is to discuss ways she/he/they can effectively use their protective order to help them be safer as they take their steps to a healthier existence.
  • Providing applicants education of the protective order process and court proceedings and what to expect while they are waiting in court. This also includes helping survivors/applicants who are representing themselves in court by ensuring they have the appropriate copies and paperwork, or if they have an attorney, educating the survivor and attorney on possible safety apps for correspondence if children are involved.
  • Providing applicants with community resources such as Crime Victims Compensation, Address Confidentiality Program, AVDA for divorce and custody issues, as well as information on other domestic violence agencies and resources within their area that can provide additional emotional support and advocacy.

Taking the steps to getting a protective order can be hard if you are not familiar with the legal process, however, know there are agencies and people who are available along the way to help in providing education, guidance and support.  It is always important to remember you are not alone. 

For more information about the 280th Court and protective orders, please visit the Court’s website at Justex.

Fanesha Washington

HCDVCC’s Protective Order Court Adovcate

Categories
Black History Month Op-eds

Anti-Racism Policy

BIPOC Subcommittee Anti-Racism Policy

Racial Equity

The BIPOC subcommittee of the Domestic Violence Steering Committee of the greater Harris County area collaboration, supports the development of policy to combat racism and its effects. The subcommittee recognizes that the issue is a threat to the viability and health of staff, volunteers, and those we serve. Racism often manifests itself systemically, culturally, and interpersonally. The subcommittee is committed to engaging in actions that break down the walls of racial inequality. We strive for an environment where those we serve do not experience the barriers of racism. We further strive for all staff of partners within this collaborative to feel included, heard, and valued without the barriers of racism. Actions the subcommittee is proposing include but are not limited to:

1. Racial Equity Workgroup – The Racial Equity Workgroup is comprised of select subcommittee members from agencies across the Greater Houston Area. The purpose of the workgroup is to address the systemic, cultural, and interpersonal issues of racism, to make recommendations to the Steering Committee regarding partner agencies policy, and to establish best practice recommendations for the collaborative.

2. Host Partner Agency Conversations – The subcommittee is committed to offering strategic meetings where the partner agency teams are encouraged to share issues they are facing. The effort will include a cost sharing program where partner agency staff can anonymously report incidents of racism so this information is tracked and opportunities for accountability and change occurs.

3. Training – The subcommittee is seeking viable training for partner agencies’ staff as needed to include proposing a select microaggression video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ9l7y4UuxY as part of the onboarding process of all partner agencies.

4. Evaluate Internal Practices – The subcommittee is committed to continually evaluating internal policies and procedures to ensure a consistent eye is on racial equality in all aspects of the collaborative.

The BIPOC subcommittee recommends that each member organization of HCDVCC include the following language in their DEI policies regarding equity vs equality:

While the terms equity and equality may sound similar, the implementation of one versus the other can lead to dramatically different outcomes for marginalized people.

Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome. Therefore, racial equity recognizes and acknowledges the oppression and subjugation of racial minorities and strives to achieve fairness depending on current status and need. Racial equity is intentional and provides the resources and opportunities needed for BIPOC staff so they can reach an equal outcome to their white counterparts.

In addition, ORGANIZATION NAME prioritizes racial equity for Black and Indigenous staff first due to their being the recipients of the most severe and ongoing oppression and thus discrimination and maltreatment.

“The route to achieving equity will not be accomplished through treating everyone equally. It will be achieved by treating everyone justly according to their circumstances.”
—Paula Dressel, Race Matters Institute 1

Categories
Children Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Respect Week- Healthy Relationships

There are so many suggestions and innuendos on what a healthy relationship is and what it is not. A lot of the examples that we see come from social media or reality TV, and if we are honest some of us are just navigating without a parachute. Sheesh and that’s from the adult view.

However, what about our teens?
You know the population who is influenced by the above genre the most.
In working with teens, we see that self-esteem and self-worth, or the lack thereof is a deadly formula that puts a mark on their back for heartbreak, misunderstanding, and sometimes abuse.

When you don’t love yourself you become an easy prey for toxicity. Examples of this are the young girl or boy who never received nurturing, love, or affection. This will be the teen looking for love in all the wrong places. The kid who accepts any affection because face it, it’s better than nothing at all.

Or the young person with the example of parents who argue as a means of effective communication.  9 out of 10 this will be the teen who is the aggressor when they begin a relationship.

The last one… the child where nothing they do is ever good enough.
This is the youngster who will accept belittlement, disrespect, and yes they are even prone to experience violence because they are in a low state.

As we enter into Respect Week these are some of the matters facing the youth served. We must intervene. In order to help or be a solution we have to point the child back to their individual self.

In group settings, this may start with questions or statements such as,

Do you like you?

Do you love you?

Give me one positive word that describes you.

 

This opens for discussion and allows us to encourage and teach youth to have a great level of love and respect for self. For many, this may be new as they have been in an unhealthy relationship with themselves, which has affected their relationships with others. Ouch!

The only way for us to have beneficial prevention is to point youth back to a healthy regard for self. If we create this as the foundation, then we give them a pretty good start on recognizing who or what is healthy for them.

It goes back to the core. One of the most important relationships one will ever have is the one with self. So, treat yourself with love and respect.
Treat yourself well, you deserve it!

About the Author

Stefanie Hayes
Expect Respect Facilitator
HCDVCC

Categories
Community Community Share DVAM

The Afro-American Police Officers League (AAPOL) Honored Houston Police Officer Adrian Rogers with the 2023 Harold L. Preston Patrol Officer of the Year Award!

The AAPOL recognizes exceptional achievement in any police endeavor including, but not limited to displays of extraordinary valor, crime prevention, investigative activity, community outreach, lifesaving, and innovative approaches to police service.  On October 28, 2023, at the AAPOL awards gala Houston Police Department’s Eastside Patrol Officer Adrian Rogers was named the recipient of the 2023 Harold L. Preston Patrol Officer of the Year Award.

In June of 2023, Officer Rogers was on routine patrol in Houston’s east end and observed a woman running and when he approached her, she turned around and he observed her crying, and in fear for her life.  Officer Rogers discovered that the woman had just been assaulted and shot at twice by her boyfriend attempted to blocked her from exiting the house when she escaped and ran for her life.  Officer Rogers was further advised that her boyfriend had a court hearing the next day for Aggravated Assault-Impeding Breath.  Officer Rogers was advised by the woman her boyfriend was in a vehicle backing out of the driveway Officer Rogers along with backup officers follow him to a convenience store.  Officers had the customers exit the convenience store and set up a perimeter when the male’s friends arrived on the scene threatening the complainant.  Officers observed the man pull out his gun and tragically died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.     

Officer Rogers stated, “This scene was a success because of the actions of the complainant (survivor) and the actions of Eastside Station patrol officers, tactical units, and supervisors. Sergeant Garza, Officer Morales and Officer Ramirez put their lives on the line when they walked into the store with the armed suspect. Sergeant Garza displayed active leadership and poise while giving commands while the suspect had a gun in his hand and Officers’ Morales and Ramirez showed their extraordinary experience and valor by communicating to each other in real time their tactical positions. Lieutenant Wilborn was there on the front lines assisting with scene management.  Eastside evening shift Officers’ Soto, Centeno, Hernandez, and Pellerin assisted with outside perimeter while certain individuals in the crowd were yelling epithets at the survivor.  Night shift officers assisted in taking the complainant back to the original scene while there were several suspicious vehicles circling the target area and there was a real sign of an active threat.  Night shift officers like Officer Brink who stayed with the complainant until she was able to be reunited with her grandmother until 4 am in the morning. Other nightshift officers like Kichamu, Martinez and Judge Jones assisted with scene management. Commander Coleman made the Canal Street scene and managed the media. This incident like many other incidents shows Eastside patrol station is a family that is here for its officers and its community and citizens.”

Officer Rogers recently reunited with the woman, and she indicated that if not for Officer Rogers she thinks that this could have been a domestic violence murder-suicide.  When the woman stated to Officer Rogers that he is her big hero, Officer Rogers stated that she is the hero, she is the person that escaped the situation.  Officer Rogers and all the officers who made this scene should be commended for their professionalism, teamwork, and safety techniques. 

Responding to domestic violence calls for service is one of the most volatile and dangerous situations for police officers.  They lead to about 14 percent of officer deaths every year according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Domestic violence constitutes anywhere from 15 to 50 percent of total calls received by police, according to the National Institute of Justice.  Officers are also hurt in domestic violence responses.  FBI data show of all officers who were assaulted in 2021, nearly 29 percent were responding to disturbance calls.      

Everyone involved in the domestic violence intervention is a hero.  The intervention is a partnership among law enforcement, victim advocates, community members and social service providers though which police and prosecutors clearly communicate to abusers that intimate partner violence is violence, and violence won’t be tolerated in our community.     Helping survivors and their families and the relentless pursuit to end domestic violence is our community mission.                

Watch the video below!

About the Author

Kira Webster, Lieutenant at the Houston Police Department

Major Assault & Family Violence Division

Categories
Community Community Share DVAM

The Houston Police Department gives a HUGE Shout-out of appreciation to all our partners with Houston Area Women’s Center

The Houston Police Department (HPD) is a proud and long-standing partner with the Houston Area Women’s Center (HAWC). HAWC is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing critical resources for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Trained advocates are available on their 24-Hour Hotline to provide survivors with information and resources to assess their danger, make a safety plan, find shelter, and access services such as counseling and legal help.

Coordinated responses have been recognized as a best practice in reducing domestic violence since the Violence Against Women Act was enacted over 20 years ago. This is particularly effective in our community when close-knit relationships develop and highly engaged domestic violence partners come together for collaborative efforts. Over the years, current and newly assigned investigators and supervisors attended the tours at the HAWC. The HAWC tours are conducted as part of our investigative training requirement for investigators and supervisors as it is beneficial to us to be able to share resource information with the survivors. On the HAWC tours, investigators meet with HAWC professionals and get to know each other by asking questions and sharing information on how to enhance supporting survivors. When Hurricane Harvey and the pandemic hit the Houston and surrounding areas, our strong relationships and trust allowed us all to streamline efforts to support and protect survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. When face-to-face communication was not an option, we instantly continued communicating through Zoom meetings, electronic mail, and phone calls. We are excited to resume our in-person HAWC tours again for information-sharing regarding support and resources for survivors and their families. Recently, we had thirty new investigators and supervisors added to our Family Violence Unit and Adult Sex Crimes Unit who toured HAWC. Our investigators and supervisors are passionate about ending the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault. Each investigator and supervisor enhanced their individual knowledge regarding resources and how best to support the recovery after such a violent crime. A huge shout out to Deputy CEO Sonia Corrales and Thank You for always welcoming and guiding us through the HAWC and how survivors navigate the processes and take steps to recover from the violence. Also, we were joined by Director of Residential Services Pamela Ellis, Manager of Legal Service Jacklyn Guerra and Director of Violence Prevention and Training Michelle Sacks who are all hardworking dedicated professionals. We cannot express enough gratitude for all your continuous hard work that you put into everything you do for survivors! We are so grateful to have you as partners over the many years and thank you for all the hard work you are doing each day providing critical resources to the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault!

About the Author

Kira Webster, Lieutenant at the Houston Police Department

Major Assault & Family Violence Division