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Category: Children

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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
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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
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Children Community

Five Benefits of The Early Childhood Resiliency Initiative

About five years ago, I was gathering my personal belongings after facilitating a session on domestic violence.  I was approached by a woman and she introduced herself and shared that she was in her sixties and was attending college for the first time.

She then launched into how much she had taken away from the information that I shared, however, she related “it was really good, but you didn’t talk about the children”.

She then went to describe she and her older brother’s childhood.  They had witnessed their mother’s verbal, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of their father.  She and her brother were often also abused by their father and in the end; her father had killed their mother as she and her brother helplessly watched.

With tears in her eyes, she looked at me and said, “our lives were never the same.”  Her brother had recently died by suicide and had been in and out of jail and addicted to drugs.  She also had experienced drug/alcohol addiction.

Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council recently awarded funding to fourteen agencies who are providing services to children who have witnessed domestic violence.  This is an innovative strategy to address prevention of domestic and sexual violence.

Here are five benefits of supporting children and youth who witness domestic violence:

  1. Break The Cycle – violence in the home becomes a norm, exposing children and youth to healthy environment provides for the possibility something new and safer.
  2. Develop healthy coping strategies – when faced with trauma it is human nature to soothe oneself and some of those strategies might be unhealthy such as using food, drug/alcohol, promiscuity and other risky behaviors.
  3. Recognize healthy relationships – how do you identify “healthy relationships” when you have not been exposed to one? Working with children and youth to provide education about healthy relationships and to model things such as healthy conflict is empowering.
  4. Develop self-awareness – we often identify and see ourselves based on what we are exposed to. Over the years I have had conversations with young adults who are unable to see themselves as valuable because they believe that their parent’s reality is their reality.
  5. Validation – for the first time a child or youth is being recognized, and their voice is being heard. For the first time they are being given the space to acknowledge their own fears, anger and grief.

And in the end working with children and youth who have witnessed domestic violence is an opportunity to save a life.

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

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Children Community Share Op-eds

The St Jerome Emiliani Foster Care Program

St Jerome

The St Jerome Emiliani Foster Care Program

Imagine having an abusive parent in a third world country with no viable option for kinship adoption. Now imagine a hostile government takeover swept your city and violently ended the lives of your entire family. This is the reality for thousands of people around the world, many of which are children who are forced to escape to the US.

The St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care Program provides a nurturing home environment for unaccompanied refugee children and teenagers, many of whom have escaped devastating situations in their native lands. They may have been trafficked here, escorted by a coyote, or traveled overseas, enduring a long journey to make it to a place of refuge. Due to these adverse experiences, the youth may have trauma, be grieving, and exhibit complex behaviors. Our program is the only International Foster Care available in the greater Houston area, so we offer a niche way to help youth in need that differs from domestic foster care, who works with CPS.

Our youth are temporarily held in shelters or refugee camps while they wait to be referred to us by the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Once accepted into the St Jerome program, we pick them up from the airport and place them in licensed foster homes. Foster parents play a critical role in providing a stable family: issuing food, clothing, shelter, love, protection, and guidance to the youth in their care to help them become self-sufficient young adults. The end goal is to ensure the foster youth have their needs met in a safe, therapeutic, and caring way.

The St. Jerome Program, with assistance from other programs at Catholic Charities, provides financial support, case management services, independent living skills training, education/English as a Second Language (ESL, mentoring, job skills training, legal assistance, cultural activities, clinical services, and ongoing family tracing). We work as a well-rounded team to offer full support to all our families and take great pride in how we advocate for both the youth and the foster parents when issues arise. We ensure all sides are heard so we can come up with a proper solution.

Every year we see youth from different countries depending on the current political climate. This year, we anticipate the bulk of our referrals to come from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, Guatemala, Honduras, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. Due to these stats, we are hoping to bring on some Spanish speaking foster families, particularly from Central America, and African foster parents, to provide a good cultural match for these youth.

Potential foster parents go through many steps to become licensed with our program, including an orientation, trainings, documentation, home study, and observation hours in other foster homes. We work with our potentials to help guide them through the process and make sure our program is a good fit. If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of these youth, please scan the QR code to fill out our questionnaire and sign up for an orientation to learn more today!

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Children Community Share Op-eds

Harris County Resources for Children and Adults

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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

This month and throughout the year, we all need to take part in protecting children and making Harris County a safer and better place for children to grow and thrive.

Last year, more than 56,000 children in Texas were victims of abuse or neglect. We often see a rise in incidents of child abuse and neglect during stressful times. The loss of employment, isolation, lack of housing, money and resources are just some of the risk factors that can reduce a parent’s ability to cope effectively with the day-to-day stressors of raising a child. The good news is that child abuse is preventable. The best way to prevent child abuse is to support families and provide parents with the skills and resources they need. Families are better able to deal with life stressors when they have the support and the resources they need.

For more than half a century, Harris County Resources for Children and Adults has been providing services to strengthen families and to help vulnerable children and adults in our community. We provide services to abused and neglected children with services such as:

  • Medical, dental, and behavioral health care in one location
  • Transitional services to current and former foster youth to empower them for successful adult living
  • Emergency shelter for abused and at-risk youth
  • Basic necessities, clothes, school supplies and holiday gifts


We provide community and school-based prevention and early intervention services to divert youth from involvement with child protective services and the juvenile justice systems. Some of our services include:

  • 24/7 crisis intervention and hotlines
  • Mental health services
  • School-based counseling
  • Services for truancy, homelessness, parent-child conflict
  • Services for youth involved with the Justice of the Peace Courts
  • Summer and after school programs

In addition, we provide services to vulnerable adults and senior victims of crime. These services include:

  • Guardianship services for indigent and incapacitated adults in Harris County.
  •  Services for senior victims of abuse, neglect or exploitation, age 65 or older.

 

All our services are voluntary and at no cost to families.
For more information visit resources.harriscountytx.gov or call our 24-hour number 713-295-2600.

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Children DVAM Sexual Assault

April – SAAM & CAPM

Each April we take time to pause and reflect on Sexual Assault and Child Abuse. Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month include many events that are meant to raise awareness about Sexual Assault and to talk about preventing Child Abuse. Teal and blue ribbons are worn, tied to trees and fences to remind people that we need to address both serious issues. While we in the field are aware of the significance of this month, many in the community are not. Most people think of sexual assault as it only happens to other people, or it can’t ever happen to me because I do not do anything that can “cause” it to happen to me.

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) defines sexual assault as any type of unwanted sexual contact. This includes words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent. For example, if someone forces you to kiss them or touches you in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable or fearful, this is sexual assault. It’s important to note that it doesn’t have to be physical—any kind of verbal pressure for sex or even just suggesting sex without consent is also considered sexual assault. Also worth mentioning is never pressure children to hug an adult, to keep any type of secrets, and make sure they understand the difference between good touches and places they should not be touched.

Survivors need access to emotional and practical support to heal from their trauma. Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) and local organizations provide 24/7 hotline services with trained professionals who can discuss options with survivors and offer advice on how they can move forward after an experience with sexual violence. Our local agencies also offer support groups where survivors can talk with one another in a safe space. These spaces provide a sense of community and understanding that can be healing for those affected by this crime.

In addition to supporting survivors, it’s important for everyone to educate themselves about the signs of potential abuse so that they can intervene when necessary. Education around healthy relationships is key in preventing future instances of sexual violence from occurring. Teaching young people about consent and mutual respect early on will help set them up for success later in life. Especially, if they find themselves in a potentially dangerous situation that could escalate into something more serious.

Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month serve as an important reminder that we all need to do our part in combating this pervasive problem by supporting victims, educating ourselves on prevention measures, and working towards creating a culture where everyone feels safe and always respected. Be sure to check out the NSVRC and RAINN’s websites if you or someone you know needs help dealing with matters related to sexual assault or abuse. For more information on Child Abuse you can visit Child Help National Child Abuse hotline. Together we can create positive change!

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Children Community Share Op-eds

Texas Advocacy Project

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My name is Aarian Tipton. I am one of 3 licensed masters social workers with Texas Advocacy Project.

TAP provides free legal services and access to the justice system, and advances prevention through public outreach and education. We provide holistic trauma-responsive care in collaboration with the legal team. Our services aim to reduce barriers to legal services and provide pathways to improve long-term stability. Social workers are typically consulted after a survivor has spoken to a staff attorney, and expressed a need-or the staff attorney felt the survivor indicated they were in a high-risk situation.
A typical day for the social worker can look like speaking with a survivor about various safety concerns, stress, assessing mental health concerns, and providing various community resources. However, no day is the same and other challenges may arise. When survivors’ basic needs (shelter, food, mental health, ect.) are addressed, they are more likely to have improved engagement as well as improved legal outcomes. In addition to the case management/crisis management intervention we provide to survivors.

We have developed community partnerships such as with HCDVCC and UAHT, provide staff education and trainings, and provide internships for students. We currently have 3 interns. We provide services all over the state of Texas. Our website is: https://www.texasadvocacyproject.org/ we look forward to connecting with more organizations and survivors as it is our vision that all Texans live free from abuse.