Micah Titterington, MDiv

Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator

Family Abuse Center

Mission:

�To eliminate domestic violence in Central Texas by

sheltering victims and by preventing abuse from

occurring through intervention and education.

Provides:

� Direct Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence

� Community Presentations on DV Prevention & Awareness

� Volunteer Opportunities for Community Members

• Visit www.FamilyAbuseCenter.org for more

information

� Define “domestic violence” and identify the dynamics of abusive relationships

� Understand the systems that surround a victim of domestic violence

� Understand a proper response to victims and survivors in various professional settings

� Name basic resources available to domestic violence victims and survivors

� Identify ways professional agencies and organizations can cooperate and collaborate around domestic violence

� Why do we often use “she” and “her”?

◦ Men can be and often are victims too

◦ We mostly refer to “she/her,” because women

have a tendency to report more incidents. The

female population make up the majority of FAC’s

clients

� “Victim” vs. “Survivor”

• 1 in 4 women have experienced domestic

violence or abuse in their lifetime (1 in 3 in TX)

• 1 in 14 men have been physically assaulted by

an intimate partner in their lifetime

• 40-54% of U.S. female homicides are committed

by her current or former partner.

• A domestic battery occurs every 9 seconds in

the U.S.

� “Domestic Violence”/”Family Violence”

◦ Intimate Partner Violence

◦ Adult, non-intimate partner violence

◦ Child abuse and neglect

Abuse is a PATTERN of hurtful behavior

where one person exerts POWER and

CONTROL over another person.

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ANYONE can be a victim of

domestic violence

o Age, gender, or sexuality

o Race/Ethnicity

o Religion or cultural

background

o Economic or educational

background

ANYONE can be a perpetrator of

domestic violenceCommon Characteristics Include:

• Jealous, possessive, and/or controlling

• Insecure and low self-esteem

• Jekyll and Hyde personality

• May often appear charming and amicable

• Often denies or minimizes violence while

exaggerating/over-personalizing behavior

of others

� They just have an anger problem.

� They only do this when they drink too much.

� They only did it because there is too much

stress in their life.

� He does this because he was abused as a child

� It’s really my fault that this happened.

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• Be careful in choosing your words

• This question immediately risks…

• Driving a wedge between you and a victim

• Passing judgment on a victim

• Oversimplifying a victim’s reality

• Why might this question oversimplify the

issue?

• A better question: “What keeps you there?”

• Feelings of guilt, shame, self-blame, and blame

from others

• Fear of further violence and stalking

• Cycle of violence

• Isolation from support and resources

• Religious/cultural reasons

• Economic/financial dependence

• Legal obstacles (divorce/custody)

• Language barriers

• Other barriers

Friends/ Neighbors

Family

Religious

Community

Shelter/

Crisis Center

Mental

Health/

Counseling

School

Social

Service

Agencies

Doctor/

Medical

Workplace

LEGAL

Housing

Advocacy

Program

Landlord/HRA

Notified

Warning Given

Eviction Hearing

Sheriff Evicts

911

Call

Squads

Investigate

Arrest No Arrest

Arrest

Report

Non-Arrest

Report

Jail

Arraignment

Hearing

No Contact

Order

Conditions of

Release

Pre-Trial/

Hearing

Trial Sentencing Monitoring/

Probation

Files OFP

Seeks

Shelter

Ex Parte

Granted

Sheriff Serves

RespondentEx Parte

Denied

Judge Reviews

Civil Court

Hearing

Initial Intervention

Unit Contacted

Child Protection

Screening

CP Investigation

Child Welfare

Assessment

Child Maltreatment

Assessment

Law Enforcement

Notified

Risk

Assessment

Service Plan

Safety Plan

CP Case

Mgmt

CD Assessment

Psych/Mental Health

Parenting Education

Visitation

Individual/Family Therapy

DV Classes

Emergency

Placement

EPC Hearing

Safety

Assessment

CHIPS COURT

Court Oversees and

Sanctions Plan

Child Placement

OFP

Granted

OFP

Denied

Reliefs

Granted

OFP Filed

Supervised

Exchange/

Visitation

Files for

Divorce

Family Court

Hearing

Final Divorce

Hearing

Custody

Evaluation

Interviews by

Evaluator

Custody

Awarded

Child Support

Established

Custody

Hearing

Temporary

Custody

Praxis – Rural Technical Assistance on Violence Against Women

Advocacy

Program

Landlord/HRA

Notified

Warning Given

Eviction Hearing

Sheriff Evicts

911

Call

Squads

Investigate

Arrest No Arrest

Arrest

Report

Non-Arrest

Report

Jail

Arraignment

Hearing

No Contact

Order

Conditions of

Release

Pre-Trial/

Hearing

Trial Sentencing Monitoring/

Probation

Files OFP

Seeks

Shelter

Ex Parte

Granted

Sheriff Serves

RespondentEx Parte

Denied

Judge Reviews

Civil Court

Hearing

Initial Intervention

Unit Contacted

Child Protection

Screening

CP Investigation

Child Welfare

Assessment

Child Maltreatment

Assessment

Law Enforcement

Notified

Risk

Assessment

Service Plan

Safety Plan

CP Case

Mgmt

CD Assessment

Psych/Mental Health

Parenting Education

Visitation

Individual/Family Therapy

DV Classes

Emergency

Placement

EPC Hearing

Safety

Assessment

CHIPS COURT

Court Oversees and

Sanctions Plan

Child Placement

OFP

Granted

OFP

Denied

Reliefs

Granted

OFP Filed

Supervised

Exchange/

Visitation

Files for

Divorce

Family Court

Hearing

Final Divorce

Hearing

Custody

Evaluation

Interviews by

Evaluator

Custody

Awarded

Child Support

Established

Custody

Hearing

Temporary

Custody

Praxis – Rural Technical Assistance on Violence Against Women

Friends/

Neighbors

Family

Religious

Community

Shelter/

Crisis

Center

Mental

Health/

Counseling

School

Social

Service

Agencies

Doctor/

Medical

Workplace

Housing

Friends/ Neighbors

Family

Religious

Community

Shelter/

Crisis Center

Mental

Health/

Counseling

School

Social

Service

Agencies

Doctor/

Medical

Workplace

LEGAL

Housing

� Anyone who encounters a victim can be an “advocate”

◦ “one that pleads the cause of another”

◦ “one that supports or promotes the interests of another”

� The victim/survivor informs and directs the goals and

services. Decisions are made by the victim/survivor

� NOT “Service-defined advocacy”

◦ Clients are fit into services rather than services being fit into

client’s plans and goals

� NOT “Advocate-defined advocacy”

◦ The advocate is the “expert” and makes decisions for victim

� Assumptions

◦ Does not start with client’s problems or dysfunctions, which

leads to a hierarchical view of advocate as expert

◦ Recognizes that client has resources, knowledge, and skills that

should be employed.

◦ Goal is empowerment; advocate serves as a “bridge” to client’s

available resources

� Reasoning

◦ Exerting power/control would be re-victimization

◦ Victim/Survivor knows their specific situation better than

advocate

� Physical Violence

� Financial dangers

� Emotional well-being

� Social well-being

� Well-being of children

“Safety” must be defined with consideration

of the client’s perspectives and priorities!

� Addressing Immediate Needs

◦ Often a crisis situation

◦ Stabilize the situation

◦ Acknowledge the crisis

◦ Facilitate Understanding

◦ Encourage Effective Coping

◦ Recovery and Referral

� Secondary Needs

◦ Help client think through long-term needs and solutions

� Ex: Shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing

� Should a married client get a divorce?

� Should a victim leave the abuser?

◦ CPS: “Either leave or lose kids” with no referrals or options

given

� Should a victim report abuse to the police or file for

protective order?

� Religious Community

◦ Promote healing from “spiritual abuse,” recognize limits of

non-professional counseling and marital counseling

� Medical Community

◦ Incorporate DV screenings in all health assessments

� Social Service

◦ Be familiar with DV resources and screen clients for DV;

recognize non-physical threats to safety/well-being

� School

◦ Advocate for well-being of children; watch for abuse of

parent; be prepared for dating violence

The Family Abuse Center offers services to ALL survivors of

domestic violence.

Our services include:

• 24-hour Emergency Shelter

• 24-hour crisis hotline

• Thrift store

• Counseling for Adults & Children

• Case Management

• Legal Advocacy

• Children’s Services

• Education/prevention classes and training

• Bilingual services available

� 24/7 shelter in a confidential location

◦ 55-bed shelter with family rooms and single women’s room

◦ We provide 3 meals a day

◦ At least one staff member on-duty at all times

� Open to all survivors of domestic violence

� 14-day emergency shelter with possibility of extensions

� Supportive living programs are available!

◦ 1-month, 12-months, and life-time housing programs

If a survivor needs shelter, they can call:

1-800-283-8401

Counseling

� Free counseling for

adults and children

� English/Spanish

� Can travel to client

location

Case Management

� Goal setting

� Housing

� SNAP, TANF, Medicaid applications

� Employment

� Local Resource referrals

� Clothing (thrift store)

Legal Advocates

� Court Accompaniment

� VINE

� Immigration protections (U-VISA/VAWA)

� Divorce/custody/child support assistance

� Apply for state programs

� Crime Victims’ Compensation (CVC)◦ Compensates cooperative victims of violent crimes for crime-

related expenses, including:

� Medical and counseling expenses

� Loss of wages caused by medical treatment or criminal justice processes

� Evidence replacement/crime scene clean-up

� Loss of support

� Rent/relocation for domestic violence survivors

◦ Victim only needs to have reported crime and cooperated with law enforcement.

◦ Money for CVC comes from fees paid by those convicted of

crimes.

� Address Confidentiality Program (ACP)

◦ Helps DV/SA victims keep address confidential by

providing substitute P.O. box address

� What You Need To Know:

◦ All state and local entities must take the P.O. Box address.

◦ Address cannot be used for magazines or packages.

◦ Only trained participating agencies can register a victim

with the ACP program.

� Offers legal protection to victims of family violence and

sexual assault

� Civilly and criminally enforceable

� Victim NOT required to file a police report

Three Different Types of Protective Orders:

◦ 31-91 day Magistrate’s Order for Emergency Protection

(also known as an EPO)

◦ 20-day Temporary Ex Parte Protective Order

◦ 2-year Protective Order

� FAC Legal Representation Program

◦ Uses FAC contracted attorneys to represent clients

◦ Pay attorney fees

� Lone Star Legal Aid

� Texas Advocacy Project Pro Se Program

Rural Advocate

� Provides direct client

services, including:

◦ Case management

◦ Legal advocacy and

court accompaniment

◦ Victim advocacy

◦ Community education

and training

� Provides short-term counseling to both adult and child survivors:◦ 8-10 sessions

◦ Free!

We will travel to our clients in the rural counties.(McLennan, Bosque, Ellis, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, Navarro)

Spanish-speaking advocacy and counseling services

are available for rural clients.

Rural Counselor

� Cooperation◦ Shorter-term informal relations that exist without any clearly defined mission,

structure or planning effort.

◦ Share information about subject at hand

◦ Resources kept separate, as are rewards

� Coordination◦ More formal relationships and understanding of missions. People involved in a

coordinated effort focus their longer-term interaction around a specific effort or program.

◦ Some planning

◦ Opens communication channels

◦ Resources are available to participants, rewards mutually acknowledged

� Collaboration◦ More durable and pervasive relationship. Participants bring separate

organizations into a new structure with full commitment to a common mission.

◦ Comprehensive planning

◦ Well defined communication channels

◦ Sharing of resources and rewards

Three brick layers were asked what

they were doing. One said, “I’m

laying bricks.” The second replied,

“I’m building a wall.” The third stated,

“I’m constructing a temple.”

~Anonymous

� Have local DV shelter resources available at your office

� Participate in DV awareness campaigns and events

� Implement DV screenings for clients

� Develop policies and protocols around DV

� Call out societal narratives that contribute to a culture that enables abuse

� Advocate for stronger DV policies at local, state, and national level

� Start or participate in a Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) or Coordinated Community Response (CCR) group

� DVRT meets every other month

� Currently visiting various agencies in Waco area that

intersect with DV issues

� Teen Dating Violence campaign

� Opportunity to learn more about resources and

exchange ideas for prevention

• Micah Titterington

Outreach & Advocacy Coordinator• Outreach@familyabusecenter.org

• Kathy Reid

Executive Director• Kathy.Reid@familyabusecenter.org

• Dani Miller

Volunteer Coordinator• Dani.Miller@familyabusecenter.org

Family Abuse Center

Hotline: 1-800-283-8401

PO Box 20395

Waco, TX 76702

Office: 254-772-8999

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