El Paso, Texas – June 16, 2010 – The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) today announced the launch of new economic initiatives to help victims of domestic violence create long-term solutions to achieve economic freedom and succeed beyond staying in the shelter.

The question many women and some men struggle with is whether they can afford to flee a violent relationship. Statistics show that victims of domestic violence account for a significant proportion of those in emergency shelter in Texas and for a sizeable number of the “hidden homeless.”

“A woman should not have to choose between staying in a violent relationship or homelessness,” said Gloria A. Terry, TCFV’s president. “That is why I am proud to return home to El Paso to lead a discussion with experts from across the nation in the city that has been a national leader in helping victims achieve long term economic stability.”      

El Paso business owner and domestic violence survivor, Tish Times, consults with survivors of domestic violence to make sure they are prepared to excel in the workforce. Times said, “For many escaping an abusive partner is only the first step. Moving forward and creating an independent self-sufficient life is a critical next step. Survivors need to not only obtain a job, but also have the right mindset to successfully maintain their job.”


El Paso is one of the first cities in the nation where the local workforce development board-Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande and the local shelter-Center Against Family Violence join forces to help women get started on the job search while in emergency shelter.
“Our goal is to help victims become self sufficient,” said Lorenzo Reyes, Jr., CEO of the Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande. “ Providing victims assistance in an environment they are more comfortable in during a tough time is the key component in this particular partnership.  Because we are located inside the Center Against Family Violence we are able to help victims with job readiness skills and support services that can lead to employment and financial independence, in a more private one-on-one setting he added.
 
The Center Against Family Violence, in Partnership with TCFV and Allstate Foundation will also launch an innovative new approach to use Individual Development Accounts for victims of domestic violence. IDA’s are savings accounts for people with little or minimal assets that accelerate their savings by providing $2 for every $1 saved. Savings are used for specific asset-building purchases or investment, such as to buy a car or home, pay for education, or to start a small business.

“These IDA’s with generous funding from Allstate Foundation will help survivors find economic security,” said Stephanie Karr, President of the Center Against Family Violence. “Victims of domestic violence should not have to choose between living with an abuser and being destitute. We thank the Allstate Foundation and Workforce Solutions for their leadership. We look forward to implementing a new program that will help victims of domestic violence.”      

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Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies to prevent family violence. Visit us online at http://www.tcfv.org/

Contact: Angela Hale
                 512.289-2995
                 angela@redmediagroup.com

Austin, Texas – May 27, 2010 – The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) today announced the launch of a new statewide partnership with the Texas Bar Foundation to help domestic violence victims with limited English proficiency better understand their rights and the laws in Texas.

TCFV continues to train legal advocates across Texas on current laws and helps them understand the barriers for limited English proficiency victims of domestic violence. This new collaboration enhances these efforts.

“The legal system imposes significant barriers for survivors of family violence,” said Gloria A. Terry, TCFV’s president. “Those barriers become even more daunting for survivors that do not speak English. We join with the Bar Foundation to offer information and solutions for these victims, who may face the most danger at the hands of isolating and controlling batterers.”

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $9 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably funded bar foundation.

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Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies to prevent family violence. Visit us online at http://www.tcfv.org/

Contact: Susan Risdon
                   512.492.2405
                   redmedia@tcfv.org

Austin, Texas- May 6, 2010- The Honoring Women in Our Lives luncheon recognizes the outstanding contributions of domestic violence advocates and raises public awareness and funding in support of the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV).  The honorees this year are Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Sheryl Cates, the CEO of the Texas Council on Family Violence, who is retiring after 26 years of helping families in crisis, the RGK Foundation and UT Law School Professor Sarah Buel, who has spent the past 32 years working with battered women, abused children, and juveniles within the legal system.

“The years I have spent trying to protect women, children and men living in abusive situations have forever changed my life,” said Sheryl Cates, TCFV CEO. “Thank you all for sharing your lives, dreams and hopes for a nonviolent future with me.  It has been amazing.  I am confident that because of your continued efforts, we will one day live in a world free of domestic violence.”

“This event is part of TCFV’s efforts to increase awareness in the community about domestic violence and provide a positive message about women who touch our lives and affect our character forever,” said Gloria A. Terry, TCFV President.

Jody Conradt, the retired powerhouse University of Texas at Austin women’s basketball and Hall of Fame Coach, will be the keynote speaker. Conradt is the second women ever inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and is the No. 2 all-time winningest coach in collegiate men or women’s basketball. KVUE anchor Terri Gruca will emcee the luncheon.

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The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), formed in 1978, is one of the largest domestic violence coalitions in the nation. TCFV promotes safe and healthy relationships by supporting service providers, facilitating strategic prevention efforts, and creating opportunities for freedom from domestic violence. 

MEDIA CONTACT: 
SUSAN RISDON, 214.226.6741, redmedia@tcfv.org

“Today, we renew our commitment to ensuring all victims have the rights and services they need to recover from crime and abuse,” said Gloria A. Terry, President of Texas Council on Family Violence. “Angelelli is a shining example of a person who has worked tirelessly to protect victims of domestic violence.”

Angelelli has dedicated more than 26 years to the movement to end family violence and brings extensive family violence programmatic expertise to TCFV.

Angelelli serves as the Support to Service Providers Director at the Texas Council on Family Violence. Angelelli joined TCFV in 1992 as the Program Policy Coordinator; she worked in this position for 12 years and provided technical assistance and policy interpretation on the Texas Department of Human Services Family Violence Handbooks to family violence shelters and nonresidential programs across Texas.                                         

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The Texas Council on Family Violence promotes safe and healthy relationships by supporting family violence programs, facilitating strategic prevention efforts, and creating opportunities for freedom from domestic violence. They have been providing services that promote FAIRNESS, DIGNITY AND RESPECT to victims of family violence for 31 years.

CONTACT:
Angela Hale 512.289.2995
angela@redmediagroup.com

Only a few decades ago, shocking numbers of crime victims experienced unfairness, indignities, and disrespect. Yet years of work by victims, advocates and victim service agencies has led to thousands of statutes and 32 state constitutional amendments that establish victims’ rights. We want to recognize the agencies of this area that have committed themselves to ensuring that all victims know about and can exercise these rights.

Fairness, dignity and respect for victims must be achieved because the time clock of crime continues to tick.

• Victim of murder every 6 hours and 19 minutes in Texas
• A child is reported abused or neglected every 8.5 minutes in Texas
• Victim of sexual assault every hour
• Victim of dating abuse every hour in Texas
• Victim of theft every 14 minutes in Texas
• Victim of domestic violence every 36 minutes in Texas
• Victim of alcohol related crash every 40 minutes in Texas
• Victim of home burglary every two minutes in Texas
• Victim of identity theft every 5 minutes in Texas
• Elderly person is victimized every 11 minutes in Texas

We must work to ensure victims’ rights are always enforced. That is why we need to recall the ideals that inspired the decades-long struggle of the victims’ rights movement and challenge all Americans to honor victims’ rights. 

Carolyn Mosley-Fields, whose daughter Trella was murdered at Reagan High School because of teen dating violence, will be the keynote speaker.  Carolyn founded the Ortralla Lewone Mosley Foundation, whose mission is to empower teens to choose healthy relationships through advocacy, education and support.

The Texas observance of Crime Victims’ Rights Week is being organized by the Austin area victim service agencies coalition in cooperation with the Texas Victim Service Association (TVSA). The kickoff event is Thursday night 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Town Lake Ballroom at the Radisson Hotel in Austin, Texas.

The following organizations will be participating in the kickoff event:

Office of Governor                                                                          
Institute on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
People Against Violent Crimes                                                    
Texas District & County Attorneys Association
MADD Texas State                                                                         
Kevin Madison
VICARS         
Texas Legal Services Center
TDCJ Victim Services Division      
Crime Victim’s First
Austin Police Department        
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
Texas Youth Commission       
CASA of Travis County
Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas      
Texas Council on Family Violence
Travis County Sheriff’s Office        
For the Love of Christi
The Ortralla LuWone Mosely Foundation         
Texas Department of Public Safety
Office of the Attorney General                        
United Way Killeen
Texas Advocacy Project               
Texas Lawyers Care
Texas CASA                                                          
Texas Access to Justice Foundation
Travis County District Attorney’s Office        
Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
Texas Victim Services Association

CONTACT:  Angela Hale    512.289.2995
angela@redmediagroup.com

 Arlington, Texas – April 1, 2010 – The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) is partnering with Dallas Cowboy Jason Witten’s SCORE Foundation and SafeHaven of Tarrant County to fund the family violence prevention program “Coaching Boys Into Men.”

 “Jason is a powerful role model for young athletes and coaches. He understands the role coaches have in instilling character principles in their programs and the effectiveness of positive coaching on young people. What a valuable way to teach young athletes about healthy and respectful relationships,” said Gloria A. Terry, President of the Texas Council on Family Violence.

Prevention specialists with the Texas Council on Family Violence and SafeHaven are training coaches from the Arlington and Birdville Independent School Districts and introducing them to the Coaching Boys Into Men Playbook and Coaching Cards.

 “Coaches have a powerful influence on teenage boys’ lives,” said I.C. Little, Athletic Director for the Arlington ISD. “Giving coaches the appropriate information to interact with students who may be impacted by domestic violence is a powerful way to teach boys positive male behavior.”

 Pro Bowl Tight End Witten witnessed family violence as a child. He started the SCORE Foundation to work with families in crisis. “People forget how prevalent domestic violence is and how it affects society, families and children. I am pleased to do my part to break the cycle of violence in our families in the future,” said Jason Witten.

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Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies to prevent family violence. Visit us online at http://www.tcfv.org/

Contact:
Susan Risdon, redmedia@tcfv.org 512-492-2405

Austin, Texas – March 8, 2010 – A snapshot of the “State of Domestic Violence in Texas” captured in a new survey released today by the National Network to End Domestic Violence shows many domestic violence programs across Texas have a critical shortage of funds and staff to assist victims in need of services.

The 24-Hour Census of Domestic Violence Shelters and Services shows that nearly 100 programs across the state are serving thousands of victims every day in Texas.

On September 15, 2009, the day of the survey, more than 5,000 victims of domestic violence were served in one day.

Texans in need found refuge in emergency shelters, transitional housing and received assistance and services, including individual counseling, legal advocacy and children’s support.

Every hour — hotlines, which are a lifeline to victims in danger, provided support, information and safety planning to 83 callers totaling nearly 2,000 callers in a 24-hour period.

 But, the one-day survey also shows that nearly 800 requests for domestic violence services were unmet because local programs were unable to provide services because there was not enough funding or staff to handle the requests for services.


” This report is extremely poignant in providing a snapshot into domestic violence services in Texas and in every state across the country,” said Gloria A. Terry, TCFV’s president.  “The survey shows that Texans are doing a great job serving thousands of victims of domestic violence in Texas everyday, but, it also shows we must continue to work to secure additional funds for victims of domestic violence in Texas.”

90 out of 103, or 87% of identified local domestic violence programs in Texas participated in the 2009 National Census of Domestic Violence Services.

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 The National Census of Domestic Violence Services (Census) is an annual noninvasive, unduplicated count of adults and children who seek services from U.S. domestic violence shelter programs during a single 24-hour survey period. Conducted annually by NNEDV since 2006, this Census takes into account the dangerous nature of domestic violence by using a survey designed to protect the confidentiality and safety of victims.

Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies to prevent family violence. Visit us online at http://www.tcfv.org/

Contact:
Susan Risdon, redmedia@tcfv.org 512-492-2405

Austin—January 11, 2010—New legislation taking effect January 1, 2010 provides greater housing protections and options for survivors of family violence and sexual assault.

The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV), the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) and the Texas Apartment Association, worked with State Senator Jane Nelson and State Representative Ryan Guillen on Senate Bill 83 to expand the lease termination option to include victims of family violence not living with their abusers and victims of sexual assault.

“This bill increases victims’ safety by allowing them to find housing away from their abusers without increasing the economic burden they face when they have to terminate a lease for reasons beyond their control,” said Gloria A. Terry, TCFV President.

To terminate a lease without penalty, a victim must provide proof that an ex parte order, final protective order or temporary injunction has been obtained, in addition to 30-days notice of termination to the landlord. Victims residing with their abuser who were protected under the existing law are not required to provide the 30-day notice. Victims of sexual assault may also terminate their leases without penalty, provided they give 30-days notice and written documentation that they were assaulted in their homes or on the premises of their residence within the previous six months. Acceptable forms of written documentation are a protective order, documentation of medical treatment, documentation of mental health treatment or documentation of services received at a rape crisis center.

“This legislation assures that victims assaulted in their homes can move to a home where they feel safer and more secure without facing the financial hardship or negative credit issues associated with breaking a lease,” said TAASA Executive Director Annette Burrhus-Clay.

For more information about these changes to family violence and sexual assault laws, please contact TCFV at (512) 794-1133 and TAASA at (512 474-7190, or visit www.tcfv.org or www.taasa.org.

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Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies to prevent family violence.

The Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) is the statewide organization committed to ending sexual violence in Texas. A nonprofit educational and advocacy organization based in Austin, TAASA member agencies comprise a statewide network of over 80 crisis centers that serve rural as well as metropolitan areas. Founded in 1982, the agency has a strong record of success in community education, youth outreach, law enforcement training, legislative advocacy, and curricula and materials development.

Contact:
Patty Gonzales, (512) 809-3729, pgonzales@tcfv.org
Nichole Tips, (512) 709-8149, ntips@tassa.org

“The Hotline is the first step to safety for many families in crisis. Since Texas generates the second highest number of calls to The Hotline and Austin is the state capital and our home base, teaming up with Capital Metro made sense,” said Katie Ray Jones, Director of The Hotline.

The signs feature The Hotline toll-free number, 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), and the toll-free text telephone (TTY) number, 1-800-787-3224, with a statewide statistic: 74% of Texans are affected by domestic violence. One hundred Hotline signs in English and in Spanish are inside one-third of Capital Metro’s bus fleet. Together, the signage will reach approximately 33 percent of the transit authority’s ridership.

“Capital Metro cares about the safety and well-being of its passengers on and off the bus,” said Fred Gilliam, Capital Metro President/CEO. “We are pleased to work with the National Domestic Violence Hotline in raising awareness of domestic violence among the thousands of Central Texans that ride our transit system every day.”

Until the establishment of The Hotline, access to help was a major barrier for victims of domestic violence. Today, there are more than 5,000 local domestic violence programs in the United States providing a wide range of services including shelter, legal assistance, counseling, emergency transportation and more. “Knowing who to call is only one barrier; victims of domestic violence need to know what their options are for protecting their safety and the safety of their children. A single national toll-free number offers the most effective means of support for victims to learn about their options, gather information and receive referrals to resources in their local communities,” added Jones.

The Hotline provides anonymous and confidential life-saving support, crisis intervention, safety planning, information and referrals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through a toll-free confidential call center which operates in 170 languages through interpreter services.

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Contact:
Patty Gonzales, Communications Manager
(512) 685-6366 (Office)
(512) 809-3729 (Cell)

September 30, 2009—Austin, Texas—The Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) reports 136 Texas women were killed by an intimate partner in 2008. This represents an increase of 30 percent over the number of women killed in 2007.

TCFV released its annual Women Killed List today ahead of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month which begins October 1. Statistics for the list are compiled from the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) 2008 Uniform Crime Report and ongoing TCFV research of news accounts.

“Despite the tremendous progress made in Texas creating safe havens, gaining greater legal protections, and increasing the choices survivors have in shaping their survival, there is still much work to do,” said Gloria A. Terry, TCFV President. “We must continue to challenge social norms that tolerate family violence, and all parts of society must work together to increase the knowledge of alternatives to and causes of violent behavior; this is fundamental to reducing violence,”

Of the 136 women killed, the youngest was 14. She was shot by her then-15 year old boyfriend. The oldest victim was 74 and was shot by her common-law husband. As part of these crimes, 11 children also were murdered and 96 children lost one or both parents.

Additionally, the number of family violence incidents statewide increased by two percent to 193,505 in 2008 from 189,401 in 2007, according to TDPS. The 2008 incidents involved 208,073 victims (up three percent from 2007) and 203,682 offenders (also up three percent from 2007).
The following 2008 statistics regarding domestic violence shelter services in Texas were compiled from information provided by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

Adults Sheltered 11,776
Children Sheltered 15,591
Adults receiving nonresidential services (i.e. counseling, legal advocacy, etc.) 35,124
Children receiving nonresidential services 6,004
Adults denied shelter (due to lack of space) 8,006
Hotline calls answered 200,258
Referrals & information provided to batterers 4,135

The Women Killed List, naming victims by county, along with other statistical information may be found by visiting www.tcfv.org.

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Texas Council on Family Violence is a statewide organization representing a network of domestic violence programs that provide direct services to victims and their families, and serves as the voice of victims at the state level while working with local communities to create strategies to prevent family violence.

Contact:
Patty Gonzales, Communications Manager
(512) 685-6366 (Office)
(512) 809-3729 (Cell)