Family Violence Program

The hotline is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and managed by the Texas Council on Family Violence.

The Family Violence Program promotes self-sufficiency, safety and long-term independence from family violence for adult victims and their children. The program provides emergency shelter and support services to victims and their children, educates the public and provides training and prevention support to various agencies.

• Program Overview: services, eligibility, providers, Integrated Tracking System, contact information, and contract renewal forms.

• Family Violence Program Centers and Organizations.

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to Social Services Block Grants.

• Provider Resources

• MOU Guidance and Form with DFPS 

OVERVIEW

Services for Victims of Family Violence

Shelters provide temporary shelter and nonresident services for victims of family violence and their children. Nonresidential centers provide the same services, except shelter, for victims.

Services are free for all victims and their children and are provided without any financial eligibility testing.

Services provided by the Family Violence Program include:

• Temporary 24-hour shelter.
• 24-hour hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
• Information and referral to other services.
• Legal advocacy.
• Counseling.
• Assistance in obtaining medical care.
• Emergency transportation.
• Information about training for and seeking employment.  

Eligibility

Family Violence Program services are available to those who have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused by a partner, former partner, or another family or household member.

Family Violence Program Centers and Organizations

HHSC provides immediate protection and support services to victims of family violence by working with three types of local family violence centers and organizations:

• Shelters.
• Nonresidential centers.
• Special nonresidential center projects.

Integrated Tracking System for Sexual Assault/ Family Violence Programs in Texas

The Family Violence Program uses the Integrated Tracking System to provide a standardized method of tracking and reporting for all the Family Violence Program sites and make it easier to compile statewide data. The automated system is easy to use and customizable to meet each program and funding agency's needs. It automatically creates reports and reduces hand calculations, which results in more accurate and representative data.
The Integrated Tracking System is available to other states for modification and use, at no cost. For more information, contact us.

The data collected includes:

• Client information: demographic information, victimization and offender information and the services provided.
• Education program information: participant and delivery information.
• Hotline calls and other services: does not track all calls, but provides a place of input of totals for report purposes.
• Volunteer information: hours of service and training data.

[Integrated Tracking System Guidelines and Instructions for Special Nonresidential Project Contracts]

Contract Renewal Forms

Dear FVP Provider;

Your HHSC Family Violence FY 2013 Contract Packet is now in a downloadable format; please click on the following appropriate link to download all documents needed to complete your organization’s contract.  Please follow the directions provided by clicking the link. When you have completed the download of all the documents, send an email to your FVP Contract Manager acknowledging that you have downloaded all the appropriate documents. 

You will be receiving an email from your FVP Contract Manager notifying you of your organization’s FY 2013 contract amount.  If you have difficulty downloading any of your documents, please contact your FVP Contract Manager. 

Deadline for submitting these important documents is by 5pm on July 16, 2012. 

Please note your FY 2013 contract and contract number will be sent to you via email in the near future. 

Shelter Documents

• Child Support Certification
• CPP0430 Vendor Information Form
• CPP0434 Anti Trust
• Debarment Suspension Certification
• FY13 Contract Packet Checklist
• FY13 Counties Served Chart
• FY13 FVP Budget Page Instruction
• FY13 HHSC Plan of Operations
• FY13 HHSC Budget Pages
• FY13 Risk Assessment
• Lobbying Certification
• Non Disclosure Statement

Non Residential Documents

• Child Support Certification
• CPP0430 Vendor Information Form
• CPP0434 Anti Trust
• Debarment Suspension Certification
• FY13 Contract Packet Checklist
• FY13 Counties Served Chart
• FY13 FVP Budget Page Instruction
• FY13 HHSC Plan of Operations
• FY13 HHSC Budget Pages
• FY13 Risk Assessment
• Lobbying Certification
• Non Disclosure Statement

Special Non-Residential Documents

• Child Support Certification
• CPP0430 Vendor Information Form
• CPP0434 Anti Trust
• Debarment Suspension Certification
• FY13 Contract Packet Checklist
• FY13 Counties Served Chart
• FY13 FVP Budget Page Instruction
• FY13 HHSC Plan of Operations
• FY13 HHSC Budget Pages
• FY13 Risk Assessment
• Lobbying Certification
• Non Disclosure Statement
  
  

MOU Guidance and Form with DFPS 

The purpose of the 2012 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and Family Violence Centers is to establish policies and procedures to facilitate cooperation and effective coordination with DFPS ((both Child (CPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) programs). The request for coordination is related to services to victims and children which include:

• Establishing an ongoing working relationship with local DFPS officials.
• Encouraging the CPS and APS systems to develop policies and procedures that are responsive to the needs of battered women and enhance coordination among DFPS and local service providers.
• Participating in cross-training efforts with HSHC, DFPS and the Texas Council on Family Violence.
• Disseminating the CPS information brochure entitled “What Will Happen to My Child?” in shelter centers.
• Maintaining a MOU with the regional DFPS office (APS and CPS).
• Designating a staff person as a liaison to DFPS.  This individual would be the designated point of contact to work on issues related to DFPS.
• Encouraging local CPS and APS professionals to post signs and leave brochures in their offices about family violence and the availability of services.

MOU Guidance

MOU Form

Additional Resources

The following resources provide information for a safer use of technology for family violence survivors:

• Online Safety Tips-Survivors

The resource provided below are tips for a basic technology safety plan for family violence survivors:

• Basic Tech Safety Plan-Survivors

Contact Us

HHSC advises victims of family violence to call the 24-Hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TDD 1-800-787-3224. If immediate help is needed from the local police department, please call 9-1-1.

The Family Violence Program can be contacted by e-mail at familyviolence2@hhsc.state.tx.us. You must include your contact information in the body of your message if you need someone to contact you. The names and addresses on e-mails are automatically removed to protect the identities of those sending an e-mail.

Safety Alert: Victims who suspect that their e-mail, Internet or computer usage might be monitored should use a computer that cannot be monitored or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Computer usage can be easily monitored and information is very difficult to completely delete off the computer.