These teams are all over the country, including eight in Texas, set up with strict standards and requirements to report back to the state about how they’re helping severe abuse survivors.
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Two fronts=cooler weather, small storm chances– Domestic Violence experts and advocates alike say some survivors are not receiving the support they need, and are at risk of being killed by the abuse of their partners. She said the father of her children began abusing her roughly five years ago.
“Mental and like emotional abuse, and this last year just got bad with substance use and that’s when the physical started,” she said through tears. “I’m just thinking like, ‘Why would you want to hurt me? I’m the mother of your kids. ’”Now that she’s safe at the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, she realizes how severe the abuse truly was and that her life was at risk.
While teams like this exist all over the country, including eight preexisting in Texas, this new funding will help create new teams in San Antonio and New Braunfels, run by Family Violence Prevention Services and the Crisis Center of Comal County, respectively. Although every team across the country is anchored by an advocacy agency, a local law enforcement leader and a district attorney’s office, San Antonio’s team is going much further.
Health Departments for the City of San Antonio and Bexar County are becoming involved, along with top healthcare CEOs, Child Protective Services and even batterer intervention programs. The most unique part of San Antonio’s team, however, is that the other cities and unincorporated Bexar County will be involved. This includes Universal City, which reportedly has the county’s highest domestic violence index outside of San Antonio.
Before the team sends reports to the state, it will have an abuse survivor review the drafts so that they can provide input on whether anything is missing. And each member of the team’s voice will carry equal weight.
“The beauty is the collaborative response,” said Marta Prada Pelaez, Family Violence Prevention Services President and CEO. Pelaez admitted the system needs a lot of work and that sections of the system still work in silos. She believes the team can help fill those gaps.
“Every piece of the system claims their gap,” Pelaez said. “There’s consensus and responsibility and ultimately accountability. ”“Everybody’s signing an M.O. U.,” she said, “so it’s a very organized, standardized way to work.
” Pelaez appointed a coordinator from the shelter who will contact high-risk survivors and bring those cases to the team. The mom of four in the shelter said she has experienced problems with the system in the past.
“That’s why I didn’t want to go anywhere,” she said. “But everyone has been nothing but good to us since we’ve been here. ” She said she is thriving at the shelter, becoming fully independent and is grateful to see a structured Domestic Violence High Risk Team falling into place for San Antonio.
“Honestly, it makes me feel good thinking about all the women who go through situations like this,” she said, “and there’s people out here who care. Don’t be scared to ask for help. ” The state is set to evaluate the new team in August, and could choose to award another grant so that the work may continue. If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic violence, there is so much help for you.
KSAT has a If it’s an emergency, text or call 911. For wrap-around services, including the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, callCourtney Friedman Courtney Friedman joined KSAT 12 News in August 2014 and now anchors the News at Noon weekdays, and reports important community stories. Her reporting often takes on issues including domestic violence, trafficking, foster care, homelessness and suicide awareness. She has an ongoing series called Loving in Fear.
Adam Barraza is a photojournalist at KSAT 12 and an El Paso native. He interned at KVIA, the local ABC affiliate, while still in high school. He then moved to San Antonio and, after earning a degree from San Antonio College and the University of the Incarnate Word, started working in news. He’s also a diehard Dodgers fan and an avid sneakerhead.
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