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Category: Op-eds

Articles written in reponse to news articles or news stories

Categories
Black History Month Op-eds

Black Health and Wellness

Editor’s Note:

February is the observation of Black History and the 2022 theme is “Black Health and Wellness”.

A history riddled with slavery, Jim Crow Laws, and disparate treatment has had an impact on Black people. Being in a state of complete, physical, mental and social well-being for many is a dream deferred. Access to adequate healthcare along with distrust of a system that has historically used Blacks as guinea pigs without apology, the resistance to mental health care, and micro-aggressions have led to issues that leave a high percentage of Black women and men with compromised health and wellness.

There is no excuse for domestic violence (a public health issue), however, looking at the societal root causes we must take note of the lack of control that both men and women often feel secondary to racial oppression. Approximately forty percent of Black women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Most will not seek assistance due to taboos of revealing “family problems” and working with a counselor/psychologist still is not welcome amongst most people of color.

The availability of culturally relevant services in Houston and Harris County is so important. So, Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council takes this Black History moment to salute Fresh Spirit founded by Dr. Conte Terrell almost twenty-five years ago to assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Dr. Conte’s program is open to all survivors, however, as a woman of color, she has been a beacon of hope for hundreds of Black women who are working to take their lives back.

There are many grassroot groups here in Houston and Harris County that are doing the work in their communities of color and HCDVCC desires to celebrate and support them. We have engaged in an intern to have interviews with these amazing unsung heroines/heroes to get a better understanding of the needs and the services being provided to link them to larger programs. Please contact Thecia Jenkins if you know of organizations that are providing culturally specific services that would like to be interviewed and possibly be included in a future project on building capacity.

For more information on Fresh Spirit, please visit www.freshspirit.org

About the Author

HCDVCC Director of Training,
Thecia Jenkins

Categories
Community Share Op-eds

TBI and Neurofeedback

This episode of Down The Rabbit Hole our Abeer Monem joins TCFV to talk about the intersection between traumatic brain injury (TBI) in people who have experienced domestic abuse, and an invaluable healing modality called neurofeedback. Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for domestic violence.
Joining us we have two experts who are widely experienced in the field of helping survivors heal: Josh Brown from Fort Bend Women’s Center and Abeer Monem from the Harris Country Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. We start by learning that neurofeedback (also known as neurotherapy) teaches self-control of brain functions to develop healthier emotional patterns, before diving into the program that Abeer and Josh created that is pushing neurotherapy to the frontline of survivor care and support. You’ll hear Abeer describe the lightbulb moment when she realized the missing neurological information necessary for her patients’ healing, how she teamed up with Josh Brown, and the long road that led to the creation of the program. We also touch on issues of transport and hear some visionary steps to create much-needed mobile advocacy services. Finally, you’ll hear some moving testimonies of the truly transformational impact that neurofeedback has!
Find the Fort Bend Women’s Center HERE. Other resources mentioned in this episode include the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence and VAWnet. If you want more information on this episode, you can email TCFV.

About the Author

Abeer Monem is the Director of Housing and Innovative Services for HCDVCC and has worked in the field of domestic violence for over 25 years in both Harris and Fort Bend counties as a domestic violence advocate, trainer and programs director.

Categories
Community Share Op-eds

Use Your Voice Through Voting

Use Your Voice Through Voting

Thank you Dr. Toby Myers (Board Member and Domestic Violence Expert) for sharing this important information on using the Mail-In Ballot

Editor’s Note:

The data is clear. People who receive mail-in ballots vote at a substantially higher rate than people who go to the polls in person. That’s why this information is so important. Please review the info below and take the appropriate action for yourself. AND PLEASE share this info with others who typically vote by mail, especially if they are not likely to have a computer or printer.

I hope there will be more public service announcements about these changes in the future, but we can’t afford a “wait and see” attitude. People who have routinely received an application for their mail-in ballot in the mail might not realize that the application didn’t arrive. And by the time they realize they don’t have a mail-in ballot it might be too late to apply for and receive one.

1. The process for obtaining and filing an Application for a Mail-in Ballot has changed.

If you or someone you know votes by mail, there are some important changes in the process. People who are unaware of these changes may end up being unable to vote by mail. For some, that will make them unable to vote at all.

Senate Bill 1 prohibits the distribution of mail-in ballot applications by the Election Administrator (EA).

If you have voted by mail in the past, you probably received an application for a mail-in ballot automatically each year, which reminded you to apply. You simply filled out the application and sent it in. You will no longer receive that application automatically. Instead, if you want to vote by mail, you must affirmatively request an application.

2. You can obtain a Vote by Mail Application in one of two ways. Go to the www.HarrisVotes.com website and click on “Voting by Mail.” There you’ll find a downloadable vote by mail application , a mail ballot tracker to monitor the process of

your application, and answers to any questions you might have. Just print the application, fill it out and mail it in.**

OR, if you do not have internet access or a printer and are unable to print an application on line, simply call the Election Administrator’s office at 713-755-6965 and ask them to mail you an application. They have personnel who will take your call and assist you.

Don’t delay! If you want to vote in the Primary, your application for a mail-in ballot must be received by the EA’s office no later than Friday, February 18, 2022. So to be safe, it should be mailed on or before Monday, February 14. Because mail delivery has slowed, apply now to be sure your application will arrive in time to be completed and sent back to Harris Votes well in advance of February 18. (If you miss the February 18 deadline, you won’t be able to vote in the primary BUT you will be able to vote in the November election.) ***

Senate Bill 1 creates new ID requirements for voting by mail.

SB1 establishes additional identification requirements for voting by mail. For the first time, the application for a mail-in ballot will ask for your full driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. The same form of identification also must be included on the envelope you will use when you return your completed ballot. SB1 also requires that this identification information must match what is already on file in your individual voter record. In other words, the ID you provide now, in 2022, must be the same that you used when you registered to vote.

If you registered long ago, you may not remember which form of ID you used. However, the application and current voter registration forms ask for the last 4 digits of your SSN only if you don’t have a driver’s license. So using your driver’s license number would seem to be the best choice.

3. What if your ID information does not match what is in your voter record?

Don’t panic. Under this heading on the HarrisVotes website (see the link to “Senate Bill Election Law Effective December 2, 2021), the following statements appear:

Harris County Elections is here to ensure any simple mistakes are addressed.

  • If we spot any mistakes, we will proactively reach out to you directly to address any inconsistencies if you included a phone number or email when registering to vote. If not, we will mail you a letter with follow up information.
  • Still have questions? Call us at (713) 755-6965. Email: vbm@harrisvotes.com

NOTES:

** If you are 65 or older or are disabled, be sure to choose the “annual” ballot option. That option assures you will receive a ballot for all elections in the calendar year.

*** If you submit your application by FAX or EMAIL you must also submit it by mail and it must be received by the early voting clerk not later than the fourth business day after the transmission by fax or email is received. (TEC 84.007). · Email: vbm@HarrisVotes.com Fax: (713)-755-4983 or (713)-437-8683 Visit www.harrisvotes.com for more information. At the top of the welcome screen, you will see a red line that says “Senate Bill 1 Election Law Effective December 2, 2021. More info here.”

About the Author

Board Member of HCDVCC & DV Expert,

Dr. Toby Meyers

Categories
Community Share Op-eds Press Release

HCDVCC’s Supplemental Safety Planning Tools Project Goes Statewide!

HCDVCC’s Supplemental Safety Planning Tools Project Goes Statewide!

In early 2020, when COVID first hit, HCDVCC began purchasing RING cameras for high-risk survivors who were identified by our Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT). The cameras were an inexpensive way to provide an additional layer of safety to a survivor when resources were stretched thin. The camera was incorporated into a survivor’s safety plan and quickly became “an extra set of eyes” and a powerful tool in providing additional security to a survivor’s home. It also validated any harassment, stalking or violent incidents she/he/they may have experienced if a survivor chose to pursue legal/criminal justice options.

When advocates heard back from survivors that the RING camera was a helpful tool for them, advocacy specialist, Susan Hickey, with HCDVCC, decided to reach out to the RING camera company to see if they might be interested in donating a few cameras to help HCDVCC with their efforts. Her outreach to the RING corporation proved to be extremely successful. Not only did the RING corporation respond enthusiastically to Susan’s request by providing a donation of 500 cameras to HCDVCC, they also donated free lifetime subscriptions to the program.

Thanks to this fantastic donation from RING, HCDVCC was able to reach out to other local DV providers to include them in this generous offer as well. In April, HCDVCC partnered with several other DV agencies in the community and launched The Supplemental Safety Planning Tools Project. It is a program designed to increase safety for survivors by including a camera into a survivor’s personalized safety plan.

Since the program’s launch in April 2021, nine domestic violence agencies in the Harris and surrounding counties have partnered with HCDVCC to participate in the project. And thanks to the work of these nine different agencies, 601 individuals have benefited from this camera donation.

Susan’s efforts and success with this project in Harris County provided a solid foundation to introduce RING to other partners like the Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) to see if there was an interest and an opportunity to take this program to survivors throughout our state. After months of planning and consultation, a press conference was held at HCDVCC’s offices on Monday, December 13, 2021 where RING executives, Gloria Terry, TCFV’s executive director, and U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee announced thrilling news. The RING partnership is going statewide! Soon high-risk survivors in Ft. Bend County, Grayson County and El Paso County will also benefit from this amazing tool and service. HCDVCC is tremendously proud of Susan Hickey’s hard work to make this program possible, and to the dedication of the RING camera company to ensuring that all survivors of domestic violence have access to this powerful tool. HCDVCC looks forward to our continued collaboration with RING, TCFV and other dv agencies to ensure survivors receive this type of technology that may help bring some valuable peace of mind.

For more information about this project, or to become a partner, please contact Susan or go to the SSPT site.

About the Author

Alicia N is the Director of Harris County DVHRT Initiative
Categories
Fundraiser Op-eds

This #GivingTuesday, show your support for HCDVCC

WHAT IS GIVING TUESDAY?
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. A simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good.
Someone you know, or even you, have or will be affected by domestic violence. Research shows that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic violence in her lifetime and last year in Harris County ALONE, 37 people were killed by their Intimate Partner and we have already surpassed that total this year. So many are in fear of reporting so they suffer in silence. Even those that reach out for help are having a hard time receiving services because our system is stretched so thin. As you give thanks this holiday season, please consider giving back by helping HCDVCC ensure that victims of domestic violence have access to safety and justice. Add your voice to others who stand in solidarity with survivors and against domestic violence. We are so proud of the work we do at HCDVCC, and the strength of the survivors we serve each and every day. Your donation today — no matter the size — will ensure that when a survivor reaches out for help, they will be met with compassion, respect and a way for us to say YES! Over the last few months, the news has been inundated with stories of families being ripped apart due to domestic violence. Gathering the courage to tell your story and to seek help is a tremendous step and HCDVCC wants to say WE CAN when asked by a survivor- “Who can help me?” With your donation, we can increase our services to survivors and help them lead healthier and happier lives for themselves and their children. So please support us so we say “We Can Help You!”

About the Author

Rebecca Councill is the Social/Digital Media Director at HCDVCC.

Categories
Op-eds

The “new” HCDVCC History

Pic of Deputy Director Amy Smith

November 1st marks the 11th year of the “new” Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council. The new and improved version began on a cool crisp morning at a local Starbucks because Barbie Brashear and Amy Smith took a leap of faith and said it’s now or never to jump start the mission of DVCC – “to create collaborations that maximize community resources, increase safety for victims of domestic violence and hold perpetrators of domestic violence accountable”.
But the seeds for HCDVCC were planted in 1995, when a group of people began meeting to strategize about how we can make it safer for victims in Harris County and how we could hold their offenders accountable. With a lot of arm twisting, begging and just right out demanding- Cindy Merrill, Gail O’Brien and Amy Smith convinced then District Attorney Johnny Holmes to partner with then HPD Chief Sam Nuchia, who was brought to the table by Vicki King, to convene a meeting of Stakeholders in the Community to address this issue. Jeff Basen-Engquist and Rhonda Gerson were the behind- the -scenes supporters and cheer leaders to get this meeting off the ground. So, the first meeting of what was to become HCDVCC meet in April of 1996 to begin the long journey to what we are today.
There are so many people that have contributed to our mission over the years by attending meetings, serving on the Board, working on “Best” Practice Protocols, participating in our Community Safety Assessments, guiding, and advising on how and when to apply for grants, and just generally supporting our work to fulfill our mission.
What started off in 1996 and revitalized in 2010 is so beyond what we could have imagined in our wildest dreams. So, thank you to all who have worked tirelessly to support us- we couldn’t have done this without you, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds.
We will be celebrating our founders at “Hats Off to HCDVCC” our postponed event on February 11, 2022.

About the Author

Pic of Deputy Director Amy Smith

Amy Smith is the Deputy Director of HCDVCC. 

Categories
Community Share Op-eds Title IX

October – These two awareness issues share more than a month

October – These two awareness issues share more than a month

Let’s do the math – it is estimated that 281,550 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021. Of these, over 43,600 women will die as a direct result of that diagnosis (ACS, 2021). If that weren’t bad enough, public health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control, state that 5.3 million of women will be victimized by a “loved one” annually as a result of domestic violence.

Both cancer and domestic violence are exacerbated by similar and complex social issues such as financial insecurity, institutional racism, discrimination, and isolation from supportive networks. If we consider the added stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of job loss, caregiving demands, and disrupted access to services, 2021 is not shaping up to be a good year for women.

Women living in violent relationships are at higher risk for delayed screening, advanced-stage cancer, and reduced chance for survival. A history of intimate partner violence (IPV) also impacts optimal cancer care receipt, such as surgery and hormone therapy. We do understand the impact, both emotional and physical, that social relationships have on women’s health. Women in abusive relationships have very limited access to
healthy interventions further complicating early detection and treatments that could be lifesaving.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, yet these two issues are more interconnected than we realize. It is not enough to wear a pink or purple t-shirt. We must advocate for research, education, and policies that remove barriers to women’s health and wellbeing. We must advocate for these two powerful campaigns to join together and combine their resources to save women’s lives.

Sources
1. Afrisham R, Paknejad M, Soliemanifar O, Sadegh-Nejadi S, Meshkani R, Ashtary-Larky D. (2019). The influence of psychological stress on the initiation and progression of diabetes and cancer. Int J Endocrinol
Metab,17(2):e67400

2. Alcalá, H. E., Keim-Malpass, J., & Mitchell, E. M. (2021). Sexual assault and cancer screening among men and women. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(11-12), NP6243–NP6259.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260518812797

3. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2021.

4. Aygin, D., & Bozdemir, H. (2019). Exposure to violence in breast cancer patients: Systematic review. Breast
Cancer, 26(1), 29-38. doi:10.1007/s12282-018-0900-6

5. Coker, A., Reeder, C., Fadden, M.K., & Smith, P. (2004). Physical partner violence and Medicaid utilization and expenditures. Public Health Rep, 119,557-567.

6. DeSantis, C.E., Ma, J., Gaudet, M.M., Newman, L.A., Miller, K.D., Goding Sauer, A., Jemal, A. and Siegel, R.L.
(2019), Breast cancer statistics, 2019. CA A Cancer J Clin, 69: 438-451. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21583

7. Dionigi, F., Martinelli, V., Trotti, E., Ferrari, A., Garcia-Etienne, C. A., Valle, A. D., Grasso, D., Ferraris, E.,
Rizzo, G., Praticò, V., & Sgarella, A. (2020). “My Husband Affects Me More Than My Cancer”: Reflections on simultaneous intimate partner violence and breast cancer experience in a 48-year-old woman. Journal of Cancer Education, 35(5), 1041–1045. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01661-9

8. Emory Home. Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Facts. Atlanta: Facts Sheet. http://emory.edu

9. Jetelina, K. K., Carr, C., Murphy, C. C., Sadeghi, N., S Lea, J., & Tiro, J. A. (2020). The impact of intimate
partner violence on breast and cervical cancer survivors in an integrated, safety-net setting. Journal of Cancer
Survivorship,14(6), 906–914. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11764-020-00902-x

10. Johnson, W.A., & Pieters, H.C. (2016). Intimate partner violence among women diagnosed with cancer. Cancer
Nursing,39(2), 87-96. doi:10.1097/NCC.0000000000000265

11. Lee, R. K., Sanders, V. L., & Mechanic, M. B. (2002). Intimate partner violence and women of color: A call for
innovations. American Journal of Public Health, 92(4), 530–534.

12. Lovestad, S., Jesper, L., Vaez, M., & Krantz, G. (2017). Prevalence of intimate partner violence and its
association with symptoms of depression; a cross-sectional study based on a female population sample in Sweden.
BMC Public Health, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4222-y

13. Modesitt, S.C., Gambrell, A., Cottrill, H.M., Hays, L.R., Walker, R., Shelton, B., Jordan, C.E., & Ferguson, J.E.
(2006). The adverse impact of a history of violence for women with breast, cervical, endometrial, or ovarian
cancer. Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 107(6), 1330 – 1336.

14. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2019). Domestic violence in Texas. Retrieved from
www.ncadv.org/files/Texas.pdf.

15. National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (2020). Domestic violence. Retrieved from
https:assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2497/domestic_violence-2020080709350855.pdf?1596811079991.

16. Texas Council on Family Violence. Honoring Texas victims, family violence fatalities in 2020. Austin: Analysis
Report. https://tcfv.org/publications

About the Author

 

Donna Amtsberg, LCSW is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work. She is also a Board Member with the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council.

 

 

 

Chiara Acquati, Ph.D., LMSW is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Health Disparities Research.

Categories
Community Share Op-eds

HAWC Commitment to Engaging in the Magnolia Park/Manchester Community

People associate the Houston Area Women’s Center with domestic and sexual violence and while our mission continues to be to “End domestic and sexual violence for ALL”, we recognize that prevention is more than just talking about it. While our prevention team educates community members on what domestic violence and sexual violence is and how it impacts the community, they are also working with communities themselves to address some of the core factors of violence.

Often times organizations come in with the idea that “they” know what the community needs, when in reality the only people who know what they’re needing are those who live in the community. One way our team has been doing this in the Magnolia Park/Manchester community, a predominately Hispanic/Latinx community, is through meeting with community members and leaders to get an understanding of what’s happening in the community.

We are also working with community schools to recruit students who want to impact their community and receive evidence-based prevention curriculum. The Be Strong curriculum works with young women to encourage empowerment, healthy boundaries and community involvement. The Live Respect Curriculum focuses on young men and challenges their concepts of masculinity and respect.

We are also working in establishing a student and adult advisory board, to give us insight on what the community needs are. Since both groups will be made up of community members, we will ensure the voices of those we’re hearing are voices from the community. In addition, youth participating in Be Strong, Live Respect and the Student Advisory Board will be able to match with a mentor from the Magnolia Park/Manchester Committee. Mentors will be identified through the Adult Advisory Board members, community leaders and interested community partners.

Most recently we have collaborated with the Magnolia Park Dia de los Muertos event. During the event, we will be hosting an art competition with the theme “Celebrating Life” and highlighting the lives of those who were killed as a result of domestic and sexual violence. By participating in community events like these, we are recognizing the importance of the events to the community, as well as providing resources that perhaps the community was not aware of previously. Through supporting community voices, we are able to identify needs within the community so we can focus on community activism and therefore create an environment without violence.

About the Author

Isabel Martinez
Director of Violence Prevention
– HAWC

Our Mission:
To improve Harris County’s response to domestic violence, we lead efforts to build collaborative systems and innovative programs that increase access to services and safety.
Our Vision:
We envision a community where all persons have relationships that are safe, healthy, and free from domestic violence.
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