In 2018, thanks to a Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) grant awarded to the Domestic Violence Division (DVD) of the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, Harris County was able to launch a new initiative aimed at reducing intimate partner violence homicides in our area. Using validated risk assessments to identify cases most at risk for homicide, and a multi-disciplinary team to help with safety, accountability and rehabilitation, Harris County was able to create a Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT). This team meets monthly to help provide support to near-lethal IPV assault cases and to audit the entire domestic violence response system by identifying gaps in service, rehabilitation and protection.
In 2019, the Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center (JGCC), who developed the DVHRT concept and is a national training and technical assistance provider, accepted Harris County as a technical assistance site to help refine the Harris County team, expand the initiative with a smaller team in Pasadena, and work with HCDVCC to explore ways to expand the model responsibly to handle the considerable number of high-risk cases that are identified within our large, populous county.
This past Spring, the DVHRT Initiative was nominated for their work, and in August, the Harris County Domestic Violence High Risk Team won a Purple Ribbon Award in the category of Urban Initiative of the Year by DomesticShelters.org. The Purple Ribbon Awards is a program honoring heroes of the domestic violence movement, including survivors, shelters, advocates, and programs. This award is presented to those who are making a substantial positive impact on the lives of domestic violence victims and survivors.
For more information about the DVHRT initiative, please visit the DVHRT page of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council’s website, or contact Alicia Nuzzie.
This past Spring, the DVHRT Initiative was nominated for their work, and in August, the Harris County Domestic Violence High Risk Team won a Purple Ribbon Award in the category of Urban Initiative of the Year by DomesticShelters.org. The Purple Ribbon Awards is a program honoring heroes of the domestic violence movement, including survivors, shelters, advocates, and programs. This award is presented to those who are making a substantial positive impact on the lives of domestic violence victims and survivors.
For more information about the DVHRT initiative, please visit the DVHRT page of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council’s website, or contact Alicia Nuzzie.
