Community Resources
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Abortion
Austin Women’s Health Center
1902 S. IH35
443-2888
Pregnancy testing, abortions,
family planning, emergency contraception.
Reproductive Services
4804 Grover Ave.
458-8274
Free pregnancy testing. Abortions, birth
control, annual exams, STD screening.
Pregnancy counseling, morning after pill.
Walk-ins accepted.
Lilith Fund
1-877-659-4304
Financial assistance for abortions. Leave
a message (English or Spanish) and call
will be returned within 24-48 hours.
Planned Parenthood:
Downtown:
1823 E. 7th Street
477-5846
Only Travis county residents under age
24. By appointment only.
Northwest
9041 Research Blvd., Suite 250
331-1288
South Austin
201 E. Ben White
441-5421
Post-Abortion Counseling Resources
Whole Woman’s Health
250-1005
http://www.wholewomanshealth.com/
Medical clinic offering
comprehensive services for women,
including abortions. Individual postabortion counseling is available for
free if patient. No long term
counseling. Help with funding for
abortion.
Gianna Viola
585-4518
A licensed social worker and
therapist in private practice who
specializes in post-abortion therapy.
Project Rachel
Austin Catholic Diocese
238-1246
http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/
A post-abortion ministry of the
Catholic Church. See abortion as a
deep spiritual wound and offer a
process of forgiveness and
reconciliation. Provides individual
counseling, groups and retreats. Ask
for Jill.
Exhale
A toll-free talkline operated by
1-866-4-EXHALE
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http://www.4exhale.org/
trained peer counselors who are
multi-cultural, multi-racial and
religiously diverse. Provides nonjudgmental emotional support after
an abortion. Talkline hours are 5
p.m. to 10 p.m. (PCT).
Post-Abortion Books
Candace De Puy, Candace, and Dovitch, Dana. The Healing Choice: Your Guide to
Emotional Recovery after an Abortion (workbook format).
Torre-Bueno, Ava. Peace after Abortion.
Kluger-Bell, Kim. Unspeakable Losses: Understanding the Experience of Pregnancy
Loss, Miscarriage and Abortion.
(Books recommended by Whole Woman’s Health and Exhale).
Services for Teenagers
Planned Parenthood can assist you with the processes and information below regarding the
Texas Parental Notification Law. They can be contacted at the following locations:
Downtown
1823 E. 7th Street
477-5846
Northwest
331-1288
9041 Research Blvd., Suite 250
NOTE: Downtown location only serves Travis county residents under the age or 24, has limited
opening hours and see patients by appointment only. Clients should call north or south
location to schedule appointment.
South Austin
201 E. Ben White
441-5421
Note: For minors seeking treatment at Planned Parenthood for consensual or non-consensual
sex, under mandatory reporting laws it may be necessary for Planned Parenthood staff to report
the incident to law enforcement and/or Child Protective Services, depending on the age of the
victim/participant and the circumstances.
You may also call 1-800-230-PLAN to reach the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you.
The Texas Parental Notification Law applies to pregnant teens who are 17 years of age or
younger and have decided to have an abortion. The law requires your doctor to notify a parent,
legal guardian or conservator at least 48 hours before you have an abortion.
The law requires parental notification, not consent. Your parent’s permission is not required
for you to have an abortion. The final decision is yours.
If you do not want to let either of your parents know that you want an abortion, you may apply
for a waiver of parental notification (see below). Receiving a waiver of parental notification
means that a judge issues an order that removes the requirement that you must inform your
parent about your abortion.
Exceptions to the Parental Notification Law:
1. If you notify either or both parents that you plan to have an abortion and they sign the
Parental Notification Form given to you at the abortion clinic, you do not need a judicial
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bypass.
2. If your doctor thinks you are having a medical emergency and an abortion must be
performed immediately, you will not be required to tell a parent.
3. If you are married.
Steps to get a waiver of Parental notification/Judicial bypass:
1. You deliver your application for a waiver of parental notification to a court clerk in the
county of your choice. Listing for clerks can be found in the City/County listings in the
phone book.
2. You appear before a judge who will issue an order that does one of four things:
a. Approves your request because the court finds that you are mature enough to
make your won decision.
b. Approves your request because it is not in your best interest to notify your
parent before getting an abortion.
c. Approves your request because notifying your parent before getting the abortion
may lead to physical, sexual or emotional abuse of you, or:
d. Denies your request because the court does not find a, b, or c.
The initial process will not take longer than two business days. You will receive the necessary
paperwork to take to the clinic within two working days if your request is approved. If your
request is denied, your lawyer will advise you about what to do next.
By law, your hearing must be confidential and private. This means that your application and
all testimony, documents and other evidence presented in court will be “sealed” (kept
confidential). Your medical records will also remain private.
Jane's DUE PROCESS (JDP) is a non-profit organization that serves as an information
and advocacy center dedicated to promoting the fair application of the judicial bypass
option of the Texas parental notification law.
The toll-free hotline 1-866-www-jane provides basic information about the law, assesses
if callers are potential candidates to waive the parental notification requirement, and
makes the contacts to find attorneys for representation. Please know that our toll-free
hotline counselors have experience dealing with teens who face not only the crisis of an
unintended pregnancy, but also those who have experienced family violence, sexual
assault and suicide ideation.
Texas Regulations on Abortion
As of January 1, 2004, Texas law says that every woman seeking an abortion must
receive state mandated information 24 hours in advance. The woman can obtain this
information in person or by telephone. The information includes the following:




Social services available if the woman was to continue the pregnancy.
The gestation (length) of the pregnancy at the time of the woman’s abortion
procedure.
The health risks and benefits of having a baby and of having an abortion
procedure.
Notification that the woman has the right to review materials produced by the
Texas Department of Health if she wishes. These materials include detailed
photos of pregnancies at various stages of development and a list of agencies
that oppose and/or offer alternatives to abortion.
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Alcohol and Drug Abuse
ACCESS/Outreach, Screening,
and Assessment
500 E. 7th Street
478-5644
1-866-693-OSAR
Coordination of services for
individuals who are homeless
and/or mentally ill, and
experiencing problems with
substance abuse or addiction.
Walk-in M-F 10:30-noon.
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Al-Anon and Alateen
1307-G Treadwell St.
441-8591
Support groups for children,
family and friends of people
with alcohol and/or drug
problems. Call for meeting
locations.
Alameda House
4019 Manchaca Rd.
326-5991
Transitional living facility serving
people with mental illness and
substance abuse issues. Available
24 hours a day. Individuals only.
Alcohol and Drug Referral Line
1-800-252-6465
Information and referral service
for drug and alcohol services
nationwide.
Alcoholics Anonymous
1339 Lamar Sq. Dr., No. 203
444-0071
Call for 24-hour information about
meetings. Groups hold meetings to
discuss how to stay sober.
Austin/Travis Co. MHMR
CARE Program
1631 E. 2nd St., Bldg E
473-2273
Walk-in Detox services for
individuals who are HIV.
Counseling and case management,
Hepatitis-C support group, HIV
testing. Services are free.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
24-hour hotline to access all
MHMR services including
substance abuse programs.
Also offers referrals to Austin
resources. Crisis counseling by
telephone.
Push-Up Foundation
205 Chalmers Ave.
469-0561
Outpatient treatment for men
Transitional housing and
case management for men only.
Housing number: 480 8369
Austin Recovery's Family House
3207 Slaughter Lane
821-1739 (Admissions)
Transitional living programs for
chemically dependent women with
children 12 years and younger.
Provides a program based on the 12
Steps and includes child therapy,
Parenting classes, anger management,
Individual counseling, and chemical
Dependency education. Limit 2
children.
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Austin Recovery Center
8402 Cross Park Dr.
821-1739 (Admissions)
Medical detox unit, inpatient
substance abuse treatment
programs. Substance
abusing individuals between ages
18 and 65.
YWCA/A.W.A.R.E.
(Austin Women’s Addiction
Referral & Education Center)
2015 S. IH35, No. 110
326-1222
Counseling, information and
referrals for women concerned
about their own or another person’s
substance abuse. Sliding scale
fees. Groups available in evenings.
Cocaine Anonymous Info Line
479-9327 (recorded information)
339-4357 (hotline)
Referrals to support groups dealing
with cocaine addiction.
Methadone Program
1631 E. 2nd St.
472-6261
Offers methadone maintenance
for those addicted to heroin.
Narcotics Anonymous
480-0004
Referrals and support groups for
those dealing with drug addiction.
Website with schedules and meetings:
www.ctana.org
Oak Springs Detox and
Treatment Center
3000 Oak Springs Dr.
926-5301
Outpatient treatment only.
Sliding scale fees.
Phoenix House
851-1231
Drug and alcohol treatment
services for adolescents.
Residential program and resources.
Coast to Coast
1-800-454-8966
National referrals to drug and
alcohol treatment programs.
TCADA (Texas Commission on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
1-800-832-9623
Provides information for complaints,
treatment referrals.
Basin Detox Systems, Inc.
1-800-317-7818
Maintains facilities in Texas where
chemically dependent people are
provided a medically safe detoxification.
Birth Control
Emergency Contraceptive Pills (also known as the “Morning After” pill) contain a certain
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amount of female hormones; when taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the pills can
reduce the chance of pregnancy occurring.
Emergency Contraception Hotline
1-800-584-9911
http://www.not-2-late.com
Provides general information about
meds, Provides five closest locations
for prescriptions and treatment.
Planned Parenthood
South: 441-5421
Northwest: 331-1288
Downtown: 477-5846
Pregnancy testing, family planning
services for men and women. HIV testing,
STD screening, emergency contraception.
Sliding payment scale for services. Same
day appointments for emergencies.
Sexual assault survivors given priority.
Downtown location serves only Travis
county residents under 24 by
appointment only.
Reproductive Services
4804 Grover
458-8274
Birth Control, "Morning After Pill," STD
and pregnancy testing, annual PAP smear.
Pregnancy test free if 5 weeks pregnant or
more otherwise $10. Walk in except for
abortion and routine pap smears,.
People’s Community Clinic
fee.
2909 N. IH35
478-8924
Birth Control, "Morning After Pill". Sliding
UT Student Health Center
100 W. Dean Keeton St.
471-4955
www.utexas.edu/student/health
Pregnancy testing, birth control, "Morning
After Pill" (restricted to current UT
students only).
Child Abuse
Child Abuse Hotline
Texas Dept. of Protective &
Regulatory Services
1-800-252-5400 (24 hr. reporting hotline)
834-3195 (Travis County CPS-local number)
Justice for Children
(713) 225-4357
www.jfcadvocacy.org
Hotline to report suspected
child abuse or neglect
anywhere in Texas.
Non-profit advocacy organization
assisting children who are victims
of criminal abuse and have not been
protected/served by the system.
Travis County Children’s
Advocacy Center
1110 E. 32nd St.
472-1164
Evidence gathering and evaluation
of child abuse. Must be referred by
CPS, APD or other legal entity.
Child Abuse Prevention Program
(Austin Stress Clinic)
1050 S. Lamar Blvd.
326-1717 (8am-4pm)
Classes on alternatives for discipline:
behavior/anger management, nonviolence, responsibility.
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Association for Retarded Citizens
(ARC of Capital Area)
2818 San Gabriel
476-7044
Child abuse prevention program
for parents and/or children with
developmental disabilities.
Family Forward
(formerly Parents Anonymous of Texas)
7801 N. Lamar, No.E-180
459-5490
www.familyforward.org
Support for parents at risk of abusing.
Self-help meetings and parenting
classes.
National Resource Center on Domestic
Violence: Child Protection and
Custody
1-800-527-3223
www.ncjfcj.org
Information, materials, consultation
and technical assistance related to
child protection and custody within
the context of domestic violence.
Any Baby Can
1121 E. 7th St.
454-3743
Works with parents of “high-risk”
children 0-3 years of age. Prenatal
education and infant developmental
programs, teen pregnancy and
parenting programs. Works with
children ages 0-3 with developmental
delays. Parenting classes in English
and Spanish. Offers ESL and GED
prep classes.
CASA of Travis County
459-2272
Non-profit organization that trains
volunteers to advocate for children.
Children’s Services
105 W. Riverside, Suite 120
448-0187
General counseling for children age 4-17
Communities in Schools
(Pebble Project)
3000 S. IH35, No. 200
462-1771 (x133)
Abuse prevention presentations.
Telephone consultation (no direct
counseling) and information and referral
for child abuse victims. Children’s
programs. Educational programs to
prevent child abuse.
Community Advocates for
Teens and Parents
7501 Blessing Ave.
451-0252
Parenting classes to prevent child abuse.
Job training and computer training
available.
LifeWorks
735-2400
Individual and family counseling for
children who have been abused.
Childcare
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Family Connections
825 E. 53rd. ½ St., Bldg. E-101
478-5725
www.FamilyConnectionsOnline.org
Childcare resource and referral agency
that helps parents locate childcare in
their area. Lending library of parenting
resources, parenting education
classes, and parenting workshops.
Main Springs Schools
Childcare for children ages 6 weeks-5 yrs.
On-site family and social work services.
Health and nutrition program. Medical
and dental screenings.
442-2301
Worksource Childcare Solution
6505 Airport Blvd. Suite 101C
597-7191
Childcare for low-income families who
are working or in school or those referred
by CPS or DHS. Need to reside in Travis
county.
Child Inc.
818 E. 53rd St.
451-7361
Free childcare for low-income families.
Head Start programs, services for
disabled children. Health screenings for
children. Parenting skill classes.
Community Advocates for Teens
and Parents
7501 Blessing Ave
451-0252
Sliding scale childcare. Job readiness
services.
Extend-A-Care
55 N. IH 35
472-9402
Sliding scale after-school and summer
care. Spanish-speaking staff. Serves
ages 5 to 12 years old.
Kid’s Exchange
1000-P Payton Gin
467-0803
Neutral location for visitation and
exchange of children between parents.
Clothing
Austin Resource Center for the
Homeless
500 East 7th St
305-4100
Clothing closet, Mon 9.30 sign up, until noon.
Only for men. Have vouchers for first women
or men that arrive on M, F at 7, Tue-Thu at
8.
Lisa’s Hope Chest
3110 Manor Rd., Suite A (upstairs)
457-0999
Professional clothing for women and
men. 4:30-7 p.m., T&TH; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Sat.
Bus no 20.
Salvation Army
501 E. 8th St.
476-1111
Clothing assistance M,W,F 10:30-4pm.
Manos de Cristo
4911 Harmon Ave
477-7454
Clothing assistance.
Tu, Wed, Thurs: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
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Gethsemane Lutheran Church
200 W. Anderson Lane
836-8560
Clothes closet, Tu, 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Counseling—Adults
SafePlace Counseling Intake
356-1648
Individual and group counseling for
women or men currently experiencing
domestic violence or sexual
abuse/assault or who have experienced
it in the past.
Austin Counseling
Services for Women
4131 Spicewood Springs
343-1560
Individual and group counseling
specializing in treatment of those who
have been physically, emotionally or
sexually abused.
Capital Area Mental Health
Center
1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 105-W
302-1000
Individual and couples counseling. Lowcost long term psychotherapy. Sliding
scale.
Capital Area Psychological
Association
451-4983
Information and referral service for
counseling.
Karaama
577-SAFE
Counseling and support for Muslin
women in domestic violence situations
in Austin. Languages spoken include
Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Pashtu, and
Swahilli.
LifeWorks
735-2400
Individual, couples, group, and family
counseling. Sliding scale.
Austin Center for Attitudinal
Healing
3201 Manchaca
327-1961
Support groups for people dealing with
catastrophic illness, grief or loss.
Bereavement groups for all ages.
MHMR
1430 Collier St.
472-4357 (crisis hotline)
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
Adult mental health services, information
and referral to other resources.
Suicide prevention hotline.
Saheli
P.O. Box 3665
703-8745
Counseling and support for Indian and
Asian women in abusive relationships.
Seton East (McCarthy
Health Center)
2811 E. 2nd St.
324-4930
Short-term counseling on a sliding scale.
Couples and family counseling.
Sunrise Center
465-9535
Mental health services for refugees,
immigrants and asylum seekers.
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Pro-bono services, Spanish-speaking
counselors (other languages as well).
Waterloo Counseling Center
3000 S.I35, Suite 315
444-9922
YWCA Women’s Counseling
and Resource Center
2015 S IH-35, No. 110
326-1222
Individual and group counseling for
survivors and batterers, sensitive to
GLBT issues. Sliding fee.
Crisis counseling, support groups on a
sliding scale.
Hays-Caldwell Women’s
Center
396-4357
1-800-700-HCWC (4292)
Individual peer counseling and support
groups for female and male survivors of
sexual assault and sexual abuse.
Nancy Kelly, LMSW-ACP
(Clinical Social Worker
in private practice)
3724 Jefferson, No. 212
Austin, TX 78731
458-4646
Former SafePlace counselor
who is now in private practice
and works with individuals (teens, adults)
and couples in individual counseling
and groups. Sliding scale fees.
Note: Nancy has experience working with clients who self-injure, as well as those with anxiety,
depression, chronic and severe mental illness. Works with gay, lesbian and bisexual clients.
Counseling—Batterers
Note: SafePlace does NOT offer counseling to batterers. Please refer to the organizations
below:
Austin Men’s Center
812 W. 11th St.
477-9595
Anger management counseling,
support groups and classes for men
and women.
Austin Stress Clinic
1050 S. Lamar Suite A
326-1717
www.austinstress.org
Stress and anger management programs,
domestic violence prevention programs.
Assault prevention (non domestic, such as bar
road rage. Petty theft prevention.
LifeWorks
(Family Violence Treatment Program)
735-2400
Group programs for batterers. Sliding scale
fees.
Capital Area Mental Health Center
1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 105-W
302-1000
Individual, couples and family counseling.
Low-cost counseling by volunteer
professional counselors. Sliding scale.
Services for ages 16 and older.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
Information and referral source, entry
point to all MHMR services.
Waterloo Counseling Center
Individual and group counseling for
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3000 S.I35, Suite 315
444-9922
survivors and batterers, sensitive to
GLBT issues. Sliding fee.
Counseling—Children/Teens
SafePlace School-Based Services
Individual counseling for students
/teens experiencing domestic
violence or sexual assault/abuse
issues. To access services, students
should go through their school counselor.
The counselor should contact
SafePlace at 267-SAFE.
Counseling is at the school.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
Information and referral service,
entry point to all MHMR services.
Austin Child Guidance Center
810 W. 45th St.
451-2242
Therapy, testing, counseling and
evaluation of children and teens
who are emotionally disturbed, have
behavioral problems, learning
disabilities, or are victims of abuse.
Sliding scale fees. Live/work in Travis county.
Child and Adolescent
Psychiatric Services
(CAPS)-Austin State Hospital
452-0381
Psychiatric care for children up to
18 years old who are a danger to
themselves or others.
Children's Services
Family Treatment Program
165 W. Riverside
448-0187
Individual, group and family
treatment for all ages.
Psychological evaluations.
Sliding scale fees.
LifeWorks
3700 S. 1st St.
735-2400
Crisis counseling to youth ages 617 and their families. Youth shelter,
mentoring and parenting classes.
Sliding scale.
Out Youth
909 E. 49-½ St.
419-1233
www.outyouth.org
Provides support groups
for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and questioning youth age
12-19.
National Runaway Switchboard
1-800- RUNAWAY
1-800-621-0394 (TDD)
24-hour hotline for runaways and
youth crisis. information and
referrals for shelter, food, medical
assistance. Also serves concerned
parents and friends.
Substance abuse programs
available to teens and their families,
general counseling for children and
adults.
Teen & Family Counseling Center
3536 Bee Cave Rd., No. 100
327-5040
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LifeWorks
735-2400
Counseling for teens who are
pregnant or who are parents.
Youth Crisis Hotline
1-800-442-4673 (HOPE)
Referral hotline for teens 17 and
under in crisis. Not a counseling
hotline for parents or adults.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
1400 Tillery
472-5437
Provides a one-on-one relationship
between a screened adult
volunteer and a child from a
single-parent home.
Communities in Schools
462-1771
Dropout Prevention and counseling
to teen parents attending AISD
schools. Family and group therapy.
Referrals provided as well.
Counseling—Post-Abortion
Whole Woman’s Health
250-1005
http://www.wholewomanshealth.com/
Medical clinic offering
comprehensive services for women,
including abortions. Individual postabortion counseling is available for
free if patient. No long term
counseling. Help with funding for
abortion.
Michelle Langmead
420-0046
Associated with Whole Woman’s
Health, provides SA counseling as
well.
Gianna Viola
585-4518
A licensed social worker and
therapist in private practice who
specializes in post-abortion therapy.
Project Rachel
Austin Catholic Diocese
238-1246
http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/
A post-abortion ministry of the
Catholic Church. Sees abortion as a
deep spiritual wound and offers a
process of forgiveness and
reconciliation. Provides individual
counseling, groups and retreats.
Exhale 1-866-4-EXHALE
http://www.4exhale.org/
A toll-free talkline operated by
trained peer counselors who are
multi-cultural, multi-racial and
religiously diverse. Provides non14
judgmental emotional support after
an abortion. Talkline hours are 5
p.m. to 10 p.m. (PCT).
Counseling—Sex Offenders
Sona Nast
8307 Shoal Creek Blvd
454-7009
Sex offender assessments and
treatment, general offender
treatment
Children’s Services
105 W. Riverside, Suite 120
448-0187
Sexual abuse support groups, juvenile sex
offender treatment programs, counseling.
Rio Grande Counseling Center
480-0205
Counseling for sex offenders.
Sex offender registration
Austin Police Department
Sex Offender Registration Website
Lists sex offenders in Austin area by
their ZIP code.
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/police/sex_offender_intro.htm
Crime Victim Services
Office for Victims of Crime
Directory of Crime Victim Services
http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices
The Office of Victims of
Crime (OVC) has created an
online directory of crime victim
services. The directory links crime
victims and victim service providers
to contact information for
assistance. The directory is
searchable by location (states and
several countries), type of
victimization, agency type, and
available services.
Austin Academy
Southeast Center: 326-8655
North Center: 491-8232
Assists victims of violent
crime with free services such
as job training, GED preparation,
job placement, childcare and
housing assistance, referrals and
eligibility of benefits counseling.
Family Violence Protection Team
1106 Clayton Lane, No. 490E
974-8535 (Main number)
Facilitates increased arrest,
conviction and accountability
of batterers and serves the needs of victims of
domestic violence. Services include taking
statements, processing stalking reports, filing
charges, issuing protective orders, and crisis
counseling and advocacy. The team also has
free cellphones that will allow callers to dial
911 only.
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Dental Care
Manos de Cristo
1201 Cesar Chavez St.
477-2319
Dental care including dentures for lowincome Austin residents. Only for people
without insurance, does not accept MAP
Texas Dept. of Human Services
724 Everhart Lane
445-0022 (main number)
Dental exam for people ages three to 21
who have Medicaid.
RBJ Dental Clinic
Austin Health and Human Services
972-4820
Dental services for people on MAP
program or Medicaid.
Foundation for the Homeless
453-6570
Referrals for dental services for homeless
people.
Give Back A Smile
1-800-773-4227
Dentists who offer free restoration
to battered women whose teeth
have been damaged due to domestic
violence.
Jack Sansing Dental Clinic
3000-A Medical Arts
479-6633
Only serve HIV + clients. Sliding scale.
Disability Services
SafePlace
356-1648
Counseling for adults and children
through the Disability Services ASAP
at SafePlace, offering counseling for persons
with disabilities who have experienced
domestic violence or sexual assault.
Adult Protective Services
1-800-252-5400
438-4800 (local number)
To report abuse, neglect or exploitation
of an adult who is temporarily or
permanently disabled or elderly.
DAWCAS (Deaf Abused Women
and Children’s Advocacy Services)
A deaf or hearing-impaired client
should first dial Relay, 711. Then
give 888-915-8159. The client
should leave her/his name and
telephone number and an advocate
will call them back. DAWCAS may
also be contacted by email at
hotline@dawcas.org. For the hearing,
call DAWCAS at 888-915-8159 and
leave name and telephone number
Offers temporary shelter for deaf
or hearing impaired survivors of
domestic violence and sexual assault.
Peer counseling, advocacy, and sign
language interpreters.
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where you can be contacted by an
advocate.
ARCIL
825 E. Rundberg, No. A-1
832-6349
Empowers people with disabilities
(physical or mental) to develop skills to
live independently. Computer training.
Capital Metro Special Unit
478-9647
Sends specially-equipped buses to the
homes of disabled or elderly people or
others who cannot use the fixed route
system. Must qualify for service and give
24 hours notice. Requests from
7a.m.-9p.m. M-F; Sat. and Sun,
8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Coalition of Texans with
Disabilities
478-3366
Legislative advocacy groups.
Austin Child Guidance Center
810 W. 45th St.
451-2242
Evaluation of children including
psychiatric and psychological services,
speech and hearing assessment, and
neurological testing.
A.I.S.D. Early Childhood Special
Education
414-3293
Preschool special education program
for children ages three and up with
physical, mental, emotional or language
disabilities.
Children’s Evaluation and Therapy
Center
331-5488
Hearing evaluations, physical, speech and
occupational therapy.
Settlement Home
836-2150
Residential treatment for emotionally
disturbed female children and adolescents.
Foster program for males and females.
Early Childhood Intervention
1-800-250-2246
Assistance for babies or toddlers with a
disability or if the family suspects a
developmental delay. For children through
age 3. Services are free. Statewide
services.
Disability Assistance of
Central Texas
9027 Northgate Blvd, No. 101
834-1827
Housing, education, transportation
and counseling referrals. Job
search assistance.
Relay Texas
711
TDD phone relay service. Voice relay
service operators relay conversation
between people with speech and/or
hearing impediments. Handles local and
long-distance calls.
Travis County Services
for the Deaf
473-9210 (TTY)
Sign language interpreters, information,
and referrals. TTY services. Case
management and advocacy. Message
17
center, and closed-caption movies.
18
Any Baby Can
1121 E. 7th St.
454-3743
Medical case management and
comprehensive care for families with
disabled or chronically ill children ages
0-12. Healthy and Fair Start program.
For ages 0-5. In-home child development
and parenting education. Child
development evaluations. Call 448-1202.
ARC of the Capital Area
476-7044
Services for adults with disabilities.
Austin Center for Attitudinal Healing
327-1961
Free support groups for families
with children who have catastrophic
or life-threatening illnesses.
Texas Rehabilitation
Commission
926-1446
Vocational rehabilitation service for
people with any type of disability (drug
and alcohol history, cognitive, emotional,
physical, mental or learning disability.)
The Beaumont Foundation
Of America
1-866-505-2667
Computers for people with disabilities.
Texas Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing
(800) 628-5115
For those who have a condition that
makes a telephone difficult or impossible
to use, this program may provide
equipment necessary to access the
telephone (i.e., sign language video
equipment, hands-free voice activated
speech enhancement equipment, other
devices according to individual needs).
equipment, other devices according to
individual needs).
Speech to Speech
1-800-854-7784
Speech to Speech (STS) is a free
telephone service for people with
speech disabilities. STS provides
communication assistants who are
familiar with speech patterns and have
excellent language recognition skills.
The communication assistant makes
the telephone call for the person with
the speech disability and repeats their
words exactly in a three-way calling
environment.
Educational Classes, ESL, GED
Austin Community College
223-5123
ESL, GED classes offered at
various campuses.
19
Austin Community College
Central Office
5930 Middle Fiskville Road
223-7000 (Information)
223-7504 (Admissions)
College credit courses, vocational
courses, adult basic education.
Casa Marianella
821 Gunter St.
385-5571
ESL classes. Do not refer callers
who are in danger and/or in hiding
due to domestic violence issues.
ASPIRE (Communities in Schools)
928-9454
GED, ESL classes for parents
17 years and up with children 7
years old and younger.
Manos de Cristo
1200 Willow
477-7454
ESL classes.
El Buen Samaritano
7000 Woodhue Drive
439-0700
ESL and GED classes in Spanish.
Caritas
308 E. 7th St.
472-4135
ESL classes.
Literacy Austin
478-7323
Assistance for adults who read at
or below 5th grade level.
LifeWorks
GED Program
735-2400
Assistance for 17-21-year-old dropouts with GED
Elderly
Adult Protective Services
1-800-252-5400
24-hour hotline to report abuse of people
55 and older or disabled adults.
Family Eldercare
2210 Hancock Dr.
450-0844
Consultation, counseling and other
support services for older and disabled
people. Elder shelter for emergencies.
Legal Hotline for Older Adults
1-800-622-2520
477-3950 (Local)
Free legal advice and consultation by
phone on a wide range of legal matters.
For Texas residents 60 and older.
Lutheran Social Services
459-1000
Nursing homes in Round Rock. Installs
emergency response systems in elders
homes. Adoption services.
United Action for the Elderly
(Meals on Wheels and More)
476-6325
Meals on wheels, medical transportation,
groceries to go, handi-wheels, care calls,
and telephone reassurance.
Services for the Elderly
477-3796
Home visits and assistance with daily
needs (bathing, cooking, cleaning). Fees
20
vary; some fees paid by DHS.
Neighborhood Centers
Blackland
2005 Salina
Employment referrals, food pantry, clothes
closet, notaries, housing referrals, food
distribution for elderly, public health services.
Not all services available at all centers;
please call.
972-5790
ZIPs served: 78722, 23, 05, 51 (so. of 45th)
972-6650
ZIPs served: 78701, 02 (S. of 7th), 03
Montopolis
1416 Montopolis Drive
972-5710
ZIPs served: 78741, 42, 44, 47, 19, 17
Rosewood-Zaragosa
2800 Webberville Road
972-6740
ZIPs served: 78702 (N. of 7th), 21, 24, 25
South Austin
2508 Durwood
972-6840
ZIPs served: 78704, 45, 46, 48, 49, 35, 36, 37,
39
St. Johns
7500 Blessing Avenue
972-5780
ZIPs served: 78751 (N. of 45th), 52, 53, 54, 56,
57, 58, 59, 26, 27, 28, 29
East Austin
211 Comal
Emergency Contraception
Emergency Contraception vs. RU-486—There is a difference!
Emergency Contraception (EC)
RU-486 (The Abortion Pill)
Brand name: Plan B or Preven
Brand name: Mifeprex
Emergency contraception prevents
a pregnancy
RU-486 terminates a pregnancy
A high dose of ordinary birth control
pills that prevents ovulation, fertilization
or implantation before pregnancy occurs.
Two separate doses of an
abortifacient medication cause the
termination of an early pregnancy.
Approved by the FDA in 1998.
Approved by the FDA in 2000.
American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists recommends EC
for all women, and the American
Medical Association for all rape
survivors.
National Abortion Federation
recommends mifepristone for
women who prefer non-surgical
termination of early pregnancy.
Can be used up to 72 hours after
sexual intercourse. (When contraceptive methods fail, are misused or
not used, and when women are
Use from the time a woman learns
she is pregnant up to 49 days after
the beginning of her last menstrual
period.
21
Sexually assaulted.
75-89 percent effective in preventing
pregnancy.
92 percent effective in terminating
pregnancy.
EC prevents the need for abortion.
RU-486 causes the termination of
pregnancy.
This information was obtained from TARAL Education Fund. For more information, please call
462-1661.
Employment
Texas Rehabilitation
Commission (TRC)
926-1446
Vocational rehabilitation services for
people with any type of disability (drug
and alcohol history, cognitive, physical,
mental, emotional or learning.) Support
and training to help clients find or maintain
employment. Will pay for testing if client
needs to be assessed for disability.
Capital of Texas Workforce Center
Job Training Partnership Act:
Assists with job search, skills training,
South
381-4200
job search support groups.
North
454-9675
CHOICES:
East
223-5400
Education, training, job search and support
Hours for all locations: M- Th 7.30 a.m.-6.30 p.m. services (childcare and transportation
F
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
assistance) to individuals receiving TANF
Sat
9 a.m.-1p.m.
(Temporary Aid to Needy Families).
(only north)
Goodwill Industries:
Provides job related services for people
with barriers to employment.
Food Stamp Employment/Training:
Assists food stamp recipients with job
search skills training.
Green Thumb:
Clients 55 and older with job training and
counseling.
You can register for the CTWC matching service and will be screened for thousands of job
openings, then notified of openings that match your skills. CTWC has computers, copy
machines, fax machines, typewriters and telephones to use in your job search. Services are
offered for those who may need more individualized assistance such as dislocated workers,
veterans, recipients of public assistance, economically disadvantaged individuals, older
workers, individuals with disabilities, long-term unemployed workers and others.
Urban League
1033 La Posada Drive Suite 150.
478-7176
Job placement, computer training, job
bank. Walk-in clients welcome. GED
courses and teen enrichment programs.
Capital IDEA
457-8610
Job training in health care, high tech,
accounting, banking, trades. GED
courses. English and Spanish
classes.
22
Community Advocates for
Teens and Parents
7501 Blessing Ave.
451-0252
Job training, sliding scale childcare,
shelter for teen parents or pregnant
teens, healthy family training.
Neighborhood Centers
Employment information and referral.
Not all services available at all centers;
please call.
Blackland
2005 Salina
972-5790
ZIPs served: 78722, 23, 05, 51 (so. of 45th)
972-6650
ZIPs served: 78701, 02 (S. of 7th), 03
Montopolis
1416 Montopolis Drive
972-5710
ZIPs served: 78741, 42, 44, 47, 19, 17
Rosewood-Zaragosa
2800 Webberville Road
972-6740
ZIPs served: 78702 (N. of 7th), 21, 24, 25
South Austin
2508 Durwood
972-6840
ZIPs served: 78704, 45, 46, 48, 49, 35, 36, 37,
39
St. Johns
7500 Blessing Avenue
972-5780
ZIPs served: 78751 (N. of 45th), 52, 53, 54, 56,
57, 58, 59, 26, 27, 28, 29
East Austin
211 Comal
Supported Employment
451-0315
Services enable consumers to improve
and develop job-related skills. Adults 18
or older with a primary diagnosis of
severe and persistent mental illness who
desire employment.
JOB LINES
Call the following numbers and a recording will let you know what jobs are available.
Austin Community College
Bank One
Capital Metro
Coca Cola
Hyatt Regency
IRS
LCRA
St. Edwards University
US Post Office
223-5621
1-800-690-0904
389-7450
832-2542
480-2098
477-5627
473-3333
448-8541
342-1139
Texas Commission on
Human Rights
1-888-452-4778
Investigates claims of discrimination
around employment issues.
23
Financial Assistance
Texas Dept. of Human Services
TANF–Temporary Aid to Needy
Families (formerly AFDC)
Assistance to single head of
household not receiving child
support.
1-800-448-3927 (Current recipients with questions)
1-800-252-8263 (Medicaid)
Local number: 929-7330
Baptist Community Center
2000 E. 2nd St.
472-7592
Limited assistance with rent,
utilities, and medications. Call
for appointment.
Caritas
308 E. 7th St.
472-4135
Emergency financial assistance
with rent, food, and bus fare.
Travis County Emergency
Assistance Program
854-4120
Assistance with rent, utilities,
diapers and other social services.
Austin Resource Center for the
Homeless
305-4100
Offers limited financial assistance
for employment and housing
related needs.
Crime Victim Compensation Fund
936-1200 (Local)
1-800-983-9933
Can assist victims of crime with
monetary assistance for loss of
earnings or support, medical or
hospital bills, counseling, moving expenses,
etc.
Victims of family violence may apply for loss of support if charges have been filed and
the assault happened after September 1, 1997. Amount given to victim will depend on
offender's income at the time of the crime. Victims must do the following: 1) Not drop
charges; and 2) cooperate with the police and the prosecuting attorney.
Note: This is a process, which means that it can take a while for compensation to be given.
Assistance with applications may be obtained by contacting Victims' Services in the Austin Police
Department (974-5037). The SafePlace Sexual Assault Community Advocate can also assist with
applications for sexual assault survivors (356-1576).
Available Benefits
Funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, counseling, lost wages, loss of support,
attorney’s fees, travel expenses, minor child or dependent care, crime scene clean-up,
replacement of property seized as evidence, catastrophic injury home improvement,
catastrophic injury job training, catastrophic injury home health care, and catastrophic
injury lost wages.
LifeWorks
735-2400
Personal money management,
budget planning, debt
management and other services.
24
Social Security
1-800-772-1213
916-5404 (local)
To apply for social security card,
Medicare, SSI, disability and
retirement.
Consumer Credit Counseling
447-0711
Counseling to help manage debt.
Food/Groceries
Austin/Travis County Dept.
of Health and Human Services
Main number 854-4100 (Will be referred
to area in your ZIP code)
Emergency food assistance, food
vouchers.
Texas Dept. of Human Services
Various Locations:
1165 Airport: 929-7330
1601 Rutherford Lane, No. E: 339-8868
724 Eberhart Lane: 445-0022
Food stamps, emergency food
assistance, TANF (Temporary
Assistance to Needy Families)
and Medicare assistance.
Austin Baptist Chapel
908 E. Cesar Chavez
474-2666
Serves lunch every day 11-12:30 p.m.
Caritas
308 E. 7th St.
472-4135
Emergency assistance with food; food
kitchen and pantry available.
By appointment only.
Baptist Community Center
2000 E. 2nd St.
472-7592
Assistance with groceries.
Appointment only.
Delores Catholic Church
1111 Montopolis Dr.
385-4333
Pantry open 9:30-11:30 a.m., Tu, Wed & Fr.
El Buen Samaritano
7000 Woodhue Drive
Food pantry Tue-Thu 9am-noon. Bring ID
birth certificate of children and source of
income information
439-0700
Eastside Community Connection
5810 Berkman Drive
220-7312
Food pantry serving East Austin
(ZIP 78702, 78721, 78722, 78723).
Tuesday-Thursday, 2-6 p.m. Clients
served on walk-in basis; must have a
photo ID for service; must meet income
eligibility guidelines. Clients living in
service area eligible for service once every
two weeks; others will be served once and
then referred to a food pantry in their area.
Hyde Park Baptist Church
3810 Speedway
459-6587
Limited grocery items Mon and Wed 1-3 only.
Picture ID, verification of address and # of
persons in household.
25
Oak Hill Bible Church
6117 Hwy 290 West
892-6112
Limited grocery items, no walk-ins-call
first.
St. Louis Food Pantry
7601 Burnet Rd.
454-0384
Food pantry available
Saturday (10-11:30 a.m.).
Salvation Army
501 E. 8th St.
476-1111
Food pantry, appointment only.
WIC
Nutrition education, food for infants
and children up to 5 years and pregnant,
breastfeeding or postpartum women.
Free immunizations once a week.
Call for nearest location.
1-800-942-3678
Abiding Love Lutheran Church
7210 Brush Country Rd.
892-4040
Food pantry as available.
Gethsemane Lutheran Church
200 W. Anderson Lane
836-8560
Food pantry and clothing closet Tuesdays.
1.30-4.30.
Neighborhood Centers
Food pantry, bread distribution, Fresh food for
Families food distribution, food distribution
for elderly 60 years or older. Not all services
available at all centers; please call.
Blackland
2005 Salina
972-5790
ZIPs served: 78722, 23, 05, 51 (so. of 45th)
972-6650
ZIPs served: 78701, 02 (S. of 7th), 03
Montopolis
1416 Montopolis Drive
972-5710
ZIPs served: 78741, 42, 44, 47, 19, 17
Rosewood-Zaragosa
2800 Webberville Road
972-6740
ZIPs served: 78702 (N. of 7th), 21, 24, 25
South Austin
2508 Durwood
972-6840
ZIPs served: 78704, 45, 46, 48, 49, 35, 36, 37,
39
St. Johns
7500 Blessing Avenue
972-5780
ZIPs served: 78751 (N. of 45th), 52, 53, 54, 56,
57, 58, 59, 26, 27, 28, 29
East Austin
211 Comal
Manos de Christo
1200 Willow
477-7454
Emergency food assistance.
26
HIV Exposure Protocol
Certain hospitals are equipped to provide sexual assault survivors HIV medications as a
means of reducing their risk for acquiring HIV infection after possible exposure. There is a
72-hour window of opportunity where the HIV virus can be killed before the immune system
carries it to the lymph nodes (although the medications are most effective if given within one
hour of possible exposure.) HIV post exposure treatment usually consists of a four-week
course of AZT (Zidovudine) and 3TC (Combivir). If these medications (or a prescription for
them) are offered to a survivor, the doctor or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) will
let them know the following:








That they have a very low risk (.1 percent ) risk for contracting HIV from a one-time
sexual encounter.
That possible side effects include nausea, headaches, diarrhea, anemia, elevated liver
function, hypoglycemia, and diabetes, most of which are reversed when the
medication is discontinued. The patient may be severely uncomfortable during
treatment, such that the patient cannot continue going about the daily functions of
her/his life.
That the patient will need to be under the care of a physician to monitor for dangerous
side effects.
That the HIV medications may affect other drugs the survivor is using (most
significantly, the drugs can make oral contraceptives ineffective.)
That the patient must have follow-up medical evaluations (the People’s Community
Clinic is the best place for this, unless the survivor has a private doctor.)
That the patient still needs to get an HIV baseline test as soon as possible, followed by
a test in two months, another in four months, and a final test after a year.
That taking this medication will not prevent contracting HIV from future exposures.
That the medications cost approximately $3,000 for a one-month prophylactic
treatment.
Providing the survivor with this information means that she/he can make an informed choice
about whether or not to take HIV preventative medications.
AIDS Services of Austin
458-2437
AIDS information and referral line.
Case management. Assistance with rent,
bills, food, etc. for people with HIV and
AIDS. HIV testing and prevention services.
CARE Program
Austin/Travis County MHMR Center,
1631 E. 2nd St.
472-4357, Ext. 2
Community AIDS Resources and
Education Program. Free anonymous
HIV testing and counseling on a
walk-in basis.
Planned Parenthood
Anonymous testing for HIV. Sliding
payment scale for services. Same
day appointments for emergencies.
Sexual assault survivors given
priority.
Downtown:
1823 E. 7th Street
477-5846
Only Travis county residents under age
24. By appointment only.
27
Northwest
9041 Research Blvd., Suite 250
331-1288
South Austin
201 E. Ben White
441-5421
Homeless Shelters
Austin Resource Center for the
Homeless
305-4100
Night-time shelter for men,
day-time resource center for
male and female homeless
people. Showers, clothing.
computer access, clothes
washers/dryers. Also offers
life skills classes for
homeless and formerly
homeless people.
Salvation Army
501 E. 8th St.
476-1111
Emergency transient housing,
meals, food. Has separate dorms
for men, women with children,
and women without children.
Casa Marianella
821 Gunter
385-5571
Emergency shelter for Spanishspeaking homeless, usually
immigrants and refugees. ESL
classes. Do not refer callers who are in
danger and/or in hiding due to
domestic violence issues.
Community Advocates for Teens
and Parents
8509 FM 969
451-0252
Emergency shelter for pregnant
teens or teenage mothers.
Austin Children’s Shelter
Temporary shelter for children
when a parent is unable to provide
care. Does not accept voluntary
admissions, so caller should
contact CPS at 1-800-252-5400
or 911 for assistance.
LifeWorks
441-6914
Emergency shelter for homeless,
runaway and abused youth, and
their children.
DAWCAS (Deaf Abused Women
Offers temporary shelter in their
28
And Children’s Advocacy Services)
A deaf or hearing-impaired client
may contact DAWCAS by first dialing
Relay, 711. Then give 888-915-8159.
The client should leave her/his
name and telephone number and an
advocate will call them back. DAWCAS
can also be contacted by email at
hotline@dawcas.org. For the hearing,
call 888-915-8159 and leave name and
telephone number; an advocate will call
you back.
safehouse for deaf or hearingimpaired survivors of domestic
violence and sexual assault. Peer
counseling, advocacy, and
sign language interpreters.
Push-Up Foundation
205 Chalmers Ave.
480-8369
Transitional housing for men
who are homeless and have
substance abuse issues.
Alameda House
4019 Manchaca Rd.
326-5991
Transitional living facility serving
people with mental illness and
substance abuse issues. Available
24 hours a day. NEED REFERAL FROM
MHMR CASEWORKER.
Shalom House
453-6570
(Same as Foundation for the Homeless)
Shelter for pregnant women and
homeless families, up to 90 days.
if person/family is in immediate
danger.
Interfaith Hospitality Network
453-6570
(Same as Foundation for the Homeless)
Temporary shelter in churches for
families with children. Cannot
shelter if person/family is in
immediate danger.
Foundation for the Homeless
453-6570
Passages case management for
homeless families. Provides
breakfast, showers and haircuts to
homeless people. Clothing,
medical and dental referrals.
Texas Baptist Children’s Home
1301 N Mays (Round Rock)
388-8298
Family cottage program for
mothers and their children.
Housing
Housing Coordination Team
4019 Manchaca Rd.
804-3419
Resource for identifying possible
subsidies, grants, cooperative living
arrangements and rental locations
for consumers with severe and persistent
mental illness with temporary and long-term
housing needs.
Austin Housing Authority
Low rent housing for low-income
29
1640 E. 2nd St. Bldg. B
477-4488
families. Call for eligibility
guidelines.
Travis County Housing Authority
100 N. IH35, No. 3000
480-8245
Low rent housing for low-income
families. Call for eligibility
guidelines.
Austin Tenants Council
1619 E. Cesar Chavez
474-1961
Counseling and mediation for
tenants and landlords, rental repair
mediation. Fair Housing number
is for assistance in filing
discrimination complaints.
Community Partnership for
the Homeless
469-9130
Transitional housing for single
veterans. Affordable rent program
for elderly and families with
children.
Foundation for the Homeless
453-6570
Case management for
homeless families with children;
helps find housing and other
resources to become
self-sufficient.
Push-Up Foundation
205 Chalmers Ave.
Transitional housing for men
who are homeless and have
substance abuse issues.
480-8369
Alameda House
4019 Manchaca Rd.
326-5991
Transitional living facility serving
people with mental illness and
substance abuse issues. Available
24 hours a day.
Section 8 Housing (City of Austin)
477-1314
Low rent housing for low-income
families. Call for eligibility
guidelines.
Section 8 Housing (Travis County)
100 N. IH35, No. 3000
480-8245
Public housing program.
Applications are only accepted
twice a year.
Texas Baptist Children’s Home
1301 N Mays (Round Rock)
388-8298
Family cottage program for
mothers and their children.
Austin Resource Center for the
Homeless
701 W. 5th St.
305-4100
Day resource center for homeless.
Showers, laundry facilities, help
with IDs (Tues., 1 p.m., first 15).
Texas Commission on
Human Rights
1-888-452-4778
Investigates claims of
discrimination around housing
issues.
LifeWorks Supportive Housing Program
735-2400
Provides affordable, subsidized
apartments and case management
30
for young adults ages 16-24 and
their children. Strict eligibility
requirements.
Housing Options for Clients on Parole or Probation
Apartments
Places that accept clients on parole or probation or do not perform criminal background
checks:
Kensington
Sagebrush Apartments
Tallows
Green Tree Apartments
3300
2604
4141
6013
Manor Rd.
Manor Rd.
S. Congress
Manor Rd.
478-5959
478-0992
440-8448
928-1333 (No felony)
Locating Companies
These companies will assist parolees and their families to find rental properties:
Citywide Apt. Locators
835-7368
Human Trafficking
Note: SafePlace DOES provide shelter and counseling services to trafficking
victims.
Health and Human Services
Covenant House
888-373-7888
www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking
Provides victims of human
trafficking into the U.S. with
referrals to a pre-screened aid
organization in the victim’s area.
Operated in collaboration with
the U.S. Department of Justice.
Austin Police Department
Immigrant Protection Team
974-5270
Serves victims of trafficking
Human Trafficking Indicators:
General Indicators:
 Live on or near premises
 Restricted or controlled communication/transportation
 Frequently moved by traffickers
 Large number of occupants for living space
 Lack of private space/personal possessions/financial records
 Limited knowledge about how to get around in a community
Physical Indicators:
31




Injuries from beatings or weapons
Signs of torture (e.g. cigarette burns)
Brands or scars indicating ownership
Signs of malnourishment
Financial/Legal Indicators:
 Someone else has possession of legal/travel documents
 Existing debt issues
 One attorney claiming to represent multiple undocumented persons detained at
different locations
 Third party who insists on interpreting
 Did the victim sign a contract?
Labor






Camp/Sweatshop Indicators:
Security intended to keep victims confined
Barbed wire
Bars on windows
Self-contained camps
Bouncers, guards, and/or guard dogs
Shopping allowed only at “company store”
Brothel Indicators:
 Large amounts of cash and condoms
 Customer log book or receipt book
 Sparse rooms
 Men come and go frequently
Immigration
Office of Immigrant Concerns
Catholic Charities of Central Texas
1605-A East 7th Street
494-0148
Primary purpose is to keep families
together and to reunite those
currently separated due to
immigration law. Services include
consultations, INS document
preparation, document translation,
fingerprints for FBI background
checks, photograph services, legal
case management, advocacy and
liaison with INS, representation
before Executive Office of
Immigration Review, public forums
on changes in immigration law, and
determination of client eligibility.
Fees vary upon the extent of
services needed.
Caritas
472-4135
Helps newly arriving refugees become settled
in the Austin community and assists them
as they establish new lives.
Cristo Vive
5800 Manor Road
Assistance with immigration papers and
legalization. Lawyer there Tue 3-6pm and Sat
9am-6pm. Walk in. Other times paralegals,
Tuesday-Saturday 9am-6pm.
929-9100
32
El Buen Samaritano
439-0700
Counseling, advocacy, ESL classes
Casa Marianella
385-5571
Shelter for Spanish speakers. Do not refer
callers who are in danger and/or in
hiding due to domestic violence issues.
Manos de Cristo
1200 Willow
477-7454
Citizenship, ESL classes.
INS Immigration and
Naturalization
1-800-375-5283
Recorded information about immigration
laws in English and Spanish. Assistance
with asylum and green cards.
Political Asylum Project
of Austin (PAPA)
478-0546
Assists with political asylum cases. May
assist immigrants who are battered in
obtaining legal status. PAPA provides
legal representation to immigrant
women who have suffered abuse by
their spouses and qualify for or want
more information about the VAWA
(Violence Against Women Act).
Texas Civil Rights Program
474-5073
Assists battered women (non-U.S. citizens)
living outside Travis County with filing selfpetitions under the Violence Against Women
Act. Self-petitions allowed battered women to
obtain the necessary legal/immigration
Status to remain in the United States that
would have been obtained by the woman's U.S.
resident partner.
Tu Voz
974-8521
M, W, F, 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
Bilingual hotline (English/Spanish)
serving the immigrant community
by providing a source of information
and referral services.
Services: crime victim services, police
report information, information about
crime reporting, encouragement to pursue
criminal cases in court, immigration law
information, legal counseling referrals,
referrals to non-profits offering assistance
to immigrants, shelter referral
information.
New Immigrants Project
Faulk Central Library
800 Guadalupe, 2nd floor
Call 974-7400 for hours
Three Austin libraries serve as New
Immigrant Project centers to provide
information and services to Austin's
new, primarily non-English speaking
immigrant population. One can learn
English with audiocassettes, videos
and computer programs, and use
the Internet and email to
communicate throughout the world.
Little Walnut Creek Branch
835 Rundberg Lane
Call 836-8975 for hours
33
Terrazas Branch
1105 E. Cesar Chavez
Call 974-3625 for hours
Study for U.S. citizenship exams,
obtain resource information about
legal, immigration, and social
Services agencies and read or check
out books in many languages. No
library card or documentation is
needed to use the centers.
Website for NIP:
www.cityofaustin.org/library/newip.htm
Refugee Services
5555 N Lamar, Suite K-100
467-9816
Low-income refugee resettlement, family
reunification, immigration assistance,
social services to meet medical,
employment, educational, and social
needs of refugees.
Legal
Women’s Advocacy Project
476-1866 (family law hotline)
476-5770 (family violence hotline)
Toll Free:
1-800-777-3247 (family law hotline)
1-800-374-4673 (family violence hotline)
Free legal information from attorneys
and referral by telephone for up to 30
minutes. Can send information packets
about obtaining protective orders.
Texas Legal Services Center
1-800-622-2520
Offers a legal hotline for sexual
assault survivors. Provides free legal advice in
English or Spanish. Refers callers to attorneys
who will work at reduced fees.
Lawyer Referral Service
472-8303
1-800-252-9690
Makes referrals to lawyers who provide
legal services for those who cannot afford
lawyers.
Legal Aid of Central Texas
2201 Post Rd., No. 104
374-2700
441-9487 (TDD)
Civil legal assistance for those who meet
low-income guidelines. Offers free legal
clinics even for those who do not meet
Legal Aid guidelines. Help with divorces,
Protective Orders, Custody, SSI, etc.
Free Legal Aid Clinics
(Do not have to qualify for
Legal Aid services to attend)
Call 374-2700 for more information
Monday evenings 6-7p.m.
1601 Haskell (Martin Junior High)
Wednesday evenings 6-7 p.m.
601 E St. Johns Ave. (Webb Middle
School). Call Legal Aid to confirm location
of clinics.
Domestic Relations Office
473-9696
Enforcement of visitation rights and
child support.
Austin Tenants Council
1619 E. Cesar Chavez
474-1961 (Counseling)
Counseling and mediation for tenants
and landlords, rental repair mediation.
Fair Housing number is for information
and assistance in filing discrimination
complaints.
Legal Hotline for Older Adults
1-800-622-2520
Free legal advice and consultation by
phone for Texans 60 and older.
34
477-3950 (local)
Texas Council on Family
Violence
794-1133
Promotes education and legislation
regarding family violence.
Office of General Counsel
State Bar of Texas
1-800-932-1900
Gives advice on how to file a grievance
against an attorney.
Client Attorney Assistance
Program
1-800-204-2222
Assistance with resolving complaints
about attorneys.
Victim Services
974-5037 (Austin Police Dept.)
854-9709 (Travis Co. outside
of Austin)
218-6663 (Williamson Co.)
Assists victims of violent crime with police
and court procedures.
Battered Women’s Justice Project
1-800-903-0111
Ex. 1: Criminal Justice
Ex. 2: Civil Justice
Ex. 3: Defense
Training, technical assistance and
other resources through a partnership
of three organizations:
Criminal Justice Center
Addresses criminal justice response
to domestic violence, including batterer’s
programs.
Civil Justice Center
Addresses civil court access and legal
representation of battered women.
Defense Center
Addresses issues raised when battered
women are accused of committing crimes,
including killing an abusive partner
National Resource Center on Domestic
Violence: Child Protection and
Custody
1-800-527-3223
website: www.ncjfcj.org
Information, materials, consultation
and technical assistance related to
child protection and custody within
the context of domestic violence.
National Resource Center on
Domestic Violence
1-800-537-2238
Information and resources, policy
development and technical assistance
designed to enhance community response
to and prevention of domestic violence.
Attorneys (private)
The SafePlace Hotline does not have any attorneys who allow us to utilize them as a referral
to hotline callers (with the exception of the attorneys listed in the “Legal” section who can
35
help battered women who have wrongly been accused of assault). While we have had some
attorneys in the past who allowed us to give out their names over the hotline, currently
we do not have permission from any attorneys to give out their names.
The Lawyer Referral Service at 472-8303 can attempt to locate an affordable legal representation.
Medical Care
Austin Neighborhood Centers
Medical services vary by location.
Please call the center to
determine services available.
Medical services available at some
centers include the following: blood
pressure, blood sugar,
immunizations, pregnancy tests,
and lead screening.
Montopolis Center
1416 Montopolis Drive
972-5710
ZIPs 78741, 78742, 78744, 78747,
78719, 78617
Blackland Center
2005 Salina
972-5790
78722, 78723, 78705, 78751 (south
of 45th Street)
East Austin Center
211 Comal
972-6650
78701, 78702, (south of 7th Street),
78703
Rosewood-Zaragosa Center
2802 Webberville
972-6740
78702 (north of 7th Street), 78721,
78724, 78725
South Austin Center
2508 Durwood
972-6840
78704, 78745, 78746, 78748,
78749, 78735, 78736, 78737, 78739
St. John’s Center
7500 Blessing Avenue
972-5150
78751 (north of 45th Street), 78752,
78753, 78754, 78756, 78757,
78758, 78759, 78726, 78727,
78728, 78729
MAP (Medical Assistance
Program)
972-5210
County / city indigent health care
program for residents in Travis County
and the City of Austin. Call to determine
eligibility.
Salvation Army
Homeless Clinic
501 E. 8th St.
476-1111
Clinic care two days a week for homeless
individuals and families. Offers
screening for MAP as well. Call for
correct days.
AIDS Services of Austin
458-2437
AIDS information and referral line.
Case management, financial assistance,
short-term counseling, legal services,
36
insurance assistance, in-home care,
various support services.
Austin/Travis County STD
Clinic
15 Waller St.
972-5430
ALLGO/Austin Latino/A Lesbian
and Gay Organization
701 Tillery Street
472-2001
www.allgo.org
Serves men and women 13 years and
older. Gynecological services, sexually
transmitted disease and HIV testing.
Members come together to validate and
affirm lives as lesbians, gay men,
bisexuals and transgenders. Political
social, cultural, and educational
programs. Social groups for
gay/bisexual men of color. HIV resources.
Texas Dept. of
Human Services
Various locations
Call 445-0022 for nearest location.
Prenatal care, immunizations, family
planning, immunizations.
CARE
473-2273
HIV testing, counseling, case
management. For people with HIV and
history of or present drug abuse.
37
EMS (Emergency Medical Services)
911
Ambulance, transportation to hospital.
Brackenridge Hospital
601 E. 15th St.
324-7000 (Main)
324-7010 (Emergency Room)
Clients will be seen even if they do not
have insurance.
Seton Medical Center
1201 W. 38th St.
324-1000 (Main)
324-1010 (Emergency Room)
Clients will be seen even if they do not
have insurance.
Seton East (McCarthy Health Center)
2811 E. 2nd St.
324-4930
Services by appointment only. Call for
eligibility.
St. David’s Hospital
919 E. 32nd St.
476-7111 (Main)
397-4240 (Emergency Room)
Clients will be seen even if they do not
have insurance.
South Austin Hospital
901 W. Ben White Blvd.
448-7160
Clients will be seen even if they do not
have insurance.
Texas Dept. of Human Services
Medicaid Hotline
1-800-252-8263
Information on how to obtain Medicaid
benefits.
People’s Community Clinic
2909 N. IH-35
478-8924
Non-emergency medical attention.
Sliding scale fees.
Skin Care Outreach Empowers
Survivors (SCORES) and
Face to Face
1-888-892-6702
SCORES provides dermatologic surgery to
domestic violence survivors to repair skin
injuries caused by an abusive partner or
spouse. Face to Face provides facial,
neck and head reconstructive and plastic
surgery to repair injuries caused by
domestic violence.
Give Back a Smile
1-800-773-4227
Provides cosmetic dentistry for injuries
to front teeth only.
Insure-A-Kid
1213 North IH-35
Austin, Texas 78702
Helpline: 324-2447
Office: 324-8970
Walk in application assistance is available
Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:00
pm. Helps uninsured Texas families get
enrolled in non commercial health care.
Volunteer Health Care Clinic
4215 Medical Parkway
459-6002
Non-emergency health care.
Free for those who have no health care
coverage and fall within income
guidelines. Bring picture ID. Do not treat
38
pregnant women or STDs. Tuesday and
Thursday at 6pm, come at 5.30.
National Health Resource
Center on Domestic Violence
1-888-792-2873
email: health@fvpf.org
website: www.fvpf.org/health/
Provides resource and training
materials, technical assistance,
information, referrals and models for
health policymaking to support those
interested in developing a comprehensive
health care response.
Health Professions Council
1-800-821-3205
To initiate complaints against health care
professionals licensed by the State of
Texas.
MEDICAIDER
A web-based eligibility screening tool for
determining client eligibility for any public
healthcare program, including Medicaid,
CHIP, county indigent, and crime victim’s
compensation. HELPLINE: 324-2447
Have callers contact the helpline for
eligibility screening and help with
application to various programs. For
Questions about the program:
Mental Health
AIDS/HIV counseling
AIDS Services of Austin
458-2437
AIDS information and referral line.
Case management, financial assistance,
short-term counseling, legal services,
insurance assistance, in-home care,
various support services.
CARE
473-2273
HIV testing, counseling, case
management. For people with HIV and
history of or present drug abuse.
Alcohol and drug abuse
ACCESS/Outreach, Screening,
and Assessment
500 E. 7th Street
478-5644
1-866-693-OSAR
Coordination of services for
individuals who are homeless
and/or mentally ill, and
experiencing problems with
substance abuse or addiction.
Walk-in M-F 10:30-noon.
Adult Children of Alcoholics
Al-Anon and Alateen
1307-G Treadwell St.
441-8591
Support groups for adult children
and family and friends of people
with problems with alcohol. Call
for locations.
Alameda House
4019 Manchaca Rd.
326-5991
Transitional living facility serving
people with mental illness and
substance abuse issues. Available
39
24 hours a day.
Alcohol and Drug Referral Line
1-800-252-6465
Information and referral service
for drug and alcohol services
nationwide.
Alcoholics Anonymous
1339 Lamar Sq. Dr., No. 103
444-0071
Call for 24-hour information about
meetings. Groups hold meetings to
discuss how to stay sober.
Austin/Travis Co. MHMR
CARE Program
1631 E. 2nd St., Bldg E
473-2273
Walk-in Detox services. Walk-in
counseling services, HIV testing,
counseling and case management,
Hepatitis-C support group. All
services are free.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
24-hour hotline to access all
MHMR services including
substance abuse programs.
Also offers referrals to Austin
resources. Crisis counseling by
telephone.
Push-Up Foundation
205 Chalmers Ave.
469-0561
Outpatient treatment for men
Transitional housing and
case management for men only.
Housing number: 480 8369
Austin Recovery's Family House
3207 Slaughter Lane
821-1739 (Admissions)
Transitional living programs for
chemically dependent women with
children 12 years and younger. Provides a
program based on the 12 Steps and includes
child therapy,
Parenting classes, anger management,
Individual counseling, and chemical
Dependency education. Limit 2 children.
Austin Recovery Center
8402 Cross Park Dr.
821-1739 (Admissions)
Medical detox unit, inpatient
substance abuse treatment
programs. Substance
abusing individuals between ages
18 and 65.
YWCA/A.W.A.R.E.
(Austin Women’s Addiction
Referral & Education Center)
2015 S. IH35, No. 110
326-1222
Counseling, information and
referrals for women concerned
about their own or another person’s
substance abuse. Sliding scale
fees. Groups available in evenings.
Cocaine Anonymous Info Line
479-9327
Referrals to support groups dealing
with cocaine addiction.
Methadone Program
1631 E. 2nd St.
472-6261
Offers methadone maintenance
and detox for those addicted to
heroin.
Narcotics Anonymous
Referrals and support groups for
40
480-0004
those dealing with drug addiction.
Oak Springs Detox and
Treatment Center
3000 Oak Springs Dr.
926-5301
Outpatient treatment only.
Sliding scale fees; accepts
Medicaid.
Phoenix House
440-0889
Drug and alcohol treatment
services for adolescents.
Coast to Coast
1-800-454-8966
National referrals to drug and
alcohol treatment programs.
TCADA (Texas Commission on
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
1-800-832-9623
Provides information for complaints,
treatment referrals.
Basin Detox Systems, Inc.
1-800-317-7818
Maintains facilities in Texas where
chemically dependent people are provided a
medically safe detoxification.
Batterer counseling
Note: SafePlace does NOT offer counseling to batterers. Please refer to the organizations
below:
Austin Men’s Center
812 W. 11th St.
477-9595
Anger management counseling,
support groups and classes for men
and women.
Austin Stress Clinic
1050 S. Lamar Suite A
326-1717
www.austinstress.org
Stress and anger management programs,
domestic violence prevention programs.
Assault prevention (non domestic, such as bar
road rage. Petty theft prevention.
LifeWorks
(Family Violence Treatment Program)
735-2400
Group programs for batterers. Sliding scale
fees.
Capital Area Mental Health Center
1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 105-W
302-1000
Individual, couples and family counseling.
Low-cost counseling by volunteer
professional counselors. Sliding scale.
Services for ages 16 and older.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
Information and referral source, entry
point to all MHMR services.
Waterloo Counseling Center
3000 S.I35, Suite 315
444-9922
Individual and group counseling for
survivors and batterers, sensitive to
GLBT issues. Sliding fee.
Birth Control, pregnancy and abortion
Planned Parenthood
South: 441-5421
Pregnancy testing, family planning
services for men and women. HIV testing,
41
Northwest: 331-1288
Downtown: 477-5846
STD screening, emergency contraception.
Sliding payment scale for services. Same
day appointments for emergencies.
Sexual assault survivors given priority.
Downtown location serves only Travis
county residents under 24 by
appointment only.
Whole Woman’s Health
250-1005
http://www.wholewomanshealth.com/
Medical clinic offering
comprehensive services for women,
including abortions. Individual postabortion counseling is available free
if patient. No long term counseling.
Gianna Viola
585-4518
A licensed social worker and
therapist in private practice who
specializes in post-abortion therapy.
Project Rachel
Austin Catholic Diocese
258-4262
http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/
A post-abortion ministry of the
Catholic Church. See abortion as a
deep spiritual wound and offer a
process of forgiveness and
reconciliation. Provides individual
counseling, groups and retreats. Ask
for Jill.
Exhale 1-866-4-EXHALE
http://www.4exhale.org/
A toll-free talkline operated by
trained peer counselors who are
multi-cultural, multi-racial and
religiously diverse. Provides nonjudgmental emotional support after
an abortion. Talkline hours are 5
p.m. to 10 p.m. (PCT).
Austin Community Healthcare Center
8401 N. IH35
459-3119
Pregnancy tests, abortions, family
planning counseling, yearly exams,
birth control and morning after pills.
Reproductive Services
4804 Grover Ave.
458-8274
Free pregnancy testing. Abortions, birth
control, annual exams, STD screening.
Pregnancy counseling, morning after pill.
Child abuse
Association for Retarded Citizens
(ARC of Capital Area)
2818 San Gabriel
476-7044
Child abuse prevention program
for parents and/or children with
developmental disabilities.
Family Forward
(formerly Parents Anonymous of Texas)
7801 N. Lamar, No.E-180
459-5490
Support for parents at risk of abusing.
Self-help meetings and parenting
classes.
42
Family Outreach
(Williamson County)
512-869-2665
512-917-9291 (for immediate assistance)
Hotline for parents with questions or
frustrations. Not a 24-hour hotline; caller
may need to leave a message to get a
call back.
Children’s Services
105 W. Riverside, Suite 120
448-0187
Counseling ages 4-17, sliding fees.
Communities in Schools
(Pebble Project)
3000 S. IH35, No. 200
462-1771
Abuse prevention presentations.
Telephone consultation (no direct
counseling) and information and referral
for child abuse victims. Children’s
programs. Educational programs to
prevent child abuse.
LifeWorks
735-2400
Individual and family counseling for
children who have been abused.
Children/Teenagers counseling
SafePlace School-Based Services
Individual counseling for students
/teens experiencing domestic
violence or sexual assault/abuse
issues. To access services, students
should go through
their school counselor. The
The counselor should contact
SafePlace at 267-SAFE.
Counseling is at the school.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
Information and referral service,
entry point to all MHMR services.
Austin Child Guidance Center
810 W. 45th St.
451-2242
Therapy, testing, counseling and
evaluation of children and teens
who are emotionally disturbed, have
behavioral problems, learning
disabilities, or are victims of abuse.
Sliding scale fees.
Child and Adolescent
Psychiatric Services
(CAPS)-Austin State Hospital
452-0381
Psychiatric care for children up to
18 years old who are a danger to
themselves or others.
Children's Services
Family Treatment Program
6207 Sheridan Ave.
448-0187
Individual, group and family
treatment for all ages.
Psychological evaluations.
Sliding scale fees.
LifeWorks
Crisis counseling to youth ages 743
6114 S. 1st St.
735-2400
17 and their families. Youth shelter,
mentoring and parenting classes.
Counseling for teens who are pregnant
or who are parents. Sliding scale.
Out Youth
909 E. 49-½ St.
419-1233
www.outyouth.org
Provides support groups
for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and questioning youth age
12-19.
National Runaway Switchboard
1-800- RUNAWAY
1-800-621-0394 (TDD)
24-hour hotline for runaways and
youth crisis. information and
referrals for shelter, food, medical
assistance. Also serves concerned
parents and friends.
Teen & Family Counseling Center
3536 Bee Cave Rd., No. 100
327-5040
Substance abuse programs
available to teens and their families,
general counseling for children and
adults.
Tough Love
1-800-333-1069
Self-help support for parents
of children, teens and adult
children with disciplinary problems
and abuse toward parents.
Youth Crisis Hotline
1-800-442-4673 (HOPE)
Referral hotline for teens 17 and
under in crisis. Not a counseling
hotline for parents or adults.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
1400 Tillery
472-5437
Provides a one-on-one relationship
between a screened adult
volunteer and a child from a
single-parent home.
Communities in Schools
462-1771
Dropout Prevention and counseling
to teen parents attending AISD
schools. Family and group therapy.
Referrals provided as well.
Disability services
SafePlace
356-1648
DAWCAS (Deaf Abused Women
And Children’s Advocacy Services)
A deaf or hearing-impaired client
should first dial Relay, 711. Then
Counseling for adults and children
through the Disability Services ASAP
at SafePlace, offering counseling for persons
with disabilities who have experienced
domestic violence or sexual assault.
Offers temporary shelter for deaf
or hearing impaired survivors of
domestic violence and sexual assault.
Peer counseling, advocacy, and sign
44
give 888-915-8159. The client
should leave her/his name and
telephone number and an advocate
will call them back. DAWCAS may
also be contacted by email at
hotline@dawcas.org. For the hearing,
call DAWCAS at 888-915-8159 and
leave name and telephone number
where you can be contacted by an
advocate.
language interpreters.
ARCIL
825 E. Rundberg, No. A-1
832-6349
Empowers people with disabilities
(physical or mental) to develop skills to
live independently. Computer training.
Austin Child Guidance Center
810 W. 45th St.
451-2242
Evaluation of children including
psychiatric and psychological services,
speech and hearing assessment, and
neurological testing.
A.I.S.D. Early Childhood Special
Education
414-3293
Preschool special education program
for children ages three and up with
physical, mental, emotional or language
disabilities.
Settlement Home
836-2150
Residential treatment for emotionally
disturbed female children and adolescents.
Foster program for males and females.
Domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual abuse
SafePlace Counseling Intake
356-1648
SafePlace offers individual and
group counseling for adults,
children, and adolescents who are
survivors of domestic violence and
sexual assault or sexual abuse. (See
the SafePlace section for more
complete information).
Austin Counseling
Services for Women
4131 Spicewood Springs
343-1560
Individual and group counseling
specializing in treatment of those who
have been physically, emotionally or
sexually abused.
Karaama
577-SAFE
Counseling and support for Muslin
women in domestic violence situations
in Austin. Languages spoken include
Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Pashtu, and
Swahilli.
Saheli
P.O. Box 3665
703-8745
Counseling and support for Indian and
Asian women in abusive relationships.
Waterloo Counseling Center
3000 S.I35, Suite 315
Individual and group counseling for
survivors and batterers, sensitive to
45
444-9922
GLBT issues. Sliding fee.
Hays-Caldwell Women’s
Center
396-4357
1-800-700-HCWC (4292)
Individual peer counseling and support
groups for female and male survivors of
sexual assault and sexual abuse.
General mental health programs
Capital Area Mental Health
Center
1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 105-W
302-1000
Individual and couples counseling. Lowcost long term psychotherapy. Sliding
scale.
Capital Area Psychological
Association
451-4983 (recorded information)
Information and referral service for
counseling.
LifeWorks
735-2400
Individual, couples, group, and family
counseling. Sliding scale.
Austin Center for Attitudinal
Healing
3201 Manchaca
327-1961
Support groups for people dealing with
catastrophic illness, grief or loss.
Bereavement groups for all ages.
MHMR
1430 Collier St.
472-4357 (crisis hotline)
445-7750 (feedback/complaints)
Adult mental health services, information
and referral to other resources.
Suicide prevention hotline.
Seton East (McCarthy
Health Center)
2811 E. 2nd St.
324-4930
Short-term counseling on a sliding scale.
Couples and family counseling.
Sunrise Center
465-9535
Mental health services for refugees,
immigrants and asylum seekers.
Pro-bono services, Spanish-speaking
counselors (other languages as well).
YWCA-Women’s Counseling
and Resource Center
1524 S IH-35, No. 315
326-1222
Crisis counseling, support groups on a
sliding scale.
Nancy Kelly, LMSW-ACP
(Clinical Social Worker
in private practice)
3724 Jefferson, No. 212
Austin, TX 78731
458-4646
Former SafePlace counselor
who is now in private practice
and works with individuals (teens, adults)
and couples in individual counseling
and groups. Sliding scale fees.
SafePlace Resource Center
356-1648
Confidential individual counseling and
support groups for callers who have
experienced domestic violence or sexual
abuse or assault.
46
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender counseling
Waterloo Counseling Center
3000 S.I35, Suite 315
444-9922
Individual and group counseling for
survivors and batterers, sensitive to
GLBT issues. Sliding fee.
Out Youth
909 E. 49-½ St.
419-1233
www.outyouth.org
Provides support groups
for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and questioning youth age
12-19.
National Gay & Lesbian Hotline
1-888-843-4564
1-800-246-PRIDE
(youth through 25)
Hotline open from 3-11 p.m. Central M-F,
11-4 p.m. Sat. for those who identify
themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered or who have questions
about their sexuality.
Bisexual Network of Austin
370-9573
Social meetings and support groups for
individuals who are bisexual or who are
questioning their sexuality.
ALLGO/Austin Latino/A Lesbian
and Gay Organization
701 Tillery Street
472-2001
www.allgo.org
Members come together to validate and
affirm lives as lesbians, gay men,
bisexuals and transgenders. Political
social, cultural, and educational
programs. Social groups for
gay/bisexual men of color. HIV resources.
Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
302-3524
Provides a support system for families
and friends of lesbians and gay men in
their efforts to understand, accept and
support with love and pride.
PRIVATE THERAPISTS
These therapists are not endorsed by or affiliated with SafePlace.
Richard Campbell
458-5682
Wright House
4301-B North IH-35
467-0088 (adm. Office)
Toll-free 1-888-381-5180
236-8901 (food bank, outreach)
Provide no-cost to low-cost physical and
emotional support and services for
for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer
and Hepatitis C. Food pantry, case
management.
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Self-Injury counseling
Nancy Kelly, LMSW-ACP
(Clinical Social Worker
in private practice)
3724 Jefferson, No. 212
Austin, TX 78731
458-4646
Former SafePlace counselor
who is now in private practice
and works with individuals (teens, adults)
and couples in individual counseling
and groups. Sliding scale fees.
Sex offenders counseling
Sona Nast
8307 Shoal Creek Blvd
454-7009
Sex offender assessments and
treatment, general offender
treatment
Children’s Services
105 W. Riverside, Suite 120
448-0187
Juvenile sex offender treatment
programs.
Rio Grande Counseling Center
480-0205
Counseling for sex offenders.
Suicide prevention
MHMR Crisis Hotline/
Single Point of Entry
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
24-hour hotline access to all services
offered by MHMR, including crisis
intervention, adult and children’s
mental health, mental retardation
and substance abuse.
Austin State Hospital
4110 Guadalupe St.
452-0381
Mental health services for children,
adolescents and adults.
Assertive Community Outreach
(ACT) Team
6207 Sheridan Avenue
451-0315
For adults with severe mental illness and
a history of hospitalizations, this service
is available 24 hours a day to assist
in accessing community resources to
prevent hospitalization. Also assists with
medication education, family support,
material resources and vocational
assistance.
East 2nd Mental Health Clinic
1612 East Cesar Chavez
476-7263
For adults with severe mental illness and
a history of hospitalizations, and who are
at high risk for hospitalization. Offers
medication support and case
management services. Services are
designed to assist individuals in
functioning and to reduce symptoms and
hospitalizations.
48
Children's Mental Health Services
Austin/Travis Co. MHMR
804-3000
472-4357 Intake appt.
Psychiatric care for children up to 18
years old who are experiencing serious
emotional difficulties or family problems.
Need intake appointment if it is the first
time.
Mental Health Units
Travis County Sheriff’s Dept.
956-3445(business hours)
974-0845 (after hours)
Assists in obtaining treatment for people
who are a threat to themselves or others.
Austin Police Department
974-5397 (Anytime)
ACCESS
500 East 7th St.
478-5644
Serves homeless people with mental
illness and/or substance abuse, seeks to
transition clients to mainstream mental
health services.
Psychiatric Emergency Services
Austin/Travis Co. MHMR
454-3521
Emergency psychiatric services for
adults in mental health crises who are
likely to be injured, arrested or
hospitalized due to mental illness or
emotional turmoil.
SafeHaven
5307 E Riverside
804-3550
Provides emergency shelter for adults
who have a diagnosed mental illness.
Seton Shoal Creek Hospital
324-2000
24-hour free psychiatric assessment
service, by appointment. Offers inpatient
and outpatient services for mental health
needs. Must be able to pay for services or
have insurance.
The Inn
56 East Avenue
703-1365
Safe, supervised environment for those 18
years and older experiencing psychiatric
crisis.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group
342-4700
Provides free support group for people
who have lost a friend or loved one to
suicide.
49
Parenting
Any Baby Can
1121 E. 7th St.
477-1130
Works with parents of “high-risk”
children and has various parenting
programs in English and Spanish.
Prenatal education. Educational programs
for families with children who are disabled
or suffer from chronic illness.
Austin Child Guidance Center
451-2242
10-week parenting classes.
Family Connections
825 E. 53rd. ½ St., Bldg. E-101
478-5725
www.FamilyConnectionsOnline.org
Childcare resource and referral agency
that helps parents locate childcare in
their area. Lending library of parenting
resources, parenting education
classes, and parenting workshops.
Family Forward
459-5490
www.familyforward.org
Middle Way Parent Education Program.
In associating with Family Forward,
SafePlace conducts parenting classes for
adult survivors of intimate partner abuse
and their children who have had Child
Protective Services (CPS) involvement or
are at risk of CPS involvement. The 17week group-based curriculum includes
education about and support for
individuals dealing with domestic violence
issues, and support for parenting issues.
The classes are for a closed group and
clients need to commit to attending for
the 17-week duration of the program.
Parents as Teachers
454-3706, Ext. 206
Parent groups and in-home services
for parents with children ages 0-5.
AVANCE
2800 S. IH-35 (5 other locations)
326-9335
Free parenting classes, with childcare
and transportation available for
parents in class. Bilingual, mostly
Spanish classes.
Communities in Schools
3000 S. IH-35
462-1771
Education programs to prevent child
abuse.
Free Parenting Education videos:
Family Connections
825 E. 53-½ St., Bldg. E-101
478-5725
Austin Public Libraries
View selections on-line at
50
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/
Police
To report emergencies, call 911
To report non-emergencies, call 311
General Number
311
Austin Police Dept. Sex Crimes Unit
974-4727
Sex Crimes Tip Line (Any Tips)
974-5095
Missing Persons
1-800-346-3243
(512) 424 5074
To Report Officer Misconduct (APD)
974-5200
Austin Police Dept. Child Abuse Division
974-6880
APD Victims’ Services
974-5037
Travis County Sheriff
974-0845
Travis County Victims’ Services
854-9709
APD Communications
974-5283
Pregnancy
Lilith Fund
1-877-659-4304
Financial assistance for abortions. Leave
a message (English or Spanish) and call
will be returned.
La Leche League of Austin
272-8042 (Helpline)
443-6370 (for Spanish speaker)
Support for mothers who are breast
feeding infants, counseling on breast
feeding or child care procedures.
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Life Care Pregnancy Services
1215 W. Anderson Lane
374-0055
Free pregnancy testing. Pregnancy
support services. Will not counsel
or refer for abortion. Provide parenting
classes and maternity /baby clothing for
clients. Become client by signing up
during first five months of pregnancy.
Austin Women’s Health Center
1902 S. IH-35
443-2888
Pregnancy testing, abortions,
family planning, emergency
contraception.
Community Advocates for Teens
and Parents
7501 Blessing Ave.
451-0252
480-8853 Shelter
453-6022 Childcare
Shelter for pregnant teens or teenage
mothers. Daycare and transportation.
Lifeline, Inc (Marywood).
2026 Guadalupe
477-1092
Pregnancy counseling, information and
referral. Will not counsel or refer for
abortions. Material help to regular
clients. Provide case management. Also
run stepping stone transitional living
shelter for pregnant or mothering women
18-21, call for appointment.
Marywood/Children & Family Services
510 W. 26th St.
472-9251
Adoption agency that offers residential
maternity care for those placing child
up for adoption. Counseling for
expectant parents..
Lutheran Social Services
454-4611
Adoption agency. Counseling for
women that consider adoption.
Planned Parenthood
South: 441-5421
Northwest: 331-1288
Downtown: 477-5846
Pregnancy testing, family planning
services for men and women. HIV testing,
STD screening, emergency contraception.
Sliding payment scale for services. Same
day appointments for emergencies.
Sexual assault survivors given priority.
Downtown location serves only Travis
county residents under 24 by
appointment only.
Reproductive Services
4804 Grover Ave.
458-8274
Free pregnancy testing. Abortions, birth
control, annual exams, STD screening.
LifeWorks (Teen Parent Program)
735-2400
Information and referral for teens who are
pregnant or who are parents. Case
management and teen support
groups.
52
Self-Injury
Broadly speaking, self-injury is the act of attempting to alter a mood state by inflicting physical
harm serious enough to cause tissue damage to your body. This can include cutting (with
knives, razors, glass, pins, any sharp object), burning, hitting your body with an object or your
fists, hitting a heavy object (like a wall), picking at skin until it bleeds, biting yourself, pulling
your hair out, etc.
A mood state can be positive or negative, or neither; some people self-injure to end a dissociated
or unreal-feeling state, to ground themself, and to come back to reality.
People learn that hurting themselves brings them relief from some kinds of distress and turn to
it as a primary coping mechanism.
Why does self-injury make some people feel better?
It reduces physiological and psychological tension rapidly. Studies have suggested that people
who self-injure get emotionally overwhelmed, and an act of self-harm brings their levels of
psychological and physiological tension and arousal back to a bearable baseline level almost
immediately. In other words, they feel a strong emotion, don’t know how to handle it, and know
that hurting themselves will reduce the emotional discomfort extremely quickly. This still may
feel bad (or not), but they don’t have that panicky, jittery, trapped feeling; it’s a calm bad feeling.
We aren’t born knowing how to express and cope with our emotions—we learn from our
parents, our siblings, our friends, school teachers—everyone in our lives. One factor common
to most people who self-injure, whether they were abused or not, is invalidation. They were
taught at an early age that their interpretations of and feelings about the things around them
were bad and wrong. They learned that certain feelings aren’t allowed. In abusive homes,
they have been severely punished for expressing certain thoughts and feelings.
Although a history of abuse is common among self-injurers, not everyone who self-injures was
abused. Sometimes, invalidation and lack of role models for coping are enough, especially if the
person’s brain chemistry has already primed them for choosing this sort of coping.
Resources
Nancy Kelly, LMSW-ACP
(Clinical Social Worker
in private practice)
3724 Jefferson, No. 212
Austin, TX 78731
458-4646
Former SafePlace counselor
who is now in private practice
and works with individuals (teens, adults)
and couples in individual counseling
and groups. Sliding scale fees.
Things to do before the urge to self-injure comes:




Choose one day of the week and promise yourself that you will not self-injure
(SI) on that day, ever. Eventually you can try to add another day, and so on.
Create a list of friends, family or hotlines that you can contact when you feel
like SI-ing.
Keep a calendar for yourself and put a sticker on each day that you are SI free.
At the end of each week, look back and see on which days you hurt yourself.
Try to beat that next week. When you get a month full of stickers, allow
yourself a special treat.
Carry only safe objects in your pockets.
53
When the urge to self-injure comes:

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




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Try delaying and distracting yourself (hold off on SI for 15 minutes. If at the end
of 15 minutes you still have the urge, you can; or you can try for another 15
minutes. See how long you can go without giving in.
Try anger-releasing things (punch a pillow, scream, make something and then
destroy it, take item you are self-injuring with and use it on something other than
yourself.
Exercise, do physical things.
Do nurturing things for yourself (massage, color your hair, read a book, hug
someone, or yourself, etc.)
Try calming and relaxing exercises (deep breathing, take a walk outside,
meditation, visualization)
Be creative (write poetry, draw, sing, play an instrument)
Do grounding exercises (focus on the present, think of what is real and around
you right now)
Reach out to those who are supportive
Self-Defense Classes
Sun Dragon Women’s Martial Arts
416-9735
Self -defense and martial arts
training, by women for women. Works with
all skill levels and does have sliding scale fees
to accommodate all women who want to come.
Mission is to empower women.
Social Security Number
Please make callers aware that changing their SSN should not be looked upon as the key
to safety. Third-parties can cross-refer the new SSN with the old number, as allowed by
statutes, policies and procedures. In addition, the victim may experience less freedom to
travel (due to lack of documents), which can raise potential safety issues.
Getting a new SSN is only one part of a safety plan. It is recommended that when applying
for a new SSN, the victim take evidence that shows a pro-active intent/plan to evade the
abuser. This evidence may include a safety plan that includes making a name change,
getting an unlisted phone number, moving to another address, changing jobs, etc.
Be advised that changing identity, including the SSN, is a life-altering decision. It is
important to keep in mind the potential impact of these changes, such as the following:
 The inability to get a passport or other federal documentation due to the lack of
having a birth certificate under the new identity.
 The loss of previous work history resulting in the victim having to accept positions for
which she/he is overqualified or positions in which she/he has no experience.
54


Difficulties or delays in receiving federal or state benefits such as welfare, disability,
and SSI.
Difficulty trying to prove past abuse if past medical records and court papers are in a
different name.
The Social Security Administration, as required by law, must disclose the new SSN
information to other government agencies. These agencies include the following:

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




Law enforcement agencies to investigate violation of Social Security laws.
Government agencies administering entitlement, health and welfare programs such as
Medicaid, Medicare, veterans benefits, military pension, civil service annuities, black
lung, housing student loans, railroad entitlement benefits and food stamps.
Internal Revenue Service.
Department of Justice.
Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Selective Service System.
Department of Health and Human Services.
State motor vehicle agencies.
Congressional representatives.
Credit bureaus and other third parties also have the ability to cross-reference SSN’s in their
database.
For more detailed information, call the local Social Security Administration at 206-3700
and ask for the Agency Director, or visit the website http://www.ssa.gov/SSA_Home.html,
or call toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. You can also visit the National Coalition Against
Domestic Violence’s website at www.ncadv.org/publicpolicy/ssnumber.htm for more
information.
The Social Security Administration has joined with other Federal agencies to provide greater
assistance to victims of domestic violence. Some victims seeking to elude their abuser and
reduce the risk of further violence choose to establish a new identity. As part of that effort, it
may be helpful to obtain a new Social Security number (SSN).
How to apply for a new Social Security number
1. Make an appointment to be interviewed in person at an SSA field office by calling 1800-772-1213 (voice) or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) or go directly to an SSA field office
for the in-person interview.
2. If the SSA representative at the Social Security office is not aware of the current policy
for assigning new SSN’s in harassment, abuse or life endangerment situations, refer
the representative to Program Operations Manual System (POMS) chapter RM 00205.
If there are any problems applying for a new SSN, ask to speak with a supervisor or
the field office manager. If, after going through all of these steps, you are still
experiencing difficulty with your local office, contact the NCADV Public Policy office at
202-745-1211 or ncadv2@sprynet.com.
3. Be prepared to complete a statement explaining the need for a new number and a
Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security card).
4. Take evidence of age, identity and U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status, such as a
birth certificate and driver’s license.
5. If the client has a new name, take one or more documents identifying her/him by both
the old name on SSA records and the new names.
6. A single document, such as a court order for a name change, could be used to show
both the old and the new name.
55
7. Two separate documents, such as a driver’s license, employer ID card, passport,
insurance policy, military record, divorce record, school ID card could be used to show
the old and the new names. (A birth certificate is not an identity document).
8. Take original documents or copies certified by the custodian of the record.
9. Photocopies and notarized copies of documents are not acceptable.
10. If you want new SSN’s for your children, take evidence showing that you have legal
custody of those children. SSA will not assign one parent a new SSN to deny the
other parent court-ordered visitation privileges or otherwise assist one parent from
hiding the child from the other parent. The parent requesting the new SSN needs to
consider whether a new SSN will help him/her elude the harasser/abuser if the
harasser/abuser is the other parent with visitation rights.
11. Take all evidence documenting the harassment/abuse. SSA will assist the applicant
in obtaining any additional corroborating evidence, if needed.
12. The best evidence of abuse comes from third parties, such as police, medical facilities
or doctors and describes the nature and extent of the domestic violence.
13. Other evidence might include restraining orders, letters from shelters, letters and/or
affidavits from family members, friends, counselors or others with knowledge of the
domestic violence.
Protective actions recommended by the Department of Justice
A new SSN alone cannot protect you, particularly if your original SSN did not play a role in
the domestic violence. There are other important steps you need to take for personal
protection. In addition to changing your name, you should consider getting an unlisted
telephone number, change jobs and relocate.
Protecting your new SSN
The records of the Social Security office are confidential. The SSA does not furnish your SSN
unnecessarily to third parties who may not need it to provide you with a benefit or service.
If someone asks for your SSN, ask these questions:





"Why do you need my SSN?"
"How will my SSN be used?"
"What law requires me to give you my SSN?"
"What will happen if I don’t give you my SSN?"
Before revealing any personally identifying information, find out how it will be used
and whether it will be shared by others. Ask if there is a choice about the use of
personal information. Can it be kept confidential?
 Do not give out personal information on the phone, through the mail or over the
Internet unless the contact was self-initiated or you know who you are dealing with.
 Keep items with personal information in a safe place. Tear or shred copies of credit
applications or any documents that contain identity information before discarding
them.
 Find out who has access to your personal information at work and verify that you
records are kept in a secure location.
 Give your SSN only when absolutely necessary. Ask to use other types of identifiers
when possible.
Do not carry your SSN card; keep it in a secure place to prevent loss or theft.
Suicide Prevention Resources
MHMR Crisis Hotline/
24-hour hotline access to all services
56
Single Point of Entry
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
offered by MHMR, including crisis
intervention, adult and children’s
mental health, mental retardation
and substance abuse.
Austin State Hospital
4110 Guadalupe St.
452-0381
Mental health services for children,
adolescents and adults. In-patient only.
Assertive Community Outreach
(ACT) Team
6207 Sheridan Avenue
451-0315
For adults with severe mental illness and
a history of hospitalizations, this service
assists in accessing community resources
to prevent hospitalization. Also assists
with medication education, family
support, material resources and
vocational assistance.
East 2nd Mental Health Clinic
1631 Building D East 2nd St
476-7263
For adults with severe mental illness and
a history of hospitalizations, and who are
at high risk for hospitalization. Offers
medication support and case
management services. Services are
designed to assist individuals in
functioning and to reduce symptoms and
hospitalizations.
Austin Travis County Mental Health
Mental Retardation Center
56 East Ave
454-3521
Emergency psychiatric care .
Counseling by phone or face-to-face
for crisis counseling and intervention.
24h walk-in service.
Children's Mental Health Services
Austin/Travis Co. MHMR
804-3000
Psychiatric care for children up to 17
years old who are experiencing serious
emotional difficulties or family problems.
Mental Health Units
Travis County Sheriff’s Dept.
956-3445(business hours)
974-0845 (after hours)
Assists in obtaining treatment for people
who are a threat to themselves or others.
Austin Police Department
974-5397 (anytime)
ACCESS
500 E. 7th Street
478-5644
Serves homeless people with mental
illness and seeks to transition clients
to mainstream mental health services.
Psychiatric Emergency Services
Austin/Travis Co. MHMR
454-3521
Emergency psychiatric services for
adults and children in mental health
crises who are likely to be injured,
arrested or hospitalized due to mental
illness or emotional turmoil.
57
SafeHaven
3000 Oak Springs Drive
804-3550
Provides emergency shelter for adults
who have a diagnosed mental illness
and chronic homelessness.
Seton Shoal Creek Hospital
324-2000
24-hour free psychiatric assessment
service by telephone. Offers inpatient
and outpatient services for mental health
needs. Must be able to pay for services or
have insurance.
The Inn
56 East Avenue
703-1365
Safe, supervised environment for those 18
years and older experiencing psychiatric
crisis.
Survivors of Suicide Support Group
342-4700
Provides free support group for people
who have lost a friend or loved one to
suicide.
Telephone/Cellphone Services
For more information about the pros and cons of technology in protecting client’s
privacy, see “Technology Safety” under “Safety Planning” in the Domestic Violence
section of the manual.
The pros and cons of memory-based telephone services
For most of us the telephone has become an indispensable tool for daily life. But for victims
of domestic violence, it may play a more critical role. The telephone may be a woman’s only
lifeline to help and safety. But it may also trigger her partner’s anger. Or it may be used as
an instrument to harass and control her. Either way, the stakes are extremely high for the
estimated six million women who are beaten by their husbands or lovers each year. Because
of their partners’ manipulation and volatility, these battered women face a number of
complex issues involving the telephone. And today’s memory-based telephone services and
equipment are adding new dimensions to these issues. These services and products are
changing the way people use their telephones.
Quick Reference to Services
Caller ID automatically identifies incoming calls with a Caller ID Unit.
Caller ID privacy safeguards
Per-Line Blocking blocks number delivery from a particular telephone line so that the source
of the call cannot be identified (we have this at the shelter; when we make calls, they show up
on a caller id unit as “Anonymous” or “Private”).
Per-Call Blocking allows any caller to block the number display on a particular call. Press
*67 before entering the number, or dial 1167 on a rotary phone.
Record Deletion deletes numbers and anonymous messages from a Caller ID Unit. After
selecting the number you wish deleted, press the “Delete” key twice. (Different equipment
may require other methods to delete messages.)
58
Call Trace traces problem calls and helps you take legal action. After receiving the call, hang
up, listen for dial tone and press *57 or dial 1157 on a rotary phone. User must be a Call
Trace Subscriber.
Call Blocker rejects calls made to your telephone from telephone numbers you choose. After
receiving the call, hang up, listen for dial tone and press *60 or dial 1160 on a rotary phone.
Call Return calls back your last caller. Listen for dial tone, then press *69 or dial 1169 on a
rotary phone.
Auto Redial calls the last number you called. Listen for dial tone, then press *66 or dial
1166 on a rotary phone.
To find out more about these and other services, call Southwestern Bell at (800) 464-7928.
Information provided by Southwestern Bell.
Emergency cellphones
The Family Violence Protection Team can provide free cellphones that will dial only
911. To obtain one of these phones, callers should call the team at 974-8535.
59
Domestic Violence Issues
60
Alcohol Abuse and Domestic Violence
A small percentage (7 to 14 percent) of battered women have alcohol abuse problems, no higher
than that found in the general female population. A woman’s substance abuse problems do not
relate to the cause of her abuse, although some women may turn to alcohol and other drugs in
response to the abuse.
Men living with women who have alcohol abuse problems often try to justify their violence as a
way to control their partners when they’re drunk. A woman’s failure to remain substance free
is never an excuse for the abuser’s violence.
Efforts to link abuse and domestic violence reflect society’s tendency to view battering as an
individual deviant behavior. Moreover, there is a reluctance to believe that domestic violence
is a pervasive social problem that happens among all kinds of American families. For these
reasons, it is essential to emphasize what is known about the relationship between alcohol
abuse and domestic violence. Battering is a socially learned behavior and is not the
result of substance abuse or mental illness. Men who batter frequently use alcohol
abuse as an excuse for their violence. They attempt to rid themselves of the
responsibility for the problem by blaming it on the effects of alcohol. Many men who
batter do not drink heavily and many alcoholics do not beat their wives.
Alcoholism and battering do share similar characteristics
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Both may be passed from generation to generation.
Both involve denial or minimization of the problem.
Both involve isolation of the family.
A battering incident that is coupled with alcohol abuse may be more severe and result in
greater injury.
Alcoholism treatment does not “cure” battering behavior; both problems must be addressed
separately. However, provisions for the woman’s safety must take precedence.
(Source: National Woman Abuse Prevention Project, Washington, DC)
Alcohol and family violence misconceptions
Myth: Victims of abuse must forgive and forget.
Fact: Self-forgiveness and forgiveness from those one has harmed is a very important part of
the process of recovering from alcoholism. The trouble is that the rush to forgive occasionally
supercedes the need of the victim to receive a thorough, consistent and repeated apology from
the perpetrator of physical or sexual abuse. Children, especially, need to hear the perpetrator
admit that he committed the abuse. Without this acknowledgement, children may never
trust their perceptions of reality or expect that they will be believed in the future.
Myth: All the pathology we see in active alcoholics is the result of that illness.
Fact: Though alcoholism is not a symptom of an underlying psychological disorder,
alcoholism does affect a cross section of the population. For example, depressives, child
abusers and batterers can become alcoholic.
Myth: Alcoholics who are drinking are not in control of their behavior.
Fact: Loss of control is a symptom of alcoholism. However, alcoholics who are drinking and
beating their partners usually are making some choices about when and how to hit (for
example, hitting where bruises will not be visible).
Myth: Alcoholics cannot remember what they do when they are drunk.
61
Fact: Though some alcoholics do experience blackouts, it is unlikely where violence continues
for months or years, that no incidents are remembered.
Myth: Treating the alcoholism will cure the family violence.
Fact: Abstinence from alcohol will not assure the physical safety of the partner and the
children. Alcoholism and family violence are two different issues.
Myth: In a family system affected by alcoholism, it is always the alcoholic who is violent.
Fact: The partner of an alcoholic may be the batterer in a violent family system.
Myth: The partner of an alcoholic or batterer remains in the relationship because she is
masochistic or, in some way, she invites the drinking or violent behavior.
Fact: Alcoholism and violence are progressive and by the time the family recognizes the
problem, they have learned to accommodate or deny the problem in order to survive.
Myth: Alcoholism and violence only occur in poor families and minority groups.
Fact: It occurs in every socio-economic and ethnic group and on every educational level.
Myth: Alcoholism should be considered a symptom of an underlying psychological disorder.
Fact: Alcoholism is a primary illness and not a symptom. Alcoholism is recognized as a
disease by the AMA and other health authorities. Only during sobriety can any persisting
emotional problems be identified (as distinct from those resulting from alcoholism) and
successfully dealt with.
Animal Abuse and Domestic Violence
Victims of domestic violence are not only battered spouses or intimate partners. Pets are
often part of this horrible equation. Incontrovertible evidence has indicated that there is a
connection between domestic violence and cruelty to animals. The Humane Society of
the United States (HSUS) has created an excellent educational and public awareness
campaign called First Strike. Some of the statistics collected by the HSUS First Strike
Campaign include the following:
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Every 15 seconds a woman is battered (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
In three surveys of women’s shelters in Wisconsin and Utah in the late 1990s, an
average of 74 percent of pet-owning battered women reported that a pet had been
threatened, injured or killed by the woman's abuser (Ascione 1995 & 1997 and
Quinlisk, 1995)
The Buffalo, N.Y., police department and the SPCA of Erie County found that onethird of the residences with animal abuse complaints also had domestic violence
complaints (1998)
A survey of women in a safehouse in Utah found that 20 percent delayed leaving the
abusive situation out of fear that their pet would be harmed. Data currently being
collected in Canada found almost 50 percent delayed leaving (Ascione, 1997)
The 1995 Utah survey also found that children witnessed animal abuse in over 60
percent of the cases and 32 percent of women reported that one or more of their
children then hurt or killed a pet.
Having established the high correlation between domestic violence and acts of cruelty to
animals, one might ask why batterers would bring animals into the cycle of violence.
Researchers and sociologists who have reported to the HSUS have concluded that these are
the likely reason why batterers threaten, abuse or kill animals:
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To demonstrate and confirm the abuser’s power and control over the family.
To isolate the victim and children.
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To
To
To
To
To
To
To
To
eliminate competition for attention.
force the family to keep violence a secret.
teach submission.
retaliate for acts of independence and self-determination.
perpetuate the context of terror.
prevent the victim from leaving or to coerce her to return.
render punishment for leaving.
degrade the victim through involvement in the abuse.
Why should we recognize animal abuse as a form of domestic violence?
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Abusing animals exposes the deliberateness of battering rather than loss of control.
Animal abuse and harm to children is closely related.
Abusing animals is violence and illustrates how violence is interconnected.
Threatening, injuring or killing animals can indicate the potential for increased
violence/lethality
Victims may postpone leaving out of fear for the safety of their pet.
Identifying animal abusers can help identify other victims of violence within the family.
Reading material
Arkow, P. 1996. The relationship between animal abuse and other forms of family violence.
Family Violence and Sexual Assault Bulletin, 12 (1-2): 29-34.
Ascione, F.R. 1995. Domestic violence and cruelty to animals. Paper presented at the 4th
International Conference on Family Violence, Durham, NH, July 24, 1995.
Ascione, F.R. 1997. The Abuse of Animals and Domestic Violence: A National Survey of
Shelters for Women who are Battered. Society and Animals, 5 (3): 205-218.
Taken from the First Strike Campaign of the Humane Society of the United States, 2000. For
more information, please go to www.hsus.org/firststrike/
Texas Animal Anti-Cruelty Statute
Effective September 1, 2001, Texas’ animal anti-cruelty statute will impose harsher penalties
for people convicted of acts of cruelty to animals. Specifically, the failure to provide adequate
food, care or shelter for an animal in a person’s custody, abandonment, cruel transport or
confinement and overworking an animal will continue to be classified as class A
misdemeanors. However, certain acts will constitute a state jail felony, which prior to this
time was not part of Texas’ Animal Anti-Cruelty Penal Code.
Offenses that will be considered a state jail felony include the following:
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Torturing of an animal.
Killing, serious injury or poisoning of an animal without legal authority or the owner’s
effective consent.
Steps to Take
If a batterer performs an act of cruelty on an animal, you should call 911 immediately.
Law enforcement officials should be involved because certain offenses are now considered
serious acts punishable by fines and jail time.
63
The local branch of the Humane Society should be contacted at (512) 837-7985, as should
the ASPCA at (212) 876-7700, Ext. 4451.
Assessing Whether Batterers Will Kill
In the following material, we have assumed that the victim is a woman and the abuser
is a man. It may be that the victim is a man and the abuser a woman or that the victim and
the abuser are of the same sex. Assessment is basically the same regardless of the gender
of the abuser. The only additional indicator to be assessed in a lesbian or gay relationship is
whether the abuser has been firmly closeted and is now risking exposure as a lesbian or gay
person in order to facilitate their severe, life-threatening attacks. When a person has been
desperately closeted, losing the protection of invisibility in order to abuse, potentially
suggests great desperation and should be included in the assessment.
Note: Considering these factors may or may not reveal actual potential for homicidal assault.
However, the likelihood of a homicide is greater when these factors are present. The greater
the number of indicators that the batterer demonstrates, or the greater the intensity of
the indicators, the greater the likelihood of a life-threatening attack.
1. Threats of homicide or suicide.
The batterer who has threatened to kill himself, his partner, the children or her relatives
must be considered extremely dangerous.
2. Fantasies of homicide or suicide.
The more the batterer has developed a fantasy about whom, when and where to kill, the
more dangerous he may be. The batterer who has previously acted out part of a homicide or
suicide fantasy may be invested in killing as a viable “solution” to his problems. As in a
suicide assessment, the more detailed the plan and the more available the method, the
greater the risk.
3. Weapons.
Where a batterer possesses weapons and has used them or has threatened to use them in
the past in his assaults on the battered woman, the children or himself, his access to these
weapons increases his potential for lethal assault. The use of guns is a strong predictor
of homicide. If a batterer has a history of arson or the threat of arson, fire should be
considered a weapon.
4. “Ownership” of the battered partner.
The batterer who says “Death before Divorce” or “You belong to me and will never belong to
another!” may be stating his fundamental belief that the woman has no right to life
separate from him. A batterer who believes he is absolutely entitled to his female partner,
her services, her obedience and loyalty, no matter what, is likely to be life endangering.
5. Centrality of the partner
A man who idolizes his female partner or who depends heavily on her to organize and
sustain his life, or who has isolated himself from all other communities, may retaliate against
a partner who decides to end the relationship. He rationalizes that her “betrayal” justifies his
lethal retaliation.
6. Separation Violence
When a batterer believes that he is about to lose his partner, if he can’t envision life without
her, or if the separation causes him great despair or rage, he may choose to kill.
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7. Depression
When a batterer has been acutely depressed and sees little hope for moving beyond the
depression, he may be a candidate for homicide and suicide. Research shows that many men
who are hospitalized for depression have homicidal fantasies directed at family members.
8. Access to the battered woman and / or to family members.
If the batterer cannot find her, he cannot kill her. If he does not have access to the children,
he cannot use them as a means of access to the battered woman. Careful safety planning
and police assistance are required for those times when contact is required; e.g., court
appearances and custody exchanges.
9. Repeated outreach to law enforcement.
Partner or spousal homicide almost always occurs in a context of historical violence. Prior
calls to the police indicate elevated risk of life-threatening conduct. The more calls, the
greater the potential danger.
10. Escalation of batterer risk.
A less obvious indicator of increasing danger may be the sharp escalation of personal risk
undertaken by a batterer. When a batterer begins to act without regard to the legal or social
consequences that previously constrained his violence, chances of lethal assault increase
significantly.
11. Hostage-taking.
A hostage-taker is at high risk of inflicting homicide. Between 75 percent and 90 percent of
all hostage takings in the U.S. are related to domestic violence situations.
Hart, B. Assessing Whether Batterers Will Kill. Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic
Violence, 1990.
Counseling Batterers
Note: SafePlace does NOT offer counseling to batterers. Please refer to the organizations
below:
Austin Men’s Center
812 W. 11th St.
477-9595
Anger management counseling,
support groups and classes for men
and women.
Austin Stress Clinic
1050 S. Lamar Suite A
326-1717
www.austinstress.org
Stress and anger management programs,
domestic violence prevention programs.
Assault prevention (non domestic, such as bar
road rage. Petty theft prevention.
LifeWorks
(Family Violence Treatment Program)
735-2400
Group programs for batterers. Sliding scale
fees, from 20-35 dollars per week.
Capital Area Mental Health Center
1106 Clayton Lane, Suite 105-W
302-1000
Individual, couples and family counseling.
Low-cost counseling by volunteer
professional counselors. Sliding scale.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
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Information and referral source, entry
point to all MHMR services.
Waterloo Counseling Center
3000 S.I35, Suite 315
444-9922
Individual and group counseling for
survivors and batterers, sensitive to
GLBT issues. Sliding fee.
How You Can Be Found
By Your Batterer/Stalker
This information was taken from When Domestic Violence Begins at Home: A
Comprehensive Guide to Understanding and Ending Domestic Abuse. Wilson, K.J.,
Ed.D., Hunter House Publishers, 1997.
Please be sure to inform caller that the following information is not legal advice or a
recommendation from SafePlace. These are simply ideas she/he might consider using.
Be aware that anything that connects you to your past may give your batterer a way to find
you. Continuing to use the same credit cards, having your mail forwarded by the postal
service, forwarding of school or medical records, telephone contact with people from your
past, or having money transferred from your old bank account to a new one could be used to
locate you. Here are some ways you could be located:
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Information such as your address and social security number can often be obtained
through a written request for your driver’s license record.
Your location can be traced through traffic violations and accident reports.
You can also be traced through motor vehicle registrations.
If someone has your license plate number, he can go to the county tax office, pay a
small fee and get information about you.
Such licenses as pet, hunting or fishing licenses are considered public record. Copies
of them can be obtained by using only your name and will probably have your
telephone number or address listed.
If your batterer has your social security number, he can trace you through a variety of
places including voter registration records. He can also find the address that you
have used for any dealings with certain businesses and credit card companies.
The following is a brief list of records that will contain information about you that may
disclose your location. Any of these records can be accessed with just your name:
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Amended judgment
Assumption agreement
Assignment of mortgage
Breach of lease
Change of name
Divorce
Guardianship
Involuntary bankruptcy
Judgment
Lien
Power of attorney
Revocation of power of attorney
Separation
Trust agreement
Voluntary bankruptcy
Ways to protect information about yourself
66
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Do not leave a paper trail. Plan to take as much money in cash or travelers checks as
possible. Under no circumstances should you write checks or withdraw money from
an old account or a joint account.
Talk to a lawyer who can provide information about stalking laws, protective orders,
name and social security number changes, divorces, wills and other legal avenues.
Find a contact person who you trust to support you. Your mail can be forwarded to
this contact person’s P.O. Box, who will in turn send the mail to your P.O. Box.
When planning to leave, do not make long-distance calls from your house to your new
area or to family and friends. Your batterer can use the numbers listed on the
telephone bill to find your location.
Power of attorney is an excellent way to avoid detection and not lose property you
own. It allows your contact person to conduct business transactions on your behalf.
This way, you will not have to default on loans and ruin your credit.
Obtain an unlisted phone number, stressing your safety needs and making sure the
number is never disclosed.
Explain your situation to neighbors and employers who can call the police if your
batterer is seen.
"Is My Batterer Really Going to
Change This Time?"
"How do I know if my batterer is really changing?"
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He/she has stopped being violent or threatening toward you or to others.
He/she acknowledges that the abusive behavior is wrong.
He/she understands that him/her does not have the right to control and dominate
you.
You don’t feel afraid when you are with him/her.
He/she does not coerce you into having sex when you don’t want to.
You can express anger toward him/her without feeling intimidated.
He/she does not make you feel responsible for him/her anger or frustration.
He/she respects your opinion, even if he/she doesn’t agree with it.
He/she respects your right to say “no.”
You can negotiate with him/her without being belittled.
You don’t have to ask him/her permission to go out, go to school, get a job or take
other independent actions.
He/she listens to you and respects what you have to say.
He/she communicates honestly and does not try to manipulate you.
He/she recognizes that he/she is not “cured” and that change in behavior, attitudes
and beliefs is a lifelong process.
He/she not longer does ________ (fill in the blank with any behavior that used to
precede violence, manipulation or emotional abuse).
"How do I know if I am safe?"
If you feel that you will be safer away from your partner while he/she is in an intervention
program, you have every right to leave. Even if you leave, you must understand that
participation in the program is no guarantee that he/she will not be a threat to you. The
risk that he/she may be violent toward you may even increase when you leave. For your
own safety, watch for these signs of a problem in the way he/she behaves toward you when
he/she is in the program.
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Tries to find you if you’ve left.
Tries to get you to come back to him/her.
Tries to take the children away.
Stalks you.
"What type of intervention program might work?"
The programs that work well use the following standards:
 Your safety is the top priority.
 Lasts long enough (at least 18 weeks). The longer the program, the better the chances
are for change.
 Holds him/her accountable.
 The curriculum gets to the root of the problem and challenges the underlying belief
system that him/her has the right to control and dominate you.
 Makes no demands on you to participate.
 Is open to your input.
 Encourages follow-up support.
"What do they do in intervention programs for batterers?"
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Education on the nature of domestic violence
Change beliefs and attitudes
Achieve equality in relationships
Community participation
Note: The above information was taken from a brochure produced by the Texas Council on
Family Violence for the Battering Intervention and Prevention Project. Please contact the
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 if you would like this brochure
(English or Spanish) to be mailed to you.
Potential Batterer Warning Signs
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Many people are interested in ways they can predict that they are about to become involved
with someone who will be abusive. Below is a list of behaviors that are seen in abusers. If
the person has three or more of these behaviors, there is a strong potential for physical
violence.
Jealousy. Will question you about how you spend your time, accuse you of flirting, or will be
jealous of time spent with friends or family. May refuse to let you work for fear you’ll meet
someone else, may check car mileage or ask friends to watch you.
Controlling Behavior. Will question you about where you go, whom you talked to, and may
not let you have access to money or leave the home without permission.
Quick Involvement. Many victims of domestic violence dated or knew their batterer for less
than six months before they were engaged or living together. Batterers can come on like a
whirlwind, claiming “love at first sight.”
Unrealistic Expectations. Batterers are very dependent on their partners for all of their
needs. You are expected to be the perfect partner, parent, lover and friend. You are
supposed to take care of everything for him/her.
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Isolation. Tries to cut you off from all of your resources (friends, family, work, school,
church, etc.)
Blames others for his problems. Blames you or others for almost anything that goes wrong.
Blames others for his feelings. Will say things like “You make me mad,” “You are hurting
me by not doing what I ask,” etc.
Hypersensitivity. Batterers are easily insulted, take setbacks as personal attacks, and will
“rant and rave” about things that are really just part of everyday life.
Cruelty to animals or children. Batterers often punish animal brutally or are insensitive to
their pain and suffering, or expect children to be capable of doing things far beyond their
ability (e.g.. whips a two-year-old for wetting the diaper).
“Playful” use of force during sex. May throw you down and hold you during sex. Directly
or indirectly lets you know that the idea of rape is exciting. May start having sex with you
when you are sleeping, tired or ill.
Verbal Abuse. Saying cruel, hurtful or degrading things intended to run you down.
Rigid Sex Roles. In the case of a male abuser, expects the woman to serve him, will say she
must stay at home, obey him, etc. Sees women as inferior to men.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde personality. Sudden mood changes—one minute is charming and
the next is explosive.
Past Battering. May say that he/she has hit partners in the past but that the partner made
the batterer do it.
Threats of violence. Any threat of physical force meant to control; will say that “everybody
talks like that.”
Breaking or striking objects. This behavior may be used as punishment (breaking loved
possessions) but is mostly used to terrorize into submission.
Any use of force during an argument. Holding you down, preventing you from leaving a
room, or any pushing or shoving.
The above information was produced by the Project for Victims of Family Violence,
Fayetteville, AK.
Building Relationships That Last
All of us experience many different kinds of relationships in our lives. These may range from
casual relationships with friends, co-workers or neighbors to the intimate, personal
relationship with a partner.
It is the intimate or love relationships that offer the greatest hope for joy and satisfaction;
they also have the greatest potential for pain and hurt.
What does it take to have a healthy relationship?
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It’s important to understand what it takes to have a healthy intimate relationship. The basic
guidelines can also be applied to other important relationships in your life. First,
relationships require hard work; both routine maintenance and “tune-ups” as well as
occasional major overhauls. Unfortunately, some relationships become so damaged that they
must be abandoned, like a car that is too costly or impossible to repair.
So, how can we avoid having this happen to our relationships? Ask yourself these
questions:
1. Where did I learn about relationships?
2. Where did I learn to relate?
Most of us learned from our families. They were the basic models who taught us about love,
intimacy, fighting and communication. We’ve also learned from television, books and
movies about what makes “good” or “bad” relationships. We see our friends and other
couples and either try to copy them or do things differently.
Our tendency is to duplicate what we see and experience, so it’s easy to repeat the same
mistakes. In a relationship, each partner has his or her own family history, and what each
has learned has been different. The relationship suffers if the models were not healthy.
That’s why it’s so important to know how healthy relationships work and when they’re
healthy.
Barriers to good relationships
Sometimes a good relationship is thwarted because neither of you know how to define a
better one. You may need to learn new skills or take the risk of showing your
vulnerabilities.
Perhaps you have unrealistic expectations or are “stuck” in negatives from the past. Many of
us have difficulty dealing with or letting go of anger, or we may be overly competitive.
Relationships can lack enough positive interaction when there are too many arguments.
Almost all of these things you can do something about. You can learn new skills and better
ways of interacting.
Key ingredients of good relationships
Intimacy
What does intimacy mean? Love? Certainly love is the basis of intimate relationships, but love
needs to be defined. Love is both a feeling and a set of actions. Love as a feeling could
also be infatuation or fantasy. This might involve a sexual attraction or an intellectual one.
These aren’t wrong, but they aren’t all it takes.
Love as an action involves things such as slowing down when we want to hurry, listening
when we want to talk, cooking dinner when we want to watch television or giving your
partner freedom to pursue individual interests.
Communication
Emotional intimacy doesn’t mean being more emotional. It does depend on the ability to
identify accurately the feelings we have or those being experienced by someone else.
This requires communication. Much of our communication is non-verbal; the way we
express ourselves is usually more important that what we say. A hostile edge in your voice
can create defensiveness in the other person. Only when we recognize our own attitudes,
motives, hang-ups, sore spots and emotional reactions can we communicate them.
Friendship
70
The absence of friendship in a dating relationship may not be a big problem, but a lasting
relationship means spending a long time with someone. Friendship develops over time and
is a consistent foundation for romance. A romantic relationship alone tends to be difficult to
maintain at a consistently high level of excitement. Friendship indicates deeper feelings than
just passion; it involves respect, shared interests, humor, being able to be yourself and to
trust the other person.
Interdependence
As friendship grows, a sense of interdependence develops. Rigid independence can reflect
reluctance to be in a relationship, which always involves a “give and take.” Rigid
dependence requires one person to “take” and the other to “give.”
Interdependence means balance and flexibility. Both partners are able to give and take in
harmony with the other’s needs. There is not a “weak” person and a “strong” person. We
don’t have to be either independent or dependent all the time.
Trust
The freedom to be interdependent is based on trust. If you’ve ever had the experience of
trusting someone and then being let down, you know you develop scar tissue and find it
harder to open yourself to another. When a partner places trust in you, take responsibility
to act in a trustworthy manner. Otherwise, the relationship will be seriously undermined.
Elder Abuse
Anyone having cause to suspect that an elderly person’s physical or mental health or welfare
has been or may be adversely affected by abuse is legally required to make a report
immediately.
Information needed to make a report of abuse or neglect
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Specific details about the abuse
Name of the abuser
Relationship of abuser to the elderly person
When the abuse occurred
Names of anyone responsible for the elderly person
An address where the elderly person currently lives
Age of the elderly person
What is considered elder abuse?
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Physical Abuse: Conduct that results in bodily harm.
Psychological Abuse: Threats or actions that result in mental distress, fear and
emotional disturbance.
Negligence: Breach of duty or careless conduct that results in injury or violation of
rights.
Financial exploitation: Theft or conversion of money or property belonging to the
elderly person.
Sexual Abuse: Any unwanted sexual interaction.
Adult Protective Services
1-800-252-5400
24-hour hotline to report abuse of people
55 and older by family members or a
person with whom the elderly person is
living.
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Department of Human Services/Long-term
Care Regulatory Hotline
1-800-228-1570
To report abuse of residents of managed
care facilities, nursing homes, etc.
Family Violence Protection Team
Family Violence Protection Team
1106 Clayton Lane, No. 490E
974-8535 (Main number)
The mission of the Family Violence Protection Team is to facilitate increased arrest, conviction
and accountability of batterers and serve the needs of victims of domestic violence. It is
believed that a wide array of services at one location would facilitate this effort.
The following agencies are housed at the Family Violence Protection Team Office:
APD Family Violence Unit, APD Victim Services, Travis County Sheriffs Office, Travis County
Sheriffs Office Victim Services, Travis County Attorneys Office, Legal Aid, and Women’s
Advocacy project.
It is possible for a victim to access several agencies all in one location. The services the team
provides are taking statements, processing stalking reports, filing charges, issuing protective
orders, and crisis counseling and advocacy. The team also has free cellphones that will
allow callers to dial 911 only.
Helping an Adult
In an Abusive Relationship
Helping a victim of family violence is difficult. Typically, we alternate between wanting to
jump in and rescue the victim and feeling totally helpless. However, there is a middle course
we can steer between the two extremes. Here are some key points to remember in helping
someone who is battered.
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When you see tell-tale signs, speak up. Express caring concern. For example: “If
you need to talk, I’m available.”
Gently ask questions about how things are going at home and listen attentively to the
reply.
Let them know that you understand it’s a tough thing to talk about and that you are
not embarrassed by the topic.
Let them see and hear that you will not judge them. For example: “I’m sure you
have been doing what you think is best, but I have to let you know I’m concerned
about what I’m seeing” or “I know how confusing it can be when a loved one treats you
this way...”
Make (and repeat) clear statements about their rights and value as a person.
Example: “You don’t deserve to be treated this way. No one has the right to treat you
this way”.
Do not try immediately to rescue them or convince them to take action (unless they
are in imminent danger). First, they need to see the possibility for change. Listen
to their concerns. Share information about available options, like SafePlace services,
legal alternatives, counseling available for the abuser, etc.
Express clear disapproval of the partner’s abusive behavior, but do not criticize
partner as a person. For example: “X is basically a good person, but how X is
treating you is wrong. In this area, X needs help.”
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Use specific words instead of “abuse,” such as control, scare, intimidate, bully, etc.
If they have children, ask how they think the children are being affected.
Emphasize that children always suffer when living with abuse, even if it’s not directed
at them.
Tell them that you are concerned for their safety (and the future of the relationship) if
things continue as they are. Ask: “What do you think your life will be like in six
months?”
Write down and give them phone numbers of local resources such as SafePlace
hotlines or other help lines. Encourage them to talk with someone they trust about
this before it gets any worse.
Get support for yourself and your good efforts from friends and/or staff at SafePlace
or other help agencies.
Do not give up on them. Do not be put off if you are rebuffed at first. Continue to
reach out. Remember that underneath their mask, they are scared.
If you observe abuse, call the police. Do not put yourself at risk by trying to intervene
directly.
International / Overseas Abuse of
American Women/Children
The American Domestic Violence Crisis Line (866-USWOMEN, 866-879-6636) is an
international toll-free domestic violence crisis line that abused American women and
children can call by contacting the regional AT&T operator in their country of residence
and ask to be connected.
The crisis line operates from midnight to 8 a.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday.
To determine corresponding operating times in the caller's country of residence, consult
the crisis line's website at www.866uswomen.org.
In addition to providing domestic violence advocacy, safety planning and case management,
the crisis line has assisted clients with relocation expenses, emergency funds for housing and
childcare, and payment of legal fees.
Readings about Domestic Violence
Note: A more extensive reading is available to be mailed or faxed if requested by caller.
Wilson, K.J. When Domestic Violence Begins at Home, Hunter House Publishers, 1996.
(This book was written by our Director of Community Education and Volunteers, Karen
Wilson. It provides information about how to take the first step of leaving an abusive
relationship; safety planning if she does leave; and steps to take to prevent being found. It is
also a guide for those who want to help and support a battered woman during this process).
Beattie, Melody. Beyond Codependency, Harper & Row, New York, 1989.
Benedict, Helen. Recovery, Doubleday & Company, New York, 1985.
Black, Claudia. It Will Never Happen To Me, MAC Printing, Denver, CO., 1982.
Brown, Angela. When Battered Women Kill, Free Press, New York, 1987.
Brownmiller, Susan. Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape, Simon and Schuster, New
York, 1975.
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Crewdson, John. By Silence Betrayed: Sexual Abuse of Children in America, Little, Brown
& Company, Boston, 1988.
Dobash, R. Emerson and Dobash, Russell. Violence Against Wives: A Case Against the
Patriarchy, The Free Press, New York, 1979.
Evans, Patricia. The Verbally Abusive Relationship, Bob Adams Inc., Holbrook, Mass.
1992
Finkelhor, David and Yllo, Kerstie. License to Rape: Sexual Abuse of Wives, Holt, Rinehart
& Winston, New York, 1985.
Finkelhor, David. Sexually Victimized Children, Free Press, New York, 1979.
Garbarino, J., Gutman, E., and Seeley, J.W. The Psychologically Battered Child, Josey
Bass, San Francisco, 1986.
Gibbs, Jewelle Taylor, Huang, Larke Nahme. Children of Color: Psychological
Interventions with Minority Youth, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, 1989.
Gondolf, Edward W. Man Against Woman: What Every Woman Should Know about
Violent Men, TAB Books, Inc. 1989.
Gondolf, Edward W. Man to Man: A Guide for Men in Abusive Relationships. Human
Services Institute, Bradenton, Florida, 1987.
Herman, Judith. Trauma and Recovery, the Aftermath of Violence: From Domestic
Violence to Political Terror, Basic Books (reprint ed.), 1997.
Horton, Anne L. and Williamson, Judith A. Abuse and Religion: When Praying Isn’t
Enough, Lexington, Books, Lexington, MA 1988.
Jacobson, Neil, and Gottman, John. When Men Batter Women, Simon & Schuster, 1998.
Martin, Del. Battered Wives, Pocket Books, New York, 1983.
McClure, John, and Ramsey, Nancy, eds. Telling the Truth: Preaching about Sexual and
Domestic Violence, United Press Church, 1998.
NiCarthy, Ginny. Getting Free: A Handbook for Women in Abusive Relationships, Seal
Press, Washington, 1982.
Religion and Domestic Violence
Reading List
Clarke, Rita Lou. Pastoral Care of Battered Women. Westminster John Knox, 1986.
Fortune, Marie M. Keeping the Faith: Questions and Answers for the Abused Woman.
Harper and Row, 1987. Note: This book is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Spitzer, Julie Ringold. Spousal Abuse in Rabbinic and Contemporary Judaism. National
Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, 1985.
74
Horton, Anne L. and Williamson, Judith A. Abuse and Religion: When Praying Isn’t
Enough. Lexington Books, Lexington, MA. 1988
Bingham, Carol Findon, Ed. Doorway to Response: The Role of Clergy in Ministry With
Battered Women, 1986. Note: The book can be ordered by writing to Interfaith Committee
Against Domestic Violence, 615 S. Fifth St., Springfield, Illinois, 62703.
Resources for Muslim Women
Karaama
577-SAFE
Counseling and support for Muslin
women in domestic violence situations
in Austin. Languages spoken include
Arabic, Urdu, Somali, Pashtu, and
Swahilli.
Safety Planning
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it. Safety planning
information specifically designed for children/teenagers is also available for mailing.
Anticipating a violent incident
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Know how to get out safely. Identify which doors, windows, elevator or stairs would
be best.
Know where your purse and car keys will be.
Tell friends or neighbors about the violence you are experiencing so that
they can call 911 for you if they hear suspicious noises coming from your home.
Teach your children to call 911 if needed.
Have a safe place you can go if you must leave your home.
Find a space you can move to in your home that presents the lowest risk
to you. Try to avoid areas that are near weapons or without access to an
outside door.
Devise a code word to use with your children, family, friends, and neighbors
that alerts them that you need help from the police but are unable to say those words
out loud.
When preparing to leave
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Find someone who can keep money, extra clothes, important documents and
an extra set of car keys for you.
Think about opening your own savings account.
Explore other things you can do to increase your independence.
Have someone in mind who could lend you money or let you stay with them.
Rehearse your escape plan and practice it with your children.
Always try to take your children with you or make arrangements to leave them with
someone safe.
Keep the shelter/hotline number close at hand and keep change or a calling card with
you at all times.
Review your plan with a domestic violence advocate in order to plan the safest way to
leave your batterer.
Remember—leaving your batterer can be the most dangerous time.
Safety in the home
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Change locks or ask your landlord to change locks.
Replace wooden doors with metal doors.
Install security system including additional locks, window bars, electronic system.
Install motion-detecting lighting outside.
Install outside lighting system.
Teach children to call 911. Rehearse a safety plan with your children for when you
are not with them.
Inform friends or neighbors that your partner no longer lives with you and that
the police should be called if he/she is observed near your home.
Safety with a Protective Order
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Know where your Protective Order is at all times.
Distribute Protective Order where you live or work or at other places you might visit.
Inform others that you have a Protective Order in effect.
Contact the police and court as soon as the Protective Order is violated.
If the police do not help, contact police department to file a complaint.
Safety on the job
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Inform supervisor and coworkers of your situation.
Ask for help at work to screen your calls.
Find a safe escort when leaving work.
Use a different route home to avoid problems from your partner who knows your routines.
Your safety and emotional health
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If you are thinking of returning to a potentially abusive relationship, discuss an
alternative plan with someone you trust.
If you have to communicate with your partner, determine the safest way to do so.
Have positive thoughts about yourself and be assertive with others about your needs.
Plan to attend a support group for at least two weeks to gain support from others and
learn more about yourself and the relationship.
Decide those people you can call freely and openly who will give you the support you
need.
Read books, articles and poetry to make you feel stronger.
Study self-defense options.
Technology Safety Planning
Technology can be very helpful to an individual in a domestic violence situation,
but it is important to consider technology benefits and to think about how
technology might be misused to further control or harm a survivor.
The following information was prepared for individuals who are in domestic violence
situations by Cindy Southworth, Director of Technology for the Safety NET Project
(National Education on Technology) at the national Network to End Domestic Violence
Fund (www.nnedv.org). Note: Please do not post these tips on the web.

Trust your instincts. If you suspect that the abusive person knows too much,
it is possible that your activities are being monitored since domestic violence is
about power and control. Batterers are incredibly persistent and creative.
76
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Use a safer computer. If anyone abusive has access to your home computer,
he/she can easily monitor ALL of your computer use, and it is not possible to
clear your trail. In fact, trying to clear the MANY histories on your computer
could tip off the abuser to your plans. Try to use a safer computer to look for
help, find a new place to live, research legal options, etc. It may be safest to use
a computer at a public library, community center, or internet café.
Create a new email account. It is common for abusive people to want to
monitor and know your every move. It may be safest to create a new email
account on a safer computer. Do not create or check this account from your
home computer in case it is being monitored. You can establish free email
accounts at www.hotmail.com or www.yahoo.com. To increase your privacy, do
not use your name in your email address. Instead of Janejones@hotmail.com,
use purplechair@hotmail.com or some other non-identifying address name.
Change passwords and pin numbers. If anyone abusive knows or could guess
your passwords, you may want to change them immediately and frequently.
However, changing the password might cause the abusive person to become
suspicious. Think about any accounts, online banking or services, etc., that you
may have. Some abusers have used victim’s email accounts to impersonate
their victims and cause harm.
Minimize use of cordless phones or baby monitors. If you don’t want
neighbors to accidentally overhear or someone abusive to intentionally intercept
your conversations, turn baby monitors off when not in use and use a traditional
corded phone for sensitive conversations.
Use a donated or new cell phone. If possible, do not use a family or share cell
phone to make or receive any calls to arrange an escape plan since cell phone
billing records or longs on the phone could reveal your plans. Talk to your local
hotline about cell phone donation programs. The Verizon Wireless HopeLine
program provides new cell phones to victims. You can also buy a new cell phone
with pre-paid minutes (and no billing records) that the abuser does not know
about. In Austin, the Family Violence Protection Team can provide free cell
phones that will dial only 911. To obtain one of these phones, callers should call
the team at 974-8535.
Check your cell phone settings. If you are using a cell phone provided by the
abusive person, it may be best to turn it off when you are not using it or check
the settings frequently. Many phones allow you to “lock” the keys so the phone
doesn’t accidentally call someone if you bump it. If your family subscribes to a
location service such as AT&T “Find Friends,” you may want to turn off the
location feature to increase your privacy, though doing so could cause the
abuser to become suspicious of your activities.
Take precautions if you have a “Techy” abuser. If computers and technology
are the profession or a hobby of your abuser, trust your instincts if you think
cameras or tracking systems are being used to monitor you. See Technology
Safety section below.
Ask about your records and data. Many court systems and government
agencies are publishing records to the Internet. Ask every agency you work with
how they protect or publish your records and request that court/government
systems seal or restrict access to your files if necessary to protect your safety.
Get a private mailbox and don’t give out your real address. When asked by
businesses, doctors, and others for your address, have a private mailbox address
or a safer address to give them to keep your true address out of the huge
national databases.
Search for your name on the Internet. Use major search engines such as
Google or Yahoo to look up your name. Put your name in quotes (“Jane Doe”) so
that you don’t find others with the same first name. Also check telephone
directory pages since even unlisted numbers might be listed.
77
Technology Safety
Technology, used wisely, has a great number of benefits for individuals in domestic
violence situations and for advocates. However, be aware of the risks inherent with
different kinds of technology. The following information is helpful in assessing whether
individuals in domestic violence situations are at risk for being monitored by their
abusers. Note: This following contains sensitive information NOT appropriate for
the web or general audiences. Please DO NOT post this information on the
internet.
Information provided by Vicki Berenson of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence
(608-255-0539) from materials provided by Cindy Southworth, National Network to End
Domestic Violence’s Nation Safe & Strategic Technology Project (www.nnedv.org).
Cordless Phones
Calls are broadcast using radio waves and can be intercepted by radio scanners, baby
monitors, and other cordless phones.
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Switch to corded phone before exchanging sensitive information.
Unplug cordless phone from phone line even after handing up.
Ask client what kind of phone she/he is using. Limit the exchange of identifying
information or location.
Cell and Mobile Phones
Calls can be intercepted by scanners. Older analog cell phones (usually the kind donated)
are easier to intercept, but digital cell phones switch to analog mode when they are out of
range of digital phone services. Law enforcement and phone company personnel can
intercept digital phone transmission. Cell phones can be cloned, and then they act like an
extension on a regular phone—all calls can be overheard from the cloned phone. Same with
“family phones”—2 for 1 phones sold by some companies. If silent mode and auto-answer
features are turned on, someone can call the phone without it ringing, and the phone will
monitor everything going on in the room or car. Some cell phones have GPS devices
installed and can be used to find the client’s location.
 Ask clients if they are using cell phones. Let them know their conversations can be
picked up so they should limit what they say if they feel threatened.
 Ask the client if she/he can call back from a safer (corded) phone.
 An advocate using a cell phone while talking with a client should ask the client to call
back to a telephone that is safe (a corded phone) before the client provides sensitive
information, or the advocate can switch phones and then call the client back, if
possible.
 The advocate should ask if the client received the phone she is using from her/his
abuser. Does the client suspect that the abuser is monitoring the client’s calls?
 Ask the client if the abuser might be familiar with using a GPS locator, in case the
client is trying to hide or before the client is transported to the shelter. The client’s
cell phone should be turned OFF to disable any GPS device that might be in the
phone.
 If the client’s phone has a GPS chip (advocate may have to contact the phone
manufacturer to learn this information), the client should leave the phone at home,
put it in the trash, or send it somewhere else as a decoy if the client is fleeing.
Otherwise, the client should turn the phone OFF and not use it.
78
GPS Devices and E-911
These are small devices that are easily hidden, affordable, and readily available. Some
internet sites offer monitoring devices and services such as www.digitalangel.net. E-911
service in many communities can use a GPS locator on a cell phone to find a caller in
immediate need of assistance.
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Trust a client’s instincts about whether she thinks she is being followed.
Look for a device on jewelry/purse/other belongings.
Look for a device in a car; i.e., in the trunk, under the hood, under seats and
bumpers. Look for something about the size of a cell phone. It may be in the shape of
a box with a wire attached.
Develop a relationship with a trusted mechanic who can look for devices in
cars. If a device is found, contact the police to seize the evidence.
The client can leave the car behind if she/he flees.
Caller ID
Caller ID automatically identifies incoming calls with a Caller ID Unit. Caller ID offers the
following privacy safeguard:
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Per-Line Blocking blocks number delivery from a particular telephone line so that the
source of the call cannot be identified (we have this at the shelter; when we make
calls, they show up on a caller id unit as “Anonymous” or “Private”).
Per-Call Blocking allows any caller to block the number display on a particular call.
Press *67 before entering the number, or dial 1167 on a rotary phone.
Record Deletion deletes numbers and anonymous messages from a Caller ID Unit.
After selecting the number you wish deleted, press the “Delete” key twice. (Different
equipment may require other methods to delete messages.)
Call Trace traces problem calls and helps you take legal action. After receiving the
call, hang up, listen for dial tone and press *57 or dial 1157 on a rotary phone. User
must be a Call Trace Subscriber.
Call Blocker rejects calls made to your telephone from telephone numbers you
choose. After receiving the call, hang up, listen for dial tone and press *60 or dial
1160 on a rotary phone.
Call Return calls back your last caller. Listen for dial tone, then press *69 or dial
1169 on a rotary phone.
Auto Redial calls the last number you called. Listen for dial tone, then press *66 or
dial 1166 on a rotary phone.
To find out more about these and other services, call Southwestern Bell at (800) 464-7928.
Before relying on these services to protect privacy, clients should have tested all of their
phone lines, fax lines, and cell phones with someone who has caller ID. Clients should also
be aware that 800 numbers will not block the client’s phone number (because the 800
number provider is paying for the call) in case the client is contacting her/his abuser with an
800 number.
Fax
Printed headings on pages of material that has been transmitted by Fax include the
sender’s phone number. Analysis of the area code and the first three digits of the
telephone number can help someone located the caller’s neighborhood. The phone
number can also be used to find more information about the caller using reserve lookup
on the internet.
79
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When sending a Fax either for or to a client, put a note on the cover sheet to cut
off any identifying phone numbers on the Fax pages before sharing those
pages with others.
If legal, change the Fax machine’s settings to 000-000-0000 when sending
information for a high-risk client.
TTY
These machines are helpful for victims who are hearing impaired or deaf. However, it is
easy to impersonate someone else while using a TTY, and the device keeps records
and transcripts of calls.
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Advocates should be aware of TTY frame delay and interpreter resources in the
community. An individual in a domestic violence situation who lives in a small
community may want to use a TTY phone rather than an interpreter to protect
privacy.
Individuals utilizing TTY phones to convey confidential information need to know
how to clear the history of the call from the TTY.
Programs providing service to individuals in domestic violence situations may
want to clear the history from the office TTY device.
Printed transcripts of TTY calls used for client record-keeping can risk being
subpoenaed. Service providers should utilize the same record-keeping method
for TTY calls as they do for other callers.
Answering machines
Answering machines provide a record of telephone threats made by an abuser.
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Answering machines utilizing tapes are useful as evidence of threats.
If a threat is left on a digital answering machine or voice mail, request that
police tape the message so that they will be witnesses to the threat.
Messages should be taped as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of erasure
or tape-over.
Internet
The internet is an excellent source of information for both individuals in domestic
violence situations and for advocates. However, it is impossible to clear the history of
where on the internet a user has searched. Software designed to clear these electronic
“footprints” is not foolproof and gives a false sense of security. Even if an individual is
able to clear her/his internet history, it may raise suspicions with the abuser who is
monitoring computer activity.
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Advocates should discuss computer safety planning before referring anyone in
a domestic violence situation to the internet.
Encourage clients to use a “safer” computer for researching domestic violence
information. Possibilities include the local library (unless the client is being
watched); local domestic violence program such as SafePlace; a trusted friend’s
computer; the client’s workplace; or a Community Technology Center (find a list
of CTCs at www.ctcnet.org).
Spyware/keystroke logging hardware
This software/hardware can monitor all activity of a computer connected to the internet
without the user being aware of the monitoring activity. A client’s computer can be
configured to send emails about internet activity to a stalker or abuser. Spyware
can be loaded directly onto the computer or be accidentally downloaded onto the
80
computer through a hidden “trojan horse” file contained within an email. The file runs
hidden on the computer and cannot be detected by the user. Keystroke logging
hardware looks like part of the cable connecting the keyboard to the computer. It stores
all keystrokes for later retrieval on the “host” computer or can be removed and plugged
into another computer. Keystroke hardware allows the retrieval of passwords, PIN
numbers, websites visited, emails, etc.
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As part of technology safety planning, a client should be asked if she thinks her
computer might be monitored.
Clients should obtain a firewall that helps stop unapproved incoming and
outgoing internet traffic. Firewalls are available free from ZoneAlarm.com or by
purchase from several companies.
Antivirus software should be used and regularly updated to detect suspicious
attachments. Attachments should not be opened unless the client knows who
sent the attachments and what information they contain.
If a client discovers that spyware is being used on her/his computer, this fact
can often be used as evidence in a prosecution.
Due to public concern about cybercrime, clients who are the victims of
cybercrime and choose to prosecute should be aware of the potential for
publicity.
Web sites
Clients should be aware that email messages to web sites will be stored in the client’s
computer in the Sent Items folder where they can be seen and retrieved by others. In
addition, web sites are frequently searched for email addresses by spammers.
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Service providers with web sites should post a safety alert on every page of the
web site.
Service providers should use web forms on the web site instead of “mailto”
links. Clients replying to web forms should be asked how they prefer to be
contacted.
Service providers should not use staff or volunteer names in any public area of
the web site, particularly without permission.
Client email
Clients should be aware that sent messages can be stored within their computers in
both the Sent Items and Deleted Items folders, and that email messages can be
intercepted in many ways.
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Clients should be advised not to use email for sensitive or identifying
information.
Clients should not share email addresses without others’ permission.
Clients can create web email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail) from a safer computer
but should be careful not to provide real identification information.
Passwords should be carefully chosen so that only the client can guess them.
Harassing emails should be saved on the computer for evidence. The sender
can be traced only if the email message is still on the computer.
Advocate email
Email can be intercepted in many ways. “Sniffers” can search email for words as the
email is being sent through cyberspace. Email is not a confidential means of
communication. All e-mail addresses are available whenever group emails are sent
using To: or Cc: field.
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Advocates should not send client names or identifying information by e-mail.
Use Bcc: field when mailing to multiple addresses.
Clear lists of email addresses from forwarded messages.
Have a policy for use of email in your organization.

Confidentiality privilege may be compromised for information transmitted by
email.
Data security
Hacking software is freely available and can be used to enter computers connected to
the internet. Even if a computer hard drive is reformatted, deleted information can
still be recovered.
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A firewall can prevent most unauthorized traffic from and to the internet.
Antivirus software should be installed, utilized, and updated frequently.
Security patches for software should be installed when available.
Client data should not be placed on any computer connected to the internet.
Hard drives should be destroyed before computers are given or thrown away.
Data collection
Large databases are subject to “function creep.” Many large companies and public
agencies keep databases of customers and users. If a client relocates, this information
can be publicly available. Databases can also be a tool to research information about
the client’s abuser, if necessary.
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Work with other agencies on limiting data collection.
Use strategies to keep client locations anonymous. These could include use of
P.O. Boxes; virtual voice mail; anonymous web email accounts; and two legal
residences.
Be aware of where client data is kept and talk with those keeping it about the
need for client confidentiality. Locations of client data can include utility
companies; department of motor vehicles or public safety; voter registration;
school records; grocery stores, video chains, auto repair chains, and other
vendors; tax appraisal and real estate offices.
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Texas Shelters for Battered Women
Note: SafePlace provides shelter to battered men as well as women. If a man is requesting
shelter, please complete the screening process as usual and then consult with the house
manager. We place battered men into local hotels (see the section titled "Shelter Admission
Procedures").
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
Abilene
Alpine
Amarillo
Angleton
Arlington
Bastrop
Bay City
Baytown
Beaumont
Borger
Brady
Brownsville
Brownwood
Bryan
Carrizo Springs
Cleburne
Corpus Christi
Crockett
Dallas
Del Rio
Denton
Dumas
El Paso
Fort Worth
Galveston
Garland
Granbury
Grand Prairie
Greenville
Harlingen
Hempstead
Hondo
Houston
Humble
Huntsville
Jacksonville
Jasper
Kerrville
Can refer to shelters nationwide.
1-800-444-3551
1-800-834-0654
1-800-749-9026
1-800-243-5788
1-817-460-5566
1-888-311-7755
1-800-451-9235
1-800-824-4807
1-800-621-8882
1-806-273-2313
1-325-597-7644
1-956-544-7412
1-888-313-2699
1-888-452-9253
1-800-363-9441
1-800-848-3206
1-800-580-4878
1-936-544-2151
1-214-942-2998
1-214-823-4434
1-214-424-7208
1-214-941-1991
1-888-774-2744
1-800-572-4031
1-806-935-2828
1-915-593-7300
1-817-535-6464
1-888-919-7233
1-972-276-0057
1-817-579-6848
1-972-262-8383
1-903-454-4357
1-956-423-9304
1-979-826-3290
1-830-426-5131
1-800-256-0551
1-281-446-2615
1-936-291-3369
1-800-232-8519
1-800-799-7233*
1-888-621-0047
Kilgore
Killeen
Laredo
Livingston
Longview
Lubbock
Marble Falls
McAllen
Midland
Mineral Wells
Mt. Pleasant
Nacogdoches
New Braunfels
Odessa
Palestine
Pampa
Paris
Pasadena
Perryton
Plainview
Plano
Presidio
Richmond
Round Rock
San Angelo
San Antonio
San Marcos
Seguin
Sherman
Snyder
Texarkana
Tyler
Victoria
Waco
Weatherford
Webster
Weslaco
Wichita Falls
The Woodlands
1-800-333-9148
1-888-799-7233
1-877-782-2722
1-956-727-7888
1-936-327-6427
1-800-799-7233*
1-800-736-6491
1-800-664-3574
1-800-580-4879
1-800-967-8928
1-800-585-1306
1-888-801-4357
1-800-828-7233
1-830-620-4357
1-800-658-6779
1-903-723-5858
1-800-658-2796
1-800-444-2836
1-713-473-2801
1-800-753-5308
1-806-293-7273
1-972-422-7233
1-800-834-0564
1-888-427-3650
1-800-460-7233
1-800-749-8631
1-210-733-8810
1-800-700-4292
1-800-834-2033
1-800-893-5615
1-800-578-8054
1-800-876-4808
1-800-333-0358
1-800-870-0368
1-800-283-8401
1-817-596-8922
1-281-286-2525
1-800-580-4879
1-800-658-2683
1-281-292-4338
*National Domestic Violence Hotline number. Call this number for current shelter number.
83
Helping Someone
Who Has Been Battered
Helping a survivor of family violence is difficult. Typically we alternate between wanting to jump in
and rescue the survivor and feeling totally helpless. There is a middle course where we can steer
between the two extremes. Here are some key points to remember when helping someone who has
been battered:
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When you see signs of domestic violence, speak up. Express caring concern. For example,
“If you need to talk, I’m available.”
Gently ask questions about how things are going at home and listen attentively to the reply.
Let her/him know that you understand this is a tough thing to talk about and that you are
not embarrassed by the topic.
Let her/him see and hear that you will not judge. For example, “I know how confusing it can
be when someone you love treats you this way…”
Make and repeat clear statements about her/his rights and value as a person. For example,
“You don’t deserve to be treated this way. No one has the right to treat you this way.”
Know that you cannot “rescue” her/him or convince her/him to take action before she/he
sees the possibility for change. Listen to concerns. Share information about options, such
as family support, legal options, shelter and counseling support services.
Affirm that she/he is not to blame for the abusive behavior, the batterer is. Until the batterer
realizes that his/her actions are wrong, takes responsibility for them and seeks counseling,
things will not change.
Express clear disapproval of the partner’s abusive behavior but do not criticize the partner as
a person. For example: "_____ is basically a good person, but how ____ is treating you is
wrong?" "In this area, ____ needs help."
Use specific words to describe behaviors instead of “abuse,” such as control, scare, bully,
intimidate, etc.
If s/he has children, ask how the children are being affected. Emphasize that children
always suffer when living with abuse even if it is not directed at them. Children can learn
that abusing or being abused is acceptable by watching their parents.
Tell her/him that you are concerned for her/his safety if things continue the way they are.
Ask, “What do you think your life will be like in six months if things continue the way they
are?"
Write down and provide numbers of local resources such as SafePlace that can offer
assistance.
Get support for you and your good efforts from friends, family or SafePlace staff. Helping
someone in an abusive relationship is hard work and it is okay for you to seek support for
yourself.
DO NOT GIVE UP. Remember that underneath her/his mask, s/he is scared.
If you observe abuse, call 911 immediately. Do not put yourself at risk by trying to intervene
directly.
Workplace Domestic Violence
This information is taken from a handout from SafeQuest Inc. For more information, please go to
www.SafeQuestInc.com.
1. Create a policy to address workplace violence at your organization. Addressing all forms of
violence addresses domestic violence as well.
2. Document the types of behaviors that are not allowed in your workplace (harassment,
stalking, spreading rumors, etc.) Disseminate the information to all of your employees.
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Violence prevention policies and conduct guidelines give you a documented reason for
taking action and can help protect your organization against discrimination charges.
3. Create a supportive environment at your business and be prepared to refer employees for
help. Provide educational materials on domestic violence in common employee areas such as
the cafeteria, employee information area, library, etc. Adopt an employee assistance
program (EAP) at your workplace. If you don’t offer an EAP, have literature available about
community support organizations.
4. Educate your managers about domestic violence. Managers should be trained in how to
recognize the warning signs of domestic abuse, how to approach an employee if they suspect
abuse, what to do if an employee discloses domestic abuse and how to respond to an incident
in the workplace.
5. If you suspect abuse, approach the employee and discuss observable performance problems
(tardiness, excessive phone calls, etc.) Avoid asking her directly about abuse. Instead, ask if
there is something wrong at home or at work that is contributing to the problem. The point
here is to look for solutions and give the employee the option of disclosing the situation.
Ignoring suspected domestic abuse is risky for your organization because the abuser may
enter your workplace to commit violence.
6. Take preventative measures to decrease the chances of an abuser entering your worksite.
Implement good premises security as a deterrent and train your security and front office staff
to look for warning signs of a batterer entering workplace property.
7. If an employee discloses domestic abuse, be supportive and discern the level of danger.
8. Have a plan in place for protecting a threatened employee (moving her, providing an escort,
screening her calls, etc.) and for responding to an incident that occurs at the workplace.
9. Take action on the first offense. An abuser who enters workplace property to cause a
disturbance or interrupt employee productivity can be charged with a criminal trespass
warning. Quick action sends a message that your workplace is not the place for domestic
abuse.
10. Do not retaliate against employees who come forward about domestic abuse. Domestic
abuse is the fault of the batterer, not the victim.
Preventing/reducing workplace violence
Take a pro-active approach
 Make violence prevention a priority
 Obtain commitment of top management
Form a management team to address violence issues
 Become experts on workplace violence
 Assess the company’s readiness for dealing with workplace violence
Thoroughly and carefully screen job applicants
 Reference checks
 Background checks
 Obtaining prior performance appraisals
 Medical exams and / or drug tests
 Thorough interviewing
Develop specific policies and procedures for responding to an incident of workplace violence
 Develop a network of external resources
 Psychological consultants
 Occupational medical personnel
 Security consultants
 Employee assistance program personnel
 Relationship with local law enforcement personnel
 Legal counsel
What employers can do about domestic violence
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Companies can address this critical issued by doing any one, or all, of the following:
1. Make the ABA "Steps to Safety" planning sheet available to your employees in your
cafeterias, lounges and restrooms. (Call the ABA Service Center at 1.800.285.2221 or
visit the website http://www.abanet.org/domviol/safetyplan.html for copies.)
2. Invite local domestic violence programs or law enforcement agencies to do a brown bag
lunch session for employees to enhance awareness of domestic violence and the
community resources available to respond to it.
3. Contact the National Workplace Resource Center on Domestic Violence (1-800-END
ABUSE) or the National Domestic Violence Hotline (512-453-8117) for additional useful
materials for employers, including educational posters that can be kept in general
gathering areas.
4. Train at least one employee about domestic violence and designate that employee as
responsible for responding to domestic violence issues in the workplace such as safety
and confidentiality.
5. Provide security and reception staff with clear instructions outlining what their
response to incidents of domestic violence should be, including how to call for
emergency help, whom to notify within the company, and what to do if an employee has
a protective order.
6. Show the PBS documentary "Breaking the Silence: Journeys of Hope," underwritten by
Mary Kay Inc. as a tool to raise awareness about domestic violence. Contact the ABA
Division for Public Education and the Commission on Domestic Violence at
http://www.abanet.org/publiced/domviol.html or http://www.marykay.com for
more information or to obtain a copy of the video.
7. Consider flexibility in employee benefits and policies for employees who are victims of
domestic violence.
8. Develop a domestic violence policy (visit the Family Violence Prevention Fund's website
at http://www.fvpf.org for more information).
9. Let your employees know about the needs and activities of local domestic violence
shelters to offer victims in your communities more aid and support.
10. Consider sponsoring an employee "volunteer afternoon" at your local domestic violence
shelter assisting with tasks such as painting, gardening or cleaning and providing
financial or in-kind donations such as office supplies, business clothes, children's books
or drapes.
11. Any one of these steps can go a long way toward putting a program in place that can
help create a safe, secure workplace for employees. For their sake, and the sake of your
business, it's the right thing to do.
12. For information about getting a copy of the Employer's Guide for your workplace, and
for a brochure on safety tips, go to http://www.abanet.org/domviol/home.html or call
1.800.285.2221.
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Sexual Assault Issues
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Community Resources
Sexual Assault Unit
Austin Police Department
just experienced an assault, CALL 911.
974-5750 (for non-emergencies)
974-5230 (Sex crimes unit)
974-5095 (Sex crimes tip hotline)
To report a sexual assault. If you have
SafePlace Sexual Assault Counseling
356-1648
Individual and group counseling.
SafePlace Sexual Assault Advocate
356-1576
Assists survivors with legal procedures,
law enforcement, etc. Resource information, and
just a good referral to
make if survivors or loved ones have any
concerns or questions that you (hotline advocate)
cannot answer.
UT Police Dept.
471-4441
To report sexual assault if you are a UT
student (you can also report to APD).
Texas Legal Services Center
1-800-622-2520
Offers a legal hotline for sexual
assault survivors. Provides free legal advice
in English or Spanish. Refers callers to
attorneys who will work at reduced fees.
Advocate Web
www.advocateweb.org
This website provides resources for
people who have been sexually exploited
by professionals in positions of power, such
as doctors, mental health professionals,
clergy, educators, etc.
If You Are Raped
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
You are not alone
If you have been raped, you may be feeling very alone and set apart from the people with whom you
normally feel close and comfortable. When you need their help and support most, you may be finding
that your friends and family members are also confused and upset. Communicating with others may
be very difficult. You may be wondering where to turn.
Regardless of what others think, you know whether or not you have been raped. If a sexual act was
committed against you in any way without your consent, you have been raped. If the sexual act
involved the use of force or coercion, or involved the threat of force to the point that you felt physically
or emotionally powerless, you have been raped. What friend or officials think or suggest is secondary.
Do not let what others think or say confuse you. You know if you have been raped.
Remember, you are not alone.
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Why were you raped?
Rape is a crime. It is a crime against you and it is a crime against society. Why are such horrible
acts committed? These are questions that no one can fully answer.
Remember, rape does not happen because the perpetrator suddenly and desperately needs sexual
gratification.
We know that many rapists have otherwise normal, active sex lives. There is no physiological “trigger”
that requires a sexual release through rape. Research suggests that rapists are seeking to satisfy a
need to degrade the victim, to have ultimate power over or to make the victim fear the rapist. This is
why you may hear that rape is an act of violence and not purely an act of sex. And certainly rape
is not an act of love.
Remember, no one is raped because of how he/she looks or dresses.
Anyone can be raped, regardless of appearance or action. You did not want to be raped, but it
happened to you. How you looked or acted did not cause you to be raped.
Remember, no one deserves to be raped.
You have the right to be in any place at any time without being raped. Certainly, everyone in modern
society takes some precautions, but precautions alone will not prevent rape. Many people are raped in
their own homes or while in what is considered to be a “safe” place. You are not responsible for the
behavior of the rapist merely because you happened to be in any given place, at a certain time or
with a certain person. Your rape was not caused by you.
Your response to rape
The one thing that matters most if you have been raped is what you think and feel about yourself.
How you feel is more important than how anyone else feels. This includes the police, judges, your
family, friends or acquaintances. How you think and feel will determine your health and ability to
function and find satisfaction. Remember, there is no typical response to the crime of rape.
Whatever you feel is an acceptable part of your adjustment. There are, however, many similarities
between you and other survivors of rape. Knowing you are not unique is important.
Remember, it is natural for you to feel upset.
Distress may take many forms. It may be that you seem to feel nothing—as if it didn’t happen. You
may experience a variety of psychological or even physiological disturbances. Headaches,
nightmares, anxiety, sleeplessness and sexual inhibitions are quite normal responses to rape, among
other symptoms. Any of these responses are normal. As humans we have remarkable ways of
protecting ourselves, and these responses provide us with normal defenses against the horrible act of
rape. Our responses mean that we are processing, sifting and making sense out of our experiences.
Remember, you can learn not to feel guilty.
Another common response to rape is a sense of guilt. What did I do to bring this on? What did I say
or how did I move? Remember that most rapists would have raped someone else if you hadn’t
been there. They are not interested in sexual gratification with a certain person. They intimidate and
abuse because of their own deficiencies.
Remember, it is not your fault you have been raped.
We often may wonder if we might have been able to prevent rape if we had said or done something
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differently, or fought harder.
Remember, you have the right to survive.
Bare in mind that fear and the need to survive are basic parts of human behavior. Once an immediate
threat is gone, we become more clear-headed. Before and during the rape, we may act in ways that
seem questionable later. Giving in to a rapist is a natural response. After all, you must survive.
During the course of a rape experience, some may respond physically as if they were responding to
love-making. Rape is not love-making, yet the body may respond to rape in similar ways. This is
simply your body’s way of protecting itself, not some measure of sexual desire or pleasure. Try not
to blame yourself for wanting to survive or for behaviors which now may seem somehow inappropriate
after the fact.
Remember, you will recover in your own way and at your own pace.
Your long-term response to having been raped may follow no set pattern or timetable. Some find that
they recover quickly; others feel that they will never get over the trauma. It may seem difficult to
believe, but others do eventually learn to adjust to having been raped.
Remember, it is important to resume your regular routine as soon as possible.
Try as much as possible to resume the business of running your own life. You may question your
abilities to do so because of the rape. However, proving to yourself that you are back in charge will
help you to recover sooner. Remember, you made decisions before the rape and can do so still.
Remember, it is important for you to share your feelings.
Feel free to tell important people around you what has happened and how you feel. Talk about your
feelings, fears, strengths, and perceived weaknesses.
Other people in your life
Support for rape survivors is more available today than ever before. Rape is no longer a hidden crime,
with its survivors ashamed of what others may think. You do not have to suffer alone the pain and
frustrations caused by rape.
Remember your family and friends.
One of the most obvious sources of support for you may exist among the people to whom you would
turn with any other problem. It may seem surprising, but often the act of simply talking to your
family and friends can be of tremendous help.
Remember, a trained advocate may be helpful.
Such advocates can be helpful for the following reasons:
1. They have talked to other rape survivors and are knowledgeable about the particular strains
and problems you face.
2. They have practical advice concerning available medical and legal alternatives.
Remember, there are also counselors who can help.
Professional counseling is available to rape survivors and is often free of charge. You may find
individual counseling beneficial as you work through your reaction to the rape. It may even be helpful
in your situation to pursue counseling together with your partner or other loved ones.
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Remember, you are in charge.
Remember that you and your feelings are most important. You have the right to decide what should
be said, to whom and when. You also can decide what advice to accept and what to reject.
Remember, you must help yourself in your own way.
Your goal should always be to help yourself in your own way. This may involve getting help from
others from time to time. You have the right to decide when to reach out and when not to reach out to
those around you.
Resuming your relationship
One very special issue surrounding the crime of rape is its effects on the survivor’s relationship with
her/his spouse or partner. Some survivors find it difficult to resume normal relationships with this
important person in their lives. What is especially troublesome is that this other person is often the
very individual the survivor has turned to in the past with other problems and concerns.
Remember, this problem, like other problems, can be worked through together.
Each of you may experience strong, but often quite different, perspectives. It is important to talk
about your responses with each other. Quite often you will find that more “common ground” exists
than may appear at first.
Remember, only you can say what is “right” for you.
Even in the closest relationships and even with common ground between them, two people may find
that they still disagree on what is appropriate. Therefore, you will each have to determine your own
methods for adapting to the rape. Helping and supporting each other is important, but you have the
right to decide your own future.
Remember, a third party is often helpful.
If common ground is difficult to find, and you and your partner disagree greatly concerning what is
appropriate, you may find that a third party is helpful. An objective outsider often helps to bring
together two emotional positions that may seem far apart.
Remember, your partner’s feelings are real, but they are not your responsibility.
It is important that your partner deal with his/her emotions without making your life more difficult.
Encourage your partner to respect your need not to be bogged down with more problems (for example,
anger, suspicions, remorse).
Remember, lovemaking and rape are two very different things.
Resuming and maintaining sexual relations with your partner may seem difficult at some point. This
is not unusual. One or both of you may feel uneasy in sexual relations as a result of the rape. It is
important to remember that the sex you shared with your partner before the rape is totally separate
from the rape itself. Rape is an act of violence, not sexual closeness.
Only the two of you will be able to decide how and when to proceed sexually. Try to talk to each other
about your sexual needs and feelings as much as possible throughout this time.
When the rapist is someone you know
Some studies suggest that well over one-half of all women who are raped are raped by someone they
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know. Many people, including the survivor, mistakenly believe that if someone volunteered to spend
time with someone who then raped her/him, it was her/his fault. Unfortunately, this line of thinking
is especially common when a rape is committed by a man who has been the woman’s sexual partner at
some time in the past.
Remember, rape is no less serious just because you know the person that raped you.
It is a common belief that when a woman or man is raped by someone she or he knows, it is somehow
less serious than when she/he is raped by a stranger. This is false. It may, however, lead to different
feelings, emotions and outcomes than would happen if the rape was committed by a stranger.
Remember, previous sexual relations with the person who raped you do not mean that you are
a poor judge of character.
Most rapists do not fit any particular pattern in the way they look or how they behave. There is no
way that you can tell who is likely to rape. It is not your fault if a friend or neighbor who seemed like
“such a nice guy” turns out to be a rapist.
Remember, try not to blame yourself.
Anyone who would rape you has very real problems. While every situation is different, remember that
inviting someone in for coffee, kissing without any intention of intercourse, or harsh words do not
cause a rape.
Remember, most people can still be trusted.
Perhaps the most difficult thing about being raped by someone you know is that, as a result, you may
have difficulty trusting anyone else. Keep in mind that most people are trustworthy. You can still
trust your judgment of people. You need not shut out the world because someone you know has raped
you.
Medical help
If you have been raped, it is important that you receive medical help immediately. The main reason is
to insure that you take care of any injuries due to the rape. This includes injuries you are aware of as
well as those you may not know about. This is true even if you do not plan to report the rape.
However, if you do plan to report the rape to the authorities, there is another reason to seek medical
attention—doctors and nurses are trained to collect evidence that the police and courts can use. Any
such evidence can help you prove what has happened.
Remember, if at all possible, do not change your clothes or take a shower before seeing a
doctor.
This is very important for the collection of evidence that may be used to prosecute your assailant.
However, even if you have changed clothes or taken a shower, you should still seek medical help.
Remember, you have the right to make sure that your medical attention is complete.
This means that you should feel free to ask questions about what procedures will be taken and why.
You may even choose to have a friend or volunteer advocate accompany you to the
hospital. If someone goes in with you, they can be of comfort and can help you insist on thorough
medical care.
What can you expect?
The kind of medical attention each person who is raped will receive depends upon the nature of the
injuries, the medical procedures used in each hospital and the particular doctors and nurses seen.
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Generally, however, you can expect the following steps to be taken:
1. They will ask you questions about your health. You will be asked about your current health
status just as you would be for any other medical need. You will be examined for any bruises,
cuts or wounds and receive necessary treatment.
2. A pelvic examination will follow. It is necessary, in part, for the collection of evidence. More
importantly, any damages to the vagina, cervix or genitals are assessed and treated. Oral and
anal examinations and treatment may also be performed. Any specimens relating to the rape
will be collected and marked for future legal proceedings.
3. Blood and urine samples will be gathered. This is necessary to test for pre-existing
pregnancy or venereal disease. In the process, many different health problems can be
identified by a blood test.
4. Head and pubic combings, as well as fingernail scrapings, will be taken. This is necessary
to collect foreign substances that may be useful as evidence.
Remember, you must be rechecked.
Any pregnancy or venereal disease that may occur as a result of your being raped cannot be detected
immediately. Therefore, make sure that you are rechecked by medical professionals for those
possibilities not more than six weeks after you have been attacked.
Legal action
We often hear that rape survivors face a second kind of hell if they choose to take legal actions.
Certainly no one can minimize the potential for pain that may occur during any legal proceeding.
Remember, the choice is yours.
One of the most difficult choices you may face as a rape survivor is whether or not to prosecute your
attacker. This is a choice only you can make, hopefully with the support of other important people in
your life.
Remember, tell your story soon.
Your account of the crime should be told to the police as soon as possible. This is necessary in order
to avoid forgetting details. Remember that merely telling your story to the police does not usually lock
you into further legal requirements. Talking to the police simply maintains your option to prosecute.
Tell the police officer the facts as clearly and as thoroughly as you possibly can. Your interview with
the police and other authorities should be as comfortable for you as possible.
Remember, keep the events of the rape clear in your mind.
Even if you don’t want to think about the details of the rape, you should do so to avoid having them
become clouded. Write out or use a tape recorder to note everything that you remember about the
event. Pay specific attention to where you were before the attack, what the rapist wore and said,
physical characteristics, your response, and any other important details. What may seem like an
unimportant detail to you may well be important evidence at a later time.
You may find this process to be helpful for dealing with your own feelings as well. Sometimes the
events of the rape, once written down or recorded, seem less overwhelming.
Protecting your privacy/Requesting a pseudonym
A survivor who wants to protect her/his privacy can request a pseudonym while making a statement to
the police. A survivor should request this when first making the report. Once a charge is filed, the
survivor's name can be accessed; however, there exists an honor system by which prosecutors and
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press typically do not reveal a name. Anyone with questions concerning the pros and cons of using a
pseudonym should consult with the SafePlace Sexual Assault Community Advocate.
Third-party report
A third-party report is an option for survivors who do not want to receive a SANE exam, for
whom it is too late to receive an exam, or who do not want to press charges, but who want to
have "something done."
The law enforcement agency will add the survivor's information to the other data it has
collected concerning assaults and assailants. This compilation of information may reveal
assault and assailant patterns that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrator and/or the
discovery of a serial rapist. A survivor does not have to give her/his name when providing the
third party report. There is no set time limit as to how long the police will take information
after an assault, although there are issues involving the statue of limitations that will affect
whether a case is investigated or not.
Important Note: Survivors who wish to pursue a third-party report should be aware that law
enforcement personnel might attempt to pressure the survivor to press charges at the time of
making the report. Likewise, if the assailant is caught and linked to the crime in the thirdparty report, the survivor who made the report may be asked to testify. However, because
sexual assault cases are very difficult to prove if the survivor is unwilling to press charges, it is
unlikely that a survivor making a third-party report would be subpoenaed to testify.
If privacy is a major consideration for a survivor who is unwilling to press charges, she/he may use a
false name that will be attached to all records related to the complaint. However, there are some
weaknesses in the law allowing protection of privacy in these cases. Anyone with questions
concerning the pros and cons of using a pseudonym should consult with the SafePlace Sexual
Assault Community Advocate.
What can you expect if you prosecute?
1. Expect to work with the police and the prosecuting attorney. No matter where you live, a
prosecuting attorney will be chosen to present your case free of charge. The prosecutor will
tell you what your rights and responsibilities are and accompany you throughout the entire
process. Feel free to ask questions.
2. Expect to work with additional authorities. You may be asked to tell your story to a Grand
Jury or defense attorney.
3. Expect that the actual trial will not take place immediately. There is a good chance that the
trial itself will not take place for several months after the attack.
4. Many trials do not result in convictions. Despite this fact, many people who have been raped
have found that prosecuting the rapist is very beneficial. It puts you in the position of power
rather than the rapist. Only you can weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
Remember, you have legal rights.
Your prosecutor will be able to tell you about your state laws specifically.
A final word
Remember, you are not on trial.
Your past history is not admissible as evidence against you in any trial procedure. Your past personal
or sexual actions cannot be brought up in court if you decide to take legal action.
Remember, you are your own important resource.
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You did not cause this crime in any way.
You reacted to the crime in the way that made the most sense to you at the time.
Your emotional responses following the rape are uniquely yours.
Take whatever steps necessary to work through the rape.
Medical and legal help are available to you.
You are still at the helm of your own life.
Acquaintance Rape
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
About nine out of ten rape/sexual assault victimizations involved a single offender with whom the victim
has had a prior relationship, such as a family member, intimate, or acquaintance. (Sex Offenses and
Offenders: An Analysis of Data on Rape and Sexual Assault, 1996).
Acquaintance rape occurs when someone you know uses force, threats or intimidation to get you
to have sex. Teenagers and other young women are especially vulnerable to acquaintance rape.
Statistically, your senior year in high school and your freshman year in college are the times when you
are most vulnerable to sexual assault.
Many acquaintance rapes begin on the part of the perpetrator, with the intention of having sex. When
the victim does not go along with this plan, the perpetrator uses more aggressive means to assure
compliance.
If you say “no” and are forced into sex, it’s rape. If you decide not to fight back or go along out of
fear, this does not mean that you consented. What you choose to do to get through the assault does not
change the fact that sex without consent is still rape.
Common reactions to rape
There is no right or wrong way to feel after being raped. People are different; consequently, they deal
with their emotions in many ways. Survivors will commonly experience these feelings:
Guilt
Worthlessness
Shame
Self-doubt
Shock
Fear
Loss of trust
Depression
Anger
Helplessness
Most rape survivors experience one or more of the following reactions:
Lack of concentration
Eating Disorders
Emotional Numbness
Nightmares
Excessive Crying
Anxiety
Sleeplessness
Mood Swings
Sexual problems
Alcohol and drug connection
Alcohol use is a significant factor in acquaintance rape. Studies have shown that 75 percent of young
men who commit an acquaintance rape do so after using alcohol. Also, 55 percent of young women who
become victims have been drinking as well.
Alcohol use increases the likelihood that a sexual assault will occur. Young men often see
themselves as more powerful and sexual after drinking. They also may misinterpret behaviors of women
as sexual interest. Their judgment is impaired and their tendency to be forceful is increased.
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A young woman who is drinking alcohol is frequently setting herself up to be victimized unintentionally.
She is likely not as capable of protecting herself. Her perception of danger is distorted; it is more difficult
to set limits and communicate them clearly; and her ability to physically resist is lessened.
The use of drugs such as Rohypnol and GHB makes it easier to victimize an individual. These drugs are
not expensive or hard to obtain. They are frequently put in a victim’s drink without her knowledge and
the victim can be incapacitated within minutes. These drugs can render the victim unconscious and
cause amnesia. They are also dangerous because they can bring on severe reactions such as seizures,
respiratory arrest, and even death.
Avoiding date rape
Most women are better prepared to avoid an attack by a stranger than an acquaintance. In reality, you
are much more likely to be raped by someone you know. The following guidelines should reduce
your chances of being victimized:
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Communicate assertively and clearly.
Expect respect and avoid those who don’t show it.
Know your own sexual limits and communicate them clearly.
Do not allow a person to touch you if it makes you uncomfortable.
Avoid excessive drinking or drugs as they impair judgment and communication skills.
Do not leave drinks unattended and provide an opportunity for someone to drug you.
Do not assume that someone else knows what you are thinking or shares your values. Try to
avoid situations or locations that keep you isolated from others.
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Stay away from men who are overly critical or belittling of women.
Make a scene if it becomes necessary. Don’t worry about looking foolish.
Trust your instincts—they seldom fail you.
Avoidance Strategies
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Safety tips
At home
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Have good (dead-bolts are best) locks installed on all doors and windows and be sure to use
them.
Be sure you know whom you are opening your door to. If a sales or repair person is legitimate,
they will not mind your asking to see their identification and confirming their identity with the
company they represent.
If a stranger comes to your door requesting assistance (e.g., to make a phone call, car trouble,
etc.) offer to call the necessary people for him. Do not make yourself vulnerable by opening
your door to a stranger, especially if you live by yourself or are at home alone.
For women who live by themselves, never advertise the fact by listing your full name in the
phonebook or on the mailbox. Use instead your first two initials, or even add another name.
Be cautious about revealing any personal information over the phone.
Draw your curtains or shut your blinds at night so people on the outside cannot determine who
is in the residence.
Do not hide a spare key in obvious places such as under the mat, in a potted plant, on the
doorsill, etc.
Know your neighbors.
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In your car
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Always make sure to lock your car doors, whether or not you are in the car. Always check the
floor and rear seats before getting into your car.
When returning to your car, make sure your keys are in your hand, ready for use in unlocking
the door and turning on the ignition. They can also be used as a weapon, should that become
necessary.
If you suspect that you are being followed while driving, keep on going—do not stop and pull
over—until you get to a place that is well-lighted and where there are other people to assist you.
If practical, drive to the nearest police station to let them know you are being followed.
Avoid parking lots and gas stations that are poorly lit.
Do not pick up hitchhikers nor accept rides from strangers, particularly men.
If your car should break down, raise the hood, and then remain in the car with the doors locked
until the police arrive. If someone should stop and offer to assist you, roll down the window
just enough to tell them that they can be of the utmost help if they would call the police for you.
Keep your car well serviced, with good tires and plenty of gas. This will greatly reduce your
chances of being disabled on the side of the road.
On the street
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When walking alone, act self-assured and confident that you know where you are going.
Walk on the traffic side of sidewalks, not close to alleyways and bushes.
Assertive behavior
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Awareness and assertive behavior may be your best defenses against becoming an “easy
victim.”
Real anger instead of fear may not be expected by a would-be attacker and may throw him off
guard.
Walk confidently, directly and at a steady pace.
If approached by what you sense to be a potential rapist, try to stay out of his reach.
Report suspicious or criminal activity to the police immediately.
If you feel that you are in danger of being attacked, try to escape the situation by running
away if you can.
Head for a well-lighted place where you think there will be other people who may be able to
help you.
Try, in any way you can, to attract attention to yourself. Screaming “CALL 911” or “FIRE” (not
“HELP” or “RAPE”) is a good way to accomplish this.
Take a self-defense course.
Trust your instincts. If a person, place, or situation makes you uneasy, leave or change it
immediately.
Use common sense. If it seems risky, it probably is.
If you suspect that someone is following you, cross the street or walk quickly to a well-lit
populated location.
Wear sensible clothing and shoes that allow you to maneuver or run.
Don’t load yourself down with packages, bags, books, etc. You will appear vulnerable for attack.
Stay alert and aware. Turn around and look at whoever may be behind you.
If you walk or jog for exercise, try to vary your route and time on the street. To be predictable
is risky.
Basic assertive beliefs to remember
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By standing up for ourselves and expressing our feelings, we can
Build self-respect.
Develop the respect of other people.
Encourage people to know and treat us better.
By trying never to hurt anyone’s feelings, we may
Deny our own feelings.
Allow harm to be done to us.
Not allow others to really get to know us.
By denying our worth or giving up our rights, we allow others to take advantage of us, and then
we feel worse about ourselves as a result.
By ignoring other people’s wants and needs or by not expressing our thoughts and feelings,
we do not allow our relationships with others to grow.
How can I be more assertive?
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Know your personal boundaries and communicate them clearly to others. That means you
have to talk about things like kissing and sex.
Make sure your body language or giggles do not contradict what you are saying in clear, direct
language. Let him/her know you are not kidding.
Use both “eye” and “I” statements when talking. Make direct eye contact with the other
person. Let him/her know you are serious—not angry—just serious. Instead of saying, “ You
make me feel….”, it’s better to say, “I feel….”
Own your own feelings. No one has enough power to make you feel any particular way. You
have a choice to react whatever way you wish to whatever someone else said or did.
Be aware of what the word “no” means to you. If you say “no” but mean “maybe,” say
“maybe.” It is important to always mean “no” when you say “no” and “yes” when you say “yes.”
Really listen to the other person. Ask them to explain exactly what they mean if you are
confused. Then respect him/her feelings as being real, as you should your own.
Four ways to be assertive
Broken Record: Calmly repeating your message over and over again or changing the words you use.
Escalation: Using broken record technique but making your message more forceful by shortening your
response, changing your tone of voice, or speaking louder. This is effective when a person when a
person is not taking your “no” seriously.
Shifting Gears: Changing the topic of the interaction from the content (what’s being discussed) to the
process (what’s really happening). Useful when a person is trying to manipulate your behavior by
using guilt, pressure, etc.
Time Out: Requesting that you be allowed a specific amount of time to think over your response to a
request, question, etc. Helpful when you are feeling pressured to respond.
Elder Sexual Abuse
Indications of elder sexual abuse
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Bruises around the breast or genital area
Cuts or lacerations around the breast or genital area
Clothes with blood stains or tear marks
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Soreness around breasts, genital or anal area
Difficulty walking or sitting
The concerns and experiences of a senior sexual assault victim may be somewhat different than that
of their younger counterparts. Older sexual assault victims face a number of difficulties that are
not necessarily experienced by younger victims, and leaving the abusive situation presents a
number of barriers to the senior as well.
Difficulties faced by the elderly
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May have health/functional problems that restrict mobility
Lack skills to seek and find gainful employment
Serve as caregivers to abusive partners whom they feel they cannot leave because of a sense
of loyalty, marriage vows and family solidarity
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Being cared for by the abusive caregiver
Having no independent source of income
Having lost family and friends through death
Having been isolated from family members and friend
Fearing loss of freedom
Have no experience dealing with legal or financial matters
Have become resigned to pattern of living that has gone on for decades
Lack of opportunity for employment and economic self-sufficiency
Loss of feelings of self-worth
Loss of pension and financial rewards brought to the marriage by the partner or caregiver
Alienation of affection from partner, children and/or other family members
Feeling that crisis centers and services are focused more on the younger survivor
Loss of a caregiver
Loss of a place that has been home for decades
Fear of going into a nursing home
Special considerations for advocates
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Be conscious of the profound affect that sexual assault will have on an individual whose
generation seldom mentioned the word “rape” or believe that it happened only to “bad” girls,
or that women who are raped are “ruined” and somehow are to blame for the assault.
Many survivors fear that others will find out, but it is an even more pronounced concern with
an older sexual assault survivor. This reluctance to share can result in an extremely
limited support resource network, thus placing a greater responsibility on the advocate.
Maintaining her/his reputation and respectability may be a major issue for this survivor.
Be sensitive to the fact that some older people distrust or are uncomfortable with a younger
person. For younger advocates, it is important to be especially diligent in treating the senior
survivor with utmost respect. Do not refer to the survivor by her/his first name unless they
have specifically asked you to do so. Help the survivor rebuild a sense of dignity and selfrespect that may have been damaged during the assault.
Follow the survivor’s lead as far as language is concerned. She/he may be sensitive to this
and it is important to emphasize the violent (rather then sexual) aspects of the crime.
An older survivor may have disabilities that are undetectable at first. Offer your assistance
and avoid rushing to maneuver them around.
Senility is a condition for some elderly people that may manifest itself in a decreased ability to
remember and cope with recent events, names, etc. A trauma such as a sexual assault is
likely to further erode their ability to think and function at an optimal level.
Older people may be concerned with the lack of control they feel in their lives. Wellintentioned individuals in their support network may want to put them in a more controlled
environment where others can care for them. As the advocate, you can be instrumental in
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whatever choice she/he makes regardless of how much pressure the family may put on you
to support their agenda.
The above information was taken from the January 2002 issue of the TAASA connection.
Helping Recent Survivors
When someone you know or care about has been assaulted, it is normal for you to feel upset and
confused. At a time when you may want to help most, you will be dealing with a crisis of your own. You
may experience some of the following reactions and emotions:
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You may find it difficult to listen when she/he needs to talk about her or his feelings. You
may hope that by not talking about it, the feelings both of you have may go away.
You may be tempted to make decisions for the survivor, to be over-protective. You may want
to hide the assault from others. You may feel disturbed or confused when the survivor
continues to be affected for weeks, months and even years.
Some partners may want physical intimacy sooner than the survivor does. Others may feel
repulsed.
Maybe you feel guilty and responsible, believing you could somehow have prevented the
assault. You may also feel anger at the survivor or at everyone in general.
All of these feelings are understandable following the sexual assault of someone you love.
Please know that if these feelings are hidden or expressed in hurtful ways, they can interfere
with the resolution of your crisis and that of the survivor.
The survivor may need your support and understanding. You, however, also need
support.
Rape is a violent assault, not a sexually motivated or gratifying act. The rapist’s aim is to
humiliate, control and degrade the victim. Because the same body parts are involved in
sexual assault as in making love, many people confuse sex and violence. Some respond to a
survivor as if she/he provoked, wanted or enjoyed it.
Many people also believe rape is not traumatic. Not understanding the reality of sexual
assault can make the crisis more difficult for both of you. The emotional impact of sexual
assault does not disappear, and talking about it can help. Your feelings are normal, and
resources are available.
SafePlace offers counseling for loved ones of survivors as well as survivors of sexual abuse or sexual
assault. To schedule an appointment, please call 356-1648.
We have extensive educational materials about sexual abuse and sexual assault available to mail out
to callers who request it.
This information was taken from the TAASA Sexual Assault and Prevention and Response in
Texas brochure. For more information, please call TAASA at 474-7190.
Assisting drugged and sexually assaulted survivors
A police-sponsored toxicology screening won’t happen unless a survivor agrees to and police
authorize a SANE exam. This is the only way that such testing can occur. We are not aware of
any facility that offers screening to indicate if someone has been drugged.
When hotline callers want a quick and easy response to the question “Was I drugged or not?” and want
the evidence to prove it, it’s better to address the possibility that they were assaulted and encourage
them to seek medical/police attention. Also encourage them to trust their instincts on the matter (Are
they sore in their genital area? Did they wake up in someone else’s bed, naked? Do they have flashing
images of an assault occurring? Do they feel they were drugged?)
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Determine whether or not you want to report the incident to the police.
If there is any chance you do (or will) want to, do not shower, bathe, douche, go to the bathroom
(urinate or defecate), change clothes, brush your teeth, eat, drink or straighten up the area until
medical and legal evidence is collected because these actions will destroy evidence.
Request a urine test as quickly as possible to detect the presence of sedating substances.
Every hour matters. Chances of getting proof are best when the sample is obtained soon after
the substance has been ingested, but depending on the substance used, the test can be reliable
even on a sample obtained 72 hours later.
Club Drugs
Ecstasy
Ecstasy or MDMA is a stimulant that combines the properties of methamphetamine or “speed” with
mind-altering properties. Considered the most commonly used club drug, many different recipes are
used to manufacture Ecstasy and as a result, quality and purity cannot be guaranteed. Ecstasy is
illegal in the United States.
Ecstasy is most often found in tablet, capsule or powder form and is usually consumed orally, although
it can also be injected. Ecstasy is sometimes packaged in capsules or generic tablets to imitate
prescription drugs.
An Ecstasy high can last from six to 24 hours, with the average “trip” lasting only about three to four
hours. Ecstasy is reported to cause euphoria and intoxication along with hallucinations,
depression, paranoid thinking and violent, irrational behavior. Physical reactions can include loss
of appetite, nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, increased heart rate and blood pressure, chills, sweating,
tremors, insomnia and convulsions. In addition, users are at particular risk of heat exhaustion and
dehydration during physical exertion, particularly when the drug is taken in a dance-party setting.
Herbal Ecstasy is a drug composed of ephedrine (ma huang) and caffeine (koala nut), stimulants that
closely simulate the effects of Ecstasy. Usually sold in tablet form, there is no quality control over the
manufacture of these products, and problems arise because the amounts of ephedrine and caffeine in
the pills vary widely. Adverse reactions such as high blood pressure, seizures, heart attacks,
strokes and death have been reported to federal authorities.
Rohypnol
Rohypnol is a strong sedative that is manufactured and distributed by Hoffman-LaRoche. A member of
the benzodiazepine family, Rohypnol is about ten times the strength of Valium. Rohypnol is
manufactured as small, white tablets with “Roche” inscribed on one side with an encircled “1” or “2”
indicating the dose. These markings are commonly found on other Roche pharmaceuticals, and a
pattern of abusing any drug made by Roche has developed. Rohypnol is illegal in the United States.
Rohypnol is taken orally, although there are reports that it can be ground up and snorted.
After taking Rohypnol, the user may feel intoxicated, then sleepy—a feeling that may last up to eight
hours. Rohypnol can cause deep sedation, respiratory distress, blackouts that can last up to 24
hours, and short-term amnesia. In some cases, the drug can cause users to become aggressive.
GHB
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GHB is a central nervous system depressant that is abused for its intoxicating effects. In 1990, the
FDA banned the use of GHB except under the supervision of a physician because of many reports of
severe, uncontrollable side effects.
GHB is consumed orally in capsule form or as a grainy, white to sandy-colored powder that is dissolved
in water or alcoholic beverages. It is sold frequently as a slightly salty, clear liquid in small bottles that
users pay for by the capful or by the teaspoon. Most GHB is created in clandestine laboratories where
purity and quality cannot be guaranteed.
GHB produces intoxication followed by deep sedation. Once ingested, the drug will begin to take
effect in 15 minutes to an hour, lasting one to three hours. GHB can cause nausea, vomiting,
delusions, depression, vertigo, visual disturbances, seizures, respiratory distress, loss of
consciousness, amnesia and coma.
Special K/Ketamine
Ketamine was used in the past as a surgical anesthetic, but now its use is limited to veterinary
medicine. Most supplies are diverted from legitimate sources, and Ketamine can be found in liquid
form or as a white powder that is snorted or smoked with marijuana or tobacco products.
Users experience profound hallucinations and visual distortions similar to the effects of PCP. They
call these effects “K-Land.” A larger dose can produce a more frightening experience called a “K-hole” or
an “out-of-body, near-death experience” that can last from 30 minutes to two hours. Ketamine can
cause delirium, amnesia, impaired motor function, high blood pressure, depression, recurrent
flashbacks and potentially fatal respiratory problems.
LSD
LSD is a potent hallucinogen derived from ergot, a fungus that grows on grains. Commonly referred to
as “acid,” a “hit” or dose can be found as tablets, capsules, liquid form, thin squares of gelatin or
absorbed on colorful paper to be licked. “Blotter acid” or paper soaked in LSD and sold as squares can
be obtained for a “trip” that lasts from three to 12 hours. LSD is illegal in the United States.
The effects of LSD are widely unpredictable. Users under the influence will have dilated pupils,
increased body temperature, increased heart and blood pressure rates, loss of appetite, sleeplessness,
dry mouth, tremors and sweating. A “bad trip” could include terrifying thoughts and feelings, fear
of losing control, fear of insanity and death and flashbacks.
Club drug risks
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Combining drugs and alcohol can lead to severe reactions.
Drugs created in clandestine labs may contain dangerous impurities and varying levels of
purity.
Heat exhaustion and dehydration can occur more quickly when dancing is combined with club
drugs.
Some club drugs can cause blackouts or amnesia placing users at risk of sexual assault or
other criminal acts.
Each of these club drugs has caused death.
Male Survivors of Sexual Assault
Note: SafePlace counseling is available to male survivors of sexual abuse or sexual assault. For an
appointment, the survivor should call 356-1648.
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Can men be sexually assaulted?
Yes. Rape and sexual assault can happen to anyone, including men. Thousands of men are sexually
assaulted and raped every year, and it has nothing to do with their race, class, age, religion, sexual
orientation, size, appearance or strength. A man can be sexually assaulted by a stranger, a family
member, or someone he knows and trusts. Experts estimate that one in six men are sexually
assaulted during their lifetime. Even though male sexual assault remains vastly underreported, the
United States Department of Justice documents more than 13,000 cases of male rape every year.
"What should I do if I am raped or sexually assaulted?"
Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Although you
may feel embarrassed about your injuries, it is important to receive medical assistance. Hospital staff
frequently see such injuries to the penis, anus and other body parts, not all caused by rape or sexual
assault.
Reactions during or after a rape or sexual assault
Sexual assault or rape is a traumatic experience. Sometimes a man who is sexually assaulted or raped
has an involuntary or forced erection or ejaculation. Also, muscles in the anus often relax when a man
is raped. This does not mean that the survivor wanted to be raped or sexually assaulted. Involuntary
erections and ejaculations are normal reactions to trauma. Most of us grow up thinking that rape only
happens to women. If male survivors think so too, they may feel isolated and alone. If people in our
community believe that, they may further this sense of isolation on the part of male rape survivors.
Men usually share many of the same feelings of female sexual assault survivors. They may have
feelings of guilt, powerlessness, shock, and anger. There may also be denial and/or concern regarding
their safety.
There are, however, special issues that may be different for men:
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Concerns about sexuality and/or masculinity
Medical procedures
Reporting to law enforcement
Telling others
Finding resources and support
Strong or weak, outgoing or withdrawn, homosexual or heterosexual, old or young, male or female, no
one does anything that justifies sexual assault.
Facts about men and rape
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Men are usually raped by other men.
Rapists who rape men are heterosexual in 98 percent of the cases.
Both homosexual and heterosexual men from all parts of society can be raped (not just in
prisons).
Men are less likely to report rape.
What can we do?
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Recognize that men and boys are sexually assaulted.
Be aware of biases and myths concerning sexual assault.
Recognize that the harmful sex-role stereotypes that create narrow definitions of masculinity, as
well as misconceptions about homosexuality, make it difficult for male survivors to disclose
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when they are raped.
As individuals and as a community, we must work to combat and challenge these attitudes.
It is important that male rape survivors have support around them and that they be able to
make their own decisions about what action to take.
Myths and facts
Myth: “He asked for it.”
Fact: Victims NEVER seek this terrible experience. This is true whether the victim is a homosexual,
bisexual, or heterosexual. Unfortunately, this myth is often reinforced if a victim exhibits no visible
injuries, the absence of which suggests to others that he failed to resist and, therefore, must have
consented. Rapists use violence or the threat of violence to overpower and control their victims.
Consent is based upon the ability to freely choose, and rapists do not offer their victims a choice. By
its very definition, rape is a nonconsensual act. Submitting out of fear is never consent.
Myth: ”Men should be able to prevent their rape.”
Fact: The message here is that failure to fight off an attack is a sign of weakness or cowardice, which
in our society is not “manly.” Little wonder that so many male victims feel a deep sense of guilt and
shame at not preventing their being raped. Perhaps this is why many male victims would rather
endure the private hell of never divulging having been raped than to suffer the humiliation of others
thinking of him as weak or cowardly.
Myth: “It was a homosexual act.”
Fact: Same sex rape, as in any other case of rape, is not a consensual sex act between gay men. Rape
is NEVER consensual, and it may or may not involve someone who is gay. In rape, sex is a vehicle
through which anger, control, and violence are expressed. Another aspect of this myth is more
complex because it is rooted in the fear and hatred of homosexuality. A consequence is that hatred
can be a rapist’s motive for rape. A person or group motivated by the hatred of homosexuals might
sexually assault a person thought to be gay as a way of seeking revenge. When rape is based upon
hatred for gay men, it quite literally constitutes a hate crime. Another consequence of fear and hatred
of homosexuality is that male victims of rape are viewed as homosexuals, regardless of their sexual
orientation. The stigma attached to the label of “homosexual” tends to negatively affect how others
treat male victims and to impede recovery. Regardless of whether a male is gay, bisexual, or
heterosexual, the rape victim’s sexuality and “manhood” are called into question.
What should you do?
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Believe him and listen to him.
Know what to expect and help him to understand what is happening.
Accept his feelings and recognize his strengths.
Communicate compassion and acceptance.
Treat his fears and concerns as understandable responses.
Work to diminish his feelings of being isolated and alone.
Help him to identify resources and support people.
Be yourself and stand by him.
Refrain from unintentionally humiliating him by prying into the physically intimate aspects of
the rape. Allow him to discuss such issues when he is ready.
Reassure him that he is not responsible for being raped. It is important for him to know that
you do not equate the attack with bad judgment or weakness.
Respect his fear. Offenders commonly threaten to seriously harm their victims if their victims
do not comply or if they tell anyone what happened.
Accept his strong feelings and his mood swings while remaining consistent in your support.
Do not tell him that you will “get” the rapist because this will cause him to fear for your safety.
Do not cause him to feel that he is “imposing” an emotional burden on you.
Do not tell him everything is all right when everything is not all right. Avoid minimizing the
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gravity of what has happened because it suggests that you cannot deal with it.
Counseling resources
SafePlace
356-1648 (Intake Specialist)
Individual counseling for male survivors
of sexual abuse or sexual assault.
Males/Others Helping a
Sexual Assault Survivor
The most common reaction among men is an intense anger and a strong desire to seek revenge against
the rapist. This is understandable, yet calm and reasoned judgments are needed. If you contact the
rapist, this can create legal problems and cause the survivor to fear for your safety.
Making threats against the rapist is undesirable for other reasons as well. Your anger and threats of
revenge shift attention from the survivor's needs to you. At a time when the survivor most needs
nurturance and understanding, the focus becomes your anger rather than her/his recovery needs.
The survivor may feel unable to talk about the incident because she/he doesn’t wish to upset you. The
survivor may even feel guilty for “imposing” an emotional burden on you.
Your anger should never be directed toward the survivor. Under no circumstances should you
accuse or judge her/him. It is important for you to remain calm and to give the survivor the
opportunity, if desired, to discuss the experience. What the survivor may want and need most is
simply to be held and spoken to with gentleness.
Communicate to the survivor that she/he is not responsible for being raped. Do not ask the survivor
questions such as “Why didn’t you scream and run? Why were you at that place at that time? Why
did you talk to ______ in the first place?” Such “why” questions convey a sense of being judgmental and
may make the survivor feel guilty and possibly even resentful toward you. The survivor needs to
know that you do not blame her/him for failing to resist the rapist or for being in a situation that
resulted in rape.
You absolutely should avoid suggesting that the survivor secretly may have enjoyed the experience.
Rape is a violent act that is not a source of pleasure for the victim. It is important for the survivor
to feel reassured that you do not equate the rape with an act of infidelity or promiscuity, and that you
do not see the survivor as defiled or less moral than prior to the incident.
Be patient, approachable, and willing to demonstrate unconditional acceptance. By giving the
survivor the opportunity to express feelings when she/he is ready, you will help the survivor work
through emotional conflicts and you will gain a better understanding of her/his needs.
There are several stages that the survivor may go through. The first is distress, which begins with
her/his responses immediately following the incident. These include shock, disbelief, confusion,
anxiety, crying, and other signs of emotional disorganization. Another stage is that of fear, anger,
embarrassment, and self blame. Another phase is that of apparent readjustment. That is, the
survivor may attempt to resolve her/his anxiety by rationalizing the rape. This may appear to be
a final resolution, but typically it is not; if anything, the rape may be constantly in the background of
the survivor's mind. There may be a reemergence of troubling responses experienced earlier (i.e.,
depression, anxiety, fear, etc.)
Do not tell the survivor that she/he “shouldn’t think about it” or “shouldn’t feel that way.” Telling the
survivor to ignore or to bury powerful feelings does not produce a sense of resolution. Do not deny
the survivor the right to her/his feelings or suggest that she/he is inadequate for failing to
control those emotions. This only makes the survivor feel guilty and guarded about expressing
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feelings to you.
Eventually, it will be important for the two of you to discuss the impact of the rape on your
relationship. The emotional consequences of rape are traumatic for all those involved with the survivor,
especially you. Calmly sharing your feelings and vulnerabilities with the survivor affords her/him the
opportunity to nurture you, just as you have been nurturing the survivor.
Suggested Reading: If She Is Raped by Alan W. McEvoy and Jeff R. Brookings, Learning Publications,
Inc.
Medical Care (Non-SANE) for Adults
After Sexual Assault
If an adult survivor wants to make a police report of her/his sexual assault and to have evidence
collected for possible prosecution of the perpetrator, the recommended location for conducting the
examination is the St. David’s Hospital Emergency Room. For information concerning children
who are survivors of sexual assault, please refer to the section in this manual titled "Medical Care for
Children After Sexual Assault."
The survivor will discuss details of the assault with a police officer who will determine if there is
enough potential evidence to warrant a SANE exam. If there is, the police will authorize and pay for
this exam.
St. David’s Emergency Room
919 E. 32nd St.
397-7111
Adult Survivors can go to other emergency rooms in Austin, but St. David’s is the recommended
hospital for a SANE exam.
Note: Local hospitals bill patients receiving treatment for sexual assault. Law enforcement does pay
for the services of the SANE, if authorized. However, there are additional basic medical
treatment charges for which the police do not pay. The services for which the patient is charged
are the following: pregnancy testing; post-SANE medical exams to prevent disease; infections;
pregnancy care; and any treatment received from an emergency room physician (x-rays, stitches,
etc.)
Crime Victims Compensation is designed to cover all of these costs. However, a survivor must
agree to cooperate (pressing charges, meeting with detectives, etc.) with the investigation in
order to receive reimbursement. So, because survivors will receive a bill of some sort, it is important
to discuss CVC with them as well.
Hospitals will not refuse treatment of anyone for sexual assault for lack of ability to pay.
SANE Exam Information
SANE authorized by police: When law enforcement authorizes a SANE (generally when a rape has
occurred within 72 hours and the police believes they have a legitimate assault claim that they can
pursue legally), the police will pay for the SANE examination. They will often tell survivors that they
will only authorize the SANE examination if the survivor is willing to press charges. This is only
partially true, for if a person decides to drop the charges after the SANE is performed, that is their
option and choice, and they will not be charged the cost of the exam.
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SANE not authorized by the police: If the SANE isn’t authorized by the police but the survivor still
wants medical treatment, the survivor will be charged for the cost of the exam, which is quite
expensive.
SANE not requested by survivor: If an adult survivor does not want to report the
assault to the police, and are therefore not requesting the SANE exam, tell the survivor
that she/he can go to a private physician or clinic to be examined, which might be cheaper
and faster than using the emergency room. In instances where a survivor is uninsured
and/or does not have a private physician, encourage them to use the ER for medical
treatment. (For other survivor options, see "Third-Party Report" in this section).
People’s Community Clinic
2909 N. IH-35
478-8924
Gynecological & general medical
care.
Planned Parenthood
South: 441-5421
Northwest: 331-1288
Downtown: 477-5846
Gynecological care, pregnancy testing,
HIV testing, STD screening, emergency
contraceptives. Sliding pay scale for
services. Same day appointments for
emergencies. Sexual assault survivors given
priority. At the downtown location, only Travis
county residents under age 24, by appointment
only.
UT Student Health Center
471-4955
For current UT students only.
STD testing, emergency contraception,
pregnancy testing
Travis County Health &
Human Services & Veterans
Services
972-5400
Medical services.
Austin/Travis Co. STD Clinic
15 Waller St.
972-5430
Screening and treatment for STD’s.
Austin/Travis Co. Health Dept. Clinic
15 Waller St.
972-5400
STD and HIV testing.
Brackenridge Hospital
601 E. 15th Street
324-7000
Note: Brackenridge will not prescribe the morning after pill because of its Catholic principles (they are
run by Seton). It is also less prepared to deal with SA treatment in general (no private, non-exam
room, for example).
Seton Medical Center
1201 W. 38th Street
324-1000
Note: Seton will not prescribe the morning after pill because of its Catholic principles. It is also less
prepared to deal with SA treatment in general (no private, non-exam room, for example).
Sexual Assault in Marriage
107
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it. It is taken from a
publication produced by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.
What is marital rape?
Marital rape is the term used to describe nonconsensual acts between a woman and her husband,
ex-husband or intimate long-term partner. These sexual acts can include: intercourse, anal or oral
sex, forced sexual behavior with other individuals, and other unwanted, painful and humiliating
sexual activities. It is rape if your partner uses force, threats or intimidation to get you to
submit to sexual acts.
Marital rape and the law
It is illegal in all 50 states for a husband to rape his wife. All Marital Rape Exemptions were done
away with in Texas on September 1, 1994. A victim of marital rape can press charges in the same
manner as in other sexual assault cases. This is done by making a report to the proper law
enforcement authorities. The interview and examination process is the same as with other types of
sexual assault.
There have been Marital Rape cases successfully prosecuted in the United States. However, only a
small percentage of these cases actually make it to a criminal trial. On a more encouraging note,
according to the National Clearinghouse on Marital and Date Rape, the prosecution rate was
considerably higher than for non-marital rape cases. Other women have chosen to sue their
husbands in civil court for financial compensation for their injuries and suffering.
Why is marital rape so damaging to the survivor?
Women who are raped by someone with whom they share a life, home and even family experience
profound psychological injuries. They are not only violated sexually but their intimate relationship
has been betrayed as well. Many victims of marital rape have to cope with a deep seated lack of
trust in their partners, acute fear, self-doubt and the overwhelming reality that this sexual attack is
likely to happen again. Research has shown that survivors of marital rape are much more likely to
be victimized on multiple occasions than victims of stranger or acquaintance rape. These facts are
coupled with the reality that most Americans still view marital rape as being “less harmful” than
stranger rape, so a survivor may experience limited support from others.
Myths and facts
Myth: Marital rape isn’t as serious as rape by a stranger; it’s just one spouse not being in the mood
and the other spouse insisting.
Fact: Marital rape is just as violent, just as degrading and often more traumatic than rape by a
stranger. Sometimes it is perpetuated repeatedly, brutally and in front of others, with knives or at
gunpoint. Most often, it is the final violent act in a series of physical abuses.
Myth: Marital rape isn’t as offensive. After all, the couple has had sexual intercourse before. What’s
one more time?
Fact: A person raped by a stranger has to live with the memory of that experience. A person raped
by a spouse has to live with the rapist. Many victims, trapped in a reign of terror, experience
repeated sexual assaults over a number of years. The trust and intimacy in a marriage is destroyed
when the person who has promised to love and protect, and on whom one may be economically
dependent, commits such a brutal and violent crime.
Myth: When someone marries, consent to sexual intercourse is part of the marriage contract.
Fact: Sexual expression of love is one thing. Forced, brutalized sex is another. No one consents to
violence by marrying, nor do they waive their right to protection.
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Myth: If prosecutions are allowed for marital rape, a lot of innocent spouses will have rape charges
filed against them by angry, vengeful spouses who hope to bargain for a better property settlement in
a divorce action.
Fact: This myth is built on the ill-founded belief that people are innately vengeful and willing to go
through the tortures of a courtroom trial to “get back” at their spouses. There are many other types
of complaints that a spouse could file in retaliation that would require less public exposure and
trauma. Further, our legal system has built-in mechanisms to determine the merits of a complaint.
Police investigators, prosecutor discretion and jury deliberation are employed to learn if a criminal
charge is true or false. Why should marital rape be treated differently?
Myth: Marital rape is simply one spouse’s word against the other. It would be difficult to prosecute
and hard to prove.
Fact: Difficulty in prosecution should not determine whether something is a crime. Treason,
conspiracy, child abuse and incest are also difficult to prove but nonetheless should be prosecuted.
Sexual Assault Survivor’s Rights
This information was taken from the Criminal procedure Reference brochure produced by TAASA. For
the complete brochure or more information, contact TAASA at 474-7190.
A sexual assault survivor has the legal right to the following:


Make the decision whether to file a police report or third-party information report
Use a pseudonym and have her/his addresses and phone numbers kept out of all files relating
to the case (CCP Art. 57.02). Note: CCP refers to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.
 Have the forensic exam paid for by the law enforcement agency (CCP Art. 56.06)
 Apply for Crime Victims Compensation for medical bills, lost wages and certain other expenses
(CCP Chapter 56)
 Refuse to take a lie detector test (CCP Art. 15.051)
 Have her/his attacker be tested for HIV/AIDS and receive notice of the test results (CCP Art.
21.31)
 Have her/his safety considered when bail is set for attacker (CCP Art. 21.31)
 Be notified of all legal proceedings after making a written request to be notified (CCP Art. 56.08)
 Write a “victim impact statement” and have the information in it considered during punishment
and parole (CCP Art. 56.03)
Receive notice of any parole proceedings and defendant’s release from prison after notice (CCP Art. 56.02
(7)]
Suggested Readings
About Sexual Assault
Bass, Ellen and Davis, Laura, The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual
Abuse. New York: Harper and Row, 1988.
Bass, Ellen and Thornton, Louise, I Never Told Anyone. New York: Harper & Row, 1983.
Brownmiller, Susan, Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc.,
1975.
Byerly, Carolyn M. The Mother’s Book: How to Survive the Incest of Your Child. Kendall Hunt
109
Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa, 1985.
Finklehor, David and Yllo, Kersti, License to Rape: Sexual Abuse of Wives. New York: Holt, Rinehart
and Winston, 1985.
Herman, Judith Lewis, Trauma and Recovery. New York: Basic Books, 1992.
Koss, Mary P. and Harvey, Mary R. The Rape Victim. Newbury Park: Sage Publications, Inc. 1991
Lew, Mike, Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Sexual Child Abuse. New
York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1990.
Matsakis, Aphrodite, Ph.D., When the Bough Breaks: A Helping Guide for Parents of Sexually Abused
Children. New Harbinger Publications, Inc. Oakland CA .
McEvoy, Alan W. and Jeff R. Brookings, If She Is Raped. Learning Publications, Inc, Holmes Beach,
Florida.
Rush, F. The Best Kept Secret: Sexual Abuse of Children. New York: McGraw Hill Book Co., 1980.
Russell, Diane, Rape In Marriage, New York: MacMillian Pub. Co., 1982.
Russell, Diane, Sexual Exploitation. Newbury Park: Sage Publications, Inc., 1984.
Warshaw, Robin, I Never Called It Rape. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1988.
Sexual Assault Terms and Definitions
Note: These are not legal definitions. Consult the Texas Legal Code for legal definitions.
Attempted Sexual Assault. Unwanted touches, fondling, or any failed attempt at committing
sexual assault (see below).
Sexual Assault is any of the following: (1) penetration (with an object, penis, digit, etc.) of the
anus or female sex organ by another person, without consent; (2) penetration of the mouth by
the sex organ of the actor, without consent; and (3) causing another’s sex organs to contact or
penetrate the mouth, anus, or female sex organ without consent.
Aggravated Sexual Assault essentially involves Sexual Assault plus one of the following
conditions: (1) the perpetrator causes serious bodily injury or attempts to cause the death of a
person in the course of committing sexual assault; (2) the perpetrator threatens with acts or
words to cause serious bodily injury or death, or kidnapping; (3) the perpetrator uses or
exhibits a deadly weapon; (4) the perpetrator acts with another to commit sexual assault; (5)
the perpetrator gives rohyphnol or GHB (date rape drugs) to facilitate the assault; (6) the victim
is a child age 13 or younger (the charge is then Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child); or (7)
the victim is 65 years of age or older.
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child. Any sexual assault of a child age 13 or under.
Sexual Abuse. A colloquial term that signifies unwanted contact of a sexual nature that
doesn’t necessarily include sexual assault. For example, fondling or coercing a child to watch a
pornographic movie without using force could constitute sexual abuse. Sexual abuse also
suggests an ongoing abusive relationship rather than a one-time sexual assault.
Incest (current). Any sexual contact between a child/adolescent and a person closely related
or perceived to be closely related.
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Adult Molested as a Child. Adult survivors of sexual abuse when they were children.
Sexual Harassment. Any unwanted sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or verbal or
physical conduct of a sexual nature which annoys or alarms a person, interferes with her/his
privacy, or creates a hostile environment.
Texas Sexual Assault Crisis Centers
Alpine
Alvin
Amarillo
Angleton
Arlington
Athens
Bastrop
Bay City
Baytown
Borger
Brady
Canton
Cedar Hill
Columbus
Corpus Christi
Dallas
Decatur
Del Rio
Denton
Dumas
Eastland
Freeport
Galveston
Granbury
Grand Prairie
Harlingen
Henderson
Houston
Humble
Huntsville
Jacksonville
Kerrville
Kilgore
Killeen
Kingsville
1-800-834-0654
1-281-585-4047
1-800-749-9026
1-800-243-5788
1-817-460-5566
1-877-647-3223
1-800-333-0358
1-888-311-7755
1-800-451-9235
1-800-824-4807
1-806-273-2313
1-915-597-7644
1-800-333-0358
1-469-272-9052
1-888-311-7755
1-800-580-4878
1-214-942-2998
1-214-559-2050
1-940-626-4855
1-888-774-2744
1-800-572-4031
1-806-935-2828
1-888-686-3222
1-979-233-7174
1-888-919-7233
1-817-579-6848
1-972-262-8383
1-956-423-9304
1-800-333-9148
1-800-256-0551
1-281-446-2615
1-936-291-3369
1-800-232-8519
1-888-621-0047
1-800-333-9148
1-888-799-7233
1-361-516-0288
La Grange
Lewisville
Lockhart
Longview
McAllen
Midland
Mineola
Mt. Pleasant
Nacogdoches
New Braunfels
Odessa
Pampa
Paris
Pasadena
Pearland
Pearsall
Perryton
Plainview
Pleasanton
Richmond
Rosenberg
Round Rock
San Marcos
Sherman
Snyder
Stephenville
Texarkana
The Woodlands
Tyler
Uvalde
Weatherford
Webster
Weslaco
West Columbia
Wharton
Wichita Falls
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1-888-311-7755
1-800-572-4031
1-800-700-4292
1-800-441-5555
1-800-580-4879
1-800-967-8928
1-800-333-0358
1-888-801-4357
1-800-828-7233
1-830-620-4357
1-800-658-6779
1-800-658-2796
1-800-444-2836
1-713-473-2801
1-281-485-0934
1-830-334-4556
1-800-753-5308
1-806-293-7273
1-830-769-4357
1-888-427-3650
1-281-342-4357
1-800-460-7233
1-800-700-4292
1-903-893-5615
1-800-578-8054
1-254-965-4357
1-800-876-4808
1-936-441-7273
1-800-333-0358
1-830-278-1067
1-817-596-8922
1-281-286-2525
1-800-580-4879
1-979-345-5014
1-800-451-9235
1-800-658-2683
Third-Party Report
A third-party report is an option for survivors who do not want to receive a SANE
exam, for whom it is too late to receive an exam, or who do not want to press charges,
but who want to have "something done."
The law enforcement agency will add the survivor's information to the other data it has
collected concerning assaults and assailants. This compilation of information may
reveal assault and assailant patterns that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrator
and/or the discovery of a serial rapist. A survivor does not have to give her/his name
when providing the third party report. There is no set time limit as to how long the
police will take information after an assault, although there are issues involving the
statue of limitations that will affect whether a case is investigated or not.
Important Note: Survivors who wish to pursue a third-party report should be aware
that law enforcement personnel might attempt to pressure the survivor to press charges
at the time of making the report. Likewise, if the assailant is caught and linked to the
crime in the third-party report, the survivor who made the report may be asked to
testify. However, because sexual assault cases are very difficult to prove if the survivor
is unwilling to press charges, it is unlikely that a survivor making a third-party report
would be subpoenaed to testify.
If privacy is a major consideration for a survivor who is unwilling to press charges,
she/he may use a false name that will be attached to all records related to the
complaint. However, there are some weaknesses in the law allowing protection of
privacy in these cases. Anyone with questions concerning the pros and cons of using a
pseudonym should consult with the SafePlace Sexual Assault Community Advocate.
Working with Survivor's Loved Ones
Areas to discuss with loved ones who want to know how they can help a survivor:







Believe the survivor.
Provide the survivor with a safe, non-judgmental “space” to discuss emotions
and feelings.
Allow the survivor to regain control over her/his life by making choices—even
when the choices seem small (what to have for dinner, etc.) Don’t promote
unhealthy dependence on you by making decisions for or being overprotective of
the survivor. Communicate compassion and acceptance, allowing the survivor to
make her or his own decisions to regain control over her/his life.
Don’t try to take their minds off the event or not allow them to talk about the
assault.
Don’t communicate any ideas you may have of revenge as that may heighten the
survivor’s worry about your safety. Understand that your own anger toward the
rapist is normal, but threatening to take the law into your own hands against the
rapist adds to the survivor’s emotional burden. Your threats and anger shift
attention away from the survivor.
Don’t question her/his decision making at the time of the rape (i.e, why didn’t you
scream, etc.) Remember that she/he made the best decisions possible at the time
and she/he survived!
Provide information about the healing process. Recognize and accept the many
varied feelings she/he may experience as well as your own. Know that there is no
such thing as a “typical” rape—each experience is different and each survivor will
reach in her/his own unique way.
112







Educate yourself about rape myths and your own biases.
Take care of yourself and know your limits—seek out support for yourself. Seek
support for your own feelings, to take care of yourself and so you can be available
to better assist the survivor. Remind the loved one that the hotline and
counseling is available for them as well as the person being abused.
Know that rape is fundamentally an act of violence, and any implication that the
survivor “asked” for it or enjoyed it in some way is inappropriate. Communicate
repeatedly that the survivor is not to blame for the rape.
Assist in addressing any immediate concerns (physical and emotional) and provide
information about resources (medical, legal, etc.)
Let the survivor know that s/he is not alone and that you will endure this crisis
together.
Offer to mail or fax literature about sexual assault that they can share with the
person being abused.
Offer loved-ones counseling through SafePlace—contact 356-1648 to schedule an
appointment.
113
Disability Services
114
Deaf Abused Women and Children’s
Advocacy Services (DAWCAS)
Services for deaf or hearing-impaired survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault.
Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Hotline Callers
A deaf or hearing-impaired client should first dial Relay, 711. Then give 888-915-8159.
The client should leave her/his name and telephone number and an advocate will call
them back.
DAWCAS can by contacted by email at the following address: hotline@dawcas.org.


Peer counseling and advocacy (assistance with paperwork, transportation,
accompaniment to appointments, court, etc.). They can access these services through the
above email address.
Sign-language interpreters.
If a deaf or hearing-impaired person contacts us and needs a service that is not listed here,
DAWCAS has encouraged us to call and see if they can help. For the hearing, DAWCAS may
be contacted at 888-915-8159. Leave your name and telephone number and an advocate
will call you back.
Physical Abuse of People
With Disabilities
Information needed to make a report of abuse or neglect






Specific details about the abuse
Name of the abuser
Relationship of abuser to the abused person
When the abuse occurred
An address where the abused person currently lives
Age of the abused person
What is considered abuse of a person with a disability?





Physical Abuse: Conduct that results in bodily harm.
Psychological Abuse: Threats or actions that result in mental distress, fear and
emotional disturbance.
Negligence: Breach of duty or careless conduct that results in injury or violation
of rights.
Financial exploitation: Theft or conversion of money or property belonging to the
elderly person.
Sexual Abuse: Any unwanted sexual interaction.
Adult Protective Services
1-800-252-5400
24-hour hotline to report abuse of people
with a disability by family members or
115
people with home she/he is living.
Texas Department of Human
Services/Long-Term Care Regulatory Hotline
1-800-228-1570
To report abuse of residents of
managed care facilities.
Resources for People
With Disabilities
SafePlace
356-1648
Counseling for adults and children
through the Disability Services ASAP
at SafePlace, offering counseling for disabled
people who have experienced
domestic violence or sexual assault.
Adult Protective Services
1-800-252-5400
873-6342 (local number)
To report abuse, neglect or exploitation
of an adult who is temporarily or
permanently disabled or elderly.
DAWCAS (Deaf Abused Women
And Children’s Advocacy Services)
Hotline Pager: 5123997552@airmessage.net
(512) 386-6172 (TTY)
(512)386-8101
http://www.dawcas.org/
Offers referral and assistance for safe
placement shelter for deaf or
hearing impaired survivors of DV or
SA. Peer counseling, advocacy and
sign language interpreters.
ARCIL
825 E. Rundberg, No. A-1
832-6349
Empowers people with disabilities
(physical or mental) to develop skills to
live independently. Computer training.
Capital Metro Special Unit
478-9647
Sends specially-equipped buses to the
homes of disabled or elderly people or
others who cannot use the fixed route
system. Must qualify for service and give
24 hours notice. Requests from
7a.m.-9p.m. M-F; Sat. and Sun,
8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Coalition of Texans with
Disabilities
478-3366
Legislative advocacy groups.
Austin Child Guidance Center
810 W. 45th St.
451-2242
Evaluation of children including
psychiatric and psychological services,
speech and hearing assessment, and
neurological testing.
A.I.S.D. Early Childhood Special
Education
414-3293
Preschool special education program
for children ages three and up with
physical, mental, emotional or language
disabilities.
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Children’s Evaluation and Therapy
Center
331-5488
Hearing evaluations, physical, speech
occupational therapy.
Settlement Home
836-2150
Residential treatment for emotionally
disturbed female children and adolescents.
Foster family program for males and females.
All girls foster group homes.
Early Childhood Intervention
1-800-250-2246
Assistance for babies or toddlers with a
disability or if the family suspects a
developmental delay. For children through
age 3. Services are free. Statewide
services.
Disability Assistance of
Central Texas
9027 Northgate Blvd, No. 101
834-1827
Housing, education, transportation
and counseling referrals. Job
search assistance.
Relay Texas
1-800-735-2989
711
TDD phone relay service. Voice relay
service operators relay conversation
between people with speech and/or
hearing impediments. Handles local and
long-distance calls.
Travis County Services
for the Deaf
512-854-9210 (TTY)
Sign language interpreters, information,
and referrals. TTY services. Case
management and advocacy. Message
center, and closed-caption movies.
Any Baby Can
1121 E. 7th St.
454-3743
Medical case management and
comprehensive care for families with
disabled or chronically ill children ages
0-12. Healthy and Fair Start program.
For ages 0-5. In-home child development
and parenting education. Child
development evaluations.
ARC of the Capital Area
476-7044
Services for adults with disabilities.
Austin Center for Attitudinal Healing
327-1961
Free support groups for families
with children who have catastrophic
or life-threatening illnesses.
Texas Rehabilitation
Commission
926-1446
Vocational rehabilitation service for
people with any type of disability (drug
and alcohol history, cognitive, emotional,
physical, mental or learning disability.)
The Beaumont Foundation
Of America
1-866-505-2667
Computers for people with disabilities.
Texas Comission for the Deaf
For those who have a condition that
117
and Hard of Hearing
407-3250
makes a telephone difficult or impossible
to use, this program may provide
equipment necessary to access the
telephone (i.e. hands-free voice activated
speech enhancement equipment, other
devices according to individual needs).
equipment, other devices according to
individual needs).
Speech to Speech
1-800-854-7784
Speech to Speech (STS) is a free
telephone service for people with
speech disabilities. STS provides
communication assistants who are
familiar with speech patterns and have
excellent language recognition skills.
The communication assistant makes
the telephone call for the person with
the speech disability and repeats their
words exactly in a three-way calling
environment.
Sexual Abuse of People
With Disabilities
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Sexual Abuse includes a wide range of sexual activities that are forced upon someone.
Sexual abuse consists of sexually inappropriate and non-consensual actions, such as exposure
to sexual materials (such as pornography); the use of inappropriate sexual remarks/language;
not respecting the privacy (physical boundaries) of a child or individual (e.g., walking in on
someone while they are dressing or in the bathroom); fondling; exhibitionism; oral sex; and
forced sexual intercourse (rape).
People with a disability are often unable to stop abuse due to a lack of understanding of what is
happening during abuse, the extreme pressure to give in out of fear, a need of acceptance from
the abuser or feeling dependent upon the abuser.
It can include any sexual activity with an elderly or disabled adult or child by a caregiver, either
while providing service for which he or she is paid, or at a caregiving facility or program.
Myths that contribute to sexual abuse
Most sexual offenders develop myths about their victims that they use to justify their own
inappropriate and illegal behavior.
The "Dehumanization" Myth
Sadly, people with disabilities are still portrayed and seen as less than full members of our
society. Such images allow offenders to justify their offenses because the victim is really not a
fellow human being. Since the offender sees himself as more human and therefore more
valuable, he sees nothing wrong with exploiting the individual he perceives as less valuable to
meet his own needs.
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The "Damaged Merchandise" Myth
The damaged merchandise myth asserts that because the life of the disabled person is
worthless, they have nothing to lose in death. If the sexual abuser employs similar reasoning,
it allows him to regard his victim's life as worthless. This provides an offender with a
rationalization for the choice of the victim, as well as erasing any guilt or inhibition about
exploiting a person with a disability.
The "Feeling No Pain" Myth
People with disabilities are often described as immune to pain and suffering. This myth allows
offenders to rationalize their crime by saying that the victim really wasn't hurt by it. Research
shows that people with all kinds of disabilities suffer just as much emotional trauma, physical
injury and social consequences of abuse as any other victim.
The "Helplessness" Myth
The portrayal of people with disabilities as vulnerable or helpless may contribute to their abuse.
The perception of vulnerability is known to affect the selection of victims by sex offenders. One
way to fight the myth of helplessness is through empowering education about people with
disabilities. We need to develop positive, more realistic images of people with disabilities. A
long-term goal for the empowerment of people with disabilities is promoting positive societal
attitudes towards disability. By helping our society to see those with disabilities as real people
with feelings, needs, thoughts and talents we can help dispel some of these myths.
What makes a disabled child at risk for sexual abuse?
While the disability does not cause abuse, it can and often does contribute to mistreatment.
Children with physical disabilities are at risk for sexual abuse through no fault of their own
because they may be:






less able to defend themselves physically.
less able to tell someone about the abuse.
unable to tell the difference between appropriate and inappropriate physical contact,
whether it be abusive or sexual.
more dependent on others for care and therefore more trusting of the person on whom
they depend.
reluctant to report instances of abuse for fear of losing their caregiver.
considered less credible than the non-disabled child when and if they report
sexual abuse.
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Child Abuse/Children's
Issues/Teenagers
120
Assisting Adult Survivors of Childhood
Abuse and others in Crisis/Supporting
SafePlace counseling clients in
between sessions
Many people in the community are unaware that the majority of clients served by the Sexual
Assault Counseling Program at SafePlace are adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. While
the abuse may have happened many years ago, most survivors live with the aftereffects of abuse
for years until they are able to reach out for help. The Sexual Assault Counseling program,
in partnership with the SafePlace hotline volunteers, provides a safe space for clients to
begin to heal and learn new skills.
Because many adult survivors grew up in an environment characterized by emotional abuse
and neglect, they were not given the chance to learn ways to cope with difficult feelings (anger,
sadness, loneliness). These are skills that many of us take for granted. Indeed, some of our
clients are easily overwhelmed by strong feelings that they cannot manage or modulate.
Much of our therapeutic work with adult survivors focuses on helping them learn appropriate
self-soothing skills and other ways of nurturing themselves. We also encourage clients to
call the hotline for support between counseling sessions.
As a hotline volunteer, you have a unique opportunity to provide the support and validation
that a client may have difficulty getting from those around him/her. Brief, intermittent contact
with hotline counselors can be sustaining and helpful to clients feeling overwhelmed by their
feelings, and can also help them tolerate the feelings that may get stirred up in the process of
therapeutic counseling.
If a client phones and identifies herself/himself as a counseling client of SafePlace, you
might pursue the following:


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Ask how you might be helpful to the client at that moment (if a client is unable to
articulate what he/she needs, ask if the client would like you to “simply listen” while the
client describes how he/she is feeling).
Ask for the name of the client's counselor and how long the two have been working
together; perhaps ask what the two have been working on together in sessions.
Affirm the client's decision to “reach out” to the hotline volunteer when upset, and
validate the client's decision not to “be alone” with her/his feelings.
Listen and reflect back what you’re hearing (“it sounds like you are feeling pretty
scared tonight” or “it sounds to me like you’re feeling sad about being alone tonight”).
Remember that the client may need to “borrow” your problem-solving skills to feel
calmer. Ask what the client has done in the past to soothe her/his feelings and help
the client recall times when he/she was able to help herself/himself feel better.
If the client is having a panic attack or flashback, suggest activities that may help
ground the client while you’re on the telephone. Try deep breathing, or asking the
client to focus on a specific aspect of her/his environment, such as clothing or the color
of the floor in the client's room (“Can you focus on your clothing for a moment and tell
me the color of the shirt you’re wearing? Ok, what color are your shoes?”)
Help the client think of specific ways to soothe herself/himself after hanging up the
telephone (think about things that appeal to the senses, such as hot bubble baths,
lighting a scented candle, listening to soothing music, writing in a journal, having a
pedicure). These kinds of activities tend to draw our attention away from our feelings
and provide a healthy distraction in difficult moments.
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Explore a client’s support system—friends, family, church, school counselor, etc.
Encourage the client to reach out to them.
Set limits as needed with the client, but do so gently and respectfully. (“We’ve been
talking for a while, so I’ll need to hang up in a few minutes to allow others to call. Do
you have some ideas about how to take care of yourself tonight?”)
Encourage the client to call her/his counselor before their next session if the client
feels the need to get some extra support.
As always, assess for suicidality if the client mentions hurting or killing herself/himself,
and follow the usual hotline procedures for intervening with suicidal callers.
Let your hotline coordinator know if you feel a counselor needs to be notified regarding the
frequency of calls from a particular client.
Always remember that no matter how overwhelmed or emotionally disorganized a caller may
sound, an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse has survived many years using her/his own
resources and capacities for survival. Survivors have many skills for taking care of
themselves and often need only a compassionate listener to help them find those skills again.
Child Abuse
What if a child is in immediate danger of serious bodily harm?
Call 911 or law enforcement immediately.
What if the caller is unwilling to contact the Child Protective Services (CPS) Division of
the Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services to make a report or is
unwilling to provide additional information for you to make a report?
We should discuss her (and our) legal obligation to file a report within 48 hours of discovery
of the abuse. If she is willing, try to address any concerns she has about reporting.
Ultimately, if we do not have enough information, we cannot make a report.
At what point in the conversation (when child abuse has been disclosed) do we let the
caller know about our obligation to report child abuse?
This may differ from case to case, but generally it is important to let the caller know as soon
as she reveals the information. Let her know that you would like to be able to discuss her
concerns openly and honestly but that you will have to make a report if she discloses child
abuse.
How can we offer support to a caller who needs to or is hesitant to make a report?
Let her know that it is seen as positive for her to make the report herself because she is
identifying that there is a problem and is asking for help. You can express concern for the
safety of the child. Validate that this is a difficult thing to do. Let her know that CPS is set
up to offer additional resources to families who need them.
What if a caller says that CPS has been called but nothing has been done?
If a report was taken when the call was made and the abuse continues to happen, or if a
report was not taken but the abuse continues, encourage the caller to contact CPS again and
give the additional information.
What if the caller has second or third-hand information that abuse is occurring?
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When a call is made, it is because there is suspicion that abuse is occurring. If the caller
has all of the necessary information, encourage that CPS be contacted.
Resources
Child Abuse Hotline
Texas Dept. of Protective &
Regulatory Services
1-800-252-5400 (24 hr. reporting hotline)
834-3195 (Family / Protective Services)
Justice for Children
(713) 225-4357
www.jfcadvocacy.org
Hotline to report suspected
child abuse or neglect
anywhere in Texas.
Non-profit advocacy organization
assisting children who are victims
of criminal abuse and have not been
protected/served by the system.
Center for Child Protection
1110 E. 32nd St
472-1164
Case management, workshops for p
parents.
Child Abuse Prevention Program
(Austin Stress Clinic)
1050 S. Lamar Blvd, Suite A.
326-1717 (8am-4pm)
Classes on alternatives for discipline:
behavior/anger management, nonviolence, responsibility.
Family Forward
(formerly Parents Anonymous of Texas)
7801 N. Lamar, No.E-180
459-5490
Support for parents at risk of abusing.
Self-help meetings and parenting
classes.
National Resource Center on Domestic
Violence: Child Protection and
Custody
1-800-527-3223
www.ncjfcj.org
Information, materials, consultation
and technical assistance related to
child protection and custody within
the context of domestic violence.
Any Baby Can
1121 E. 7th St.
454-3743
Works with parents of “high-risk”
children 0-3 years of age. Prenatal
education and infant developmental
programs, teen pregnancy and
parenting programs. Works with
children ages 0-3 with developmental
delays. Parenting classes in English
and Spanish. Offers ESL tutoring in
math, reading and writing.
CASA of Travis County
459-2272
Non-profit organization that trains
volunteers to advocate for children.
Children’s Services
105 W. Riverside, Suite 120
448-0187
Juvenile sex offender treatment
programs.
Communities in Schools
Abuse prevention presentations.
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(Pebble Project)
3000 S. IH35, No. 200
462-1771 (x133)
Telephone consultation (no direct
counseling) and information and referral
for child abuse victims. Children’s
programs. Educational programs to
prevent child abuse.
Community Advocates for
Teens and Parents
7501 Blessing Ave.
451-0252
Parenting classes to prevent child abuse.
Job training and computer training
available.
LifeWorks
735-2400
Individual and family counseling for
children who have been abused.
Mentoring and group activities,
Sliding scale.
MHMR
472-4357
Counseling around issues of abuse
and neglect.
Advocate Web
www.advocateweb.org
This website provides resources for
people who have been sexually exploited
by professionals in positions of power, such
as doctors, mental health professionals,
clergy, educators, etc.
Child Sexual Abuse: A Parent’s Guide
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Myths and facts
Myths
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Child sexual abuse is usually committed by strangers.
Offenders are dirty old men.
Offenders are crazy, retarded or homosexual.
Victims are usually sexually provocative adolescents.
Children often make up stories about sexual relations with adults.
Children are rarely affected by “gentle” incest.
Facts
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One out of three girls will experience some form of sexual abuse by the age of 18.
At least one out of five boys will experience some form of sexual abuse by the age of 18.
Many cases of child sexual abuse involve children under age five.
Ninety percent of child victims know their sexual offenders.
Sexual abuse within the family often begins in early childhood and may last several
years. Many children do not tell anyone about their sexual abuse.
Sexual offenders come from every profession and socioeconomic group. They look like
any normal person.
Young children do not know enough about sex to describe sexual behaviors that have
not occurred.
Child sexual abuse is a serious long-term problem and ongoing abuse can lead to low
self-esteem, guilt, shame, depression, difficulty in forming trusting meaningful
relationships, destructive ways of coping, sexual dysfunction, loneliness, isolation,
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and alienation, disturbed and confused family relationships, dissociation experiences.
How common is child sexual abuse?
Child sexual abuse has been reported up to 80,000 times a year, but the number of unreported
incidences is far greater because children are afraid to tell anyone what has happened, and the
legal procedure for verifying an episode is difficult. The problem should be identified, the abuse
stopped, and the child should receive professional help. The long-term emotional and
psychological damage can be devastating.
Is my child at risk?
Child sexual abuse can take place within the family, by a parent, step-parent, sibling or other
relative, or outside the home; for example, by a friend, neighbor, child care worker, teacher or
random molester. However, when the sexual abuse has occurred, the child develops a variety
of distressing thoughts and feelings.
Symptoms that may indicate child sexual abuse
A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse often develops low self-esteem, a feeling of
worthlessness and an abnormal perspective on sexuality. The child may become withdrawn
and mistrustful of adults, and may even become suicidal.
Often there are no obvious physical signs of child abuse, or signs that a physician can detect,
such as changes in the genital or anal area.
Symptoms may include the following:
 Unusual interest in or avoidance of all things of a sexual nature.
 Sleep problems, nightmares.
 Depression or withdrawal from friends or family.
 Seductiveness
 Statements that their bodies are dirty or damaged, or fear that there is something wrong
with them in the genital area.
 Refusal to go to school, delinquency
 Secretiveness
 Aspects of sexual molestation in drawings, games, fantasies
 Unusual aggressiveness or anger
 Suicidal behavior
 Frequent crying spells.
 Sudden changes in eating, such as overeating or lack of appetite.
 Other severe behavior changes.
Will my child need counseling?
Some
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of the factors that influence the effect of the abuse on your child are:
The child’s stage of development.
The child’s relationship with the offender.
The extent of the abuse.
The duration of the abuse.
The level of support the child feels from her/his family.
How significant people (family, community, and church) respond to the child at the
time of disclosure.
 How well the child was doing before the abuse began.
 The level of fear the child experienced at the time of the abuse.
 How responsible the child feels for the abuse.
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Though the child is in no way responsible, things the offender did or said can make the child
feel responsible. This feeling of responsibility is a treatment issue.
It’s important that a child gets a clear understanding that the sexual touching was abusive
and that it was not her/his fault. The child may have had positive feelings toward the
offender and needs to separate what was okay about the relationship from what was abusive.
Even a one-time incident can cause confusion and guilt if not handled properly.
Child sexual abuse has been covered extensively in the press and most people have read that
some victims of incest become prostitutes or drug addicts. While it is true that untreated
child sexual abuse can cause negative effects lasting into adulthood, do not assume this will
happen to your child or give your child the message that she/he is now “ruined” for life.
What can I do?
Child sexual abusers can make a child very fearful of telling. It may take a special effort to
help the child to feel safe enough to talk freely.
If a child says that he or she has been molested, parents should stress that what has happened
is not the fault of the child. Parents should seek a medical examination and psychological
consultation.
Believe and support your child. Let the child know with words and actions that you are glad
that she/he told you about the abuse and you will help protect her/him.
Be ready to listen but don’t pry. Sometimes well-meaning parents who ask leading questions
can confuse the child or make the child overly anxious. Allowing your child to talk on her/his
own terms gives you a chance to support your child and to see how she/he is thinking about
the abuse and dealing with it.
Treat your child as usual. Try to follow the regular routine around home (chores, bedtimes,
limits) as quickly as possible. Otherwise, your child may get the message there is something
very wrong and she/he is in some way “different” since the abuse. Also, the abuse cannot be
used as an excuse for inappropriate behavior. Though you will hopefully have some
understanding about why your child may act out as a result of the abuse and disclosure, your
child still needs the security of consistent and appropriate limits.
Don’t blame or punish yourself. Remember, you did the best that you could at the time.
Concentrate on the importance of your role now. Though it is tempting to distract yourself
with alcohol, television, food, or shopping, this will only delay the healing process for your
family.
Children need to know they have certain rights, such as the right to feel and express their own
emotions; to have their own opinions and likes and dislikes; and the right to say who can touch
their bodies. Learning that they have rights, plus having a healthy self-esteem, allows children
to trust their own inner world and sense of self, which may help them in sorting out confusing
touch.
Preventative measures
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Tell children that “If someone tries to touch your body and do things that make you
uncomfortable, say NO to that person and tell me right away.”
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Teach children that respect does not mean blind obedience to adults and to authority—
for example, don’t tell children to “Always do everything that the teacher or baby-sitter
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tells you to do”.
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Encourage professional prevention programs in the local school system.
What to say to a child who confides in you that he/she has been
sexually abused
If a child even hints in a vague way that sexual abuse has occurred, encourage him/her to talk
freely. Don’t make judgmental comments.
Show that you understand and take seriously what the child is saying. Child and adolescent
psychiatrists have found that children who are listened to and understood fare much better
than those who are not. The response to the disclosure of sexual abuse is critical to the child’s
ability to resolve the trauma of sexual abuse.
Assure the child that he or she did the right thing in telling. A child who is close to the abuser
may feel guilty about revealing the secret. The child may feel frightened if the abuser has
threatened to harm the child or other family members as punishment for telling the secret.
Tell the child that she/he is not to blame for the sexual abuse. Most children in attempting to
make sense out of the abuse will believe that somehow they caused it or may even view it as a
form of punishment for imagined or real wrong doings.
Incest
Incest is any sexual contact between a child or adolescent and a person who is closely related
or perceived to be related, including step-parents and lie-in partners of parents. The person
initiating contact is usually a parent or step-parent, most often male. Incest perpetrators
also include siblings, cousins, mothers, uncles, aunts or grandparents. The activity may
happen once or many times over a period of years. Such activity is illegal.
Characteristics of families in which incest occurs
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secrecy
isolation
psychological stress
guilt felt by victim of abuse
abusers are emotionally distressed, isolated and immature
abusers have false or distorted ideas about sexuality and believe there is nothing
wrong with tier abusive behavior
abusers think they have the right to control the family and behave in a forceful
manner
a non-abusive mother usually gives her children the feeling that she is unable to
influence what happens in the family. She may be overworked, ill, depressed,
economically dependent or cut off from social contacts.
What should a person do who suspects that a child is being
victimized by incest?
Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused in any way MUST report those suspicions
to the Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services at 1-800-252-5400.
What problems might incest create for children?
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Young children
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nightmares and other sleep disturbances
reverting to bed-wetting, clinging or whining
sexual knowledge, behavior or language unusual for their age
withdrawal from other people
frequent genital or bowel movement problems
unexplained gagging
agitation, hyperactivity, irritability, aggressiveness
loss of appetite
Older children
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depression
withdrawal
poor self-image
substance abuse
running away or fear of going home
repeated physical complaints such as infections, cramping or abdominal pains
muscle aches
dizziness, gagging and severe headaches
self-destructive or mutilating behaviors such as cutting, burning, tattooing and suicide
attempts
skipping school
change in school performance
seductive or promiscuous behaviors and/or prostitution
eating disorders
limited social life
Resources
SafePlace Resource Center
356-1648 (Intake Specialist)
Individual and group counseling for
women or men who have experienced
incest, sexual abuse or sexual assault.
Note: See “Counseling” sections of this manual for additional resources.
Methods and Styles of
Seduction of Children
Taken from The Sexual Exploitation of Children by Seth Goldstein, Esq.
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Affection and attention. The offender takes the child places, buys things,
impresses the child with the offender’s own personality, makes the child feel
loved and indebted to the offender, then becomes physical with the child. It
starts subtly and then graduates to more explicit conduct.
Mislabeing the activity. This could be done by tricking the child into
performing a sex act or by using a legitimate activity to achieve physical
contact with the child, from which the offender can derive gratification.
Misrepresentation of moral values. Possessing little experience or
knowledge, the child is easily convinced that the offender wants a legitimate
activity.
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Slow/subtle exposure to the concept of sexual activity. By constantly
talking about sexual activities in the presence of the child, the offender
slowly indoctrinates the child into the world of sex.
Curiosity. This is often done by leaving sexually oriented materials out and
available to pique the child’s curiosity.
Providing narcotics and/or alcohol.
Misuse of authority. The offender takes advantage of a position of special
trust and represents an activity as legitimate, using authority, stature and
stature to convince the child that what the offender wants is OK.
Rewards and bribes.
Blackmail. A threat may be expressed or implied by the offender.
Use of pornography. May be used to stimulate the child’s interest in the
depicted activities and lower the child’s inhibitions.
Threats. The only time a threat becomes necessary is to keep the child quiet
and to continuing to participate in what the offender desires.
Minor Survivors of Sexual Assault and
Parental Involvement
In Texas, anyone 17 or under is considered a minor.
When a minor survivor of sexual assault seeks to report the assault to law enforcement, THEIR
PARENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED. There are no exceptions.
When a minor survivor of sexual assault seeks treatment at a hospital, their parent’s
permission is required (unless it is an emergency situation).
Options for minors who do not want to involve their parents
1. Planned Parenthood provides minimal medical care (anti-pregnancy medication, STD
testing and treatment) at low costs. Minors should know that mandatory reporting laws
may require Planned Parenthood staff to report the incident to law enforcement and/or
Child Protective Services, depending upon the age of the survivor and the
circumstances. It is extremely helpful if minors are honest with Planned Parenthood
staff concerning why they are seeking treatment so that staff can provide all available
services and/or treatment.
It might be appropriate to discuss with a minor why it is that they fear telling their parents.
Assure them that they are not to blame for their sexual assault, even if they sneaked out
without permission, used drugs or alcohol, etc.
Our aim should not be to push them into reporting to police (and thereby notifying parents) but
rather to take seriously their reason for not wanting to and find some sort of acceptable
resolution.
Be sure that they know that a SafePlace advocate can accompany them to the hospital for
support and assistance with the informing of their parents.
Red Flags for Identifying
A Potential Child Molester
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Taken from Yello Dyno’s Anti-Victimization report #1
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If someone enjoys being with your child more than you do.
Your child has new toys or gifts that you did not buy.
A much older child or adult spends excessive amounts of time with your
child.
Your child speaks knowledgeably about places and/or activities that you did
not introduce to him or her.
A person continually offers to care for you child to give you time to yourself.
Often, he/she does not want any payment for watching your child.
A person comes to your house regularly to spend time with or transport your
child to activities.
A person engages in activities that involve only him/her and your child, or
activities that do not require others to be present.
Reporting Child Abuse
When someone contacts our hotline and reveals that there has been or may have been abuse
to a minor, we must walk a fine line between informing the caller of their and our legal
obligation to report the abuse while at the same time remaining calm, supportive and helpful
to the caller. This is usually awkward, even for the most experienced hotline advocates.
Some helpful hints about negotiating this are:
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If abuse HAS occurred and the caller is a parent, let caller know that CPS will tend to
view their call favorably and see it as an attempt on their part to protect the abused
child. To not report could be viewed by CPS as “failure to protect” and could result in
action being taken against them.
Let caller know that CPS does not routinely remove children unless there is no other
way to keep them safe and that this is the last resort. CPS often works with families
to find other ways to keep children safe.
Commend caller for calling and wanting to take action to protect an abused child.
Validate that this call may have been difficult to make and discuss and feelings that
the caller has around this.
Don’t wait until caller has revealed identifying details (their name, name and location
of child, etc.) to let them know what you are legally obligated to do with this
information. When caller begins to disclose this info, tell them openly and honestly
that you will have to make a child abuse report if it seems that child abuse has
occurred.
If caller states that they will make a report and will not provide the information to you
to do so, that is as far as we can go.
Important: If you document on your hotline log that child abuse has occurred, you must
provide corresponding information that a report to CPS has been made by you or why a
report was not made (caller identified abuse but would not provide details to report).
If a caller reveals child abuse but states that she/he will make the report instead of providing
us the information to do so, we are still legally obligated to try and obtain the information and
make a report ourselves.
If a caller is coming into shelter and does not want to make a report for safety reasons until
she/he gets into shelter, we can wait up to 48 hours after the initial call is made to our
hotline to report the abuse. However, if she/he doesn’t come to shelter, we are still obligated
to make a report.
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You must inform a supervisor when you are making a child abuse report and fill out proper
documentation.
When does a report have to be made?
Anyone having cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been or
may be adversely affected by abuse must report the information immediately to the Texas
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services.
What is considered reportable child abuse?
1. Physical abuse: Physical injury that results in substantial harm to the child (i.e.
leaves bruises or marks). Any form of corporal punishment may be considered abuse
when it results in injury.
2. Emotional abuse: Emotional injury to a child that results in an observable and
material impairment in the child’s growth (failure to thrive), development or
psychological functioning (not functioning at an age-appropriate level). An example of
emotional abuse could be verbal assault that is frequent, excessive and damaging to
the child.
3. Sexual abuse: Sexual conduct harmful to a child’s mental, emotional or physical
welfare—any sexual interaction between an adult and a child.
4. Neglect: Leaving a child in a situation where the child would be exposed to a
substantial risk of physical or mental harm, without arranging for necessary care for
the child. This law excludes failure to provide due to financial need unless relief has
been offered and refused.
If you are unsure if something is considered abuse, do not hesitate to gather the necessary
information and attempt to make a report.
What information is necessary to make a report?
If any of the above information is revealed to you on the hotline, SafePlace is legally
obligated to file a Child Abuse report with Children’s Protective Services. You will need to
obtain the following information:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Specific details about the abuse
Name of the abuser
Relationship of abuser to the child
When the abuse occurred
Names of adults responsible for the child
An address where the child currently lives
School (if any) that child attends
Age of the abused child
Names and ages of siblings
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Your legal protection when making a report
Your report of child abuse or neglect is confidential and immune from civil or criminal liability
as long as the report is made in “good faith” and “without malice.”
Good faith means that the person making the report took reasonable steps to learn facts that
were readily available and at hand.
Without malice means that the person did not intend to injure or violate the rights of another
person. Provided these two conditions are met, you will also be immune from liability if you are
asked to participate in any judicial proceedings that might result from your report.
Is your child abused?
If you are a child’s parent or guardian, you have a legal obligation to protect your child. If you
permit your child to be in a situation where he or she may be injured, then you yourself may be
prosecuted for child abuse.
The fact that the abuser is your husband, wife, or other family member does not affect your
obligation to report the abuse nor shield you from being involved in legal proceedings resulting
from the abuse.
When does punishment become abusive?
All children must be taught acceptable behavior. They respond best when they are rewarded
for positive behavior. Children do not learn good behavior from being slapped, kicked, shaken,
yelled at or shoved. Discipline that causes physical or emotional injury is abuse and is a
violation of the law.
If you are frustrated or disappointed about your child’s behavior, call your school district and
ask about the parents and their children classes. If you are uneasy about your own behavior
toward your child, call the Parents Anonymous toll-free hotline at 1-800-554-2323. If you
are concerned about someone else’s behavior toward any child, seek help for the child
immediately.
Suspect physical abuse when you see the following:
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Frequent injuries such as bruises, cuts, black eyes or burns, especially when the child
cannot adequately explain their causes.
Burns or bruises in an unusual pattern that may indicate the use of an instrument or a
human bite; cigarette burns anywhere on the body.
Frequent complaints of pain without obvious injury.
Aggressive, disruptive and destructive behavior.
Lack of reaction to pain. Passive, withdrawn, emotionless behavior.
Fear of going home or seeing parents.
Injuries that appear after the child has not been seen for several days.
Unseasonable clothes that may hide injuries to arms and legs.
Suspect neglect when you see the following:
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Obvious malnourishment.
Lack of personal cleanliness.
Torn and/or dirty clothes.
Obvious fatigue and listlessness.
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A child unattended for long periods of time.
Need for glasses, dental care or other medical attention
Stealing or begging for food.
Frequent absence or tardiness from school.
Suspect sexual abuse when you see the following:
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Physical signs of sexually-transmitted diseases.
Evidence of injury to the genital area.
Difficulty in sitting or walking.
Frequent expressions of sexual activity between adults and children.
Pregnancy in a young girl.
Extreme fear of being alone with adults of a particular sex.
Sexually suggestive, inappropriate or promiscuous behavior.
Knowledge about sexual relations beyond what is appropriate for the child’s age.
Sexual victimization of other children.
Disclosures by a child
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Disclosures should always be taken seriously, as children very rarely lie about having
been sexually abused. If a child discloses sexual abuse to you, remain calm and listen.
If you are the first person that a child tells about sexual abuse, your testimony as
“outcry witness” maybe especially important for future proceedings.
What you say that a child told you is not considered hearsay, but is admissible evidence
in a trial involving a sexual offense against a child. This exception applies only to the
first person a child approaches.
If you have reason to think a child is being abused
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Don’t try to investigate.
Don’t confront the abuser.
Do report your suspicions to Child Protective Services at 1-800-252-5400.
"What Happens to My Child
When CPS Becomes Involved?"
This information was taken from a brochure provided by the Texas Department of
Protective and Regulatory Services.
What is CPS?
Child Protective Services (CPS) is required to investigate reports of child abuse or neglect to
protect children. State law requires that any person who believes that a child has been
abused or neglected to make a report to CPS or to a law enforcement agency.
What does a CPS investigation mean?
When investigating a report, a caseworker talks to and visually examines the child reported
as abused or neglected. Other children in the family are also interviewed and visually
examined. Caseworkers gather as much information as they can to determine if abuse has
occurred, if the child is currently at risk of abuse, and who caused the abuse. After gathering
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all of the facts, the caseworker and supervisor decide whether abuse or neglect has occurred
and whether further CPS involvement is needed to protect the child.
Because I am in a family violence shelter, will CPS automatically
become involved with my family?
No, seeking shelter does not result in an “automatic” report to CPS. CPS would become
involved with your family only if someone reports abuse or neglect that affects your children.
Seeking shelter in a family violence program is a good step to protect your child.
How will staying in a shelter affect me?
Staying in the shelter may be your best option to protect both you and your child. Your work
with shelter staff and use of community resources is a good sign of your willingness to protect
your child. If CPS is involved, they may offer services or resources to help you as well.
Will CPS take my children away?
Being investigated by CPS does not mean that your child will be taken away. CPS believes
that children should not be taken away unless there is no other way to protect children from
harm. Only when there is immediate danger to the children’s physical health or safety, or
after a court-ordered removal, is CPS allowed to removed children from their parents’ care.
If my children are taken away, can I get them back?
Most removals are temporary for the protection of the children. Only in extreme cases are
children taken away permanently. If your children are removed, the caseworker will work
with you to make it safe for the children to return.
How will CPS help my children and me?
Your caseworker and supervisor will work with you to plan services best suited to support
you and prevent harm to your children. Some of the services that CPS may provide include
giving families information; referring them to community resources; providing child day care,
homemaker services or parent training; or help finding resources to pay for things such as
essential household items or utility deposits.
What happens if I already have an open case when I come to the
shelter?
Tell your CPS caseworker that you have moved to the shelter and let them know to get in
touch with you. Your caseworker, as well as shelter staff, will help you. They are concerned
about your safety and your children’s safety.
Will CPS tell anyone where we are?
The location of the shelter will not be revealed. Your family’s safety is of primary concern to
CPS. CPS is required to keep information about our clients confidential. The law requires
CPS to notify both parents of an investigation, but not the location of the investigation.
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What happens when I leave the shelter?
When you leave the shelter, you will need a plan to protect yourself and your children. If CPS
is working with you, discuss your options and alternatives with your caseworker. Having a
safety plan in place to protect you and your children is important.
Medical Care for Children
After Sexual Assault
Girls
For girls who have started to menstruate: St. David’s
For girls who have not started to menstruate: Brackenridge
Boys
For boys under 12 years old: Brackenridge
For boys age 12 years or older: St. David’s
Children Coping with
Separation/Divorce Issues
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
1. Your children need your support, understanding and love. Reassure your children
that you are not leaving them.
2. Give simple explanations about why you sought a separation or divorce. Details can
be frightening and confusing.
3. Your children will need constant reassurance that you love them. They may believe
that because you stopped loving your former partner that you might stop loving them.
They need to be told that this will never happen.
4. Your children will probably want to be with the missing parent. Although this will be
painful to you, give your children permission to feel their feelings. Tell the
children what they can expect regarding visitation with the missing parent.
5. Your children may regress for a period of time to younger behaviors. Don’t punish or
shame the children; rather support them so they can regain their former selfconfidence.
6. Continue to set limits with your children. Don’t allow guilt to cause you to be
inconsistent. If your children are out of control, they need reassurance that you will
keep them safe and secure.
7. Your children may be angry about the separation or the divorce, but may be unable to
let you know this. They may throw tantrums about other things. Anger is a normal
reaction to a painful loss. Help your children channel their anger in constructive
ways.
8. Your children may feel guilty about the separation or divorce, believing that it was
their fault because they misbehaved. They may test you to see if you will abandon
them or stop loving them.
9. Tell your children, many times, that they were in no way responsible for your
decision. It wasn’t their fault.
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10. Your child is still a child. It won’t help him to be told, “Now you’re the man of the
house.” A child needs to know that you will take care of him and allow him to be a
child.
11. Some children may be afraid to go to bed or to sleep alone. Even though you may be
lonely too, allowing him or her to sleep with you only confirms the fear that it isn’t
safe to be alone.
12. Children need permission to love the missing parent, regardless of how you feel
about that person. Don’t require them to take sides.
13. Communicate directly with the child’s father or through another adult. Getting or
giving information through the child can be very difficult and confusing for them.
Let the child know that it is all right to refuse to do this for the other parent as well.
14. After the separation or divorce, many parents feel that every bit of misbehavior or
unhappiness on their child’s part is a direct result of the divorce. This simply is not
so.
Domestic Violence
Reading List For Children
I Wish The Hitting Would Stop, Patterson, Susan, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, 1987.
This is a workbook for children who have witnessed domestic violence. It guides children to
think about important issues such as trusting parents; wanting to protect mom; things to be
done to protect the child; anger management; and making yourself feel happier. This book is
also available in Spanish.
Living With My Family, Deaton, Wendy and Kendall Johnson, Hunter House, 1991.
This is a workbook for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence. It
guides children to explore their feelings, work on anger management, and examine the
uniqueness of themselves and their families.
Mommy and Daddy Are Fighting, Paris, Susan, New Leaf Books, 1986.
This is the story of a violent family told by the oldest of three young sisters. The story is
reassuring in that the mother is loving and promises to care for her daughters even though
she does not have all the answers about what they will do to end the violence.
No More Hurt, Deaton, Wendy and Kendall Johnson, Hunter House, 1991.
This is a workbook for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence. It
encourages children to take an in-depth look at their feelings about being hurt and the
consequences of being hurt.
Something Is Wrong At My House, Davis, Diane, Parenting Press, Inc. 1984.
This is a story of domestic violence narrated by a young Anglo boy. It is uplifting to find that
despite this child’s intense anger and resentment toward his family, he is able to find ways to
make himself feel safe and happy.
We Can’t Play At My House, Boulder County SafeHouse for Battered Women, unknown,
1988. This is a guide for parents to understand how children feel when fighting occurs
around them and in turn how it affects their behavior. This book encourages parents to
become more confident in dealing with their children’s emotions and behaviors.
When Mommy Got Hurt, Lee, Ilene and Kathy Sylwester, KIDSRIGHTS, 1996.
This is a guide for teachers and parents to use when talking to their children about domestic
violence. It offers four major messages: 1) violence is not their fault; 2) violence is wrong; 3)
violence happens in other families too; and 4) it is good to talk about violence.
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Effects of Family Violence
On Children
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Information taken from Characteristics of Children Witnessing Domestic Violence
(Infants to Adolescents) by Maria Jose Angelelli.
Infants
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May suffer serious consequences—emotional and/or physical (may suffer from
neglect, may be abused)
Basic needs for attachment may be significantly disrupted. Routines (sleeping,
feeding) may become far from normal. Parents unable to handle the stressful
demands of an infant. Infant will recognize the lack of availability of parents. Severe
separation anxiety.
May be injured in violent episode by being “caught in the crossfire.” Infant may be
accidentally hit, pushed or dropped. The mother may hold infant to keep she and the
infant safe but discover that the father has no regard for the infant’s physical and
emotional vulnerability.
Irritable
Difficulty sleeping
Diarrhea
Frequently ill
Toddlers / Preschoolers
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May suffer serious consequences—emotional and/or physical (may be abused or may
try to intervene to defend mother).
Irritable
Reluctant to leave their mother-separation anxiety
Fearful of being alone
Somatic complaints
Regress to earlier stages of functioning
May feel responsible for what is happening
Open about the violence in the family
Elementary school age
Look to their parents as significant role models. Boys may learn that violence is an
appropriate way of resolving conflict. Girls may learn that victimization is inevitable and no
one can help change this pattern.
Significant emotional difficulties include the following:
 Shame (hidden violence)
 Embarrassed (family secret)
 Guilt (should somehow prevent the violence)
 Fear/Anxiety (waiting for the next violent episode, feel no safety in their own home,
spend most of school hours inattentive and distracted)
 Divided sense of loyalty (want to protect mother, respect/fear father’s right to control
the family)
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Feelings fluctuate with the idea that someone will rescue them.
Undermining of self-esteem
Undermining of confidence for their future.
Few opportunities to develop resources outside the family (few extracurricular
activities) due to batterer’s domination and control.
Males: Aggressive, disruptive behavior, fighting with siblings/peers.
Females: Array of somatic complaints, withdrawn, passive, clinging, anxious, verbal about
home life, may feel responsible for what is happening.
Adolescents
This is the time when children first develop intimate relationships outside the family. They
begin to practice the sex roles and communication patterns that they have learned at home.
They may
 Be guarded /secretive about their family situation.
 May deny violence occurs.
 May feel anger/loss of respect for mother.
 May confront mother with the fact that they cannot live with violence anymore.
 May runaway (interviews of runaway children/adolescents point to family
conflict and exposure to family violence as a major factor in the decision to run
away).
 Some adolescents may take on additional responsibilities to keep peace in the home: may
feel they cannot leave home because they have to protect their mother, sisters or brothers,
may try to calm the batterer.
 Males: May begin to identify with father (becoming abusive themselves).
 Females: Have a generalized distrust of men and see violence as inevitable.
For all ages
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Sense of isolation and helplessness.
Initial method of problem solving is by hitting.
Tend to have some developmental delays.
Suffer from a high degree of anxiety.
As child matures, the degree of sympathy towards the mother begins to wane and may be
replaced by overt hostility.
Redirecting
Aggressive Play In Children
Information taken from Texas Child Care, Summer 1995. Article written by Valerie Ramos-Ford.
What does aggressive play teach children?
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To solve arguments by fighting
To equate violence and aggression with fun and entertainment
That aggression is rewarded
To admire and emulate characters who use aggression to get what they want
That the strongest and biggest always wins
That even “good guys” use violence to accomplish their goals
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That people don't really get hurt as a consequence of violence and aggression
That aggression gives a (false) sense of strength, confidence and control
What do toy weapons teach children?
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That
That
That
That
That
it is acceptable for children to use and own weapons
guns and other weapons are for playing
you can use a weapon to get what you want
guns and weapons do not really hurt or kill people
weapons can be used to solve problems
What does empowering play teach children?
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To solve conflicts in effective, nonviolent ways
To develop useful, positive social and physical skills
To express feelings in appropriate ways
To share and take turns
To appreciate and respect others
To admire and emulate positive, healthy, helpful role models
That hurting others is never OK
That real strength, confidence and control come from learning new things
Suggestions for redirecting aggressive play
1. Show children that they are admired for being themselves and doing the things
children do naturally. Give them opportunities to feel successful everyday and acknowledge
their progress in small steps. Help children mark their progress as individuals and learners.
Help children discover something in which they have a special talent or interest. Allow
children to feel important and involved.
2. Help children express their feelings in a variety of ways. Remind children to use words.
For example, if a child starts pushing or hitting to get something, say, “It looks like you want
to play with the blocks. Ask John if you can have a turn now.” Model appropriate language
for children. Speak in the way you want them to speak to others. Avoid harsh,
humiliating or intimidating language. Take children’s feelings seriously. Treat them with the
same respect and dignity with which you would treat anyone else. Be there when they ask
for help. Encourage children to express their feelings by drawing pictures, telling stories or
dancing. Suggest safe, appropriate physical activities to express aggressive feelings.
3. Encourage cooperative play and behavior. Have clear and consistent rules regarding
what you consider safe, appropriate play. Caregivers are responsible for teaching children
other ways by modeling, creating and consistently reinforcing positive behavior. Turn
negative, dangerous play into safe, positive play. Help children understand that they don’t
always need to fight for what they want, to win at the expense of someone else or even win all
the time. Avoid resorting to the old adage “boys will be boys”.
4. Help children choose appropriate characters to model. Introduce children to the many
positive role models in the community. Read and tell stories about real or fictional characters
that model positive, cooperative behavior. Discuss how they use skill and intelligence rather
than violence to accomplish their goals. Help them create new, positive, nonviolent heroes.
5. Redirect the physical energy involved in aggressive play. Encourage a variety of active,
challenging, safe, cooperative physical activities for indoor and outdoor playtimes.
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9 Effective Things to do Instead of
Spanking
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Information is taken from the Redirection Connection, phone number 512-3298806; www.redirectionconnection.com.
Research confirms what many parents instinctively feel when they don’t like to spank
their children, but they don’t know what else to do. The latest research from Dr. Murray
Straus at the Family Research Laboratory affirms that spanking teaches children to use
acts of aggression and violence to solve their problems. It only teaches and perpetuates
more violence, the very thing our society is so concerned about. This research further
shows that children who have been spanked are more prone to low self-esteem,
depression and accept lower paying jobs as adults. So, what do you do instead?
1.) Get calm. First, if you feel angry and out of control and you want to spank or
slap your child, leave the situation if you can. Calm down and get quiet. In that
quiet time, you will often find an alternative or solution to the problem.
Sometimes parents lose it because they are under a lot of stress. Dinner is
boiling over, the kids are fighting, the phone is ringing and your child drops a
can of peas—you lose it. If you can’t leave the situation, then mentally step back
and count to ten.
2.) Take time for yourself. Parents are more prone to use spanking when they
haven’t had any time to themselves and feel depleted and hurried. So, it is
important for parents to take some time for themselves to exercise, read, take a
walk or pray.
3.) Be kind but firm. Another frustrating situation where parents tend to spank is
when your child hasn’t listened to your repeated requests to behave. Finally, you
spank to get your child to act appropriately. Another solution in these situations
is to get down on your child’s level, make eye contact, touch him gently and tell
him, in a short, kind but firm phrase what it is you want him to do. For
example, “I want you to play quietly.”
4.) Give choices. Giving your child a choice is an effective alternative to spanking.
If she is playing with her food at the table, ask “Would you like to stop playing
with your food, or would you like to leave the table?”. If the child continues to
play with her food, you use kind but firm action by helping her down from the
table. Then, tell her that she can return to the table when she is ready to eat her
food rather than playing in it.
5.) Use logical consequences. Consequences that are logically related to the
behavior help to teach children responsibility. For example, your child breaks a
neighbor’s window and you punish him by spanking him. What does he learn
about the situation? He may learn to never do that again, but he also learns he
needs to hide his mistakes, blame it on someone else, lie, or simply not get
caught. He may decide that he is bad or he feels anger and revenge toward the
parent who spanked him. When you spank a child, he may behave because he is
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afraid to get hit again. However, do you want him to behave because he is afraid
of you or because he respects you?
Compare that situation to a child who breaks a neighbor’s window and his
parent says,” I see you have broken the window, what will you do to repair it?”
using a kind but firm tone of voice. The child decides to mow the neighbor’s lawn
and wash his car several times to repay the cost of repairing the window. What
does the child learn in this situation? That mistakes are an inevitable part of life
and that it isn’t so important that he made the mistake, but that he take
responsibility to repair the mistake. The focus is taken off the mistake and put
on taking responsibility for repairing it. The child feels no anger or revenge
toward his parent. And, most importantly, the child’s self-esteem is not
damaged.
6.) Do make-ups. When children break agreements, parents tend to want to punish
them. An alternative is to have your child do a make-up. A make-up is
something that people do to put themselves back into integrity with the person
that they broke the agreement with. For example, several boys were at a sleepover at Larry’s home. His father requested that they not leave the house after
midnight. The boys broke their agreement. The father was angry and punished
them by telling them that they couldn’t have a sleep-over for two months. Larry
and his friends became angry, sullen and uncooperative as the result of the
punishment. The father realized what he had done. He apologized for punishing
them and told them how betrayed he felt and discussed the importance of
keeping their word. He then asked the boys for a make-up. They decided to cut
the lumber that the father needed to have cut in the backyard. The boys became
excited and enthusiastic about the project and later kept their word on future
sleep-overs.
7.) Withdraw from conflict. Children who sass parents may provoke a parent to
slap. In this situation, it is best if you withdraw from the situation immediately.
Do not leave the room in anger or in defeat. Calmly say, “I’ll be in the next room
when you want to talk more respectfully.”
8.) Use kind but firm action. Instead of smacking an infant’s hand or bottom when
she touches something she isn’t supposed to, kindly but firmly pick her up and
take her to the next room. Offer her a toy or another item to distract her and
say, ”You can try again later.” You may have to take her out several times if she
is persistent.
9.) Inform children ahead of time. A child’s temper tantrum can easily set a
parent off. Children frequently throw tantrums when they feel uninformed or
powerless in a situation. Instead of telling your child he has to leave his friend’s
house at a moment’s notice, tell him that you will be leaving in five minutes.
This allows the child to complete what he was in the process of doing.
Aggression is an obvious form of perpetuating violence in society. A more subtle
form of this is spanking because it takes its toll on a child’s self-esteem, dampening his
enthusiasm and causing him to be rebellious and uncooperative. Consider for a moment
the vision of a family that knows how to win cooperation and creatively solve their
problems without using force or violence. The alternatives are limitless and the results
are calmer parents who feel more supported.
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Counseling—Children/Teens
SafePlace School-Based Services
Individual counseling for students
/teens experiencing domestic
violence or sexual assault/abuse
issues. To access services, students
should go through their school counselor.
The counselor should contact SafePlace at
267-SAFE. Counseling is at the school.
MHMR Crisis Hotline
472-4357
445-7750 [confidential complaints, feedback]
Information and referral service,
entry point to all MHMR services.
Austin Child Guidance Center
810 W. 45th St.
451-2242
Therapy, testing, counseling and
evaluation of children and teens
who are emotionally disturbed, have
behavioral problems, learning
disabilities, or are victims of abuse.
Sliding scale fees. Travis county.
Austin Travis County Mental Health
Mental Retardation Center
56 East Ave
454-3521
Emergency psychiatric care .
Counseling by phone or face-to-face
for crisis counseling and intervention.
24h walk-in service.
Child and Adolescent
Psychiatric Services
(CAPS)-Austin State Hospital
452-0381
Psychiatric care for children up to
18 years old who are a danger to
themselves or others.
Children's Services
Family Treatment Program
105 W. Riverside, No. 120
448-0187
Individual, group and family
treatment for ages 4-17.
Psychological evaluations.
Sliding scale fees.
LifeWorks
3700 S. 1st Street
735-2400 (intake)
Crisis counseling to youth ages 717 and their families. Youth shelter
and mentoring. Sliding fees.
Out Youth
909 E. 49-½ St.
419-1233
www.outyouth.org
Provides support groups
for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and questioning youth age
12-19
National Runaway Switchboard
1-800-RUNAWAY
24-hour hotline for runaways and
youth crisis. information and
referrals for shelter, food, medical
assistance. Also serves concerned
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parents and friends.
Teen & Family Counseling Center
3536 Bee Cave Rd., No. 100
327-5040
Substance abuse programs
available to teens and their families,
general counseling for children and
adults.
Teen Helpline (LifeWorks)
441-8336
735-2400 (24 hours)
Telephone counseling for teens on a
variety of issues.
LifeWorks
735-2400
Counseling for teens who are
pregnant or who are parents.
Youth Crisis Hotline
1-800-442-4673 (HOPE)
Referral hotline for teens 17 and
under in crisis. Not a counseling
hotline for parents or adults.
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
1400 Tillery
472-5437
Provides a one-on-one relationship
between a screened adult
volunteer and a child from a
single-parent home.
Communities in Schools
462-1771
Dropout Prevention and counseling
to teen parents attending AISD
schools. Family and group therapy.
Referrals provided as well.
Helping a Teen
In An Abusive Relationship
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Don’t be critical of her or her boyfriend.
Don’t ask blaming questions such as, “Why don’t you just break up with him?” or
“What did you to provoke him?”
Don’t pressure decisions.
Don’t forbid teens to see each other or talk to each other.
Don’t talk to both teens together. The victim might feel inhibited about what she can
say.
Don’t assume that she wants to leave the relationship.
Do listen and believe.
Do offer to go with her to get help or talk to a professional.
Do make a firm statement that violence under any circumstances is unacceptable.
Do be a role-model for healthy relationships.
If there are problems in the family, seek help so she will not feel that the relationship
is a way out.
Do assist the teen in getting legal or other protection.
For more information about SafePlace Teen programs, contact 267-SAFE.
Reporting Teen Sexual Abuse
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Sexual abuse by family member or caregiver
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If a person age 17 or younger is sexually abused by a family member or caregiver, this
must be reported to the Child Protective Services (CPS) Division of the Texas Department
of Protective & Regulatory Services (PRS) at 1-800-252-5400.
If a person is 17 or younger and has been sexually abused within the past three years,
and the child continues to have contact with the perpetrator, this must be reported to
PRS at 1-800-252-5400.
If a person is 17 or younger and has been sexually abused within the past three years but
does not have contact with the perpetrator, a report must be made with the Austin Police
Department’s Child Abuse Division at 974-6880.
If a person is 17 or younger and has been sexually abused but the perpetrator does not
live with the child, a report must be made with the Austin Police Department’s Child
Abuse Division at 974-6880.
Sexual abuse by a stranger or acquaintance
If a person who is 17 or younger is sexually assaulted by a stranger or acquaintance, the
assault must be reported to the Austin Police Department’s Child Abuse Division at 9746880.
Sexual contact, consensual or not, with another child, teen or
adult
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If a person is 13 or younger and has sexual contact with an adult, consensual or not, it is
considered child abuse and must be reported to the Austin Police Department’s Child
Abuse Division at 974-6880.
If a person ages 14, 15, or 16, and the person with whom they have had sexual contact is
within 3 years of the minor’s age, IT IS NOT CONSIDERED CHILD ABUSE.
If a person is age 16 or younger, and the person with whom they have had sexual contact
is 4 or more years older, this must be reported to the Austin Police Department’s Child
Abuse Division at 974-6880.
Sexual Harassment and Teenagers
Here are some questions and answers about sexual harassment to use when talking
with teenagers:
What is sexual harassment anyway?
Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advance and/or verbal or physical conduct
of a sexual nature. This can include unwanted telephone calls, notes, letters or email;
unwanted touching, grabbing, or pulling someone's clothes down or off; and unwanted
teasing, sexual jokes/pictures, and sexual rumors.
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But most of these behaviors don't sound like a big deal.
Sexual harassment can make it hard for another student to learn. It can make people
feel unsafe, confused, and embarrassed. Victims often feel bad about themselves and
can become depressed or suicidal. Being targeted with harassment can make the whole
school experience miserable. In fact, many will choose to skip school or drop out rather
than deal with this situation.
Sometimes girls also do these things to boys.
Absolutely, sometimes girls target other girls and boys will harass other boys as well.
Sexual harassment doesn't mean that the boy is the harasser and the girl is the victim,
although we do see this type of harassment most frequently.
Some people are too sensitive and can't take a joke or a
compliment.
Jokes and compliments feel good to everyone, but if the joke is about you or the
compliment is actually crude or offensive, no one is flattered. If someone is hurt,
embarrassed, or offended, things have gone too far. It's best to back off, apologize, and
not repeat the same behavior. If you aren't sure if your comment is appropriate, you
might want to ask yourself if you would want someone saying the same things to your
sister or mother.
If I were being harassed, whom would I go to? Would they even
do anything about it?
Legally, schools should have someone in charge of these kinds of complaints, but a good
starting point is usually with any trusted adult at your school. Ask for their help in
resolving this problem. If they aren't helpful, go to someone else. Perhaps ask your
parents to intervene. Maybe your friends or their parents could be helpful. You could
call your local rape crisis center for assistance. Don't give up—you have a legal right to
an education free of harassment.
Information provided by the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault.
Teen Dating Violence Bibliography
Adams, Caren, Jennifer Fay, and Martin Loreen, 1984. No Is Not Enough: Helping
Teenagers Avoid Sexual Assault, San Luis Obispo, CA. Impact Publishers
Johnson, Scott Allen. Man to Man: When your partner says no: Pressured Sex and Date
Rape. Orwell, VT: The Safer Society Press
Kivel, Paul. 1992. How to Stop the Violence that tears our lives apart. Center City, MN:
Hazelden Educational Materials.
Kramer, Donald T. 1994. Legal Rights of Children, 2nd ed. Colorado Spring: Shepard’s /
McGraw Hill.
Levy, Barrie. 1984. Skills for Violence-free Relationships: Curriculum for Young People
Ages 13-18, Seal Press, Seattle.
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Levy, Barrie (ed), 1991. Dating Violence: Young Women in Danger. Seal Press. Seattle.
Levy, Barrie. 1993. In Love and in Danger: A Teens guide to breaking free of abusive
relationships. Seattle, Seal Press.
Levy, Barrie, and Patricia Occhiuzzo Giggans. 1995. What Parents need to know about
Dating Violence, Seattle, Seal Press.
McShane Claudette. 1988. Warning! Dating May be Hazardous to your Health. Mother
Courage Press, Racine, WI.
Miedzian, M. 1991. Boys will be Boys: Breaking the Link between Masculinity and
Violence, New York, NY, Anchor Books.
Pirog-Good, Maureen A., and Stets, Jan E. (eds). 1989. Violence in Dating Relationships:
Emerging Social Issues 3.
Rue, Nancy N. 1989. Coping with Date Violence. New York, Rosen.
Schwartz, Pepper, 1994. Peer Marriage: How Love between Equals really works. Free
Press.
Silverstein, Herman. 1994. Date Abuse. Hillside, NJ: Enslow.
Women’s Health Unit. 1992. Identifying and Treating Battered Adult and Adolescent
Women and their Children: A Guide for Health Care Providers. Boston, MA:
Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Zambrano, M. 1985. Mejor Sola Que Mal Acompanada: For the Latina in an Abusive
Relationship. (Spanish and English). Seal Press, Seattle.
Teen Dating Violence
Warning Signs
Physical bruises or other signs of injury. Victims will often attempt to hide their injuries
due to embarrassment. Be alert to sudden changes in dress or make-up as well as
explanations of injuries that seem to be out of character.
Truancy, failing, withdrawal from activities, dropping out of school. An abusive
relationship drains the victim of energy. What energy that is left is spent trying to make
things right for the abuser.
Sudden or increased isolation. Due to shame or jealous accusations on the part of a
violent partner, the victim will withdraw from friends and become increasingly isolated.
Difficulty making decisions. Victims may appear anxious about making independent
decisions because they must continuously “get permission” from their boyfriends/girlfriends.
Another sign is the victim’s avoidance of eye contact.
Sudden changes in mood or personality. These changes may include depression,
withdrawal, acting out, secretiveness, increased insecurity or feelings of inadequacy,
anxiousness, or preoccupation with the boyfriend/girlfriend.
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Use of drugs or alcohol. This may be in response to direct pressure from the
boyfriend/girlfriend or an attempt to numb the pain or emotional ambivalence about the
relationship.
Pregnancy. Many teenage girls feel that pregnancy will help get them out of a bad situation.
More than 70 percent of pregnant or parenting teens are beaten by their boyfriends.
Pregnancy significantly increases the risk of violence in teenage relationships.
Crying easily, getting “hysterical” or overreacting to minor incidents. The victim who
lives in fear of another incident is living under extreme tension. The victim is constantly
trying to second-guess her boyfriend’s/girlfriend's moods to avoid violence. Reacting to this
stress, the victim may explode or become hysterical in response to something minor (i.e.,
screaming when asked why she is late for class).
Taken from Preventing Teen Dating Violence: Three Session Curriculum for Teaching
Adolescents. Carole Sousa, Lundy Bancroft and Ted German, Dating Violence Intervention
Project, Cambridge, MA 02238. (618) 868-8328. 1989.
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Legal Issues/Resources
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Child Abduction
The following information is also found on the US Department of State’s website, and
can be mailed to callers:
U.S Department of State
Office of Children’s Issues
1-888-407-4747
Website: http://travel.state.gov/family/abduction/prevention/prevention_560.html
Other Resources:
National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children
1-800-843-5678
How Vulnerable is Your Child?
You and your child are most vulnerable when your relationship with the other parent is
troubled or broken, the other parent has close ties to another country, and/or the other
country has traditions or laws that may be prejudicial against a parent of your gender or to
non-citizens in general. However, anyone can be vulnerable.
Cross-cultural Marriages: Should You or Your Child Visit the Country of the Other
Parent?
Many cases of international parental child abduction are actually cases in which the child
traveled to a foreign country with the approval of both parents, but was later prevented from
returning to the United States. Sometimes the marriage is neither broken nor troubled, but
the foreign parent, upon returning to his or her country of origin, decides not to return to the
U.S. or to allow the child to do so. A person who has assimilated a second culture may find a
return to his or her roots disturbing and may feel pulled to shift loyalties back to the original
culture. Furthermore, a person's behavior may change when he or she returns to the culture
where he or she grew up.
In some societies, children must have their father’s permission and a woman must have her
husband’s permission to travel. If you are a woman, to prevent your own or your child’s
detention abroad, find out about the laws and traditions of the country you plan to visit or
plan to allow your child to visit, and consider carefully the effect that a return to his
traditional culture might have on your child’s father; in other societies, children need the
permission of both parents to travel and the refusal of one parent to give that permission may
prevent the departure of a child from that country. For detailed advice in your specific case,
you may wish to contact an attorney in your spouse’s country of origin. Many U.S.
Embassies/Consulates list attorneys on their websites.
Precautions That Any Parent Should Take.
In international parental child abduction, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Be alert to the possibility and be prepared:
1. Keep a list of the addresses and telephone numbers of the other parent's relatives, friends,
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and business associates both here and abroad;
2. Keep a record of important information about the other parent, including: physical
description, passport, social security, bank account, and driver’s license numbers, and
vehicle description and plate number;
3. Keep a written description of your child, including hair and eye color, height, weight,
fingerprints, and any special physical characteristics; and
4. Take full-face color photographs and/or videos of your child every six months - a recent
photo of the other parent may also be useful.
If your child should be abducted, this information could be vital in locating your child.
5. Teach your child to use the telephone, memorize your home phone number, practice
making collect calls, and instruct him or her to call home immediately if anything unusual
happens.
6. Discuss possible plans of action with your child in the case of abduction. Most important,
however, if you feel your child is vulnerable to abduction, seek legal advice. Do not merely tell
a friend or relative about your fears.
The Importance of a Custody Decree
Under the laws of the United States and many foreign countries, if there is no decree of
custody prior to an abduction, both parents may be considered to have equal legal custody of
their child. (IMPORTANT: Even though both parents may have custody of a child, it still may
be a crime for one parent to remove the child from the United States against the other
parent's wishes.) If you are contemplating divorce or separation, or are divorced or separated,
or even if you were never legally married to the other parent, ask your attorney, as soon as
possible, if you should obtain a decree of sole custody or a decree that prohibits the travel of
your child without your permission or that of the court. If you have or would prefer to have a
joint custody decree, you may want to make certain that it prohibits your child from traveling
abroad without your permission or that of the court.
How to Draft or Modify a Custody Decree
A well-written custody decree is an important line of defense against international parental
child abduction. NCMEC, in its publication Family Abduction: How to Prevent an Abduction
and What to Do If Your Child is Abducted, makes several recommendations to help prevent
the abduction of your child if your spouse is a legal permanent resident alien or a U.S. citizen
with ties to a foreign country. For instance, it may be advisable to include court-ordered
supervised visitation and a statement prohibiting your child from traveling without your
permission or that of the court. If the country to which your child might be taken is a
member of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
(Hague Convention), your custody decree should state that the terms of the Hague
Convention apply if there is an abduction or wrongful retention. The American Bar
Association (ABA) also suggests having the court require the non-citizen parent or the parent
with ties to a foreign country to post a bond. This may be useful both as a deterrent to
abduction and, if forfeited because of an abduction, as a source of revenue for you in your
efforts to locate and recover your child. For further prevention information, you should
contact the NCMEC.
Reminder: Obtain several certified copies of your custody decree from the court that issued it.
Give a copy to your child's school and advise school personnel to whom your child may be
released.
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U.S. Passports
The Department of State’s Passport Lookout Program can help you determine if your child
has been issued a U.S. passport. You may also ask that your child's name be entered into the
State Department’s Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program. This will enable the
Department to notify you or your attorney if an application for a U.S. passport for the child is
received anywhere in the United States or at any U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. If you
have a court order that either grants you sole custody, joint legal custody, or prohibits your
child from traveling without your permission or the permission of the court, the Department
may also refuse to issue a U.S. passport for your child. The Department may not, however,
revoke a passport that has already been issued to the child. There is also no way to track the
use of a passport once it has been issued, since there are no exit controls of people leaving
the U.S.
The Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program
The Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program is a service for the parents and legal
guardians of minor children. It enables the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues
to notify a parent or court ordered legal guardian, when requested, before issuing a U.S.
passport for his or her child. The parent, legal guardian, legal representatives, or the court of
competent jurisdiction must submit a written request for entry of a child’s name into the
program to the Office of Children’s Issues.
Passport Issuance to Children Under Age 18
On July 2, 2001, the Department of State began implementation of a new law regarding the
passport applications of minor U.S. citizens under the age of 14. A person now applying for a
passport for a child under 14 must show that both parents consent to the issuance or that
the applying parent has sole authority to obtain the passport. Passport applications made in
the U.S. and at consular offices abroad will both be covered by the new law. Exceptions to
this requirement may be made in special family circumstances or exigent circumstances
necessitating the immediate travel of the child.
Once a passport is issued, its use is not tracked or controlled by the Department of State.
There are no exit controls for American citizens leaving the United States. If you believe that
your child may be abducted internationally, immediately contact the Office of Children’s
Issues and inform appropriate law enforcement officials.
Information regarding the issuance of a passport to a minor is available to either parent,
regardless of custody rights, as long as the requesting parents’ rights have not been
terminated. The Department of State’s Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program is a
program to alert us when an application for a United States passport is made. This is not a
program for tracking the use of a passport. This program can be used to inform a parent or a
court when an application for a United States passport is executed on behalf of a child. The
alert program generally remains in effect until each child turns 18. It is very important that
parents keep us informed in writing of any changes to contact information and legal
representation. Failure to notify CA/OCS/CI of a current address may result in a passport
issuance for your child without your consent.
The Privacy Act and Passports
Passport information is protected by the provisions of the Privacy Act (PL 93-579) passed by
Congress in 1974. Information regarding a minor’s passport is available to either parent.
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Information regarding adults may be available to law enforcement officials or pursuant to a
court order issued by the court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with (22 CFR 51.27).
If you want us to forward to the Foreign Embassy the information contained in your request
to the Office of Children’s Issues, please complete and sign the Foreign Embassy Contact
Form. That form contains a waiver of your Privacy Act Rights and the rights of your minor
children. For further information regarding the issuance or denial of United States passports
to minors involved in custody disputes, or about international child abduction, please contact
us at (888)407-4747 (this is a recorded message which provides access to country officers).
Dual Nationality for Children
Many children, whether born in the United States or born abroad to a United States citizen
parent, are citizens of both the United States and another country. This may occur through
the child’s birth abroad, through a parent who was born outside the United States, or a
parent who has acquired a second nationality through naturalization in another country.
There is no requirement that a United States citizen parent consent to the acquisition of
another nationality.
The inability to obtain a United States passport through the Children’s Passport Issuance
Alert Program does not automatically prevent a dual national child from obtaining and
traveling on a foreign passport. There is no requirement that foreign embassies adhere to
United States regulations regarding issuance and denial of their passports to United States
citizen minors who have dual nationality. If there is a possibility that the child has another
nationality, you may contact the country’s embassy or consulate directly to inquire about
denial of that country’s passport. The addresses and telephone numbers for the foreign
embassy or consulate near you are found in our Foreign Entry Requirements .
More information about the child-related services available to parents through the Bureau of
Consular Affairs is available by calling the Office of Children’s Issues at (888)407-4747 and
speaking to an officer who deals with a specific country. There is more information about the
prevention of International Parental Child Abduction.
Change in Passport Regulations
A new law, which took effect in July 2001, requires the signature of both parents prior to
issuance of a U.S. passport to children under the age of 14.
Requirements:
Both parents, or the child’s legal guardians, must execute the child’s passport application
and provide documentary evidence demonstrating that they are the parents or guardians; or
the person executing the application must provide documentary evidence that such person
has sole custody of the child; has the consent of the other parent to the issuance of the
passport; or is acting in place of the parents and has the consent of both parents, of a parent
with sole custody over the child, or of the child’s legal guardian, to the issuance of the
passport.
Exceptions:
The law does provide two exceptions to this requirement: (1) for exigent circumstances, such
as those involving the health or welfare of he child, or (2) when the Secretary of State
determines that issuance of a passport is warranted by special family circumstances. For
additional information, see the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page on the Internet at
http://travel.state.gov.
Foreign Passports - the Problem of Dual Nationality
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Many United States citizen children who fall victim to international parental abduction
possess, or may have a claim to dual nationality. While the Department of State will make
every effort to avoid issuing a United States passport if the custodial parent has provided a
custody decree, the Department cannot prevent embassies and consulates of other countries
in the United States from issuing their passports to children who are also their nationals. You
can, however, ask a foreign embassy or consulate not to issue a passport to your child. Send
the embassy or consulate a written request, along with certified complete copies of any court
orders you have which address custody or the overseas travel of your child. In your letter,
inform them that you are sending a copy of this request to the United States Department of
State. If your child is only a United States citizen, you can request that no visa for that
country be issued in his or her United States passport. No international law requires
compliance with such requests, but some countries may comply voluntarily.
The United States government does not have exit controls at the border. There is no way to
stop someone with valid travel documents at the United States border. The U.S. government
does not check the names or the documents of travelers leaving the United States. Many
foreign countries do not require a passport for entry. A birth certificate is sufficient to enter
some foreign countries. If your child has a valid passport from any country, he or she may be
able to travel outside the United States without your consent.
Child Support
Child Support Enforcement
Program/Office of the Attorney
General
5500 E. Oltorf
460-6000 (administrative)
1-800-252-8014 (TX Residents)
Child Support Enforcement
(SupportKids.Com)
4120 Freidrich Lane, No. 175
1-800-691-KIDS (5437)
437-6000 (Local)
Enforcement of child support
obligations, establishment of paternity,
collection and distribution of payments.
M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Private company that collects child support
payments. CSE takes 34 percent of amount
collected. Pursues parents who owe payments
if that parent lives in the U.S. or has a
U.S.-based job. Call or visit website for more
information.
Domestic Relations Office (Travis Co.)
1010 Lavaca St., P.O. Box 1495, 78767
854-9696
Aids in location of absent parents
and enforcement of child support
obligations.
A.C.E.S.
1-800-738-2237
Non-profit organization that offers selfhelp groups to teach parents how to collect
child support and legal avenues to pursue.
Civil Lawsuits
Please let the caller know that you are not able to provide any type of legal advice, and
that she/he will need to contact an attorney for such advice. You can, however,
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provide this general information.
Civil lawsuits can provide compensation, therapeutic benefits, punishment and accountability
for wrongdoers and deterrence of future sexual assaults.
General information: A survivor can file a lawsuit against her/his attacker. The attacker could
be ordered to pay money to compensate the survivor for physical and emotional damages. In
limited situations, a survivor may also be able to hold a third party responsible for what the
attacker did. The standard of proof is much lower in a civil suit than in criminal prosecution.
Attorneys will take on these cases if the attacker or third party has assets or money. If the
attacker does not have assets or money, it is usually impossible to obtain the damages awarded
by the court.
SafePlace does not have a list of attorneys that might take these civil suits. Encourage your
caller to contact the Lawyer Referral Service at 472-8303 for a referral to an attorney who
handles these cases. Or, for more information about civil lawsuits, connect caller with our
Sexual Assault Community Advocate at 356-1576.
Compensation
Civil Lawsuits can result in monetary recovery for sexual assault survivors. While money can
never truly compensate for the pain, injury and suffering that has been caused, it comes as near
to full redress as our legal system knows how and can provide financial options to survivors that
can dramatically improve their lives by such things as specialized medical or psychiatric
treatment, education or safer housing.
Compensation may include the following:
 Medical expenses, past, present and future
 Physical pain and suffering
 Psychiatric/therapy expenses, past, present and future
 Lost wages and future losses of income/career potential
 Emotional trauma and suffering
 Permanent disability or disfigurement
 Loss of personal property, and moving expenses
 Interference with marital or family relationships
 Punitive damages (to punish the wrong-doer)
 Wrongful death, funeral expenses, loss of services
Therapeutic benefits
Institution of civil lawsuits enables survivors to regain control of their own lives and thus feel
less victimized. They can make the civil legal system provide justice, even if the criminal
system did not. (The assailant is often not arrested or charges may be reduced or dropped.)
Punishment and accountability
Whether the suit is against third parties or the assailant, civil lawsuits make the wrongdoer pay
for the wrong. This payment punishes the wrongdoer and creates accountability for wrongful
conduct.
Deterrence of future sexual assaults
Bringing civil lawsuits against one wrongdoer makes all other wrongdoers take into account
survivor’s legal rights and the cost of violating their rights.
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The above information is taken from the Texas Dept. of Health and Sexual Assault Prevention
Advocate Training Manual.
Common Law Marriage
Please be sure to inform caller that you are not giving legal advice, and if she/he needs
legal advice she must contact an attorney.
What makes a common law marriage?
All three of the following elements must be present to form a common law marriage in Texas:
1. You must have “agreed to be married.”
2. You must have “held yourselves out” as husband and wife. You must have
represented to others that you were married to each other. As an example of this, you
may have introduced your partner socially as “my husband”, or you may have filed a
joint tax return.
3. You must have lived together in this state as husband and wife.
Do you need a divorce if you are common law married?
YES, if you have been separated from your spouse for less than two years.
NO, if you have been separated from your spouse for more than two years.
Note: It is probably wise to think ahead and file a divorce action during the first two years of
separation to get custody and property rights clearly settled.
If we have children together, are we automatically in a common law marriage?
No. You must only satisfy the three-part test described above, even if you have had children
together.
Does being in a common law marriage have the same legal effect as being in a marriage
where you had a license and a ceremony—for example, with regard to community
property and child custody?
Yes, once the common law marriage is legally established and in existence.
Can I get a protective order against an abusive common law spouse?
Yes, if you are in or have been in a household with a violent person and there are recent
incidents of violence or serious threats of violence. Being in a common law marriage does
not prohibit you from requesting a protective order.
Do we have to consistently hold ourselves out as husband and wife in order to be
common law married?
No. Even one instance of publicly declaring yourself married can be sufficient to place
yourself in such a marriage.
Crime Victim Compensation Fund
Crime Victim Compensation Fund
936-1200 (Local)
1-800-983-9933
Can assist victims of crime with
monetary assistance for loss of
earnings or support, medical or
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hospital bills, counseling, moving expenses,
etc.
Victims of family violence may apply for loss of support if charges have been filed and
the assault happened after September 1, 1997. Amount given to victim will depend on
offender's income at the time of the crime. Victims must do the following: 1) Not drop
charges; and 2) cooperate with the police and the prosecuting attorney.
Note: This is a process, which means that it can take a while for compensation to be given.
Assistance with applications may be obtained by contacting Victims' Services in the Austin
Police Department (974-5037). Abby Williamson, the SafePlace Sexual Assault Community
Advocate, can also assist with applications for sexual assault survivors (356-1576).
Available Benefits
Funeral and burial expenses, medical expenses, counseling, lost wages, loss of support,
attorney’s fees, travel expenses, minor child or dependent care, crime scene clean-up,
replacement of property seized as evidence, catastrophic injury home improvement,
catastrophic injury job training, catastrophic injury home health care, and catastrophic
injury lost wages.
Crime Victim Services
Office for Victims of Crime
Directory of Crime Victim Services
http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices
The Office of Victims of
Crime (OVC) has created an
online directory of crime victim
services. The directory links crime
victims and victim service providers
to contact information for
assistance. The directory is
searchable by location (states and
several countries), type of
victimization, agency type, and
available services.
Austin Academy
Southeast Center: 326-8655
North Center: 491-8232
Assists victims of violent
crime with free services such
job training, GED preparation, job
placement, childcare and housing
assistance, referrals and eligibility of
benefits counseling. Classes free if
over 18, live in Travis county and is
at or below 200% of federal poverty
line.
Family Violence Protection Team
1106 Clayton Lane, No. 490E
974-8535 (Main number)
Facilitates increased arrest,
conviction and accountability of
batterers and serves the needs of victims of
domestic violence. Services include taking
statements, processing stalking reports, filing
charges, and crisis counseling and advocacy.
The team also has free cellphones that will
allow callers to dial 911 only.
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Criminal Trespass Warning (CTW)
A Criminal Trespass Warning (CTW) may be obtained in cases in which a protective order
cannot be obtained and the person you want to ban from the property has not lived there and
does not have property there.
What is a Criminal Trespass Warning?
A Criminal Trespass Warning can be issued in the presence of a police officer to any
individual, including a spouse, whom you do not want on your property. After a CTW is
issued, subsequent trespasses by that person will result in arrest.
How to obtain a CTW
1. Call the police when the person you do not want on your property shows up.
2. You must tell the individual in the presence of a police officer that you never want
them to return to your property.
3. The person must not have lived at the residence or maintained property on the
residence to be banned from the property with a CTW.
4. The police will issue you a CTW number, which you must save for future incidents.
5. If the person returns to the property after the CTW has been issued, call the police
with your CTW number and that person will be arrested.
Call 911 to access Austin Police Department.
Divorce
This information is taken from a brochure entitled Now That You Are Divorced produced by
the Austin Young Lawyers Association Legal Services to the Poor Committee.
NOTE: Please inform caller that you are providing general information and NOT legal advice,
and that they should seek professional legal advice if they decide to follow through with any
information given here.
Divorce modification
Can I change my divorce decree once it has become final?
Yes, you can attempt to do this if the change involves child custody or child support. In
general, if your circumstances have “materially and substantially changed” since the divorce
decree, you may file for modification. This would mean that something has changed in your
life, your ex-spouse's life, or your child’s life to such a large extent that the court could consider
changing its order. However, there may be more specific legal requirements that must be met
and you need to file a lawsuit to do this.
What if my ex-spouse is paying child support and then gets a raise? What if I am paying
child support and am making less money than at the time of the divorce decree?
You must file a suit for modification asking the court to increase or decrease child support
payments.
My divorce decree says that my children cannot move out of the county or surrounding
counties without further agreement or court order. I want to move. What do I do?
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Absent agreement from your ex-spouse (which is best obtained in writing), you must modify the
divorce decree. The reason for the move must be approved by the court. The court will want to
know why the move would be in your children’s best interest.
Enforcement
I am not receiving the child support payments my ex-spouse was ordered to pay. What
should I do?
A motion for enforcement and/or contempt of court may be filed. Other remedies include
driver’s license suspension and interception of tax refunds. The Attorney General or a private
attorney may assist you. If you are in Travis County, the Travis County Domestic Relations
office may also be able to assist you.
My ex-spouse has not paid the debts that he/she was ordered to pay in the divorce
decree and the creditors are calling me. What should I do?
Creditors are not affected by the divorce decree. You are still liable for all the debts incurred
during the marriage, even after separation. This may affect your credit history. It is
recommended that you write a letter to the creditor explaining that your ex-spouse was ordered
to pay the debt. Include information about how to contact your ex-spouse, a copy of the
relevant portion of the divorce decree, and a request that you no longer be contacted about the
debts. This sometimes, but not always, is effective.
My ex-spouse is going to file for bankruptcy. How does this affect my support
payments?
Usually child support debt is not dischargeable by a bankruptcy proceeding. You may need to
file a claim in bankruptcy court. You should consult with an attorney.
My ex-spouse was supposed to give me (some piece of property) but never has. How can
I get it?
You may bring a suit to enforce the divorce decree as long as the suit is filed within two years of
the date the divorce was final.
The car/house was supposed to be transferred to my name and never was. What do I
do?
After filing a motion and having a hearing, the court may order one party to buy out another
party’s interest or a lien may be filed on the property. A simpler way to handle this may be to
take a copy of the divorce decree and record it with the tax assessor’s office (in the case of the
car) and the property records (in the case of the house). Also, for the car, it may be possible for
your ex-spouse to sign the title over to you or to sign a Special Power of Attorney to transfer the
vehicle to you.
Problems with visitation
What happens if I do not turn over my child for visitation?
You may be held in contempt of court if your ex-spouse files a motion for enforcement. A
finding of contempt may be punished by confinement in jail for up to six months, a fine up to
$500 for each violation and a money judgment for payment of attorney’s fees and court costs.
The court may also order additional periods of visitation for those missed.
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What should I do if my ex-spouse arrived to pick up my child under the influence of
drugs or alcohol?
You have the duty to prevent your child from going into a dangerous situation. At the same
time, you also have a duty to comply with the court order regarding visitation. If you suspect
drug or alcohol use at pick up may be a problem, arrange to have a third person, possibly even
law enforcement, present as a witness when the child is to be picked up. Charges of contempt
may be brought against you if you refuse to let the child go. If this happens, you want to have
written down all of the details of the event at the time they happened. Record information such
as the date and time along with your reasons for refusing visitation, and the officer’s name and
badge number if you had law enforcement present. The court will be more sympathetic if
another person was there to back up your version of the events. Also consider using the
services of a local child visitation exchange service, such as Kids Exchange in Travis County.
What if my ex-spouse is not visiting my child as directed in the divorce decree?
Visitation is a right the court has allowed your spouse. It is not a duty. You cannot force
visitation. You may bring a motion to modify visitation and have it reduced by the court for
your ex-spouses’ failure to exercise visitation. Also, if you are bearing more cost for the care of
your child because your ex-spouse is not complying with the visitation, you may ask the court
to increase your child support payments to cover this cost. You would need to file for a
modification of support. These costs must be substantial so that the court believes the suit for
modification is not being filed to harass the other party.
How do I file a suit?
To file a suit to enforce any of your rights, it is best to consult an attorney. However, an
attorney is not required by law. The Texas Family Law Practice Manual contains copies of
court forms that are needed should you wish to file suit on your own. This manual may be
found in the Travis County Law Library (4th floor of the courthouse). If you prepare the
documents yourself, you should have a lawyer review them before submitting them to the court.
Resources
Legal Aid
Attorney General’s Child Support Enforcement Division
Kid’s Exchange
Lawyer Referral Service
Women’s Advocacy Project Family Law Hotline
374-2700
460-6000
467-0803
472-8303
476-1866
DNA Evidence Law
As of February 1, 2002, Texas’ new DNA Evidence law
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authorizes DNA samples from suspects indicted on charges of sexual assault,
prohibited sexual conduct, burglary with intent to commit sexual assault, compelling
prostitution or sexual performance by a child, possession or promotion of child
pornography and aggravated kidnapping to sexually abuse.
authorizes samples upon arrest if the suspect has been previously convicted of a sex
crime or burglary of a habitation.
authorizes DNA samples for people convicted and sentenced to jail for public lewdness
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and indecent exposure.
requires DNA samples to be destroyed if charges are dismissed or the suspect is later
found not guilty.
makes it a third-degree felony for a person to knowingly release DNA information outside
of criminal investigation and prosecution.
levies fees of $50 to $250 on offenders convicted of sex crimes to help pay for the DNA
testing.
Expert Witness
Joan Carter
SafePlace Legal Advocate
County Attorney’s Office
854-4251 (direct)
854-9415 (County Attorney’s Office)
854-4163 (general information about Protective Orders)
What she does
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Helps people wanting more information on Protective Orders or about testifying in
a criminal assault case.
Helps people who want help in preparing to testify in a criminal or civil case.
Helps people who have been turned down for a Protective Order by the County
Attorney’s office and do not understand why.
Helps people wanting to drop or modify a Protective Order.
Helps people wanting more information on how civil or criminal cases move
through the system.
Helps people needing an “expert witness” on domestic violence. Her role as an
expert on family violence is determined by the court. In this role, she is asked to
testify to the jury in a criminal case about the role of power and control and the
cycle of violence, especially the so-called “honeymoon stage;” i.e., why a woman
would go back to her abuser. She also can testify about Post Traumatic Stress
Syndrome and its role in creating difficulty for someone asked to testify against an
abuser. She does not ordinarily become involved in civil cases, although she is
willing to be contacted by people who are involved in civil cases for information
purposes.
Filing and Dropping Criminal Charges
Filing Criminal Charges
Austin Police Department
974-5000
If an emergency, call 911.
Family Violence Protection Team
1106 Clayton Lane, No. 490E
If an emergency, call 911.
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974-8535
Dropping Criminal Charges
Project Options
854-4423 (general information)
854-9498 (to schedule a class)
A two-hour educational class to help
people make informed choices about
dropping charges or protective orders.
Only a judge can drop charges or dismiss
a P.O., but if this class has been taken,
the judge will consider this in her/his
decision. Includes English and Spanish
classes. Classes are offered on Tuesday
from 6-8 p.m. and on Wednesday from
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Jail Information
Victim Information and
Notification Everyday (VINE)
1-877-894-8463
www.vinelink.com
VINE is a free and anonymous telephone
and internet service that provides victims
of crime with information and
that allows crime victims and others
to locate and determine the status of
incarcerated offenders throughout Texas.
New information is received every 15
minutes and is available 24 hours a day
in English and Spanish. A touch-tone
phone is needed to access the system.
The following information is provided:
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Current inmate status
Inmate number
Location of inmate
Charges
Bail
Release information
List of Victim Service agencies for
additional services
Kidnapping
Be sure to inform the caller that this is not legal advice and she/he should contact an
attorney for more information.
"If I take my children and leave the state, is that kidnapping?"
If there is a court order giving you batterer custody, then this would be kidnapping.
If there is not currently a court order, then it would not be considered kidnapping. However,
your batterer can obtain a court order in your absence, and this would be considered
kidnapping.
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"If I take my children and leave, do I have to let him know where
I am? Can he have me arrested for kidnapping if he doesn’t know
where the children are?"
If there is no court order in place giving one parent legal custody of the children, then both
parents have equal rights to possession. This means that you do not have to reveal where
you are. Whichever parent is first to get a court order giving him or her legal possession will
be in a stronger legal position.
"What if I leave the state and do not reveal where I am?"
Leaving the state without legal custody is a tricky thing to do. When you go to another state,
you might not have the required residency status to file in the courts there. Sometimes you
have to live there a certain amount of time before you can use the court system. If you leave
Texas without a court order giving you legal possession, and hide from your batterer, your
batterer can go to court here and get a court order giving him/her legal possession of the
children. You will then be in violation of a court order and if your batterer can find you,
he/she can take the children from you under that order. You will then have to return to
Texas and fight an uphill legal battle to get them back. It will be expensive and you could
lose them.
"I am planning on leaving the state with my children. What do I
need to do?"
Consult an attorney before you leave to obtain legal possession of the children.
Legal Assistance
Many people contact our hotline in need of legal advice. Please keep in mind that only an
attorney is qualified to give any type of legal advice, and that we are not qualified to dispense
legal advice on this hotline.
Private attorneys
The SafePlace Hotline does not have any attorneys who allow us to utilize them as a referral
to hotline callers (with the exception of the attorneys listed below who can help battered
women who have wrongly been accused of assault). We have had some attorneys in the past
who have allowed us to do this, but currently we do not.
Resources
Women’s Advocacy Project
476-1866 (family law hotline)
476-5770 (family violence hotline)
Toll Free:
1-800-777-3247 (family law hotline)
1-800-374-4673 (family violence hotline)
Free legal information from attorneys
and referral by telephone for up to 30
minutes. Can send information packets
about obtaining protective orders.
Lawyer Referral Service
472-8303 (local)
1-800-252-9690 (statewide)
Makes referrals to lawyers who provide
legal services for those who cannot afford
lawyers.
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Legal Aid of Central Texas
2201 Post Rd., No. 104
374-2700
441-9487 (TDD)
Civil legal assistance for those who meet
low-income guidelines. Offers free legal
clinics even for those who do not meet
Legal Aid guidelines. Help with divorces,
Protective Orders, Custody, SSI, etc.
Free Legal Aid Clinics
(Do not have to qualify for
Legal Aid services to attend)
Call 374-2700 for more information
Monday evenings 6-7p.m.
1601 Haskell (Martin Junior High)
Wednesday evenings 6-7 p.m.
601 E St. Johns Ave. (Webb Middle
School). Call Legal Aid to confirm location
of clinics.
Domestic Relations Office
854-9696
Enforcement of visitation rights and
child support.
Austin Tenants Council
1619 E. Cesar Chavez
474-1961 (Counseling)
Counseling and mediation for tenants
and landlords, rental repair mediation.
Fair Housing number is for information
and assistance in filing discrimination
complaints. M-F 9am-12pm, 1pm-4pm
Legal Hotline for Older Adults
1-800-622-2520
477-3950 (local)
Free legal advice and consultation by
phone for Texans 60 and older.
Texas Council on Family
Violence
794-1133
Promotes education and legislation
regarding family violence.
Office of General Counsel
State Bar of Texas
1-800-932-1900
Gives advice on how to file a grievance
against an attorney.
Victim Services
974-5037 (Austin Police Dept.)
854-9709 (Travis Co. outside
of Austin)
218-6663 (Williamson Co.)
Assists victims of violent crime with police
and court procedures.
Battered Women’s Justice Project
1-800-903-0111
Ex. 1: Criminal Justice
Ex. 2: Civil Justice
Ex. 3: Defense
Training, technical assistance and
other resources through a partnership
of three organizations:
Criminal Justice Center
Addresses criminal justice response
to domestic violence, including batterer’s
programs.
Civil Justice Center
Addresses civil court access and legal
representation of battered women.
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Defense Center
Addresses issues raised when battered
women are accused of committing crimes,
including killing an abusive partner
National Resource Center on Domestic
Violence: Child Protection and
Custody
1-800-527-3223
www.ncjfcj.org
Information, materials, consultation
and technical assistance related to
child protection and custody within
the context of domestic violence.
National Resource Center on
Domestic Violence
1-800-537-2238
Information and resources, policy
development and technical assistance
designed to enhance community response
to and prevention of domestic violence.
Magistrate’s Order
Also known as an “Emergency Protective Order,” a Magistrate's Order can be obtained by the
victim when the perpetrator is arrested for stalking or domestic violence. This order needs to
be obtained before the perpetrator is released from jail. Its purpose is to provide the victim
with the protection that a Protective Order offers between the time that the batterer is
released and when a Permanent Protective Order can be obtained.
How to obtain a Magistrate’s Order
The order may be requested at the time the police officer responds to the call and makes
an arrest, or attached to the arrest warrant if the batterer flees before the police arrive.
The order may also be obtained by calling APD Assault Unit at 974-5037 (if arrest was
made by APD) or Travis County Sheriff’s Department Victim Services at 854-9709
(if arrest was made by Sheriff) immediately after the arrest.
Elma Garcia: 225-9573
Contact Elma directly if your batterer is in
jail and you want an EPO.
Name Change
Note: To do this properly, it is best to hire an attorney.
If the client is not using an attorney
1. Tell the client to contact the Travis County Courthouse at 854-9020 (courthouse
information) or 854-9457 (District Clerk’s office) for more detailed information.
2. Go to the Travis County Courthouse at 1000 Guadalupe (between 10th and 11th
Street), 4th Floor.
3. Obtain necessary documents from librarian on 4th floor.
4. Complete the documents and return them. The documents will be brought before a
judge where it will be determined if you can obtain a name change.
5. Fee: $181.00—can put family members on one form.
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6. Adult name change—no one has to be notified. Children—both parents must be
notified.
IMPORTANT!!! After the name change has been granted, the client should ask the
judge to give her/him one certified copy of the order and then seal the court file.
Without this step, the client's old name and new name are part of the public record in
the same file.
Peace Bond
Note: Peace Bonds are not effective if family violence is involved. Many callers will ask for a
Peace Bond not knowing that it differs from a Protective Order.
What is a Peace Bond?
If you believe that a person is going to do something wrong (commit a crime, make a threat,
etc.), you go to a Justice of the Peace in your precinct and describe the problem. The J.P.
will ask that the potential offender pay a certain amount of money, and if the act is
committed, this person loses their money. However, if the act is not committed within a
certain amount of time, their money is given back.
When could this be useful?
If someone doesn’t qualify for a Protective Order or Restraining Order.
Private Attorneys
SafePlace does not have a list of private attorneys to give out on the hotline. Encourage caller
to contact the Lawyer Referral Service at 472-8303 to find an attorney.
Protective Orders
How to obtain a Protective Order
Protective Orders may be obtained through the County Attorney’s office, through a private
attorney or through other legal services (Legal Aid, Women’s Advocacy Project).
Note: Do not tell a client that they can obtain a protective order. Ask them to call to
see if they qualify for an order. Either the applicant or respondent must live in the
county in which they file for the protective order. Please preface any information you
discuss with a caller with a disclaimer that you are not qualified to provide legal advice.
Travis County Attorney’s Office
Williamson County Attorney’s Office
Legal Aid
Women’s Advocacy Project (Protective order attorney)
Family Violence Protection Team (if the client doesn't
qualify through County Attorney’s office for a P.O.)
Online information: www.texaslawhelp.org; downloadable forms
What is a Protective Order?
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854-9415
943-1111
374-2700
476-5770
974-8535
A court order issued by a judge for the protection of victims of family violence. It can prevent
offender from coming within 200 yards of victim’s house or job, can prohibit further violence
or harassment, can provide for possession and access to children, can order child support,
counseling for batterer, can provide access to property such as home or car.
Who is eligible?
1. People related by blood or marriage.
2. Ex-spouses.
3. People currently living together, or who have lived together in the past, or who have
had a child together.
4. People who are in intimate dating relationships.
What are the requirements?
1. Violence or threat of imminent violence or violation of a previous protective order.
2. There is an address where the offender can be served (work or home).
What is a Temporary Protective Order?
A Temporary Protective Order is intended to give the system time to serve the batterer with
notice and set a hearing date. This is usually issued within three days of the victim’s
application. It will be in effect for 14 days and can be renewed for 14-day periods if there is
good reason for delay in holding the hearing. The batterer cannot be arrested for a violation
but can be arrested if the batter's action violates a criminal law. Penalty for violating this
temporary protective order is a civil contempt of court misdemeanor punishable by $500 fine
and/or six months in jail.
What is a Permanent Protective Order?
A Permanent Protective Order is issued after the batterer has been notified and a hearing
held, or after it is agreed to by both batterer and victim. It will stay in effect for up to two
years. The batterer will be arrested if the order is violated. Violation is a criminal violation
misdemeanor punishable by up to a $4,000 fine and/or one year in jail.
What happens at the County Attorney’s office?
1. An appointment is made over the phone.
2. During the appointment you will fill out a long form, talk with an intake person, be
told whether the case has been accepted, talk with an attorney and be told the court
date for the hearing on the Protective Order.
3. The County Attorney will then file for a temporary protective order. This is usually
issued within three days of the appointment.
4. The temporary order will then be served on the batterer along with the court date.
5. You will go to the courthouse on the date of your hearing.
6. At the hearing the judge will decide whether to issue a permanent protective order. If
the batterer is present, the batterer will be given a copy. If not present, the batterer
will be served with a copy as soon as possible.
Application fee and court costs
An applicant may not be charged for a protective order if him/her cannot afford it.
"If I just arrived in Travis County or in Texas, how long do I have to wait to get a
Protective Order?"
There is no minimum time that she/he has to live here to get a Protective Order.
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To report Protective Order violations: Call 911 first, then 854-9415 (the Travis County
Attorney’s office) to report. If a private attorney obtained the Protective Order for the client,
the attorney should also be contacted to report the violation.
Additional notes on Protective Orders
1. If there is a violation of a protective order, the victim must call the police. This is very
important because the police may be reluctant to enforce the protective order later if the
victim has not consistently reported violations.
2. Once a victim has a protective order, she/he needs to carry a certified copy of it with
her/him at all times.
Before an applicant can get a protective order, the respondent must receive prior notice
of the hearing, although the respondent does not have to show up at the hearing.
Restraining Order
Note: A Restraining Order is not effective if family violence is involved. Many callers
will ask for information about restraining orders but are really looking for a Protective
Order. Be sure to clarify what the caller needs.
What can a Restraining Order do?
A Restraining Order can do the same things as a Protective Order (order someone to stay
away from you, not to communicate with you, etc.) but unlike a Protective Order, it is not
criminally enforceable. This means that if the Restraining Order is broken, the violator will
not be arrested and will be taken to court instead. It is basically about stopping a certain
action or behavior (you are getting a divorce and a judge issues a restraining order against
your husband, saying he must stop moving all of the furniture out of the house and selling
it.)
However, if a caller is unable to qualify for a Protective Order, the caller might want to
consider getting a restraining order rather than not have any protection at all.
To obtain a Restraining Order, the caller must contact a private attorney.
SafePlace Legal Advocate (County)
Joan Carter
SafePlace Legal Advocate
County Attorney’s Office
854-4251 (direct)
854-9415 (County Attorney’s Office)
854-4163 (general information about Protective Orders)
What she does
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Helps people wanting more information on Protective Orders or about testifying in
a criminal assault case.
Helps people who want help in preparing to testify in a criminal or civil case.
Helps people who have been turned down for a Protective Order by the County
Attorney’s office and do not understand why.
Helps people wanting to drop or modify a Protective Order.
Helps people wanting more information on how civil or criminal cases move
through the system.
Helps people needing an “expert witness” on domestic violence. Her role as an
expert on family violence is determined by the court. In this role, she is asked to
testify to the jury in a criminal case about the role of power and control and the
cycle of violence, especially the so-called “honeymoon stage;” i.e., why a woman
would go back to her abuser. She also can testify about Post Traumatic Stress
Syndrome and its role in creating difficulty for someone asked to testify against an
abuser. She does not ordinarily become involved in civil cases, although she is
willing to be contacted by people who are involved in civil cases for information
purposes.
She does not offer any kind of legal advice.
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SafePlace Legal Advocate
(District Attorney)
Helen Eisert
SafePlace Legal Advocate
District Attorney’s Office
854-9266
She assists victims and their families who have felony family violence cases pending in Travis
County.
She does not offer any kind of legal advice.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is any deliberate or repeated sexual behavior that is unwelcome to its recipient,
as well as other sex-related behaviors that are hostile, offensive or degrading.
What is sexual harassment?
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Any unwanted sexual advance.
A request for sexual favors.
Verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that annoys or alarms you, interferes
with your privacy, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive living or learning
environment.
Remember, unacceptable words and phrases can intimidate, annoy or alarm you.
Remember, even non-verbal communication can be sexually harassing.
What can you do if it happens to you?
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If you can, tell the person harassing you to stop.
Tell someone you trust about the harassment.
Treat the harassment as a serious incident.
Tell someone whom you believe can help, such as a supervisor.
File a formal complaint.
Contact your personnel officer or Human Resources department, or contact your
school counselor if you are a student.
Keep a log with specific dates, times, locations, possible witnesses, etc.
Types of sexual harassment
Quid Pro Quo: Sexual favors are openly or implicitly suggested as a condition of employment
(e.g., "Have sex with me or you're fired." "Sleep with me and you will get the promotion").
Hostile Environment: This type of sexual harassment comprises 95 percent of the total cases
and is sexual conduct that is unwelcome and sufficiently severe and pervasive to create a
hostile working environment. Examples include sexual jokes, lewd posters, leering,
inappropriate touching, rape, etc. For the less severe examples, patterns are important; a
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single crude remark or request for a date would not qualify.
How prevalent is sexual harassment?
Studies have shown that from 50 to 85 percent of women experience sexual harassment during
their academic or working lives. About 5 percent of these women will make formal complaints,
and about 2 percent will seek outside action.
Although women are more frequently the targets of sexual harassment, it is not uncommon for
men to also be the focus of sexual harassment.
What employers can do to stop sexual harassment
Employers should have a well-written sexual harassment policy that includes a definition of
sexual harassment; language that clearly states that it will not be tolerated; a description of
disciplinary measures for violations; procedures for filing a complaint; and the consequences of
retaliation.
Employers should demonstrate their strong disapproval of sexual harassment and show that
they will not tolerate it in the workplace. If complaints of sexual harassment surface, an
employer should act promptly, vigorously and visibly to remedy the problem.
Employer obligations
1. Fully inform complainants of their rights.
2. Fully and effectively investigate.
3. Promptly and effectively remedy the problem (the law requires more than a request to stop
the conduct).
Filing a complaint
An individual has two basic options for filing a sexual harassment complaint; 1) an internal
procedure and 2) an external procedure. Both options have merits and potential drawbacks.
Internal procedure
Advantages
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This allows for an informal resolution. The situation can be handled before it gets
worse.
It is multilevel; if not satisfied, you can go to the next level of supervision.
Most employers appreciate employees who try to resolve things internally.
This option does not cost you any legal fees.
The remedy may be better than what the court would award.
Disadvantages
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The process may favor the company over the employee.
The organization is investigating itself. It may do that well or it may not.
The remedy may be better on the outside.
External procedure
Advantages
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The complaint may be heard by a more objective party.
The complainant is not working on a daily basis with the investigators.
An attorney is looking out for your best interests.
The complainant may get a better remedy.
Disadvantages
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The complainant may look like a troublemaker, which can have repercussions on the
job.
It is very expensive. Legal fees can quickly reduce your assets.
There may be publicity surrounding the case.
It may be harder to find future employment.
It may take many years for the case to be settled.
Filing deadlines
Under Title VII, the employee has 180 days after the last incident in which to file a complaint. If
you have filed locally or with the state, you may have up to 300 days after the last incident. The
Federal sector generally allows only 45 days to file a complaint.
To report sexual harassment in the work place
Texas Commission on Human Rights
437-3450
To report harassment at public
work sites within city of Austin
974-3251
To report harassment at private
work sites within city of Austin.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC)
1-800-669-4000
Investigates incidents of workplace
harassment.
Stalking
The offense of stalking includes actions that threaten to cause bodily harm or harm to
property.
For a complete definition of the stalking law,
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Victim Services/Austin Police Dept.
1-800-799-7233
974-5037
To report stalking behavior and receive assistance in building a case against a stalker,
Victim Services/Austin Police Dept.
Teleserve/Austin Police Dept.
Family Violence Protection Team
974-5037
974-5750
974-8535 (Main number)
To receive written information about how to protect yourself against a stalker,
National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
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Recommendations for Stalking Victims
(Additional information concerning stalking using technology is available in the Safety
Planning section).
Interpersonal stalking cases
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Complete termination of the relationship with no further contact is essential. One
final communication may be necessary, preferably in writing, to unequivocally state
termination of the relationship. Consider having an attorney send a registered letter
to this effect.
Document, in detail, the relationship history, suspect background information and
any future attempts to have an encounter. Keep careful notes on dates, times, places
and witnesses.
Document any incidental or unusual occurrences such as hang up phone calls or acts
of vandalism.
Do not attempt to overtly intervene, gather information or interfere with a law
enforcement investigation.
Do not allow family members or close friends to intervene. People with good
intentions may cause more harm and increase your threat level.
Be realistic when considering protective or restraining orders—examine both the
positive and the negative aspects. Make sure the limitations of the order are well
understood to prevent a false sense of security.
Seek qualified assistance, either from law enforcement or from a respected private
organization.
Train yourself to be aware of your surroundings. Trust your instincts in a potentially
hazardous situation and use preventive security methods.
Residential safety
In addition to these suggestions, many local law enforcement agencies offer free home
security surveys that can provide specific recommendations for your residence.
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Remove outdoor shrubs that could provide hiding areas. Install exterior lights around
entire home, especially at entryways, balconies, patios and driveways. Make sure the
lights are at unreachable heights.
Install motion-detecting lights for areas less traveled.
Re-design fences and gates to be opened only from inside your property.
Keep all exterior gas, power and telephone boxes locked. (Contact proper utility
companies first).
Use proper deadbolt locks and keep garage doors locked at all times. Install an
electric garage door opener. Install keyless deadbolts on all exterior doors.
Install wide angle viewing devices in all exterior doors and never open a door to
anyone until you can identify that they are a safe visitor. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
OPEN YOUR DOOR TO ANYONE.
Post a NO SOLICITORS sign. Never accept door-to-door solicitations.
Install a lockable mailbox or get a post office box.
Sliding glass doors on older homes will require additional reinforcement. Consult a
locksmith.
Place interior lights and a radio on a timer system.
Window treatments should be designed to make it easy to see out, not in. Stand
outside your home at night and look for flaws.
Consider installing an alarm system—many are now affordable through leasing
programs. At a minimum, the system should be monitored by an independent
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monitoring company, have an exterior audible alarm, and allow you to arm the system
from your bedroom before going to sleep.
Work place safety
Remember, it is often easier to be located at work than at home, especially if your
career involves a lot of public interaction. Reasonable safety precautions can help to
reduce the threat of violence in the workplace.
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Car-pooling is the safest form of travel to and from work.
Park your car in unmarked, unassigned spaces. Request that parking lot attendants
pay special attention to suspicious people.
Arrange to meet with others to walk you to and from your car.
Coworkers should be reminded of routine security procedures such as awareness of
suspicious people, packages and telephone calls. All incidents should be documented
in detail and reported immediately.
Establish an access control system limiting public access to the working areas. Inventory
all keys and conduct routine audits. The loss of a key by just one person warrants a
change of all locks.
Advise and consult with both the personnel and security departments.
Have all telephone calls, mail and packages screened.
Establish a sign-in sheet for all visitors, including delivery personnel.
Although coworkers should be informed of the situation, do not divulge too much
information. Friends and coworkers could be a source of information to the stalker.
Never remain at work alone and avoid off hours at work.
Do not establish a lunch time ritual. Change eating or break habits often and include
others in your plans.
Vehicle safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) operates a Roadside Assistance hotline for nonlife-threatening situations on Texas roads and highways. DPS then passes the information
along to the appropriate local police agency or DPS office. If a tow truck is ultimately
dispatched, the motorist is responsible for all costs involved.
DPS Roadside Assistance Hotline
1-800-525-5555
Customers of ALLTEL, Nextel, Cingular Wireless, Houston Cellular and Verizon can dial
*377 to reach the hotline. The call is free of airtime charges anywhere in Texas.
There are also local highway emergency numbers that you can use should your car break
down. The Free Texas Courtesy Patrol
will change a flat tire, give you gas, help you start your car or call you a tow truck. These
services are free and paid for by our taxes.
Austin: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F
Dallas: 4:30 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F
9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat-Sun
Fort Worth: 24 hours a day except Fri/Sat midnight to 6 a.m.
Houston: 6 a.m.-10 p.m. M-F
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(512) 974-0894
(214) 320-4444
(214) 512-2726 (beeper)
(817) 370-6656
(713) 225-5627
Visually inspect your car before entering. Take the long way around your car to give
you the best view.
Install a vehicle alarm with a remote device that unlocks the car, turns on interior
lights and activates the alarm.
Install or carry a cellular phone. Be able to give your exact location when placing calls
for help. Join a motorist assistance club.
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Always travel with your doors locked and seatbelt fastened. Secure your purse on the
floorboard under your seat.
Make a habit of traveling in the center lane where moving vehicles are on either side
of you. On a two-lane road, use the lane farthest from the sidewalk.
Equip your vehicle with local maps, telephone book, flashlight, jumper cables,
emergency tire repair inflation can, first aid kit, fire extinguisher and any other
emergency items.
Install a locking gas cap and refuel only during daylight hours at a trusted
establishment.
Avoid parking lots with valet service.
Avoid establishing routine travel patterns.
Become familiar with police and fire station locations. If you suspect that you are
being followed, do not exit your car until you are at a safe location.
Never stop to assist a stranded motorist.
If you are involved in a traffic collision, stay in your car until the situation is safe.
Request police and rescue assistance, if needed, using a cellular phone.
Install window tinting film as dark as permitted by the local law.
General safety
The best general precaution is a mindset that blends a healthy outlook with a defensive
demeanor.
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Have a trusted friend or neighbor pick up junk mail and alternate interior light during
an extended absence.
Store all firearms in a safe manner and receive consistent training on the safety and
use of firearms.
Know where every member of your household is at all times.
Plan and prepare for an emergency evacuation.
Document any unusual occurrence including wrong phone numbers and license plate
numbers of suspicious vehicles.
Escort children to and from bus stop.
Join or establish a neighborhood watch program.
The most effective deterrent and alarm is proven to be the family dog.
Personal security measures are a matter of choice--if and when you decide to use a
means of self-defense, be prepared. Obtain detailed, constant training and stay
within the guidelines of the law.
Remember that every security measure you make should become a comfortable and
acceptable way of life, not a temporary measure.
Telephone harassment
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Maintain an unlisted, unpublished phone number and utilize such services as “Caller
ID”. Check with your local phone company to see which features are available in your
area.
When placing calls from your residence, block your number by using *67 prior to
dialing the number. This will prevent the number from displaying on a caller ID unit.
When using a caller ID unit, you can choose whether or not you wish to accept calls
that were made using *67. If you elect not to, the caller will hear a prerecorded
message advising them to this effect. Your phone will not ring and you will not be
aware of the attempt.
Rather than changing phone numbers, consider installing a second line or number.
This avoids giving the stalker a new “challenge” and allows for some sense of normalcy
while still allowing for the collection of evidence.
Remote call forwarding allows you to have a phone number not actually assigned to a
physical location. This forwards any calls made to this number to your secure
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residence phone. This makes it difficult for anyone, including phone company
employees, to locate your residential address.
Screen calls at your residence using an answering machine or service with the ability
to record messages. Any attempts at phone contact should be logged.
Maintain a log of unusual calls or hang-ups to compare to the list compiled by the
phone company.
In many cases, the phone company will work in conjunction with the police department
to perform call tracing. In many areas, this service is contingent upon an agreement to
prosecute. In severe cases, the phone company can also inspect the external telephone
lines for taps.
Threatening mail
These guidelines for handling of mail as evidence are general outlines only. Your local law
enforcement agency may have more specific procedures that should be used. The additional
recommendations for protecting your address are most successful when applied at the time of
a move but can still be of benefit if this option is either not possible or not needed.
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Retain all suspicious mail, packages or gifts as possible evidence.
When dealing with potential evidence, handle materials only if absolutely necessary
and involve as few people as possible.
Place letters in manila folders or plastic sheet holders (unless paper is damp) to
protect any latent fingerprints. Also be sure to keep all enclosures and envelopes.
If the stalker’s identity is not known, the style, vocabulary and content of the mail
may help develop or eliminate suspects.
Be aware that the named victim of a threat may not necessarily be the victim of any
subsequent violence. Stalkers have been known to kill members of their own family
or the family and friends of a victim.
Subscribe to a P.O. Box or a private mail box and delivery service. Report a change of
address to this new location. If you select a private service, the address will appear to
be a normal residential location.
Real property ownership is a matter of public record. Establish a trust that does not
use your family name and transfer your property to the trust.
Residential rental contracts should be completed in the name of the trust or other
non-obvious name. Consider this approach for utilities as well.
Voter registration information is also a matter of public record. Either re-register
using your private address or file for confidential voter status.
Contact all three credit reporting agencies (T.R.W., TransUnion and C.B.I./Equifax) by
mail to inform them of your private address and request that they remove your
residential address and telephone number from their files. This is a good time to
check for inaccuracies and deliberate alterations.
Change the address displayed on your operator’s license and vehicle registration as
permitted by law to reflect your private mailbox address.
Be aware that your trash can be an invaluable source of information. Discard mail,
notes and other refuse in a secure manner.
A business owner's guide to helping employees who are being
stalked
Three Profiles of employees likely to become stalkers in the workplace
1. Chronically disgruntled, argumentative and generally unpleasant individual.
2. A person with a history of serious mental illness.
3. A devoted employee with the company for many years.
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Stalking examples
1. Employees stalking employees within an organization.
2. Former employees stalking supervisors or business owners.
3. Customers, past and present.
Being Prepared
Company management should not wait until an employee or officer is being stalked. Prepare
a Stalking Incident Plan and have it in place. Be prepared to initiate it immediately, without
fail. An officer with the Austin Police Department is available to advise you in the writing of
this document.
Corporate Action Plan
There are several strategies businesses can use to insure a safe and violence-free work
environment. Among them are the following:
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Zero tolerance policy toward stalking
Communication with employees
Respect confidentiality of employees who report incidents
Document all threats
Respond immediately to all threats
Mandatory administrative leave for the stalking suspect pending investigation
Initiate EAP or counseling for stalking victims
Report all threats to APD Stalking Unit
If harassment of an employee is occurring from outside the workplace, employers
should
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Offer to screen calls
Refer the employee to counseling
Alert and reinforce security measures
Notify coworkers and other employees of a potentially volatile situation
Document all suspicious activity
Be cautious of gifts or packages once threats have been made
Secure tape recordings, phone messages, notes, letters and gifts received by the
threatened employee
Protect the employee’s privacy
Make timely reports to the APD Stalking Unit
Remember
A stalker is obsessed. They have delusional fixations about a victim and are so preoccupied
with the victim that they become oblivious to their environment. Sooner or later their actions
will affect the employer.
Early Warning Signs
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Unwanted or undue attention from another employee
Gifts left at an employee’s work station from an unknown admirer
Desire to be near or work with a specific employee
Contacting an employee at home to discuss insignificant job related matters
Appearance at company functions and attempts to be near a particular employee
Ignoring management requests to stay away from the targeted employee.
If you suspect that an employee is being stalked, call the APD Stalking Unit
immediately at 311 to make a report or 911 in an emergency.
Warning Signs of a Potential Stalker
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This following warning signs of a potential stalker is based on material developed in The Gift
of Fear by Gavin de Becker.
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Researching the victim. Asking someone for your telephone number, address, or for
information about you.
Is overly invested. Calling and leaving many messages before you have had much
interaction; attempts at quick involvement.
Your feeling that you cannot say no to him. He is so enthusiastic about his
contact with you (phone calls, dating, etc.) that you feel unable to refuse him.
Hyperattentiveness. Always seems to know what you want, is very flattering, and
remembers everything you say.
You feel intuitively uncomfortable around him. His hyperattentiveness and flattery
don’t feel right to you.
Offering unsolicited help—“loan sharking.” Does things for you so that you feel
indebted to him so that you cannot say no at a later time because of what he has
already done for you.
Projecting emotions or commitments onto your feelings that are not present.
Reading too much into what you say or do; e.g., You say maybe you would like to do
something, he hears this as a “yes” and then insists that you follow through because
you “promised” him.
Whirlwind pace, placing issues on the agenda prematurely. Talking about serious
things very early, such as moving in together, marriage and children. May start as a
joke but will later say that he is serious.
Monitoring activity and whereabouts. Wanting to know where you are, whom you
speak to, etc.
Jealousy. May become jealous when you speak to an ex-boyfriend, family, friends,
co-workers, etc.
Isolating you from friends or family. May ask or demand that you not have contact
with certain people.
Making you responsible to be his whole social world. He may stop spending time
with his friends to spend all of his time with you; expects you to meet all of his needs.
Refuses to hear “no” from you. When you say you don’t want to do something or have
a relationship with him, he refuses to accept this answer.
Statute of Limitations (Texas Code of
Criminal Procedure Art. 12.01)
This information was taken from the Criminal Procedure Reference brochure produced by
TAASA. For the complete brochure or more information, contact TAASA at 474-7190.
Felony indictments must be presented within these limits:
Indecency with a child
 10 years from the date of the commission of the offense if the victim was a child when
the sexual offense occurred.
Sexual assault
 10 years from the date of the sexual assault offense if the victim is an adult.
 Statute of limitations is suspended if DNA evidence was collected.
Child sexual assault
 10 years from the 18th birthday of the victim if victim is a child.
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Note: “Child” means a person 17 years of age or younger who is not the spouse of the
actor.
For more information, please have caller contact the SafePlace Sexual Assault
Community Advocate at 356-1576.
Temporary Protective Order (Ex-Parte
Protective Order)
A Temporary Protective Order is intended to give the system time to serve the batterer with
notice and set a hearing date for a Permanent Protective Order. The temporary order is
usually issued within three days of the victim’s application. It will be in effect for 14 days
and can be renewed for 14-day periods if there is a good reason for a delay in holding the
hearing. The batterer cannot be arrested for a violation but can be arrested if he/she
commits an action that violates a criminal law.
The penalty for violating the Temporary Protective Order is a civil contempt of court
misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine and/or six months in jail.
VAWA (Violence Against Women Act)
When working with undocumented clients on the hotline, please remember that using the
term “illegal” is diminishing—in Spanish it is equivalent to telling someone that they are
illegitimate. Try using “undocumented” instead.
If an immigrant woman’s U.S. citizen-spouse or permanent-resident spouse has never applied
for her to become a permanent resident, she can self-petition to become a permanent resident
through VAWA, which was enacted in 1994. She can also apply to become a permanent
resident if her spouse had begun the process of applying for her residency papers and then
later withdrew the petition, or if the petition is still pending.
This new law was enacted to help the woman whose spouse never began an application for
her permanent residency or withdrew an application that he had filed, leaving her in limbo
and under his control. VAWA also provides a remedy to help women in deportation
proceedings.
To become a permanent resident through self-petitioning, a battered woman must
demonstrate the following:
1. She has good moral character.
2. She is currently married to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
3. She resided in the U.S. with that U.S. citizen-spouse or permanent resident-spouse.
4. She is currently residing in the U.S.
5. She married her spouse in good faith.
6. She was battered during the marriage or subjected to extreme cruelty.
7. That deportation would result in extreme hardship to her or her child.
Battered women who self-petition may include their undocumented children in their
application. Children who are abused by citizen or resident parents may also apply for this
remedy. A woman who has not been abused can also self-petition to become a permanent
resident if she is a parent of a battered child abused by the woman’s citizen or permanent
resident husband.
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Please encourage caller to contact PAPA (see listing under Immigration section 478-0546)
for more information about VAWA or self-petitioning. If the caller lives outside Travis
County, ask her to call the Texas Civil Rights Program (474-5073) for help in filing a
self-petition.
What to Take When You Leave
Identification
Driver’s license, children’s birth certificates, your birth and marriage certificates, social security
card, welfare identification, credit cards (cancel old cards and get new or re-issued cards)
Financial
Money, bankbooks, checkbooks
Legal Papers
Your protective order, lease, rental agreement, house deed, car registration and insurance
papers, custody papers, divorce papers, health and life insurance papers, medical records for
all family members, work permits, green card/immigration papers, passport
Other
House and car keys, medications, small objects you can sell, address book/calendar, photos
of you and your children (they might be destroyed if you leave them behind), photo of your
abuser, school records, jewelry, children’s small toys, pets, change of clothes for you and your
children, phone card
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Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/
Transgender Issues
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Lesbian Battering
Similarities with straight battering
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No one deserves to be abused.
Abuse can be physical, sexual, verbal, emotional or psychological.
Abuse often occurs in a cyclic fashion.
Abuse can be lethal.
The purpose of the abuse is to maintain control and power over one’s partner.
The abused feels isolated and afraid and usually is convinced that the abuse was
somehow her fault or could have been avoided if only she had known what to do.
Differences from straight battering
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Lesbians who have been abused have much more difficulty in finding appropriate
support than straight women.
The myth prevails that lesbian abuse must be “mutual.” No one assumes straight
abuse is mutual.
Utilizing existing services is tantamount to “coming out” and is a major decision.
Support services and friends often minimize lesbian violence for several reasons—
because the lesbian community doesn’t want to destroy the myth of “lesbian utopia;”
because the battered women’s movement doesn’t want to destroy the myth of “all
violence is caused by men;” and because it is easy to fall into the trap of assuming
that the size of a person has anything to do with battering.
To complain about lesbian abuse is to reinforce the stereotype that lesbians are “sick.”
No one would claim straight relationships are “sick” because there is sometimes
abuse.
Lesbians have to face not only the sexist culture, but also a homophobic one as well.
A woman of color must face sexism, homophobia and racism.
Lesbian survivors may know few or no other lesbians. Leaving the abuser could
mean total isolation.
Lesbians aren’t usually as tied financially to their partners as are straight women.
The lesbian community is small, and in all likelihood everyone the survivor knows will
soon know of her abuse.
Reproduced from the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, Confronting Lesbian Battering
Manual.
Lesbian/Gay Domestic Violence
Reading List
Books
Island, David and Letellier, Patrick, Men who beat the Men who love them: Battered Gay
Men & Domestic Violence. New York, NY: Harrington Press, 1991.
Lobel, K., (editor) Naming the Violence: Speaking out about Lesbian Battering.
Seattle, WA: Seal Press, 1986.
Renzetti, Claire, Violent Betrayal: Partner Abuse in Lesbian Relationships. Newbury Park,
CA: Sage Publications, 1992.
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Magazine Articles
Tuller, David. When Gays Batter their Partners. San Francisco, Ca. The San Francisco
Chronicle, January 3, 1994.
King, Patricia. Not So Different, After All. New York, NY. Newsweek, October 4, 1993.
Snow, Katrin. The Violence at Home. Los Angeles, Ca. The Advocate, June 4, 1992.
Szymanski, Michael. Battered Husbands--Domestic Violence in Gay Relationships. Los
Angeles, CA: Genre Magazine, Fall 1991.
Letellier,MA., Patrick, Island, PhD., David. The Scourge of Domestic Violence. Gaybook
No. 9. San Francisco, CA: Rainbow Ventures, Inc., Winter 1990.
Battered Lovers--The Hidden Problem of Gay Domestic Violence. Los Angeles, CA: The
Advocate, March 4th, 1986.
Reading list was compiled by Susan Chalfin and Karen Michelle Mirko.
Resources
SafePlace Counseling Intake
356-1648
Confidential individual counseling and
support groups for callers who have
experienced domestic violence or sexual
abuse or assault.
Waterloo Counseling Center
3000 S. IH-35, No. 315
444-9922
Individual counseling for lesbians, gay
men, bisexuals and straight people,
both victim and batterer. Support groups
and individual counseling for
transgendered individuals.
Out Youth
909 E. 49-½ St.
419-1233
www.outyouth.org
Provides support groups
for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, and questioning youth age
12-19.
National Gay & Lesbian Hotline
1-888-843-4564
1-800-246-PRIDE
(youth through 25)
Hotline open from 3-11 p.m. Central M-F,
11-4 p.m. Sat. for those who identify
themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered or who have questions
about their sexuality.
Bisexual Network of Austin
370-9573
Social meetings and support groups for
individuals who are bisexual or who are
questioning their sexuality.
ALLGO/Austin Latino/A Lesbian
and Gay Organization
701 Tillery Street
472-2001
www.allgo.org
Members come together to validate and
affirm lives as lesbians, gay men,
bisexuals and transgenders. Political
social, cultural, and educational
programs. Social groups for
gay/bisexual men of color. HIV
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prevention information.
Parents, Families and Friends
of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
302-3524
Provides a support system for families
and friends of lesbians and gay men in
their efforts to understand, accept and
support with love and pride.
Private therapists
These therapists are not endorsed by or affiliated with SafePlace.
Wright House
4301-B North IH-35
467-0088 (adm. Office)
Toll-free 1-888-381-5180
236-8901 (food bank, outreach)
Provide no-cost to low-cost physical and
emotional support and services for
for people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer
and Hepatitis C. Food pantry, case
management.
Sexual Assault in the Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual Community
This information is available to be mailed to callers who request it.
Myth: Sexual violence does not occur in lesbian, gay or bisexual relationships.
Fact: Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals do batter and sexually abuse their intimate partners.
In one study, 31 percent of the lesbians and 12 percent of the gay men admitted to being
sexually abused by an intimate partner. The incidence rate is similar to that of heterosexual
relationships.
Myth: In many cases, it is a way victims dress or something they do that causes them to be
sexually assaulted.
Fact: It is never a victim’s fault if she/he is sexually assaulted. Rapists rape to control,
dominate and hurt their victim. The most common article of clothing worn by a victim is blue
jeans, and most victims are raped in their own home.
Myth: Men can’t be sexually assaulted.
Fact: Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault. Men comprise approximately 10 percent of all
sexual assault victims. Many men never tell anyone about the assault.
Myth: Since gay or lesbian couples are the same sex and likely to be similar in size, and
individual can defend herself/himself against their partner's violence.
Fact: Aggression and violence are based on personal choice, not physical strength. Smaller
partners and same sex partners can and do seriously injure partners through physical and
sexual violence.
Myth: Women can’t sexually assault women.
Fact: Women can sexually assault women. Forced sex is sexual assault. Forced penetration
with fingers or objects, or forced contact with another person’s sexual organs, is sexual assault.
Myth: Drugs and alcohol are the reason for most sexual violence.
Fact: Drugs and alcohol can inflame emotions, but they do not cause sexual violence.
Perpetrators sometimes claim drug and alcohol use as an excuse for having been violent. Many
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people will need also to work on alcohol and drug problems when they chose to work on their
violence problems.
Gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals are probably victims of sexual violence at the same rate
as heterosexuals. Unfortunately, there is little research in this area. For many reasons,
including homophobia and heterosexism, many gay, lesbian and bisexual victims are reluctant
to admit or report sexual assault.
Gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals are sexually assaulted by their dates and intimate partners,
by gay, straight and bisexual acquaintances, by strangers, and in “gay-bashing” incidents.
Gay men, lesbians and bisexuals may also have been victims of childhood sexual abuse. One in
four children (male or female) are sexually abused by age 14.
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