136. This number is how many victims of domestic violence Cross Timbers Family Services has helped over the past year.
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Cross Timbers Family Services, law enforcement, volunteers, first responders and survivors have been busy sharing information along with tying purple ribbons throughout the county to bring awareness to the important cause. Ribbons and signs are displayed at the Donald R. Jones Justice Center, the Erath County Courthouse in downtown Stephenville, the Dublin annex, the Erath County Sheriff’s Office, Stephenville Fire Department, Stephenville Police Department and Tarleton State University Police Department.
Members of the Dublin Police Department aided CTFS employees and volunteers with tying ribbons near the Dublin annex in downtown.
“Domestic violence isn’t just a private matter – it’s a crime that tears at the fabric of our community. I want every victim to know: you are not alone and help is available. My agency is committed to protecting you, holding offenders accountable and standing with survivors as they rebuild their lives,” Police Chief Cameron Ray said.
Erath County District Attorney Alan Nash echoed the sentiment.
“Violence … whether in our neighborhoods, homes, or in the political arena … undermines the peace and livelihood of everyone in a community. This is why our local law enforcement is relentless in deterring, preventing, and vigorously prosecuting violent offenders,” Nash said.
Recently, Texas Health Resources has launched a new unit for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence - The expanded services, offered by what will now be known as the Forensic Healthcare and Violence Intervention Department.
“Texas Health is leading the way with this vital new program, and we’re honored to collaborate alongside them. We’re so proud of their dedication to supporting survivors—this is a powerful step forward in providing trauma-informed care, education, and medical support for those impacted by strangulation and other forms of violence. As an agency that serves all victims of violent crime, including domestic violence, CTFS is committed to standing alongside survivors every step of the way and are grateful to partner with organizations working to ensure they receive the care and dignity they deserve,” CTFS Executive Director Laura Gambino said.
The new unit will utilize nurses already trained in providing specialized care and support to sexual assault survivors to also treat victims of domestic abuse. The expansion is possible thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Moody Foundation and all wholly owned Texas Health hospitals eventually will offer the services.
“For years, we’ve seen the tremendous impact that our certified sexual assault nurse examiners have made in caring for and comforting patients who have endured one of the most difficult times of their lives, all while meticulously collecting and preserving evidence that could prove crucial in a criminal case,” said Catherine Oliveros, DrPH, vice president of Community Health Improvement for Texas Health. “We are so grateful that the Moody Foundation’s grant is enabling our nurses to obtain additional training in interpersonal violence, so they can now help even more victims of violence.”
The specially trained nurses will be available 24/7 to meet bedside with patients being treated as a result of domestic or dating violence, complete a danger assessment to ascertain their risk level, photograph any injuries and, if the patient wishes, connect them with law enforcement.
If the patient doesn’t want to report the incident and/ or leave the alleged abuser at that time, the nurses will work with them to develop a safety plan.
“What if they had to leave in a hurry? Where would they go? What would they need? What documents?” Cindy Burnette, D.N.P., R.N., CA-CP SANE, SANE-A, director of the Forensic Healthcare and Violence Intervention Department said. “There’s such a plethora of things that people don’t really think about needing when it’s time to leave. It would be like a hurricane came through; what do you grab on your way out of the door?”
Inthecaseof CrossTimbers Family Services, nurses will alert when a patient has signs of strangulation, has suffered severe injuries or has suspicious injuries while pregnant – indications that studies have found place a victim at increased risk of dying at their offender’s hands.
Frances Moody-Dahlberg, CEO and president of the Moody Foundation, said the foundation is grateful to support Texas Health’s expansion to more comprehensive forensic nursing.
“We care deeply about ensuring victims of sexual assault, abuse and interpersonal violence have access to the highly specialized care needed to truly heal from these heinous crimes,” Moody-Dahlberg said. “We’ve been proud to support Texas Health’s SANE program in the past, and this latest gift will support training their nurses in forensic evidence collection and enabling the team to provide outreach and education to law enforcement, colleges and other community organizations. With this investment, our hope is that more perpetrators of violence are brought to justice and survivors can heal more fully.”
According to the Texas Advocacy Project, one out of three Texans will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, almost triple the national average. Protective orders are as much as 80% effective in reducing future violence.
Anyone who needs immediate assistance can call the 24-hour crisis hotline for CTFS at 866-934-4357. The national Domestic Violence Hotline which is 24/7 with multiple languages including Spanish is 1-800-799-7233.