Texas
Serves City of Kingsville/Kleberg County
The goal of the End Domestic Violence Task Force in Kleberg County, Texas, is to educate and empower the community and build awareness, support, and prevention of domestic violence. Kleberg County is located in rural southern Texas. The nearest domestic violence shelter is one hour away, creating significant obstacles for people experiencing domestic violence and needing emergency shelter and services. Through the work of the Task Force, strategies have been implemented to increase awareness, and a variety of programs have been developed to support individuals in domestic violence situations in need of help.
Through community education and stakeholder collaboration, three components have been implemented: a court accompaniment program, where victims of domestic violence can request an advocate to join them during the trial and protective order hearings; a "Trusted Partner/Trusted Location" program, where the Task Force trains local businesses on signs of domestic violence and how to provide resources and support to individuals seeking help; and a hotel voucher program funded through a faith-based organization, where local law enforcement can access hotel vouchers to give to anyone in need of emergency short-term housing. The End Domestic Violence Task Force holds monthly meetings to cover a wide range of topics and frequently invites guest speakers, including survivors, prosecutors, law enforcement, victims' assistance coordinators, counselors, shelter administrators, elected representatives, faith ministers, and others.
