The Picture of Texas

Advocates and survivors across Texas share a vision of a state where no one experiences violence. Throughout all layers of the Texas State Plan survivors shared that they were either not aware of what a healthy relationship looked like or cited the stigma that surrounds disclosing family violence to others. This reluctance to report and lack of information and support on perceptions of a healthy relationship are conditions often embedded in norms created within families and communities. Primary prevention efforts are ones that target these norms and beliefs that perpetuate dating and family violence, such as toxic masculinity, understandings of healthy relationships, and the concept of consent. Since 2007, Texas school districts have been mandated to adopt and implement dating violence policies leading to statewide prevention efforts aimed to promote discussions about healthy relationships. However, implementation is inconsistent. Along with these inconsistencies, there are gaps in prevention services for adults and traditionally-underserved populations. Consistently across family violence programs in Texas, community outreach for adults incorporates available services and resources in the community, while primary prevention efforts are typically targeted at older youth and adolescents in schools.

In order to reduce the stigma associated with being a survivor of family violence and create a Texas where everyone is aware of what a healthy relationship looks like, supporting prevention efforts will be critical. Family violence programs must collaborate with school districts and universities in their communities to help provide relevant and age-appropriate curriculum to students of all grade levels. Creative ways to connect with youth, adults and other populations, such as through social media, podcasts, and text messaging should be utilized to enhance efforts.

Traditionally-underserved populations are the least represented in prevention efforts across the state of Texas, echoing data from survivors and advocates that programs do not resemble the specific populations and communities they serve. Stakeholder groups emphasized participating in culturally-specific prevention efforts and forming connections with these populations to develop and execute prevention programming specifically geared towards these underserved populations. By collaborating with culturally-specific organizations, advocates who do not have to have the expertise of working directly with that population are still able to provide survivors resources in the most culturally-relevant and competent way.