HHSC Offers Resources for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month

National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October highlights the need to prevent violence and support survivors. It also brings attention to lifesaving resources for people who have experienced physical violence, emotional abuse, financial abuse or sexual abuse by family members or intimate partners.

"Domestic violence is pervasive and impacts all of us," said Megan Bermea, program director of the Health and Human Services Commission Office of Family Services. "Through family violence centers and shelters across Texas, we work to ensure survivors can get trauma-informed support and services."

The HHSC Family Violence Program provides services at seven nonresidential centers and 82 shelters throughout Texas. The program helps survivors access community resources, legal advocate services, housing assistance, and mental health services such as counseling and peer support.

Program locations throughout Texas provided approximately 1.9 million services to over 66,700 adults and children in fiscal year 2024.

The Family Violence Program also supplies a handout listing resources that law enforcement, campus peace officers and health care providers can give to survivors. Your Rights as a Survivor of Family Violence, Dating Violence, Stalking, Harassment or Terroristic Threat (PDF) informs survivors of their rights and where they can quickly access support services, shelter and protection.

HHSC launched a webpage in English and Spanish with contact information for the Family Violence Program, National Domestic Violence Hotline, Texas Department of Public Safety Victim Services and more. The page includes information on filing criminal charges, obtaining a protective order and terminating a residential lease.

If you or somebody you know is experiencing domestic violence, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website, call 800-799-7233 (800-787-3224 for TTY) or text "START" to 88788.

To learn more, visit the HHSC Family Violence Program webpage.