DEPARTMENT: Health
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Jennifer Herriott, MPH
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
A briefing on the Domestic Violence Comprehensive Plan
SUMMARY:
A briefing on the Domestic Violence Comprehensive Plan and the Commission on Collaborative Strategies to Prevent, Combat, and Respond to Domestic Violence
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In the Spring of 2019, several events converged generating an increased sense of urgency to respond to domestic violence in San Antonio. Several high-profile news stories highlighted the increase in domestic violence-related murders. As requested by Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales and Councilman Manny Pelaez, the Department of Human Services and Metropolitan Health District conducted a structured assessment of domestic violence related services and worked with the community to develop a Comprehensive Domestic Violence Plan. The evaluation included currently available services, systems of data collection and analysis, and community response to family violence incidents, including law enforcement, social services, judicial, and education. In addition to documenting baseline status, it also included an analysis of gaps in service and system improvements related to incident reporting and follow up.
The data that informed the plan was collected through five sources:
• Survey of domestic violence providers on scope and scale of services provided
• Surveys of attendees at Domestic Violence Congressional Townhall
• Interviews of key community leaders in San Antonio and Texas
• Interviews with experts in domestic violence and evidence-based prevention approaches
• Extant data from SAPD, Texas Courts, the Texas Council on Family Violence, and from City of San Antonio Department of Human Services grantees
Assessment findings and gaps identified were presented to community stakeholders in August and September 2019, and stakeholder subcommittees and the San Antonio & Bexar County Domestic Violence Task Force as well as the Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence, identified gaps to fill and implementation strategies. In addition, the City of San Antonio committed $1,000,000 of new funding to address domestic violence in the FY 2020 budget as well as enhancements in the San Antonio Police Department. The Domestic Violence Comprehensive Plan was written under the direction of Dr. Colleen Bridger through a close collaboration between the department of Human Services, Metro Health, and SAPD.
Domestic Violence is a preventable public health problem. Children who grow up in homes with domestic violence are more likely to experience or perpetrate domestic violence as adults. The Comprehensive Plan joins immediate actions to meet the needs of survivors today with long term strategies to stop violence before it starts. The complex challenge of reducing domestic violence will require a sustained, coordinated effort engaging city, county, and community resources and wisdom. The newly formed Commission is a crucial step in developing a coordinated community response to domestic violence in the City of San Antonio and Bexar County.
ISSUE:
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District would like the opportunity to brief the full City Council on the development of the Domestic Violence Comprehensive Plan.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.