Collaborative Commission Works to Improve Domestic Violence Response

Published on March 30, 2023

Newly released Year 3 Report highlights upstream efforts to prevent violence and make resources more accessible

SAN ANTONIO (March 30, 2023) – The Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence (CCDV) released its Year 3 Report, highlighting their accomplishments and efforts to transform the community’s domestic violence response system. The CCDV was formed in 2019 to collectively begin the work to repair, solidify and improve the domestic violence response system. The report can be viewed here.
 
“The Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence pulls together partners and providers from every aspect of the domestic violence response system to address the upstream causes of violence. We are working to improve the system to make it easier to seek help, while ensuring that the community’s response to domestic violence is proactive, compassionate and effective,” said Judge Monique Diaz, Co-Chair of the CCDV.
 
In its third year, the CCDV refocused its mission following the pandemic on four key areas: increasing community education and awareness, training the workforce, connecting people to services and support and changing processes.
 
“Together, we are making changes to the way our community serves victims and survivors of domestic violence. In our third year, the CCDV worked to transform the community’s programs and service to a victim-centered approach, implemented training resources for medical students and school districts and collaborated with Bexar County to launch a comprehensive assessment of the local justice system’s response to domestic violence,” said Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez, Co-Chair of the CCDV.
 
The Year 3 Report summarizes the collective work of the CCDV for October 2021 through December 2022. Some highlights of this work include:

• Transformation of City of San Antonio programs and services from a system-focused approach to a victim-centered approach.
• Connected more than 1,600 domestic violence victims to crisis support services through a new partnership serving county residents.
• Trained more than 300 medical students on the dynamics of family violence and the resources available to healthcare providers and community members.
• Engaged with independent school districts to introduce evidence-based curricula on teen dating violence and healthy relationships.
• Collaborated with Bexar County to launch a three-year, comprehensive assessment of the local justice system’s response to domestic violence.
• Hosted two annual educational symposia for professionals, advocates, and people with lived experience related to domestic violence.

“We can make lasting positive change to the services available to victims and survivors through the Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence’s approach,” said Marta Pelaez, CEO of San Antonio Family Violence Prevention Services. “But these types of changes take time. When we make resources and training available to children, parents, the workforce and the community, we are equipping people with generational tools and information to prevent violence and help those who are experiencing violence.”
 
The CCDV also convened to outline their fourth year priorities, strategies and interventions. In the next year, the commission will:

• Provide training, technical assistance and build capacity for people who work to support those impacted by domestic violence
• Apply the lived experiences of domestic violence survivors, witnesses and perpetrators to build alliances and inform strategies
• Expand the capacity for community-based organizations and legal advocates to provide comprehensive legal services to victims of domestic violence
• Provide a person-centered approach to domestic violence treatment, support and services
• Develop a coordinated communication strategy to raise community awareness about the dangers of domestic violence and available resources
• Identify and evaluate interventions by improving data collection, reporting and use

To learn more about the mission and work of the Collaborative Commission on Domestic Violence, visit ccdv.org.