Learn About Our Domestic Violence High Risk Team

The Family Place is struck with grief over the recent loss in our community. Our agency strives to empower our survivors, but the pain of domestic violence tragedies never goes unnoticed. Last week when a known domestic violence perpetrator allegedly killed his ex-girlfriend, her one-year-old son, and her parents before killing himself, we’re reminded just how critical our collaborations with the criminal justice system are in protecting families. One of these relationships is our participation in the Dallas Domestic Violence High Risk Team (DVHRT), which protects domestic violence survivors who are at the greatest risk of serious injury and death.

The Danger is real. Last year, 216 Texans were killed by intimate partners. In order to combat these horrific outcomes, we created the Domestic Violence High Risk Team to provide safety planning, crisis intervention, case management, advocacy, counseling, and coordination services offered by partner agencies. We know that when domestic violence response systems share information and work together, they have greater impact. The Family Place works with the Dallas Police Department Family Violence Unit, Dallas District Attorney’s Office Family Violence Division and Dallas County Corrections and Community Supervision Department to quickly identify cases that have the highest risk of victims being killed by their former or current intimate partner. Through the criteria put in place by the team to assess risk factors, we are able to focus on those victims and offer services, shelter, and support in hopes of preventing danger. We know that every phone call to our 24-hour crisis hotline is a lifeline, and The Family Place is proud to have been there for those in crisis for the last 45 years. 

The approaching holidays remind us of the increased danger faced by families suffering from domestic violence. During the holidays, hotline calls spike and are up by 39% from earlier this year. To ensure we can meet the need now and in the future, we need your support.  

A message from our CEO, Tiffany McDaniel:

“Inspiration unfolds in the resilience of survivors and the untold stories of victims. The Family Place makes it our calling to amplify their voices, building a new path for them to find strength, hope, and triumph against domestic violence.”

Together, we can lift up the stories of victims and survivors to educate our communities about domestic violence in hopes to prevent future tragedies.