McLennan County Domestic Violence Response Team
What is DVRT?
The McLennan County Domestic Violence Response Team (DVRT) is a team of community service providers who collaborate for a cause. Our Mission is to improve services for survivors of domestic violence through a collaboration of legal, criminal, civil, and medical personnel.
DVRT meets the first Wednesday semi-monthly in the first floor conference room of Child Protective Services, located at 801 Austin Ave. in downtown Waco. We meet to discuss services in common cases, form relationship between agencies, and share information about new legislation and techniques. Responsibility for the response team is shared among the agencies, provided for by group discussion.
The Importance of a Team
Domestic Violence Is a Problem
Approximately 1.5 million women are physically and/or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner each year in the U.S.
75% of all Texans report that they would be likely to call the police if they were to experience some form of domestic violence. Yet only 20% indicated that they actually did call the police when they or a family member experienced domestic violence. *Source: Texas Council on Family Violence
“Fortunately, Texans understand that domestic violence is a serious problem in our state. Unfortunately, Texans demonstrate a willingness to blame domestic violence on circumstances beyond an abuser’s control, rather than acknowledge the abuser’s culpability. Also, a majority of Texans demonstrate a willingness to blame victims for being abused which limits the options available to those in abusive relationships. These barriers must be addressed in order for more victims of domestic violence to get the help they need, when they need it.” *Source: Texas Council on Family Violence
The Role of a Team Member
To promote victim safety and perpetrator accountability the crisis response team will:
- Identify services and gaps in services available to survivors of domestic violence
- Educate the community about domestic violence and provide crisis contact information
- Identify contact within cooperative agencies to enhance case collaboration
- Encourage and support agencies that work with domestic violence
- Advocate for legislative progress in domestic violence issues
- Recognize community events that may involve outreach opportunities
- Host internal trainings on civil and criminal law, agency services, etc.
- Discuss cases that may benefit by interagency collaboration
Does Your Agency Want to Join the Response Team?
Contact Family Abuse Center at
254.772.8999 or click
here. Let us know the name of your agency, how you are involved in domestic violence, a contact name, phone number, and email address. Some current participating DVRT Agencies are:
- Waco Police Victim Services
Back to Outreach