Down the Rabbit Hole

This episode explores topics of homophobia and identity-based violence. Please listen with care.Happy Pride!Today is all about being an LGBTQIA+ parent and parenting LGBTQIA+ kids. We are joined by Sam, a father of two, and an advocate at Safer Path Family Violence Shelter and by Lucas, the Director of Development for The Delores Project and father of three. Join us as we get into our main discussion by unpacking queer identities and how they inform how we show up at work and at home. We talk about how Pride support differs in smaller communities compared to larger ones, the effects of social media on queer identities, and the pressures of being an influential LGBTQIA+ voice or community leader. We also learn how to approach uncomfortable conversations, how to set boundaries with your kids and other family members and why leading with love is the best way to support queer youth and those struggling with their identities. Finally, Sam and Lucas describe how their jobs and skills in advocacy help them better navigate difficult conversations while exploring the importance of creating safe and secure healing spaces for the Pride community.Resources: Family Acceptance Project - San Francisco State UniversityNo One Taught Me How to Be a ManThe Delores Project

This episode involves discussions of sensitive topics, including domestic violence. Please take care of yourself as you listen. If you need to take a break, please do so. What does it mean to be a protective parent, especially while navigating trauma, abuse, or the child welfare system? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, Samantha and Tracie are joined by Barbra Grimmer, a policy coordinator with years of experience in both domestic violence advocacy and child welfare. Together, they explore how the definition of protective parenting has evolved beyond checklists and rigid standards, and how survivors are often judged most harshly during their most vulnerable moments. They examine the scrutiny placed on mothers in shelter, the conflicting demands of CPS and family courts, and the deep flaws in "failure to protect" policies. Tune in for a powerful episode on parenting, resilience, and reimagining how systems respond to survivors!

What happens when healthcare and the criminal justice system intersect? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, William, Samantha, and Tracie dive into the world of forensic nursing in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Joined by forensic nursing specialists Karen Carroll and Kalen Knight from the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN), they explore the critical role that forensic nurses play in patient advocacy, evidence collection, and legal proceedings. The conversation highlights the importance of trauma-informed care, the wide-ranging responsibilities of forensic nurses beyond sexual assault cases, and the ethical and legal challenges they navigate daily. You’ll also discover how forensic nurses contribute to justice by bridging the gap between medicine and law. Whether you're a healthcare professional, legal expert, a survivor of violence and trauma, or simply curious about the unseen heroes of the medical world, be sure to tune in for an eye-opening look at a profoundly important profession dedicated to care, compassion, and accountability!  This episode involves discussions of sensitive topics, including sexual assault, death, and domestic violence. Please take care of yourself as you listen. If you need to take a break, feel free to do so. You can always return to the podcast whenever you're ready. IAFN Website: https://www.forensicnurses.org/IAFN Foundation: https://fundforensicnursing.org/SAFEta Resource Page: https://www.safeta.org/

Young people are essential to the future of advocacy and social justice, but how do we create meaningful opportunities for them to engage? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, Samantha, William, and Tracie are joined by TCFV interns Mishal Ali and Veronika Croan to explore youth involvement in the movement to end domestic violence and promote social change. They dive into the challenges young people face when trying to get involved, including organizational hesitancy and lack of awareness, and share creative outreach strategies that make engagement more accessible. The conversation highlights the power of mentorship, the importance of social media as a recruitment tool, and how organizations can align their messaging with their mission to foster an inclusive and empowering culture for youth. Whether you’re an organization looking to better engage youth or a young person eager to make a difference, this episode is packed with valuable insights. Tune in to learn how to break down barriers, cultivate young leaders, and ensure that youth voices aren’t just included but heard and valued! 

Trigger Warning: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including sex trafficking, child abuse, labor trafficking, and domestic violence. Please listen with care.     What does human trafficking really look like in our communities and how can we play a role in prevention? In this powerful episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we are joined by Ada McCloud, a prevention practitioner with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. In our conversation, Ada sheds light on the complex realities of human trafficking and ways the public can help prevent it. She debunks common human trafficking myths, explains key definitions, and unpacks the importance of building protective factors for vulnerable people. Gain insights into how systemic vulnerabilities contribute to trafficking, how community-focused actions can create meaningful change, and the unseen dynamics of trafficking. Ada also sheds light on actionable ways to support survivors and promote accountability in our communities. Tune in and discover how you can help create safer communities for everyone.

As the holiday season approaches, creating trauma-informed spaces is more important than ever. In this episode, William and Tracie are joined by Diane Bocklage, Family Violence Services Manager at TCFV, to discuss how the ReCentered Project helps domestic violence organizations prioritize wellness for survivors and staff alike. By fostering environments of trust, support, and emotional care, ReCentering ensures that trauma-informed practices extend beyond direct services, promoting long-term healing and sustainable wellbeing for everyone involved. You’ll learn how the ReCentered Project empowers centers to make survivor-centered changes, such as revising policies, enhancing staff support, and improving program structures. This also includes offering staff wellness programs, creating supportive environments that reduce burnout, and ensuring that trauma-informed care is not only practiced with survivors but also within the staff culture. By promoting a holistic approach to wellbeing, ReCentering helps organizations build sustainable, compassionate systems that address both immediate needs and long-term healing. Tune in to learn more about how this process is shaping safer, more inclusive spaces!

This podcast contains discussions of intimate partner violence, domestic violence, homicide, and harm to adults, children, and families. Please listen with care. If you need to pause or step away, feel free to do so and return when you’re ready.    When leaving doesn’t guarantee safety, how do we protect survivors? In this episode of Down the Rabbit Hole, we’re joined by our TCFV colleague Tabetha Harrison to break down the data from the Honoring Texas Victims (HTV) report. This year’s findings reveal the heartbreaking loss of 205 Texans to intimate partner homicide, emphasizing that no age, gender, or community is immune. From the challenges survivors face when exiting abusive relationships to the role that firearms play in these tragedies, this conversation highlights the urgent need for community-driven solutions, survivor-led responses, and system-wide change. Join us as we uncover the human stories behind the data and discuss how we can all work together to create safer, more hopeful futures for survivors and their communities.  HTV full report: https://tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-HTV-Full-Report.pdf HTV victim narratives: https://tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/2023-HTV-Narratives.pdf HTV fact sheet (English): https://tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-English-HTV-2023.pdf HTV fact sheet (Spanish): https://tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-Spanish-HTV-2023.pdf HTV fact sheet (Vietnamese): https://tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/Fact-Sheet-Vietnamese-HTV-2023.pdf

It’s incredibly powerful when a survivor begins to see their true selves again and separate from the trauma they’ve experienced, and occupational therapy is an underrated lifeboat that brings calm and clarity to the tumultuous sea of domestic violence. Today, we are joined by two incredible women from Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support in Dallas – CEO Jan Langbein and Occupational Therapist Saidah Fletcher. Our guests begin with their journeys into the DV movement before detailing the inner workings of the remarkable Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support. We define occupational therapy and highlight its importance in DV, why Genesis was deliberate and urgent in hiring its own onsite occupational therapist, the benefits of occupation therapy for survivors, and some helpful advice for OTs who are active in the DV space. We end with a deeper exploration of the intersectionality between DV, OT, and improved family life, the pros and cons of having an onsite OT in DV centers, and helpful resources for OTs in DV that underline our guest’s hopes for how this episode will impact listeners. This podcast explores topics of intimate partner violence, abuse, and other forms of trauma. Please listen with care and take breaks as you need to.  Resources mentioned in this episode: Genesis Women's Shelter & Support   Occupational Therapy at Genesis   Domestic Violence at Genesis   Conference on Crimes Against Women   Brain Breaks with Miss S 

DVAM, IPV, DVHRT, PPC, SANE – If you’re not entrenched in the domestic violence movement, or if you're new to the movement, you might struggle to decode some of these acronyms. And even if you’re already playing your part in the movement, the learning curve can be real! Today, as we begin a new season, in Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), we will be taking a closer look at all the language within the movement. We discuss the language used here at TCFV, common acronyms that can be found across the movement, and important terminologies for survivors to understand. We also unpack how language can be isolating, how language evolves, specific terms to be aware of that may have more than one meaning, and why asking for clarification is always okay.  This podcast explores topics of intimate partner violence, abuse, and other forms of trauma. While listening, please do so with care. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:    Down The Rabbit Hole | ‘Domestic Violence High-Risk Teams’   ‘Honoring Texas Victims 2023’   ‘OIM - Essentials of Advocacy in Practice’  Texas Council on Family Violence (TCFV) 

Texas State Representative, Christian Manuel, has been involved in politics for over two decades, and today, we are chatting about how his family's background in education and leadership influenced his passion for serving others to make the world a better place. Rep. Manuel begins today's conversation by explaining the significance of Juneteenth for Americans before detailing his early entry into public office and his team's commitment to supporting survivors. Rep. Manuel shares how he turns the concerns of the public into actionable policies, the achievements that he's most proud of from his time in office, how his position as an out, black man affects the way he works, and how he stays motivated in a profession riddled with fresh daily challenges. We also discuss why it's important for policymakers to listen to young voices, why we need to understand the intersectionality of the issues that we address, the role of education in achieving gender and socioeconomic balance, and how newly elected officials can go about being the best champions for their constituents. Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for domestic violence, transphobia/homophobia, and violence against the LGBTQ+ community and may be sensitive to some listeners. Please listen with care. Please see the resources below: Representative Manuel https://www.equalitytexas.org/ https://www.transtexas.org/

In December 2023, after three decades in office and as the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Senator Judith Zaffirini became the first-ever woman elected as Dean of the Senate! However, this was not her first time breaking new ground, as she was also the first-ever Mexican-American woman to become a senator in Texas. Incredibly, Senator Zaffirini is also an award-winning communications specialist and Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development (and more!), and she joins us today to unpack the great work she’s done in her decades-long service to the people of Texas. Senator Zaffirini explains what motivated her to run for office, why she remains persistent to persevere in this work, why she reveres her close relationship with survivors and other constituents, and the standout achievements from her esteemed career. We learn about her methods for ensuring that her bills are passed, how she navigates her daily challenges, what elected officials in Texas need to be doing more of for survivors, how to improve the quality of community engagement (even without a vote), and why young voices are the ones that matter the most. To end, we explore Texas’ prevention angle, how gender roles in public office have evolved, how motherhood made Senator Zaffirini a better senator and leader, how she became an honorary nun, and her parting words of wisdom for listeners. This podcast explores topics of intimate partner violence, abuse, and other forms of trauma. As you are listening, please do so with care. 

This podcast explores topics of homicide, intimate partner violence, abuse, and other forms of trauma. As you are listening, please do so with care and take a break if you need it. For this year’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM), we are so excited to welcome our friends from the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) onto the show for the very first time! We’re going to talk about our strongest food opinions yet with Megan Perkins and Madison Jackson, and more importantly, they are going to share all of the amazing things TAASA has planned for April. Megan and Madison join us in discussion around the relationship between prevention and awareness, why it’s important that both of our organizations exist and can work together, plus offer some helpful resources linked below. TAASA Resources Sexual Violence in Texas – Fact Sheet nsvrc Denim Day I Ask for Consent Turn Texas Teal: Empowerment Playlist! RAINN PreventConnect Disability Justice, Violence Prevention, and Abolitionism Curriculum My Rights My Life

While we may focus our efforts on young people, there is support and education for survivors across the lifespan. Jamie Wright had degrees behind her name and had reared adult children by the time she found herself in crisis. Today, she is a survivor who speaks, advocating for others experiencing and recovering from domestic abuse. She joins the conversation today to share her story, along with insights from her research in her hometown in Southeast Oklahoma. We discuss prevention and accountability for adults and how Jamie’s story breaks the mold of preconceived ideas about what a survivor looks like. Jamie reveals what is behind her commitment to giving a voice to those who cannot use their voice, and we delve deeper into the misconceptions about survivors that sometimes prevent them from accessing the support they need. Join us today to hear all this and more. During this episode, our guest shares the details of her experiences as a survivor. Please listen with care. https://jamierwright.com/

This podcast explores topics of homicide, intimate partner violence, abuse, and other forms of trauma. As you are listening, please do so with care and take a break if you need it.    Released in October 2023, Honoring Texas Victims (HTV) reveals Texas' intimate partner fatality statistics from 2022 and share the victims' stories. Today, we are joined by two of its compilers and TCFV Support to Service Providers team members, Mikisha Hooper and Sarah Hilderbrand. They are here to share their findings from HTV 2022 and to discuss further actions for violence prevention in Texas. Mikisha and Sarah explain why leaving a relationship is a treacherous period for victims of abuse, how the age ranges of intimate partner abuse perpetrators reveal just how dire the situation is, why we need to stop using age to deflect the real truth, and all the details relating to firearms that can be found in HTV 2022. We also explore the responsibility of law enforcement, the challenges of identifying prohibited gun possessors, the importance of accountability, and some things TCFV is doing to raise awareness of violence prevention in Texas. You can find links to the 2022 report, fact sheets, and narratives here: https://tcfv.org/publications/. If you have any questions about this episode or the HTV report, please email us at prevention@tcfv.org.

Join the TCFV crew as we cover various topics and how they intersect with gender-based violence. This episode will feature Deb Butts, our Finance Manager, and Ryan Thomas, our Grants Writer, as they discuss some of the basics as well as the more nuanced, and sometimes confusing, pieces of Finance and Grants within family violence programs. Federal Funding Sources for Family Violence Centers & BIPPS: https://tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/tcfv_federal_funding_sources_flowchart_2021.pdf Bookkeeping Toolkit: https://tcfv.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Nuts-and-Bolts-of-Bookkeeping-A-Toolkit_Complete_v3.pdf