FAMILY ADVOCACY
915-568-0494

http://www.aardvarc.org/

  • Domestic Violence Prevention and Awareness

  • Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness

  • Protective Orders

  • Transportation

  • Safety Planning

  • Relocation

  • Emergency Shelter

  • Access to medical care

  • Community Resources

  • Know your RIGHTS

  • Liaison (courts/military system)

  • Victim Compensation

Installation Support & Resources:

  • Center Against Family Violence 593-7300

  • Child Crisis Center 562-7955

  • Child Advocacy Center 545-5400

  • Family Services of El Paso 533-2491
    *In-home 533-7982

To Report Domestic Violence or obtain services:

  • MP 's 568-2115

  • El Paso Police Department 911 (off post)

  • Family Advocacy 568-7088 or 569-2800

  • Family Advocacy Victim Advocates 568 - 2946 (Mon through Fri. 0730 - 1630)

  • Victim Advocates 241 - 3405 (after duty hours)

  • Army 1 Source 1-800-464-8107

  • Chaplains

To make a restricted report, contact:Victim Advocate 637-8362 or Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, 490-3895.

 

For restricted reporting to WBAMC the following persons can be reached at 569-2121
* Sexual Assault Care Coordinator
* Sexual Assault Care Provider
* Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

 

For services and reporting after duty hours / weekends contact:

  • MP ‘s 568-2115

  • Victim Advocate 637-8362

  • WBAMC 569-2121

  • El Paso Police 564-6900

  • Sexual Trauma Assault and Response Service (STARS) of El Paso 779-1800

 
 
 

Family Advocacy services are available as a resource to support soldiers and families in managing personal and family issues. We provide educational classes and briefings to units, family members and the community. Our programs help create a safe community and strengthen individuals and families, especially those in at-risk situations. Some classes offered are Anger/Stress Management, Parenting Skills, New Parent Services, Child Health and Safety Issues, Family Violence Awareness, Child Abuse Detection and Reporting and Life Building Skills. Family Advocacy also provides assistance to and acts as liaison for victims of family violence and sexual assault (608-18).

Transitional Compensation

In 1994, Congress required the Department of Defense to conduct a study of family members abuse and its consequences and to identify efforts to reduce victim disincentives to reporting abuse. Congress followed up on its concerns and established the Transitional Compensation program for abused family members of military personnel. The legislation authorized temporary payments, for families in which the absent soldier has been discharged administratively or by court martial for dependent abuse. Benefit entitlement starts the date the court martial sentence is approved or the date the administrative separation is initiated. Payments are for a minimum of 12 months or until the soldier's ETS date, whichever period is longer, but may not exceed a maximum of 36 months. TC is centrally funded and managed at Department of the Army level. The Fort Bliss Army Community Service in conjunction with the Staff Judge Advocate Office coordinates individual cases at Fort Bliss and forwards applications. For details on this program, please call 568-4878.

 

Victim Advocacy

The Victim Advocate program was established in order to provide support for victims of

domestic violence. The purpose of the program is to enhance personal safety, and to preserve

the victim's dignity and autonomy while providing support through the investigation and case

review process. The program is supported by Family Advocacy and utilizes volunteers and

staff to provide services while under the supervision of the program manager and ACS.

 

Victim Advocate services include, but are not limited to:

  • Crisis Intervention

  • Emergency Shelter

  • Safety Planning

  • Orders of Protection (Civilian and Military)

  • Liaison between victim and unit

  • Information and referral

  • Court accompaniment

  • Transportation

  • Referral to outside agencies

  • Texas Crime Victims Compensation and Transitional Compensation

Sexual Assault Prevention and Response

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SARP) Program expands the Family Advocacy Program and its Victim Advocacy capabilities under AR 600-20, Chapter 8. The SARP program reinforces the Army’s commitment to eliminate incidents of sexual assault through a comprehensive policy that focuses on education, prevention, integrated victim support services, reporting, investigation, and appropriate action and follow-up. To learn more about the Army's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program click here.

 

DoD (under AR 600-20 Chapter 8) mandates that each military member will receive their annual sexual assault awareness training* through the installation's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program. To schedule your annual unit or agency training please contact the Installation Sexual Assault Trainer (SAT) at 568-5658 Monday through Friday from 0730 to 1630 hours.

 

*Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program training is not an extension of sexual harassment training. Please contact the appropriate agency for you Sexual Harassment training.

 

Response to victims of sexual assault both on the installation and in a deployed environment requires the utilization of unit victim advocates (UVA) and installation victim advocates (IVA 's). The training for UVA 's occurs regularly and provides those soldiers assigned to this co-lateral duty with comprehensive hands-on education in sexual assault victim advocacy. The criteria Commanders should use to select UVA 's can be found within AR 600-20 Chapter 8 or by contacting the Installation Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) at 568-5658 Monday through Friday from 0730 to 1630.

 

Victims of sexual assault have two reporting options afforded to them. Under restricted and unrestricted reporting victims may receive services and advocacy on their behalf as well as obtain information on services on and off the installation. For more information on types of reporting and services available contact the installation victim advocate at

 

To obtain victim services and information during duty hours call 568-4878.

Mandatory Domestic Violence Awareness Trainings AR 608-18 - If Domestic Violence is to end, each one of us in this community must form a partnership that focuses on creating a safe violence-free environment. This partnership reinforces that everyone has a right to feel safe and takes a stand against Domestic Violence. Please contact Yadira Velasco at (915) 569-5058 to schedule your unit's annual mandatory Domestic Violence Awareness training. Yadira.velasco@us.army.mil

Mandatory Sexual Assault Awareness Trainings - Active and Reserve Components are also required to receive annual Sexual Assault Training. Please contact Johnny Pippen at (915) 569-5374.

Parenting Classes

All classes are held at ACS, Bld. 2494

Early childhood Classes

1-3pm. *6 weeks course, 2 hours every week

  • April 7
  • July 7
  • October 6

School Age/Teen Classes

1–3pm. *6 weeks course, 2 hours every week

  • April 2
  • July 2
  • October 1

Healthy Kids Classes

Parents of children ages 0-6 year olds learn about nutrition, safety, and car seat safety.

1–3pm. *2 weeks course, 2 hours per week

  • February 13
  • May 14
  • August 14
  • November 12

Baby Care 101

1–3pm.

  • March 7
  • July 11
  • September 5
  • November 7

Expectant Sibling Class

Children ages 3 to 8 years old learn how to hold, feed and play with a new baby.

  • March 19 6–7:30pm
  • May 14- 6–7:30pm
  • July 16 1–3pm
  • October 7 6–7:30pm

Playgroup

Ages 18 months to 4 years
Meet every Tuesday and Thursday 10 am to 12. Need to call 568-4878 since locations vary.

Free child care is available for Parenting and Healthy Kids Classes. (Children must be registered with CYS and reservations must be made prior classes. Voucher for child care will be given after each class.)

Educational Programs

  • Family Violence Awareness Briefings — Units, Family Members, and Civilians as requested.

  • Parenting Classes— For parents of children 6 months and above.  Six week series, 12 hours.  Regularly scheduled.  Specialized classes for Single/Step Families available.

  • Home Visitor - Provides in-home visitation, pregnancy and parenting education, support, and resource assistance to military families with children, prenatal-3 years old."

    •
New Parent Services

  • Playgroup — Teaches interaction with infants and toddlers building strengths in parenting skills. Support group for new parents/parent information exchange. Meets from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Tuesday & Thursday at the Fort Bliss Bowling Center (playroom). If there are any questions, please call 568-1132.

  • Hospital Visits — Visit with new mothers to give information and referral and detecting potential high risk families.  Volunteers always needed.

  • Expectant Parent Services — Distribute ACS information - safety, stress management, and parenting issues. 

  • Expectant Sibling — Class for children expecting a new baby brother or sister.

  • Blue Ribbon Babies Newsletter — Free monthly newsletter for parents of infants.

  • New Parent Classes — Classes for parents of newborns. Covers newborn care.

Child Health and Safety Issues

  • Healthy Kids — Two week series, 4 hours. 

  • Home Safety — As requested.

  • Kids on the Block Puppet Shows — As requested by groups. 

  • Volunteers are always needed to train as puppeteers.

  • Passenger Safety/Car Seat Loaner Program — As requested.

  • Training for Professionals/Paraprofessional in Child Abuse Detection and Reporting (Military Police, Child Care providers, Youth Services and Commanders)

  • Safety Education — Child Sexual Abuse, Prevention and Awareness for Family Members and Professionals.

Life Skills Classes

  • Stress Management — Quarterly class for individuals, as requested by units or groups.

  • Anger Management — As requested by units or groups.

  • Dating Violence — As requested.

  • ACS Resource Briefing — Distribute ACS service information emphasizing Family Advocacy Information and Resources.

  • Programs can be developed to meet the emerging needs of units and family members

    •
Direct Services

  • Information and Referral for individuals facing a crisis.

  • Information on Domestic Violence & Family Life Skills.

  • Victim Advocacy

  • Respite Care

  • Support Services for Victims of Sexual Assault