The Upper Kirby District is proud to welcome the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council to its family of non-profit tenants at the Upper Kirby District Center at 3015 Richmond Avenue.

The Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) seeks to end domestic violence through a coordinated community response by formalizing the unofficial working agreements and procedures commonly practiced among various entities and organizations providing services for domestic violence victims. 

HCDVCC will celebrate its 15 year anniversary in 2011. 

The Council was established in 1996 with the support of the Harris County District Attorney's Office, the Houston Police Department, the Harris County Sheriff's Office and Executive Directors of various victim service agencies including shelters, batterer treatment programs, counseling programs, health agencies, universities and special population service agencies.

In the previous 14 years HCDVCC had operated as a non-profit organization with a volunteer board comprised of experts in the domestic violence field. Some accomplishments of the Council through the years include:

•   Harris County Commissioner's Court designation of the HCDVCC Death Review Team as the official team in Harris County to examine and review adult fatality cases to determine possible gaps in service.  This team gathers data and compiles a report every two years regarding the findings.
•   Family Justice Center Project:  Collaboration among Harris County District Attorney's Office and 5 Domestic Violence Agencies to provide services to victims who are applying for protective orders.  Each day a different agency provided education to applicants while in the waiting room.  An advocate is available to assist victims with immediate needs and access to emergency shelter if necessary.  Recently the collaboration expanded to include the availability of a Houston Police Department officer on site to assist with filing charges as needed.
•  Coordination of domestic violence training events for Harris County
•  Coordination of Domestic Violence Month events

A new chapter unfolded for the Council in 2010 thanks to the Houston Endowment.  The Houston Endowment's generosity allowed HCDVCC to hire two full time staff members to continue the mission of the Council, to work toward increasing collaboration in order to strengthen the community's response to domestic violence, to increase safety for victims, hold perpetrators accountable and prevent domestic violence.

Barbie Brashear, the Executive Director and Amy Smith, the Deputy Director come to the Council with over 40 years of experience between them.  Barbie with 18 years at the Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a women's center in Pasadena and Amy with 20 years at the Harris County District Attorney's Office and 2 years at Crime Stoppers of Houston.