Maverick County Coalition Against Domestic Violence elects Officers
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016
Over 5o local and out of town persons and entities have formed the Maverick County Coalition Against Domestic Violence (MCCADV) during the fall of 2015 in response to the salient domestic/family violence abuse and sexual assault problems facing Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas residents. At a January 5, 2016 MCCADV meeting, the members elected their first Officers to lead this much needed non-profit organization in the community, electing Terri Contreras-Patlan and Simon Sotelo as Co-Chairpersons and Sandra Vela as Secretary.
MCCADV Coalition members also discussed at the January 5, 2016 meeting the organization’s vision and mission statement which includes promoting and improving the health, safety, and quality of life of people affected by domestic/family violence and sexual assaults.
MCCADV’s mission will include providing leadership, awareness , education about domestic/family violence and sexual assault and its consequences to those affected (victims and children) in our community.
MCCADV’s will provide strong advocacy and education for victims and their children as well as the community.
The lack of a well-funded community organization to assist domestic violence and sexual assault victims and their children in Maverick County brought together over 50 local persons and organizations to form the MCCADV and provide assistance, counseling, housing, employment training, legal protection and representation, healthcare services, educational training, and other services.
During the past three years, there have been three homicides in Maverick County caused as a result of domestic violence or sexual assaults. Maverick County Sheriff’s Department and Eagle Pass Police Department yearly crime statistics show Maverick County has a serious domestic violence and sexual assault problem within the community.
MCCADV members will be receiving legal training from attorneys from Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid on February 17, 2016 at the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade, including how to obtain Protective Orders, gun surrender issues, and other related topics.
