GOLD2023

AVDA

End Abuse/Begin Again

aka Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse   |   Houston, TX   |  www.avda-tx.org

Mission

The mission of AVDA (Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse) is to end family violence by advocating for the safety and self-determination of victims, promoting accountability for abusers and fostering a community response to abuse.

Ruling year info

1981

Chief Executive Officer

Ms. Maisha Colter

Main address

1001 Texas Ave., Suite 600

Houston, TX 77002 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

74-2141981

NTEE code info

Victims' Services (P62)

Civil Rights, Social Action, and Advocacy N.E.C. (R99)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

AVDA works to break the cycle of domestic violence through its core program offerings. AVDA's mission is to 'end family violence by advocating for the safety and self determination of victims and promoting accountability for abusers'. AVDA's core services are comprised of free legal services to victims and their children, this includes child custody, protective orders, child support and divorce. AVDA also offers counseling (both individual and group) for children and adults. Knowing that in order to end the cycle of domestic violence we must rehabilitate the abuser, AVDA operates the largest and oldest Battering Intervention and Prevention Program (BIPP) in the state of Texas. Finally, AVDA's Community Awareness Prevention Program provides programming to youth to help break the cycle and educate the next generation.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Legal Advocacy Program

AVDA’s attorneys are the only dedicated team of family lawyers for battered women in Houston. Since 1980, AVDA has provided free legal representation and advocacy for more than 100,000 victim-survivors of family violence. In 2015 alone, AVDA served more than 3,500 adult and minor victims of abuse, providing legal services necessary to safeguard victims (protective orders, kick-out orders, supervised visitation and other limitations on abuser’s access to children) and to end the legal ties that bind victims to their abusers (divorce, termination of parental rights).

Population(s) Served
Women and girls
Families

Removing the victim often isn’t enough to stop the cycle of violence. The abuser just moves onto another relationship, which inevitably turns violent. In response, AVDA founded AVDA's Battering Intervention and Prevention Program is an 18+ week regimen of specialized psycho-education counseling and re-socialization. BIPP challenges men and women who have been violent, abusive and/or controlling in intimate relationships to recognize, accept responsibility for and end this behavior. Even as BIPP “serves” the batterers, its overriding goal in doing so is to insure the safety, self-determination and well-being of victims.

Population(s) Served
Adults
People with psychosocial disabilities

AVDA provides a Trauma Counselor to meet the needs of children, youth and adults who have been traumatized by domestic violence. Counseling is offered for adults and children individually and in groups. Victim support is also provided, along with ongoing information, referral and safety planning.

Population(s) Served
Families

AVDA provides outreach to children and youth through a Youth and Outreach Specialist, who can present on a variety of topics pertaining to domestic abuse and healthy relationships. AVDA operates a Teen Abuse & Prevention Program (TAPP), a weekly prevention session that targets at-risk, incarcerated youth and provides life skills and discussion pertaining to family violence, dating abuse, and conflict resolution. AVDA's Outreach Specialist is available for health fairs, church events and community gatherings and can present on a variety of domestic abuse-related topics.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth

Where we work

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

AVDA is a unique non-profit that has served Houston for nearly 40 years.

In the next few years, we would like to enter a growth phase of adding more programs and assisting more victims. We envision a non-abusive and violence-free environment where relationships are based on mutual respect.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback

Financials

AVDA
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

AVDA

Board of directors
as of 07/17/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Ms. Katherine Cabaniss Parsley

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 7/17/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Black/African American
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 07/17/2023

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.