In Harris County during the late 1980s and early 1990s changes in leadership at several organizations took place which led to discussions on how to formalize all the informal agreements among individuals working in the domestic violence field here in Harris and surrounding counites. For years networking meetings were held once a month and while these meetings allowed individuals to interact with one another and create informal working agreements, little movement was made toward formalizing those agreements.

In 1995, a small group of people from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the Houston Police Department and Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse began serious conversations on how to make this dream a reality. The group approached Harris County District Attorney John B. Holmes, Jr and Houston Police Chief Sam Nuchia to co-host a meeting of community leaders to discuss issues relating to domestic violence and how to work together collaboratively. Both men agreed to do so and on April 18, 1996, the first meeting of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (HCDVCC) was held.

In attendance at that meeting were leaders from law enforcement, prosecution, the courts, pre-trial services, post-conviction services like probation, domestic violence agencies, health organizations and the education system. All agreed to commit to sending representatives to a monthly meeting on the second Thursday of every month who had the authority to help create written protocols to ensure the flow of cooperation and information remain open regardless of who was in what position. The protocols would include every aspect of the community that had contact with domestic violence survivors and their children. By April 1997 HCDVCC had incorporated as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, adopted bylaws, and formed committees to do the work that was needed to be done.

Over the years the work HCDVCC accomplished was recognized, as well as the need for full-time staff to dedicate themselves only to this work. In 2010, The Houston Endowment invested in HCDVCC which allowed the organization to hire two full-time staff members to work exclusively to make a significant impact on domestic violence in Harris County. Today HCDVCC has over forty employees who are leading efforts to build collaborative systems and innovative programs that increase access to services and safety for survivors of domestic violence in Harris County.