Taylor Turner, founder of Hazen & Co, is thrilled to save money with her Partners Card at these Dallas gems! She plans on stopping by Talulah & Hess and St. Michael’s Woman’s Exchange to stock up on stylish and elegant gifts for her friends. Of course, she has to visit her Hazen & Co
flagship store in Dallas during Partners Card! Lastly, Taylor is going to end her shopping spree with a delicious cocktail from Tullum.

Kimberly can't wait to use her Partners Card to shop at some of her favorite stores in NorthPark Center, including Kate Spade, Diptyque, and Sugarfina. Also check out NorthPark Center's Guide to Partners Card and be on the lookout for our Partners Card Selling Table!

The Dallasites 101 Duo, Kara & Lily, are excited to use their Partners Cards to shop around West Village Dallas, especially at Nicole Kwon Concept Store for themselves and Q Clothier for the special men in their lives. Visit West Village, one of our shopping center sponsors, for lots of Partners Card fun! They also can’t wait to save and shop at all of our online retailers right from their phone – don’t forget to register your card for online shopping!

Billy Fong– PaperCity Culture and Style Editor

Exceptionally fancy olive oil from Royal Blue Grocery is always good to have on-hand, plus it makes you seem like a culinary superstar.

For my new home, classic navy blue and white monogrammed towels from Ralph Lauren.

Since I'm pretty boring with my towels, I need a whimsical navy and white zebra print bath mat from Jonathan Adler.

Lisa Shaddock – PaperCity Senior Editor

I’ll get a head start on 2020 with a new planner. I swear by my Graphic Image datebook and Madison carries exclusive colors & prints.

Our pup can’t get enough of the all-natural treats from Lucky Dog Barkery!

You can never have enough picture frames, I’ll buy my favorite styles for myself and for last minute holiday gifts from The Ivy House.

Jacksons Home & Garden has some of the best Partners Card shopping in town – save on holiday décor, outdoor furniture, gift items and even grills!

I’m so excited to treat myself to something beautiful from Bvlgari at NorthPark Center!

Cos Bar in The Plaza at Preston Center is a mecca for all things beauty and wellness, it’s a must visit!

Antèks Home Furnishings has been a Partners Card retailer since the very beginning – I love the store for gifts.

Family violence doesn’t take a break, and neither does The Family Place’s 24-hour crisis hotline. In 2018, we received 7,595 emergency hotline calls.

Our hotline counselors are the first voices that domestic violence callers hear when they reach out for help. Counselors listen to callers in order to understand their circumstances and provide the best solution possible.

On average, a hotline counselor may speak with 20 to 25 men or women each day. When someone calls the hotline, the counselors first listen to understand more about the client’s situation. Then the counselors will ask more questions and explain what services and shelter options are available at The Family Place. Most callers are seeking safe shelter and immediate basic needs, as they often leave with nothing but the clothes on their back.

Clients that are considered High Risk (HRO) or are called in by the Dallas Police Department because of a high Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) score always get immediate shelter. These cases typically involve increased risk of deadly situations.

If a client calls and our shelters are full, high risk clients are connected to a Program Director who can help with immediate needs. This might mean clients are referred to another family violence shelter or might lead The Family Place to find a hotel for the victim until we are able to get them into a shelter.

Every call touches the hearts of the hotline counselors, but some stand out more than others. One client called our hotline in a panic because her abuser had shot through the windshield of the car while she was in the passenger seat and her two-year-old daughter was in the back. The mother described how scary it was to witness someone that she thought she loved act out by shooting a gun to scare her. With the help of Tahira, one of our hotline counselors, the mother and children were able get into one of our shelters and utilize The Family Place resources to work through the trauma they experienced.

“The hotline offers emotional support and resources to help individuals with creating effective safety plans and continues to provide a stable anchor for those in the wake of such violence. Along with safe shelter and support, The Family Place is dedicated to help individuals with emotional processing and locating appropriate resources and referrals for recovery,” says Tahira.

The Family Place sets itself apart by offering its services and programs in both English and Spanish. Our bilingual staff are so important because many of our clients speak little to no English. Without bilingual case managers, counselors and support staff, many Spanish-speaking victims of family violence would not receive the proper resources and might not have their voices heard.  We can serve a much larger population by offering services in both English and Spanish and inform victims that there is always help available. With language barriers nearly eliminated, we can serve all people seeking services at The Family Place more effectively.

Ana Auces is a bilingual case manager who works with clients in our Supportive Living Program (SLP). SLP is our transitional housing program that provides 26 on-campus extended-stay apartments to individuals and families coming from one of our emergency shelters. As a case manager, her role is to assist clients with basic needs as well as meeting one-on-one to talk about their specific situation. She serves as a voice for victims during a time of change and transition for the families in our care.

Families that enter SLP are given a furnished apartment that includes bedding, basic food items, pots and pans, plates, utensils, and other necessities to get them started. From then on, clients are responsible for getting food and essentials on their own.

If they are not already working or going to school when entering SLP, clients will actively search for employment or further education opportunities, so they are prepared when they leave. By providing these clients with free housing, they can save money to support themselves and their families when they exit our care.

As Ana says, her goal is to “work together with The Family Place team to place our clients in a community where they feel the most comfortable while preparing them to be independent.” 

The Harold C. Simmons Child Development Center (CDC) at our Safe Campus offers a specialized curriculum for children five and under that have experienced trauma. This curriculum helps kids at the CDC heal and regain any developmental loss. The CDC provides free childcare for women in our shelter so they can go to work, look for jobs and go 

to counseling knowing their child is in good hands.

In recognizing the need for a person dedicated to children’s behavior at the CDC, Gennie Jones joined our team as the Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS), helping to create positive behavioral change with kids at the CDC.

As a Behavior Intervention Specialist, Gennie’s main role is to assess every child enrolled at the CDC. She conducts a pre-assessment test on the child’s 5^th day and a post-assessment test on their 30^th day, if the child is still in our care. During these assessments, she evaluates communication, problem solving skills and speech to determine if there are any pressing behavioral concerns. She also works closely with the counselors to ensure children in the CDC are receiving the specific care they need.

Every kid reacts to trauma differently, but subtle behaviors cannot go unnoticed. Gennie helps educate The Family Place community—teachers, parents, and staff—about observing important behavioral signs. In identifying these destructive or abnormal behaviors, she helps others understand their importance, making sure the child has support to work on positive behavioral change.

The CDC is always busy with toddlers running around and teachers interacting with their students. Gennie is an additional resource to address behavioral concerns, so they are resolved effectively and efficiently. Her expertise helps kids in the CDC receive individualized help in overcoming their traumatic experiences.

Gennie helps mothers understand that small, abnormal behaviors at a young age need to be dealt with immediately, as there is usually something more behind the behavior.

Her most memorable experience was one mother who knew her child needed outside care due to special needs. Their insurance wouldn’t cover the cost and Gennie was able to work with the community to make sure the child received the best care.

“It is so inspiring to see moms who has been through unimaginable trauma and are working to put themselves back together continue to put her child first and make sure they are getting the care they need,” says Gennie.