Several agencies gathered in Laredo to mark the start of construction on Casa Valor, a family crisis center for survivors of domestic violence. The center will bring investigators, nurses and other essential services together in one location.
Police said the center will connect survivors with key resources in one place. The setup is meant to make it easier for survivors to get the help they need and lower the chance that someone will fall through the cracks.
Norma Garcia said it can be hard to know whether survivors follow up after leaving an office. She said they may need to visit other places to get a protective order, speak with the district attorney or meet an advocate at the Casa de Misericordia domestic violence shelter. "We hope that this one-stop shop is going to help them get everything done," she said. Officials expect the center to open to the public in December.