2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
KATHERINE MUNTER
President
CAROLENE MARKS
Vice President
ANDREA EVANS
Commissioner
DORKA KEEHN
Commissioner
JING XU LEE
Commissioner
ANDREA SHORTER
Commissioner
EMILY MURASE, PhD
Executive Director
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COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Members Present Staff Present
Commissioner Andrea Evans (via telephone) Executive Director Emily Murase, Ph.D.
Commissioner Dorka Keehn (4:50) Policy Analyst Kim-Shree Maufas
Commissioner Jing Xu Lee Policy Analyst Carol Sacco
Vice President Carolene Marks Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
President Katherine Munter Administrative Analyst Laura Marshall
Excused Absent: Commissioner Andrea Shorter
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
President Munter called the meeting to order and announced that Commissioner Andrea Evans would participate in today’s meeting via telephone.
Action: Approved amended agenda. m/s/c (Marks/Lee/Unanimous).
No public comment.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action: Approved draft minutes from April 25, 2007. m/s/c/ (Marks/Lee/Unanimous).
No public comment.
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT DISCUSSION
A. Executive Director's Report
In the interest of time, Dr. Murase directed Commissioners to her written report. Dr. Murase did announce that the UC Berkeley intern expected to join the department this fall has changed her academic focus, therefore, the department would not be hosting a graduate student this fall.
B. Violence Against Women (VAW) Partner Agency Profile – Gum Moon Women’s Residence
Gloria Tan, Executive Director of the Gum Moon Women’s Residence explained that the organization provides transitional housing facilities for Asian immigrant women who are survivors of domestic violence as well as victims of human trafficking. Gum Moon has also established a community outreach project known as the Asian Women’s Resource Center (AWRC). The AWRC provides a wide range of services for low-income monolingual Asian immigrant women and children. The AWRC offers opportunities for cross-cultural experiences, self-improvement and leadership development. Gum Moon’s services include:
· Transition Housing
· Survival English Program
· Parent-Child Development Program
· Pre-Employment Training Program
· Summer School Program
· After School Tutorial Program
· Cultural, social and Recreational Program
· Informational and Referral Services
Gum Moon staff are fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Indonesian, and Korean to assist the residents in providing the variety of services they do in their original dialects. Residents are responsible for their own cooking as well as cleaning their own living quarters. The staff encourages interaction and activities among the residents, creating a family atmosphere. With providing the wide range of services to the residents, the women gain self esteem and confidence.
Currently there are 29 residents at Gum Moon and there is a waiting list for an opening. There are 15 rooms that are funded by the Department. Some rooms are single rooms and some are double occupancy rooms.
Ms. Tan invited the Commissioners to visit the facilities to get a first hand look at the services they provide. Ms. Tan announced that on Friday, August 24 Gum Moon will hold their annual fundraiser and would provide more details once they become available.
IV. CONSENT AGENDA
All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Agenda and are considered to be routine by the Commission on the Status of Women. They will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered as a separate item. Members of the public may speak on each item listed on the Consent Agenda.
Action: To approve the Consent Agenda. m/s/c (Marks/Lee/Unanimous)
A. Resolution Supporting the San Francisco Hep B Free Campaign
B. Resolution Recognizing the 15th Anniversary of the Domestic Violence Consortium
C. Resolution Recognizing the Supreme Court Ruling on Reproductive Rights
D. Resolution Recognizing Civil Service Commission Director Kate Favetti
E. Resolution Recognizing LYRIC’s June 16th Young Women’s Health Fair
Kate Favetti thanked the Commission for the honor of having her 36 years of service with the City and County of San Francisco recognized. Ms. Favetti explained how when she first came to work for the City and County women where really not represented in the city and how after 36 years many steps have been taken to have women in Executive
V. OLD BUSINESS
A. Election of Officers
President Munter reminded the Commission that at the April 25 Commission meeting, Commissioner Marks was nominated for Vice President.
Action: To approve Commissioner Carolene Marks as Vice President. m/s/c (Munter/Evans/Unanimous)
No public comment.
B. Universal Health Care Update
On May 10th, Vice President Marks and Policy Analyst Kim-Shree Maufas volunteered and attended the San Francisco Women’s Health Summit on May 10 where there were over 100 attendees. The morning activities consisted of a presentation by Tangerine Brighams, Deputy Director of the San Francisco Universal Health Access Program now known as Healthy San Francisco followed by and broader women’s health issues discussion facilitated by Ysabel Duron of the KRON 4 news.
Policy Analyst Kim-Shree Maufas reported that on May 16 she joined community members, health care provides and various women’s working groups, state-wide union representatives and high school students from across California in Sacramento to lobby for Women’s Universal Health Care. These groups also lobbied legislators about the three 2007 Universal Health Care Bills currently in the legislator. Senator Kuehl’s SB 840, Senator Perata’s SB 48, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez’s AB 8.
On May 26 Ms. Maufas will be attending the Catherine Summer’s Bayview Imani Breast Cancer Support Group “Celebration of Life” Conference.
VI. NEW BUSINESS
A. Social Services of Catholic Charities
Becky Bogyo, Lead Immigrant Counselor for Refugee and Immigrant Services with Catholic Charities CYO (CCCYO) explained that the organization provides direct immigration legal services for victims of violent crimes, advocacy and education to immigrant communities about domestic violence and access to services for victims of violent crimes. In order to provide the wide range of services to the community, Catholic Charities works in collaboration with a variety of providers such as Women Inc., Resolve to Stop the Violence (RSVP), Bay Area legal Aid, The Riley Center, La Casa de las Madres, Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic, and Victim Services of the District Attorney’s Office.
Many victims of violent crimes are not aware of the legal services provided to immigrants which make them reluctant to seek assistance. Catholic Charities provides immigration legal services in the following areas:
· Relief Under Violence Against Women Act
· Relief Under Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act (U Visas)
· Asylum for Domestic Violence Survivors
· Main service provider in San Francisco service the Spanish speaking population
CCCYO services are accessible the following ways:
· Monthly workshops are held on the 1st Monday of every month to all new clients
· Training of Victim Services staff, social workers, case managers and therapist to help identify potential clients
· Intake and assessment of new clients
· Representatives from District Attorney’s office, BayLegal, RSVP programs to assist in the legal process
To date CCCYO has been able to help 130 women obtain U Visas. Currently there are 20 clients being served.
Deana Otero with Catholic Charities explained that outreach in the Catholic Church has changed the perception of victims of domestic violence. Women who once believed they had to stay in an abusive marriage because they where married in the Catholic Church felt relieved to know that the Catholic Church supported them leaving an abusive relationship. Many women felt that they could once again take the sacrament of the holy bread once they knew they were supported by the Catholic Church.
B. Hepatitis B Outreach
Ted Fang with the AsianWeek Foundation explained how Hepatitis B is a disease that is carried and passed by women during childbirth and how many Asian’s are affected by this disease. Hep B is the main cause of liver cancer for Asians, and 80% of liver cancer is caused by Hep B. There is now a vaccination that is provided to prevent Hep B which is why AsianWeek has an Hep B Free Public Education Campaign which is chaired by Fiona Ma who is a carrier of Hep B. Ms. Ma currently has a bill before the legislation to support 2 pilot programs to provide outreach and education about Hep B. Currently there are two screenings a month on weekends to have people tested for Hep B, and they hope to work with hospitals in San Francisco to provide testing to non-patients as Hep B is preventable.
Mr. Fang reported that the Mayor has the ambitious goal of becoming the model city for setting up a structure in educating citizens of Hep B as well as getting people tested.
C. Overview of Childcare Investment and Resources in San Francisco
1. San Francisco Childcare Planning Council Needs Assessment
Michelle M. Rutherford, Program Manger of Child Care Policy and Planning with the Human Services Agency as well as chair to the Local Child Care Planning and Advisory Council's Needs Assessment provided an overview of Child Care Capacity in San Francisco. Ms. Rutherford reported that San Francisco is relatively well supplied with licensed care, but needs remain for Infant/Toddlers. There is also an increasing demand for Preschool, because of the Preschool for All Initiative. Currently there are 302 Centers which equals out to 18,117 spaces of which 47 licenses for infants & toddles, 243 licenses for preschool and 87 licenses for school age care.
In an effort to increase capacity San Francisco has:
· Since 1998 SF has increased the licensed center capacity from 16,083 to 18,117
· Infant center capacity has increased from 573 to 783.
· Through a Public/Private partnership of the Facilities Fund we built and expanded over 17 centers throughout the city.
· Since 1998 Licensed FCC has grown from 484 to 709
· During this time there was an expansion of subsidies but a decline in child population.
There is subsidized care that falls in three basic types:
· Fed/State Direct Contract slots in Centers
· FCC Networks
· Vouchers administered by Children’s Council/Wu Yee Children’s Services
Eligibility for subsidized assistance varies depending upon the program. Usually you must either be low-income and or in work or training programs. CalWORKs entitlements are available 24 months post-aid and thereafter if in care during the 24th month of assistance. Other families apply to Headstart or to the Centralized Eligibility List (CEL).
Currently the City is trying to develop a centralized system for being placed on a waiting list.
Currently San Francisco Child Care Subsidy Expenditures are as follows:
· $110.9 mil federal/state (including $30 mil. CalWORKs)
· $11.6 mil. Headstart
· $ 9.3 mil. Local Subsidies (low-income working families, Homeless and Family and Children Services
Other Investments = More than $35 million
- Preschool for All ($9.9 mil)
- WAGES+ and CARES ($7 mil.)
- Mental Health/Health ($4.5 mil.)
- Facilities Fund and Quality Improvement grants ($4.4 mil.)
- Quality Assessments and grants, technical assistance
- Infant/toddler sustaining grants
- Inclusion technical assistance training and technical support
- Professional development, training, provider support
2. Children’s Council of San Francisco Resources
? with the Children's Council of San Francisco explained that the organization provides free information to families who are seeking childcare. This includes providing evening workshops to assist parents in choosing child care, referrals for financial assistance for paying for childcare, creating and supporting childcare programs, and advocating for child care.
There is a Child Care Subsidy Program that helps parents pay for the child care services of their choice. Limited funds are available for:
· Parents in transition from welfare to work or employed in low-income jobs
· Foster parents and guardians
· Teen pares, homeless families, and parents with other special circumstances
? explained that the Children's Council manages the San Francisco Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) which gives families access to many subsidized child care programs through one application. CEL is an eligibility list that determines which families should be served first based on factors such as income, family size and other needs as spaces become available. The CEL recipients must be low income and meet one of the following needs: working, looking for work, attending school or training, homeless, medically incapacitated, receiving Child Protective Services or seeking part time preschool.
The Children's Council works with closely with the Human Services Agency Child Care Policy and Planning Department and provides data to the Department.
D. Commission Meeting Agenda
Vice President Marks requested that each Commissioner thing of how they would like to see the agenda for the meetings developed, organized and what goals they would like to see accomplished. This would provide the Commissioners the opportunity to provide their input on how the Commission meetings would run.
President Munter suggested that each Commissioner contact Commissioner Marks with suggestions or comments for agenda items or ideas which will then be forwarded to the Department to draft an agenda. Once an agenda is drafted a conference call can be held with the President, Vice President and Department staff to go over final revisions.
Ann Lehman volunteered to work with the Commission and Department to discuss agenda development and develop descriptions of the roles of the Commissioners.
VII. REPORTS
A. Health
Commissioner Marks continues to work with the Health Access Plan Advisory Committee (HAP) which has now been changed to Healthy San Francisco. There will be a soft launch beginning July 1 which will start providing service in two clinics in the Chinatown area. Healthy San Francisco is working with on a marketing plan to get out information to the constituents of San Francisco.
No public comment.
B. Justice & Courage
Dr. Emily Murase reported that the Domestic Violence Response Cross-Training Institute has held three training sessions with agency personnel that include: Adult Probation, District Attorney, Emergency Management (911), Police, and Sheriff.
Dr. Murase thanked Laura Marshall, Policy Assistant for her support for the Institute.
Dr. Murase announced that there will be a Justice and Courage Community meeting on Wednesday, May 30 from 3-6 pm at the Women’s building to discuss the Safety Audit and solicit input from the community.
The Department is in the process of evaluating candidates for the Senior Policy Analyst for Domestic Violence Programs and Policies.
No public comment.
C. Violence Against Women Prevention and Intervention (VAW) Grants Program
Dr. Murase was pleased to announce that all contracts have been completed and are ready for signatures from the Executive Directors and the City Attorney.
Dr. Murase reported that the Family Violence Council legislation is ready to go before the Board of Supervisors and we are waiting to hear from the Mayor’s office and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell to schedule a press conference to have introduction of the legislation.
No public comment.
D. Girls Committee
Dr. Murase reported that the Girls Committee met on May 7 and continued their discussion of updating information on the 2003 Girls Report. Committee members are in the midst of final exams and for that reason the GIRLFest Youth Steering Committee has taken a month hiatus.
The next Girls Committee meeting will be held in June.
No public comment.
E. CEDAWCommittee
Dr. Murase reported the Department is waiting to receive the report from the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development for Human Rights (WILD) on San Francisco’s implementation of CEDAW. Dr. Murase announced that there will be a Northern California CEDAW Summit that the Department will be participating in on June 30 in San Jose.
No public comment.
VIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Vice President Marks announced that she has been in contact with Emannuel ? from a school in Korea and is interested in participating in a student/academic exchange.
Dr. Murase explained that this type of program would require staff time and the department would discuss possibly taking on a project of this magnitude.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn. m/s/c (Marks/Lee/ Unanimous)
The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 pm.
The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers, and similar sound producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.
Explanatory documents: For copies of explanatory documents listed in this agenda, and other related materials received by COSW, please contact the Department on the Status of Women at 25 Van Ness Ave, Suite 130, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-2570, fax: 415-252-2575. Also, to the extent possible, documents will be available on the COSW website at http://www.sfgov.org/cosw.
Know Your Rights under the Sunshine Ordinance(Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code)
Government’s duty is to serve the public, reaching its decision in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people’s business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people’s review. For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance, or to report a violation of the Ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force at 415-554-7724. To obtain a free copy of the Sunshine Ordinance contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall, Room 244, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4689, phone: 415-554-7724, fax: 415-554-7854. Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can also be obtained from the San Francisco Public Library and on the City’s website at www.sfgov.org.
Lobbyist Registration and Reporting Requirements
Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign & Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102; phone: 415-252-3100, fax: 415-252-3112; web site: sfgov.org/ethics.
