2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997
KATHERINE MUNTER
President
CAROLENE MARKS
Vice President
ANDREA EVANS
Commissioner
KAY GULBENGAY
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 Executive Director Emily Murase, PhD Commissioner Kay Gulbengay Administrative Analyst Laura Marshall Commissioner Dorka Keehn (5:25) Policy Analyst Anu Menon
Commissioner Jing Xu Lee Grants Administrator Carol Sacco
Vice President Carolene Marks Policy Analyst Jill Tregor
President Katherine Munter Commission Secretary Cynthia Vasquez
Excused: Commissioner Andrea Shorter
I. CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES
President Munter called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm and welcomed all present.
Action: Approved amended agenda. m/s/c/ (Gulbengay/Evans/Unanimous)
No public comment.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Action: Approved draft minutes from October 24, 2007.
m/s/c/ (Evans/Gulbengay/Unanimous).
No public comment.
III. EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS REPORT DISCUSSION
A. Executive Directors Report
Dr. Murase referred Commissioners to her written report and highlighted the October 23 press conference that the Department collaborated with the Office of the City Administrator and AT&T to announce the launch of the Language Line Services which provides phone translation services to the criminal justice system when responding to domestic violence incidents. Dr. Murase thanked Laura Marshall, Jill Tregor, Commissioner Carolene Marks and Commissioner Dorka Keehn for their support and participation. Dr. Murase reported that Commissioner Marks, Policy Analyst Jill Tregor and herself met with Health Commissioner Roma Guy and Deputy Health Director Barbara Garcia to discuss what work the city is doing overall on women's health. Both departments agreed to continue to discuss possibly collaborating to revive a women's health coordinator position.
She concluded by stating that, on November 16, the SAGE Project will hold a Press Conference announcing the launch of the 2007 Reclaim Your Rights Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign at 9:30 am at 1275 Mission Street.
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.
A. Resolution Recognizing the Honorees of the San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women 30th Anniversary Gala Luncheon
Arts & Culture Belva Davis, former Board President, Museum of the African Diaspora
Community Service Beverly Upton, Executive Director, San Francisco Domestic Violence Consortium
Corporate Leadership Donna Burke, Regional Vice President, AT&T
Education Gwen Chan, former Acting Superintendent of Schools
Politics & Government Senator Barbara Boxer
Senator Dianne Feinstein
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Entrepreneurship Julie Castro Abrams
Philanthropy Luz Vega-Marquis, President & CEO, Marguerite Casey Foundation
B. Resolution Recognizing November as Native American Heritage Month
C. Resolution Recognizing Janice Mirikitani for her 40 Years of Service at Glide Memorial Church
D. Resolution Recognizing Kim-Shree Maufas for Her Service to the Department
Dr. Murase thanked Kim-Shree Maufas for her work with the Department.
Action: To approve the Consent Agenda. m/s/c (Gulbengay/Evans/Unanimous)
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Domestic Violence Response Cross-Training Institute Year 1 Evaluation
Mark Morris of Mark Morris Associates reported on the success of the first year of the Cross-Training Institute. In all, 206 individuals receiving training. Mr. Morris found that the Department, partnering agencies, and instructors had developed an exemplary training. The curriculum which evolved, and is the subject of the evaluation, was developed in partnership with the Police Department, the Adult Probation Department, the Office of the District Attorney, the Sheriff's Department, the Department of Emergency Management, and the Department on the Status of Women. Mr. Morris explained that the overall evaluation addressed 3 questions:
· Did training participants acquire new information and attitudes?
· Did the information and understanding acquire in the training result in new procedures and protocols in domestic violence response?
· Did the changed procedures result in better services for domestic violence victims?
Overall, the first year results showed that participants gained a better understanding 1) of their agencies' role in responding to calls of domestic violence, 2) the procedures of other criminal justice agencies, and 3) the variety of community programs/resources. Most importantly participants showed increased and insight about the experiences of victims of domestic violence. Participants were highly engaged and results shoed that participants acquired significant new knowledge. From the evaluation the following recommendations were made:
· Review scenarios to ensure that they non-biased. Some participants felt that the scenarios depicted their position or department as "incompetent".
· Make sure that each class be representative of the key players in response to domestic violence inside and outside the criminal justice system. Include Child Protective Services (CPS), judges and court clerks as stakeholders in the process.
· Emphasize the importance and value of the materials/resources provided to encourage their use after the trainings. Include materials on such topics as immigration laws and on the rights of the undocumented.
Dinh Tranh with Mark Morris Associates explained that participants of the training received information and tools to help them with domestic violence calls, including:
· valuable resources of other city agencies and agencies in the community
· personal contacts with partnering agencies
· a better understanding of domestic violence
· a better understanding of the roles and work of their own agencies
· hands on lesson of the protocols of other agencies
Ms. Tranh explained that the evaluators will follow-up with participants 3 months after the training to find out if the tools that were provided in the training are being use and if any new procedure or protocols have been established. They will also survey domestic violence outreach workers to see if they have seen any changes within the participating agencies.
Commissioner Gulbengay suggesting presenting the work of the Cross-Training Institute to the Board of Supervisors to show the collaboration of the variety of departments and the great work that is being done. Commissioner Keehn expressed how important it is to keep the Mayor and Board of Supervisors briefed on the great work being done by the Department.
1. Trainer Perspective
Emberly Cross, one of the training instructors, expressed how willing and how well intentioned all the participants of the training were. During the trainings, participants appreciated working in the small groups and interacting with the other agencies. Participants were able to share frustrations and challenges they face when handling domestic violence cases. This training provided the opportunity to build bridges within the criminal justice system and community agencies. Resources were exchanged and contacts were made as well as an understanding of what the procedures and protocols are for the variety of criminal justice agencies. Trainers will follow up with community agencies to survey if any changes have been made in the criminal justice system.
Executive Director Murase thanked the training team for a successful first year.
2. Training Impact
Captain Marsha Ashe, Captain of Family Services, at the San Francisco Police Department, explained how phenomenal it was to bring the criminal justice agencies into a training to learn what each other do and how they all work together. Through the variety of scenarios, participants were able to put themselves into the shoes a victim of domestic violence and learn first hand from a victim's perspective how the criminal justice system treats them. Captain Ashe has also noticed an increase in the quality of domestic violence-related police reports.
Commissioner Keehn thanked the participating city agencies and the Blue Shield of California Foundation for providing the Department a grant to fund such a beneficial training to the city.
B. Gender Analysis of San Francisco Commissions
Policy Analyst Anu Menon presented the gender analysis of commissions, boards and task forces for the City and County of San Francisco. This gender analysis was conducted by using data collected from the Board of Supervisors Rules Committee, entity websites, and follow-up with each governing body to confirm the gender break downs. There are approximately 68 commissions, board and task forces, and an additional 25 committees, councils and other appointments. The following are the % of female appointments:
· 38% on Boards
· 42% on Task Forces
· 48% on Commissions
The highest percent of female appointments are on our own Commission, the Children and Family Advisory Council, the Animal Control and Welfare Commission, City Hall Preservation Commission and the Ethics Commission. The lowest % of female appointments are to the Taxi Commission, Recreation & Parks, Veterans Affairs, Public Utilities Commission, the Fire Commission, the Entertainment Commission, and Building Inspections.
The finding will be sent to the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, and each commission, board or task force to encourage appointments of women to fill current vacancies. The Department will also update the brochure "Road to Leadership: How to Get That Appointment" and will conduct workshops on the appointment process.
Heather, a Reporter with the Bay Area Reporter, requested the breakdown of appointments of transgender commissioners and a breakdown of the sexual preferences of commissioners. Ms. Menon explained that the city does not collect that data.
1. Women's Policy Summit Goal
Heidi Seick with the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC) explained that at the recent Women's Policy Summit, 3 goals were set by the group:
· to make San Francisco Public School System the #1 choice for Families
· to create/promote policies that promote women
· to elect more women to political positions in the city
Ms. Seick expressed the importance of having women elected in political positions. Currently there are 2 women elected members of the Board of Supervisors, and a woman as District Attorney. Ms. Seick reflected on the gender analysis previously presented and expressed how some of the more influential governing bodies a lack women appointments and how the NWPC and the Commission can collaborate to promote the appointment of women to those bodies.
C. Needs Assessment and Upcoming Request for Proposal (RFP)
In developing the RFP for the next funding cycle, the Department will look at funding agencies that serve undeserved communities. There is a strong need for emergency and transitional housing services, services to African American women, agencies that serve women in the Southeast Sector or Hunters Point neighborhood, services for trafficked women and services to disabled or women who have mental health issues.
Executive Director Murase reported that there will be a large budget deficit and departments have been instructed to cut their budgets by 13%.
Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, stated that the Department's Needs Assessment identifies some of the gaps in the system. Ms. Upton explained that it is very important to meet with the Mayor and members of the Board of Supervisors to show how the agencies that are funded by the Department are working to fill those gaps. It should also be a goal to secure funding for the Department when meeting with the Mayor or member of the Board of Supervisors.
President Munter explained that the next step is to write the RFP with the main core commitments of the Department and include the newly prioritized topics.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. Review of COSW Meeting Themes
Commissioners reviewed the 2008 meeting themes and agreed to have informational hearings on the identified themes.
VII. PUBLIC COMMENT
Jill Tregor, Policy Analyst, provided an update on the Language Access Program. Currently only 3 departments, Public Defender, Adult Probation, and the Police Department, have taken the mobile language interpretation phones provided by AT&T because of the costs associated with each call made. The District Attorney's Office is working on acquiring the service.
Commissioner Keehn reported that the Justice and Courage Oversight Committee would follow-up with the District Attorney's office.
Kathy Black, Executive Director of Casa de Las Madres, stated that victims need to have access to services in their own languages. Ms. Black wrote a letter of support to the City Administrator to reemphasize the importance of language services for victims of domestic violence.
IX. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn meeting. m/s/c (Keehn/Munter/Unanimous).
Meeting adjourned at 6:48 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.
