Family Violence Council - August 21, 2013 - Meeting Minutes

II.                  INTRODUCTIONS

                    A.  Welcome to Allen Nance, newly appointed Juvenile Probation Chief

Allen Nance thanked the council for their work supporting women and stated that he is excited to join the Family Violence Council.

III.                APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from May 15, 2013 were approved at 3:20pm with several minor changes made.  The Community Corrections Panel at the previous meeting is actually called the Community Corrections Partnership.  Adult Probation has been added to page 4, paragraph 4.

IV.               REPORTS

                   A. Updates from Agencies       

                        1. District Attorney’s Office

Marshall Khine reported that the Domestic Violence Unit has been moved to the 2nd floor.  Mr. Khine added that this space is a nicer environment for victims and survivors and enables the staff to spend more time directly interacting with survivors that are brought to the Unit.  He stated that the 3 dedicated victim advocates have greatly expanded the time spent with victims.  The office has staff with language ability in Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin.  He invited all Council members to tour the new space.

Julius DeGuia announced that he is now leading the Financial Elder Abuse Unit in partnership with the Institute on Aging.

                         2. Department on the Status of Women

Dr. Emily Murase provided a staffing update.  As a result of the Department’s 30% budget increase, the Department was able to hire a full-time staff person and expanded services that targeted persons with limited English proficiency, immigrants, and transgender individuals in addition to an increase to all funded partner agencies.

                         3. Department of Public Health

Carol Schulte distributed a draft of a family violence resource list created by Dr. Leigh Kimberg.  This resource succinctly provides information about social services available throughout the City.  Currently this resource sheet is provider-focused and available only in English.  Ms. Upton thanked the Department of Public Health for creating this vital resource and updating it twice a year to ensure the information is accurate.

Ms. Schulte asked members to contact her with any changes or suggestions.

                          4. Human Services Agency - Sylvia De Porto

Ms. De Porto announced that the Human Services Agency will conduct an all-staff training on October 9, 2013 for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

                          5. San Francisco Superior Court

Judge Susan Breall provided a report on the domestic violence lethality assessment training facilitated on May 31, 2013 by Judge Sharon Chatman and Dr. Jackie Campbell.  This training was the first in San Francisco Superior Court history that was mandated for all judges.

This training featured a “Comings and Goings” exercise to walk participants through the difficult circumstances and choices survivors have, an overview of Dr. Campbell's lethality assessment and study of risk factors, and an interactive discussion that enabled judges to discuss how they would rule on hypothetical cases that involve domestic violence.  As a result of this training, many judges are now voluntarily giving an admonition prohibiting ownership of firearms by lethal perpetrators.

                           6. Adult Probation Department

Sunny Schwartz stated that there is a comprehensive review of Batterers’ Intervention Programs (BIP) each year to ensure that BIPs are in compliance with state and local mandates.  One program was de-certified recently for significant non-compliance issues both in their record-keeping and treatment approach.  Numerous recommendations were furnished as a result of this review.  The review indicated a dearth of services that support monolingual Cantonese speakers and transgender individuals.  There is a list of current BIP programs on the Adult Probation Department website.

                             7. Department of Animal Care & Control

Rebecca Katz reported that their department is seeing a significant increase in animal abuse related to domestic violence.  In many situations, witnesses of abuse perpetrated against an animal are also victims of violence themselves who fear coming forward.  As a result of fear of their abusers, the department has not had a lot of success in prosecuting these cases.  They are currently working with the Probation Department and Sheriff's Department to identify services for survivors they come across.

Officer Ellie Sadler has been first on scene in some cases and recently worked with a young couple who adopted kittens.  The abuser decapitated one kitten then threatened to hurt his partner if she reported him.  The other kitten was seen by a veterinarian who reported the abuse when the kitten arrived gutted.  Ultimately they were not able to press charges against the perpetrator of abuse because the witness, the abuser’s girlfriend, was too fearful to testify.

Ms. Katz stated that she would like to connect and collaborate more with the domestic violence community.  Ms. Upton proposed putting on a cross-training with domestic violence agencies.  Ms. Katz added that the Department of Animal Care and Control has a Safe Pets program that provides animal shelter for survivors of domestic violence who are seeking shelter and are unable to bring their pets with them.

                             8. Department of Emergency Management

Lisa Hoffmann would like her department to conduct a mandatory 4-hour training for staff on child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence and have this training occur every 2 years.  She hopes to have a training overview draft ready by November.
 

                        B. Sentencing Commission

The Sentencing Commission was formed after realignment to look at best practices for sentencing in San Francisco.  Minouche Kandel was the Family Violence Council representative but can no longer represent the Council.  The Sentencing Commission requires the representative be a member from a community agency.  The Council Steering Committee nominated Jerel McCrary, Managing Attorney for the San Francisco office of Bay Area Legal Aid, to be the Council representation at the Sentencing Commission.  Ms. Upton moved to confirm Mr. McCrary as the Council representative, Ms. Hoffman seconded, and the Council approved.

The topic of the last Sentencing Commission meeting was around alternative drug programs for offenders prior to going to court.  The Seattle Police Department is doing a lot of work with people who have drug-related issues.

                        C. Key Issues in Family Violence

                             1. Child Abuse Updates

                                 a. Child Abuse Counseling Program

Ms. Baxter stated that San Francisco did not previously have a 52-week child abuse counseling program.  Because this was out of compliance with state regulations, Ms. Baxter, with the support of Mr. DeGuia and Judge Kahn, brought the issue to the Board of Supervisors and was able to create a 52-week child abuse counseling program.

                                 b. Children’s Advocacy Center

Ms. Baxter announced that the Children's Advocacy Center will be opening in November.  Among its many services, this center will provide forensic interviews of children who have experienced some form of abuse, hoping to significantly reduce the number of adults that interview each child from 15 to 3.

                                  c.  Katie A. Case

Tri-Chair Baxter distributed a succinct summary of the Katie A. case.  The Katie A. case involves a girl who entered the foster care system at age 4 who had 17 placements by the age of 14.  Throughout this period of time, she never received individual mental health services or a formal mental health assessment.  The Katie A. case brought to light the need for mental health services for kids in foster care.  As a result of this case, significant work has been done around developing and implementing mental health assessments and providing mental health services tailored to the foster care population.

                                    d. Enough Abuse Campaign

The Enough Abuse Campaign is a regional effort around child sexual abuse that will launch in January 2014.  This will be a two-year campaign to raise public awareness of the issue, educate parents, children, and community members, and train professionals and mandated reporters on how to respond and report suspected incidents of child sexual abuse.  Ms. Baxter offered to do training for any staff on mandated reporting.  She also stated that athletic coaches, athletic directors, and administrators of post-secondary institutions are now mandated reporters of child abuse.

                                 2. Current Issues in Domestic Violence

Ms. Upton reported that there has not been an official domestic violence homicide in San Francisco in the last 40 months.

                                      a. Language Access

Ms. Upton has worked over the years to make sure that the domestic violence community and law enforcement speaks as many languages as San Francisco does.  With the leadership of Mayor Lee, San Francisco continues to move forward to expand language access.  The Domestic Violence Consortium has been meeting and training the Police Department on issues that may arise with survivors with limited English proficiency.  APILO contributed several vignettes that were composites of cases where victims with limited English proficiency had some issues getting justice served.  They are collaborating to videotape a new series of comprehensive trainings for law enforcement.

                                       b. Community Corrections Partnership

Ms. Upton reported that the Community Corrections Partnership currently meets quarterly to discuss best practices in sentencing and probation.

                                        c. Secure Communities

San Francisco has a high rate of persons who have been deported through Secure Communities that have otherwise had no brushes with the law.  Last month, the Domestic Violence Consortium joined with immigrant rights organizations to change local law and end Secure Communities nationally.

                                        d. Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October)

Ms. Upton announced that several agencies have already begun planning events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).  Dr. Leigh Kimberg is sponsoring a “Health Cares About Domestic Violence” event on the 2nd Wednesday of October.  The Human Services Agency is planning a Jumpstart event to be held in the first week of October.

                                    3. Elder Abuse Presentation

                                        a. Law Enforcement Elder Abuse App

The 2.0 model of the Elder Abuse App is underway, with completion anticipated by the end of the year.  Ms. Guinn encouraged agencies that utilize smartphones to download the app.

                                         b. Elder Abuse Forensic Center

Advocates from the Elder Abuse Forensic Center has been visiting other centers around the nation.  The forensic center model in California is unique in that it is the only center that includes all 4 forms of elder abuse in their review.  They are looking to work with the District Attorney's Office and Police Department to grow the model of service.

                                          c. Civil Legal and Social Work Conference (10/30/13)

The Civil Legal and Social Work Conference will be held on October 30, 2013 and feature best practices and gaps in connecting elders to essential services.  Judge Joyce Kram, who ran elder court in Contra Costa County, will provide the keynote address.

Jill Nielson, Department of Aging, will be attending a statewide elder justice summit in Sacramento.  She stated that 40% of counties have fewer adult protective workers than in 2001 in spite of being an aging society.  This summit seeks to improve California’s response to elder abuse.

V.                   NEW BUSINESS

                       A. Victim Information and Notification Everyday System at the Sheriff’s Department

The Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) System at the Sheriff's Department was implemented 15 years ago in order to provide survivors notifications when offenders leave a jail facility within 30 minutes of departure and within 8 hours when transferred between facilities.  Through this system, advocates can also be notified through VINE if the survivor has signed a release of information form.  VINE lost its funding but has been recently re-instated with improvements to the data collection and notification system.  The data system has improved to be more up-to-date, with update to the system occurring every 15 minutes.  This system is currently funded through Cal-EMA.  The State Sheriff's Association is looking for other long-term funding options.

Language accessibility of the system was brought up as a critical issue.  The VINE System currently operates in English and Spanish and provides additional notification support to the hearing-impaired or visually-impaired.  The VINE System is gradually moving to add Cantonese to the possible notification languages.

                           B. Changes to Family Violence Council Ordinance

The Juvenile Probation Department is currently not a member of the Family Violence Council.  Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez moved for the Family Violence Council Ordinance to be amended to add the Juvenile Probation Department as a member of the Council.  Captain Fox seconded and the Council approved the amendment.  The Department on the Status of Women requested members contact Ms. Kandel if other agencies need to be added.

                            C. Creating Working Committees to Implement Recommendations of the Family Violence Report

                                  1. Public Outreach

                                  2. Trainings

Ms. Kandel invited members to participate in working groups to further recommendations from the 2011 Family Violence Council report.  A follow-up e-mail will be sent with more information about how to participate in the Public Outreach Committee and the Training Committee.   

VI.                 OLD BUSINESS

Ms. Kandel stated that the Department will be collecting data from partner agencies for the 2012 Comprehensive Report on Family Violence in San Francisco.  This year data from the Fire Department and Animal Care & Control will also be collected.

VII.               ANNOUNCEMENTS

                     A. Key Legislation

Governor Jerry Brown has signed Mark Leno’s legislation on housing protections for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

                      B. Events

The Department on the Status of women will be holding its annual fundraiser on September 30, 2013.  Paul Henderson is one of the 2013 CEDAW Women’s Human Rights Awards honorees.  Dr. Murase invited all partners to the event.

VIII.             PUBLIC COMMENT

There was no public comment.

IX.               ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 5:10 pm.