May 15, 2013

Family Violence Council:

Addressing Violence throughout the Lifespan

 

MINUTES

3 - 5 pm, Wednesday, May 15, 2013

San Francisco Superior Court

400 McAllister St., Room 617, San Francisco, CA 94102

 

MEMBERS:

Other Attendees: Catherine Gerace (SFUFC), Anna Marjavi (Futures Without Violence), Allen Nance (Juvenile Probation Department), Janice Avery (Department of Public Health), Robin Brasso (NCJW), Emma Söderström (Domestic Violence Consortium), Elizabeth Laferriere (DOSW), Emma Brenner-Bryant (DOSW), Ali Skewes-Cox (DOSW), Stephanie Nguyen (DOSW).

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER/AGENDA CHANGES          

The meeting was called to order at 3:08 pm. The Council approved the agenda. [Kelly/Isom/ALL]

II.         INTRODUCTIONS                                                 

Council members and attendees introduced themselves.

III.        APPROVAL OF MINUTES                                   

The Council approved the minutes from February 20, 2013. [Shamji/Isom /ALL]

 

IV.       REPORTS                                                           

A. Updates from Agencies                                                                                 

1.   

Mayor’s Office

Paul Henderson, Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety for the Mayor, provided an update on the process of the Mayor’s Interrupt, Predict, and Organize (IPO) for a Safer San Francisco violence prevention strategy. The IPO violence prevention strategy was launched in August 2012 as a public safety measure to address an increase in violence in City neighborhoods. The plan targets at-risk neighborhoods and incorporates a coordinated strategy of all City agencies and service providers. 

Mr. Henderson urged all Council members to review the public draft when it becomes available and provide feedback. He also asked for the Family Violence Council to provide a liaison to work on the IPO with the Mayor’s Office. 

Dr. Emily Murase, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women (“Department”), thanked Mr. Henderson and added that because of the hard work of the Family Violence Council, nearly half of the Mayor’s IPO draft focuses on family violence, a critical component which previous plans had been lacking. 

2.   

District Attorney’s Office                                           

Chief Assistant District Attorney Sharon Woo updated the Council on staffing changes at the District Attorney’s Office brought about by the Domestic Violence Supplemental Appropriation. The Office has increased the number of attorneys in the Domestic Violence Unit to 12 attorneys handling domestic violence cases in addition to one Managing Attorney. The Unit is also moving all partners into a single, second floor space.  

The DV Unit has 3 victim services advocates and 2 District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigators (DAI) personnel to help maintain contact with victims and witnesses. The Unit is hoping to hold an open house in June. 

3.   

Department on the Status of Women                    

Dr. Murase explained how the Domestic Violence Supplemental Appropriation expanded staffing and services at the Department. The supplemental allocated a substantial amount to legal services for the Department’s Partner Agencies. These funds will support outreach to immigrant communities.

The Department also hired a new Senior Domestic Violence Policy Analyst who will start mid-June. 

4.   

Department of Emergency Management              

Cecile Soto spoke about the 90-day pilot program in which 911 provides all audio recordings in domestic violence cases to the District Attorney’s office immediately after the weekend in order to ensure their timely review. Ms. Soto was happy to report that providing this service is now part of 911’s regular duties.  

5.   

Child Support Services

Freda Randolph Glenn said that, historically, her department has not been involved with custody or visitation arrangements. However, recent discussions at the federal level are moving toward making these parenting plans part of child support programs. Child Support Services is looking for policy recommendation to propose to the state for child support and parenting plans in cases with domestic violence.  Director Karen Roye added that Child Support Services is now researching other states’ policies that currently integrate parenting plans into child support programs. 

6.   

Adult Probation Department

Tina Gilbert of the Domestic Violence Unit at the Adult Probation Department thanked Tri-Chair Talitha Guinn for making a presentation to her staff on how to report child and elder abuse.

 

B.  Sentencing Commission                              

The last meeting of the Sentencing Commission was held on April 3, 2013. The Commission is currently working on updating a draft policy that requires taking into account existing restraining orders when determining criminal sentences.

 

C.  Key Issues in Family Violence                                                                 

1.   

Child Abuse Updates                                                                         

Janice Avery of the Department of Public Health provided an update on the Child Abuse Counseling Program, a 52-week program for child abusers.  Currently, 11 people are enrolled: 7 male and 4 female, ranging in age from 20s-60s. Ms. Avery discussed the major issues that the target population deals with, adding that in 90% of the cases, substance abuse was a significant factor. Other problems included low self-esteem, isolation, and low socioeconomic status. While the goal of the program is clearly to eliminate all child abuse, a lot of the work being done will focus on learning about and addressing the causes for abuse from the abuser’s perspective. Ms. Avery added that most enrollees were halfway through the program.
 

Ramona Massey of the Department of Adult Probation added that the Child Abuse Counseling Program was the result of a great partnership. She also mentioned that in addition to suffering from substance dependency, many of the individuals in counseling have serious mental health issues which are often undiagnosed. Ms. Massey added the program next needs to consider bilingual services as well as a possible time change since the once-weekly session is currently held during the workday.
 

Tri-chair Kathy Baxter reported on the progress of the Child’s Advocacy Center in the Bayview neighborhood. With the help of the Council and its letter of support, the Center made it through the Planning Commission hearing and the Center has since started construction on its new facility. It will open later this year.

 

Allen Nance of the Juvenile Probation Department added that San Francisco is the only major US city without a child advocacy center. The Center, which will replace the multidisciplinary interview center, will be a place where abused children can be interviewed by well-trained staff only once so as to minimize the number of times the young person has to retell and relive a traumatic experience.
 

Members agreed to add a presentation by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris on adverse childhood experiences to a future Family Violence Council agenda.
 

2.   

Current Issues in Domestic Violence                                                        

Tri-Chair Beverly Upton provided an update on language access meetings with the Office of Citizens’ Complaints, San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), and 5 community organizations to discuss training issues for police officers and 911 operators, as well as logistical issues regarding getting a language line on the phone with a translator.

 

With expanding need for an increasing number of languages, it is vital to find a way for domestic violence victims to communicate their story. To do so, the group created a card for Public Service Aides that says the following in 20 different languages: “Your report is very important to us. I cannot take your report, but I will find someone who can.”  SFPD and 911 operators have collaborated to identify police officers, including those with crisis intervention training, who have the language skills needed so that they can be immediately found and sent to take down reports.  

 

Ms. Gilbert of Adult Probation added that the domestic violence community has seats on the Community Corrections Partnership. The Partnership is focused on gender-based responses for women returning from prison. She explained that there is currently a pilot project that addresses the specific services and needs of women coming back from state and federal prisons given the need to screen for domestic violence and assault among these women.

 

3.   

Elder Abuse Presentation                                         

May is Elder and Dependent Adult Abuse Awareness Month.  Maria Bee, Chief of the District Attorney’s Office’s Victim Services Division, said her office kicked off the month by unveiling a public outreach campaign focused on blessing scams.
 

Tri-Chair Guinn provided a thorough presentation on the Elder Abuse Prevention Program at the Institute on Aging, explaining the structure and services of the Institute in addition to describing sample cases that have been brought to the Forensic Center. The Elder Abuse Prevention Program focuses on education, outreach, advocacy, and partnerships.  At the Forensic Center, victims are 60%women and mostly the victims of financial abuse. The Center’s next project includes an interactive mapping program to track by zipcode the types of abuse perpetrated.

 

During the month of May, the Institute will be organizing an outreach campaign with 31 days of elder abuse prevention tips, an interview with KTVU, and a professional training event.  She concluded by saying that the elder abuse application (“app”) 368 Plus has received 2,151 downloads.

 

V.        NEW BUSINESS                                                    

The Council discussed updates on two of the recommendations from the 2011 Comprehensive Report on Family Violence in San Francisco.

Recommendation 4: FVC recommends joint trainings for 911 dispatchers by child abuse, domestic abuse, and elder abuse experts and advocates.

Tri-Chair Upton noted that the Council has started the process of pursuing a joint training to be conducted later this year. The Tri-Chairs will meet with Lisa Hoffman of the Department of Emergency Management to discuss shared goals and how to incorporate these to the training schedule.

Recommendation 6: FVC recommends a joint outreach campaign on all forms of family violence including child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse.

Tri-Chair Baxter discussed the need to have a campaign that focuses on the entire spectrum of family violence, including child abuse, domestic violence, and elder abuse. She asked for more members to join the three Tri-Chairs in planning this outreach effort. Representatives from the Human Services Agency, the District Attorney’s office, and the Department all offered their assistance.

Carol Schulte reported that the Department of Public Health has designed the Shaking Baby Program, a successful public outreach campaign, and has trained over 400 nurses in delivery (post and pre-natal and pediatrics) to educate parents on child abuse and inform them about the Talk Line, a help line for parents. 

B.  Planning for the 2012 Comprehensive Report on Family Violence in San Francisco

The Tri-Chairs reminded everyone that the Council will soon begin work on the 2012 Comprehensive Report on Family Violence in San Francisco. Council members should expect emails from the Department requesting the same agency data that was collected last year.

 

VI.       ANNOUNCEMENTS                                       

A.  

Key Legislation

California Senator Mark Leno and Assemblymember Tom Ammiano have authored legislation related to domestic violence, including legislation to improve the collection and distribution of domestic violence fines and to prevent the eviction and allow for early lease termination for domestic violence survivors.
Assembly Bill 140 is a bill that will increase protection for elders who are exploited by undue influence. It has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care. 

Council members are also pushing for federal, state, and local legislation to end the Secure Communities program. 

B.  

Events

The Domestic Violence Consortium is hosting a public awareness panel and reception on May 15 titled: “Every Survivor, Every Zip Code: Meet the Domestic Violence Consortium.” The event will be held at the Koret Auditorium in the San Francisco Main Library from 5:30–7:30 pm.

 

On August 2, from 8 am-5 pm, the San Francisco Collaborative Against Human Trafficking will be hosting a conference dedicated to ending child sex trafficking in the Bay Area. Congresswoman Jackie Speier will be making the welcoming remarks at the event, to be held at the Federal Building at 90 7^th Street. For registration details, visit www.friendscosw.org/events.

 

Dr. Murase added that May marked month 17 of being a domestic violence homicide-free city.

 

VII.      PUBLIC COMMENT
None.

 

VIII.     ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 5 pm.