1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

President Debbie Mesloh called the meeting to order at 5:13 pm.

She informed the Commission that May is Mental Health Awareness Month and there will be a special recognition as part of the meeting agenda. She also reported that she emceed a May 21 rally for reproductive rights and choice, organized by Planned Parenthood Northern California, and was so pleased to see so many of the County Supervisors and community leaders stand up and speak out in support of women.

No changes to the agenda.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve agenda.

m/s/c(Soo/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Shorter)

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

No changes to the minutes from the regular Commission meeting on April 24, 2019.

No Public Comment.

Action: To approve the minutes from April 24, 2019.        

m/s/c(Soo/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Shorter)

3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Some of the highlights that Dr. Emily Murase provided on the Director's Report included an update on the Gender Analysis of Boards and Commissions that Public Policy Fellow Diana McCaffrey is working on and will present at next month’s Commission meeting. Dr. Murase reported that Ms. McCaffrey conducted outreach  to 89 commissions, boards, task forces, councils and advisory bodies with a total of 781 appointees, and gender identity data was successfully obtained from 93% or 729 of the 781 contacted appointees and gender identity data by race and ethnicity was received from 90% or 702 appointees. Data on LGBTQ identity data was received from 70% or 546 appointees, disability status from 69% or 504 appointees, and veteran status from 68% or 494 appointees. Dr. Murase also announced Mayor London Breed’s 2019 Women's Summit "beINVINCIBLE" would be held on Friday, June 14, 7:30 am - 3:30 pm, at Moscone West, 800 Howard Street, San Francisco. Finally, she noted that it was Public Policy Fellow Adaeze Eze’s last Commission meeting before concluding her fellowship at the Department before pursuing a law degree at Columbia University. Dr. Murase thanked Ms. Eze for her contributions to the work of the Department.

No Public Comment.

4. CONSENT AGENDA

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda.  

m/s/c(Zwart/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Shorter)

1. Resolution Honoring Dr. Alicia Boccellari for Mental Health Awareness Month

Commissioner Shokooh Miry introduced Dr. Alicia Boccellari, stating that it was an honor to meet one of her personal heroes. She recognized Dr. Boccellari’s tremendous leadership in founding the UCSF Trauma Recovery Center that has touched hundreds and hundreds of people, including many women, in need of healing. Dr. Boccellari thanked the Commission for years of support that enabled the Center to thrive, acknowledged the staff of the Center, and thanked the survivors of violence who has taught her to celebrate the small miracles that happen around us.

No Public Comment.

5. NEW BUSINESS
   1. Federal Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization

Commissioner Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz introduced the item. She spoke about the amendment to the federal Violence Against Women Act, authored by Congressperson Katie Porter, that expands the definition of domestic violence to include “economic abuse.” Commissioners viewed a video message from Congressperson Porter where she expressed her personal and societal reasons for needing this legislation.

Akiles Ceron, Director of Adult Protective Services (APS), explained that APS is a state-mandated program to serve older adults (65+ years) and adults with disabilities (18-64 years). He presented these statistics to the Commission: APS receives 7,500 reports and serves 6,000 unique victims annually, and so far this year, APS has served 1,198 vulnerable adults, of whom 589 were women and 161 were confirmed for financial abuse. Director Ceron stated that the dedicated financial abuse unit started in January 2018. He said that he and his staff meet with the San Francisco Police Department’s financial crimes inspector on a monthly basis, and that so far, 103 cases have been reviewed. He further explained that APS services are available in Spanish, Japanese, Filipino, Cantonese, and Armenian. Director Ceron shared that year to date, APS has been able to recover the assets of 9 victims, including real estate, amounting to just over $2.9 million. He reported that APS works collaboratively with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and Department of Insurance.

Commissioners discussed their experiences with victims of financial elder abuse. Commissioner Soo explained that she is an enforcement attorney for the California Department of Insurance. She urged early intervention so that assets and accounts can be frozen. Discussion turned to the nexus between financial abuse and violence. Director Ceron stated that adults with developmental disabilities are disproportionately the victims of sexual abuse. He also cited a recent study by University of California San Francisco and Purdue University that found a correlation between neglect and physical abuse. He said that seldom is the case that there is only one type of abuse happening, and that when victims are isolated, it raises red flags because abuse occurs most commonly when victims are isolated. Director Ceron said that excessive interest, at the other end of the spectrum, can also be a red flag for abuse. Commissioners discussed the challenges that victims face, including shame, embarrassment, and reluctance to report incidents to authorities.

Director Ceron said that suspected cases of elder abuse should be referred to San Francisco Adult Protective Services using these phone numbers:

(415) 355-6700 (24 hours)

(800) 814-0009 (24 hours)

Commissioner Soo urged victims of elder financial abuse to contact the local police department, 911, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority at 844-57-HELPS (844-574-3577)

Action: To approve the Resolution urging the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to support the federal Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization.

m/s/c(Schwab-Pomerantz/Soo/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Shorter)

6. OLD BUSINESS

1. Update on the Bayview Domestic Violence High Risk Pilot Project

Catlin Grey, MPP, of the UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy gave a presentation on the advanced policy analysis and evaluation of the Bayview Domestic Violence High Risk Pilot Project that she conducted over the last four months.

Commission discussion focused on language access. Commissioner Soo asked that the renewal grant compare results with the original grant, understanding that the original grant did not include a language access component. Discussion also covered the need to go back to police officers with evaluation results, and to avoid asking duplicative questions of victims. Policy and Grants Manager Elise Hansell stated that, as next steps, the department will be pursuing completion of the smartphone app that will reduce duplication of questions, and will be advocating for expansion to the Ingleside District, the district with the second highest reporting levels. Commissioners asked for greater detail on the recommendations. Ms. Grey explained that there is a need for additional training and outreach for service providers and law enforcement to know more about available services. Commissioners suggested that the model be conveyed to hospitals. Ms. Hansell explained that UC San Francisco Medical Center and the Department of Public Health do use risk assessment tools through the “Arise Program.” Commissioners discussed the importance of communications and its relationship with community policing, community relations, and homelessness prevention. The Commissioners said that it would be important to highlight these aspects in the recommendations.

Public Comment:

1. Shruthi Jayaram, Senior Project manager, Dalberg Advisors, offered additional research questions.

7. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

No Public Comment.

8. ADJOURNMENT

Action: To adjourn the meeting.

m/s/c(Zwart/Schwab-Pomerantz/Unanimous except for Absent: Harris and Shorter)

Meeting Adjourned at 6:55 pm