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Action Needed – Support Services for Victims of Violence

Earlier I posted a press release by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance detailing the proposed budgets released by the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.  There are significant differences between the House and Senate proposals and we need everyone’s help to bridge the gap and protect funding for domestic violence services.
The House Appropriations Committee is recommending a budget that includes significant cuts for domestic violence services (31%).
The Senate Finance Committee is recommending a budget that minimizes cuts for domestic violence services (7.5% ) and also includes an increase in the marriage license fee to $45 to provide funding for services to children and youth.
The Action Alliance is calling on its membership and supporting community members to ask our state Senators and Delegates to support an increase in the marriage license fee to preserve the opportunity to provide services to children and youth exposed to sexual and domestic violence without sacrificing services to adults victims of domestic violence services.

Each body will be voting on their respective budgets on Thursday, and then a conference committee will be appointed to try to resolve the differences and come up with one budget.
They need to hear from you that there is a revenue source in the Senate Budget to protect funding for domestic violence services.

Following are some steps that you can take:
1. Contact your state Senator:
  • Call your state Senator, express gratitude for the Senate Finance Committee’s support of domestic violence programs, and ask him/her to support the recommended budget of the Senate Finance Committee who worked hard to protect domestic violence program funding and supported the budget amendment for children’s services.
  • Send a personal letter (it can be brief) to your Senator immediately after your call to follow-up and reiterate in writing the need for them to support the Senate Finance Committee’s proposed budget and increase in the marriage license fee.
2. Contact your state Delegate
3. Contact anyone you know who is concerned about the safety of domestic violence survivors and their children, and ask them to also contact their Senators and their Delegates.

4. Contact your local domestic violence program and ask how you can support their action steps in your community.

5. After taking action, please let us know and share with us how it went by sending an email to dhaynes@vsdvalliance.org or making a post to the 1,000 Grandmothers Campaign on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/1000-Grandmothers-Campaign/275846239928?ref=mf
If you have any questions or concerns about this information, please free to contact the Action Alliance Co-Directors, Jeanine Beiber or Kristi VanAudenhove at directors@vsdvalliiance.org or 804-377-0335.
Thank you for your support!
Carol Olson, Governing Body Member and Executive Director of the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault
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Press Release – VSDVAA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2010

Contact:  Kristi VanAudenhove, kvanaudenhove@vsdvalliance.org, 804/377-0335

 (Richmond, Virginia) On Wednesday,  Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, proposed severe cuts to state domestic violence programs that will end services to thousands of Virginians whose  lives depend on the shelter and services these programs provide.   Governor McDonnell asked the General Assembly to cut more than $3.5 million in funding[1] that supports domestic violence shelters and services to victims and their children across the Commonwealth.  These cuts would be in addition to across the board cuts of 10% proposed in the Governor Kaine’s introduced budget.  If adopted, Governor McDonnell’s recommendations will bring the total cuts to 50% of state funding  – which translates to an average cut of $100,000 for each community Domestic Violence Program across the Commonwealth.

Kristi VanAudenhove and Jeanine Beiber, co-directors of the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance released the following statement in response to the Governor’s proposed cuts:

At a time when the need for domestic violence shelter and services is expanding, in part because of added economic stress on families, these programs should rank higher than rest stop convenience or overseas offices for state economic development bureaucrats. Domestic violence programs are a public safety issue and a “jobs” issue and they should be prioritized as such.

Speaking to members of the General Assembly just one month ago, Candy Phillips, Executive Director of the First Step domestic violence program in Harrisonburg said:  I implore you: please do not cut funding any further to domestic violence shelters in Virginia.  In the 15 years that I have worked at First Step I have never seen things this bad. Calls are increasing, our emergency shelter is staying full and we’re witnessing more severe acts of violence.

Individuals who cannot access shelter from violence or related services aren’t merely inconvenienced.  When asked “What would you have done if the shelter had not existed?” 22% of service recipients surveyed[2] indicated that they would have been homeless, 21% reported that they would have been compelled to return to their abusers and 10% believed that they would be dead at the hands of their abuser.

                Survey respondents said: 

 I would have been living in my car with an 18-month old worrying about my life.

I was close to ending my own life.  I felt safe here.

 Sarah Meacham, Executive Director of Avalon:  A Center for Women and Children, serving the greater Williamsburg area shared her response to these cuts:  A significant decrease in funding, like the one proposed by Governor McDonnell, will not only result in a loss of agency jobs and reduction in services available to victims who need it the most, it will force women and children to have nowhere to turn during the most difficult period in their lives.  We are experiencing a tremendous increase in demand for emergency shelter and supportive services—a 76% increase over last year alone. Our clients are real women with real children, not just budget items to be dropped.

In addition to compelling evidence that cuts to domestic violence jeopardize public safety, cuts to these programs are also a “jobs” issue.  There is a direct impact on Virginia’s economy when domestic violence services are unavailable; the inability to access services affects employee productivity, results in increased absenteeism and health care costs, and can impact the safety of workplaces.

Virginia’s long-term commitment to funding these programs is an important part of the Commonwealth’s commitment to public safety, an area the Governor protected from significant reductions.  Without the availability of shelter programs and other services, Virginia families and children face the prospect of lives in which they have no safe haven from violence, and law enforcement has no way to intervene to prevent violence before it results in injury or death. 

We urge member agencies of the Action Alliance and concerned citizens to contact their legislators as well as the Governor’s office to share their concern about this change of direction in Virginia’s commitment to public safety. 

We look forward to the opportunity to work with the Governor, with whom we have worked closely in the past as Attorney General and member of the House of Delegates, to find ways to continue to fund domestic violence programs in a manner that will alleviate the devastating  consequences that will result with the acceptance of this week’s proposals and accord these programs the budget priority they deserve.

The Virginia Sexual and Domestic Action Alliance is a not-for-profit agency representing 53 community domestic violence programs across the Commonwealth that annually provide services to more than 12,000 adults and 4,000 children.  For more information, visit the Action Alliance web-site: http://www.vsdvalliance.org.

[1] McDonnell proposes to eliminate funding that was first appropriated by the General Assembly in response to the fact that 1 out of 2 victims calling and requesting safe shelter could not be sheltered by Domestic Violence Programs because the agencies did not have space available.  The Assembly initially used federal funds to support a substantial increase in bed space—along with the crisis and support services necessary for victims and their children filling those beds.   Governor Kaine proposed replacing these federal funds with state funds – funds McDonnell now proposes to cut completely along with the needed services they provide.

 

[2] Virginia’s Domestic Violence Programs provide safety and support to thousands of victims of domestic violence each year.  In an effort to ensure quality services, in 2009 the Domestic Violence Programs implemented a statewide outcome evaluation effort supported by the Family Violence Prevention and Services office of the US Department of Health and Human Services.  697 individuals who have received shelter and services from Domestic Violence Programs have completed anonymous surveys evaluating those services.  It is a testament to the value of these services that 85% reported that as a result of the services they could live more safely.   In response to the question, “What would you have done if the shelter had not existed?” 22% indicated that they would have been homeless, 21% reported that they would have been compelled to return to their abusers and 10% believed that they would be dead at the hands of their abuser.

How you can help

There is still time to ACT to influence the outcome of the final budget.  Following are some steps that you can take:

  • Contact  Governor McDonnell and request that he restore $3.8 million to Virginia’s domestic violence programs as a public safety priority and to continue the commitment that he made to domestic violence programs as Attorney General and as a candidate for governor.  You can reach the Governor @ 804-786-2211.
  • Contact your state Senator and Delegate and request that they restore $3.8 million in the state’s budget to Virginia’s domestic violence programs.  If you do not know who your state Senator or Delegate is, go to: http://conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform.  For Senator Capitol office phone numbers:  http://sov.state.va.us/SenatorDB.nsf/$$Viewtemplate+for+WMembershipHome?OpenForm

For Delegate Capitol office phone numbers: http://dela.state.va.us/dela/MemBios.nsf/MWebsiteTL?OpenView

  • Contact anyone you know who is concerned about the safety of domestic violence survivors and their children, and ask them to also contact Governor McDonnell, their Senators, and their Delegates.
  • Spread the word:  write a letter to the editor of your local paper or the Richmond Times Dispatch; post your concerns as well as these action steps on facebook, twitter, or your personal blog.
  • Contact your local domestic violence program and ask how you can support their action steps in your community.

If you have any questions or concerns about this information, please free to contact the Action Alliance Co-Directors, Jeanine Beiber or Kristi VanAudenhove at directors@vsdvalliiance.org or 804-377-0335. Thank you for your support! 

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Stop Femicide Now! Human Rights Advocate Norma Cruz

r-post

March 2- Event with distinguished Guatemalan speaker Norma Cruz visiting the Virginia Commonwealth University campus

Stop Femicide Now! Guatemalan human rights advocate Norma Cruz will be speaking at Virginia Commonwealth University on Violence Against Women in Guatemala.

The program will be held March 2, 2010 from 1:00 to 3:15 pm at the Pace Center, 700 W. Franklin St.

The event is free and open to all, no pre-registration is required.

Ms. Cruz is an internationally recognized advocate and activist for women who are victims of domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and illegal adoptions. She is one of eight women worldwide to receive the “Women of Courage” award from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in March 2009. Her work was born out of her personal struggle and has grown to provide legal, psychosocial, physical and political support for women survivors in a country where violence against women is prevalent and tolerated.

Sponsors: VCU Institute for Women’s Health, La Milpa: Guatemala Interest Group, Highland Support Project Club, Guatemala Human Rights Commission (GHRC), VCU School of Social Work, and the VCU Office of International Education.

The event is part of an east coast speaker’s tour hosted by the Guatemala Human Rights Commission with a goal of educating and informing a diverse audience in the U.S. on violence against women and impunity in Guatemala.

For more information visit: www.womenshealth.vcu.edu or http://www.stopfemicide.com or http://www.ghrc-usa.org Or call 827-1200 with questions

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January is National Stalking Awareness Month – Training at W&M

To register for the below conference, go to
http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=10212. Questions can be
directed to Shawna Gray sgray@visitthecenter.org.
————

—————-
RECOGNIZING & RESPONDING TO STALKING
FREE – January 22, 2010 – 9AM-5PM
The College of William & Mary
Presented by the National Center for Victims of Crime: Stalking Resource
Center
Sponsored by the York County Violence Against Women Task Force & Sexual
Assault Services of the College of William & Mary

January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime
that affects 3.4 million victims a year. Stalking is a crime in all 50
states and the District of Columbia, yet many victims and criminal
justice system professionals underestimate its seriousness and impact.
Stalking is difficult to recognize, investigate, and prosecute. Unlike
other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime but a
series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that
would cause that person fear. Communities that understand stalking,
however, can support victims and combat the crime.

This training will offer practical information about recognizing
stalking and understanding its impact on the victim. This training
offers two “tracks.” The first track is primarily aimed toward law
enforcement, prosecutors, and other professionals who work within the
criminal justice system. The second track is primarily aimed toward
community advocates, school personnel, and mental health counselors.
The training also includes a session on creating a coordinated community
response to stalking.

The training is located on the campus of the College of William & Mary
at the Sadler Center. This training is free. Registration includes a
parking pass, continental breakfast, and an afternoon snack. Lunch is
‘On Your Own.’ Parking is readily available at the W&M Hall Parking
lot, which is about a 3-5 minute walk from the Sadler Center. Anyone
who has accessibility needs can be accommodated in a closer lot, if
needed.

Pre-registration for this training is required.
To register, go to http://www.yorkcounty.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=10212,
click on the date of the training, and select ‘REGISTER.’ Directions
and maps will be emailed to registrants prior to the event, along with a
parking pass.

In-service credits for Law Enforcement have been requested.

Agenda

7:30-8:30AM Registration

7:30-8:30AM Continental Breakfast

8:45AM Welcome

9:00AM Stalking: Prevalence, Lethality, and Impact
Recent national data indicates that 3.4 million people are stalking in
one year in the United States; yet stalking is a crime that is often
misunderstood, minimized or missed entirely. This session will address
the dynamics of stalking, including stalking behaviors and the impact on
victims.

Participants will be able to:
1. Define stalking and list common stalking behaviors.
2. Give general statistics on the prevalence of stalking.
3. List potential harms victims can experience, including homicide, and
reasons all stalking cases should be taken seriously.

10:15AM Break

10:30AM Break-out Sessions
Breakout 1: Investigating/ Prosecuting Stalking
This session will address considerations for the investigation and
prosecution of stalking. Information relevant to first responders as
well as detectives will be covered and well as tips for prosecutors.

Participants will be able to:
1. Identify components of an effective investigation, including victim
interview, suspect interview, determining crime scene, and collection of
evidence.
2. Provide victims and service providers with information on documenting
stalking.
3. Identify necessary corroborating evidence for improved prosecution
of stalking cases.

Breakout 2: Teens and Stalking
This session will address issues unique to stalking among teens. We
will provide a review of recent research on the use of technology in
stalking and harassment against teens. The session will also include
discussion on other ways dating violence and stalking are affecting
teens in our country and an exploration of the social trend of
normalization of stalking in youth and teens.

Participants will be able to:
1. Identify stalking behaviors (not necessarily criminal) amongst youth
and teens and the different dynamics of the stalking of teens.
2. Understand the use of technology in teen dating relationships and how
technology can be misused to stalk and abuse teens.
3. Recognize the ‘parent/adult knowledge gap’ in the use of technology
and other teen stalking behaviors and discuss ways to close that
knowledge gap.

11:45 PM Lunch on Your Own

1:00PM – 2:15PM Break-out Sessions:
Breakout 1: Working with Stalking Victims
The session focuses on the impact of stalking on victims and how those
working with stalking victims can assist with safety, documentation,
advocacy, and support.

Participants will be able to:
1. Determine the different legal system responses available to stalking
victims (e.g., criminal – various charges, state statutes and civil
remedies – protective orders and civil tort claims).
2. Identify four main areas of need for stalking victims: safety,
advocacy, documentation and support.
3. Advise stalking victims to disengage from stalker and engage in risk
reduction behaviors.
4. Apply best practices of advocacy model to working with stalking
victims.
Promote use of logs and other documentation/evidence collection
techniques when working with stalking victims.

Breakout 2: The Use of Technology to Stalk
This session focuses on how stalkers have used technology such as
computers, video cameras, and global positioning systems to stalk.
Evidence collection and safety considerations will be discussed.
Participants will be able to:
1. Name several different types of technology and how it is used in
stalking, including how technology is used to advance other stalking
tactics.
2. Discuss how technology might impact their work and how to integrate
that knowledge into investigation, evidence collection, and safety
planning.
3. Articulate challenges posed by technology and needed system changes.
Identify areas where their stalking laws might be deficient in covering
technology.

2:15 PM – 2:30PM Break

2:30PM – 3:45PM Breakouts
Breakout 1: Threat Assessment/ Safety Planning
The session will provide simple tools that responders can use to assess
the threat posed by a stalker. Participants will learn how to identify
and respond to various risk behaviors and how to work with victims to
develop a safety plan.

Participants will be able to:
1. Define threat assessment (e.g. analysis of situation that may
demonstrate which individuals pose what risk at what times).
2. Identify elements of victim-centered threat assessment (based on
victim experience, level of fear, history of behaviors, etc.).
3. Determine most dangerous time for victims (separation, when PO
served, significant life event, increased contact with victim).
4. Practice safety planning with stalking victims.

Breakout 2: Stalking on Campus
Research indicates that stalking is all too prevalent on college
campuses. This workshop will explore the nature of stalking on campus,
including the intersection of stalking and sexual assault. We will also
discuss steps campuses can take to respond to stalking on campus,
including policy development, educational programming, and working with
victims.
Participants will be able to:
1. Discuss how stalking on campus differs from stalking in general.
2. Recognize the link between stalking and sexual assault on campus.
3. Identify resources for victims on campus and in the community.
4. Develop a framework for a campus response to stalking.

3:45PM – 4:00PM Break

4:00PM – 5:00PM Developing a Coordinated Community Response to Stalking
This session will examine the elements and benefits of a coordinated
community response (CCR) to stalking, including the steps necessary in
developing a CCR. Examples will be shared from communities who have
created a stalking CCR.

Participants will be able to:
1. Identify benefits of developing a CCR to stalking (why CCRs are
particularly beneficial to helping stalking victims).
2. Apply practices/systems of other CCRs, task forces, network groups to
development of stalking specific CCR.
3. Discuss elements of success in Links in Chain video example.
4. Develop initial design for local CCR to stalking.
5. Determine which members of local community would be assets in their
CCR.

5:00PM Dismissal

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