Transcript Domestic Violence Advisory Board 2006 Annual Report

Domestic Violence
Advisory Board
2008 Annual Report
Presented to the Board of
County Commissioner
April 7, 2009
Mecklenburg County Definition of
Domestic Violence
We define domestic violence as occurring
when one person in an intimate relationship
attempts to gain coercive power and control
over the other by using physical,
emotional/verbal, sexual or material force.
This abuse takes place within a system of
power and control and is not an isolated
incident.
Mecklenburg County DV Leadership Team,
2008
DVAB Board Members
Continuing
New Appointees
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Joe Marinello
Debra Wideman
Jackie Dienemann
Wanda Mobley
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Marage Blakeney, Chair
Julie Owens , Co-Chair
Tyyawdi Hands
County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts
Term expired during 2008
 Rona Karacaova
 Morgan Cromwell
 Patricia Kelly
The Mecklenburg County
Domestic Violence Advisory Board
(DVAB)
has been charged with:
Reviewing and evaluating
Charlotte and
Mecklenburg County
Domestic Violence services
Police and Sherriff
Police responded to 31,758 calls
to 911 for DV
2,142 Protection Orders
Received by Sheriff’s Office
DV Related Homicides
11
DV related homicides
in Mecklenburg in 2008
(84 total in NC)
Other Sources Indicating DV is a Serious
Problem in Charlotte Mecklenburg County
Department of Social Services:
Women applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
An increase of 4% in number of Screening
Positive for Domestic Violence
Department of Social Services, Youth and Family Services:
Child Protective Services 13% Referrals with
DV as a factor
Youth Risk Behavior Survey in CMS Schools by CDC biennial
Positive responses to DV item
increased to 10.7%
Survey 2007
2006 DV Audit
Study done to
Identify seriousness of
DV problem in the City
and County  no central
data collection or
standardized
definitions.
BOCC and City have
supported changes to
Assess adequacy of DV
Related Services and
Degree they were
coordinated
Improve services through integrate Community Support
Services and preserve
Women’s Commission
Compare
Charlotte/Mecklenburg
level of services with
other similar cities.
Support Hotel shelter rooms
until additional shelter beds
available
improve data collection
through a data warehouse
Convene DV Leadership Team
Domestic Violence
Services
Provided
by
Multiple
Agencies
Private, County, City,
Volunteer
Emergency Shelter DV Clients

502 women/children were sheltered
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696 women/children hotel room
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& counseled at UFS 29 bed Shelter
(150 days at capacity)
shelter through UFS/CSS collaboration
283 women/children no shelter
available in Mecklenburg County
Victim Assistance by United
Family Services
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1261 victims were assisted
with applying for domestic
violence protective orders
3297 victims were accompanied
to court, perpetrator charged
3011 victims were provided with
telephone counseling
Counseling for DV Victims
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Women’s Commission Provided:
1,556 women individual in-person
counseling
4,915 women telephone counseling
1,152 children telephone counseling
796 children/teens counseling in
support groups
United Family Services Provided:
671 women individual in-person
counseling (in addition to those in
shelter)
LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS
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Issues DV, custody, financial child support,
divorce, restraining order hearing.
Legal Aid of North Carolina advised/
represented 308 victims through 12/09/08
Legal Services of Southern Piedmont had 1
counselor to assist Spanish Speaking low
income DV victims.
UFS new grant to hire 29 hour/week
attorney to recruit pro bono lawyers,
supervise law interns, represent in court.
Abuser Intervention
There are two state certified abuser
intervention programs in Mecklenburg County:
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NOVA (New Options for Violent
Actions) screened 661 new clients
and served 1003 clients in
accountability groups
The Be There Group/ IMPACTscreened 48 new clients and served
43 clients in accountability groups.
DVAB IS CHARGED TO:
Provide vigorous advocacy for
domestic violence victims
Play a role in increasing public
awareness and education
pertaining to the problems and
related costs of domestic
violence within the community
DVAB Collaborates
DV Advocacy Council to increase
public awareness about DV in
Char/Meck.
Communicates with DV Leadership
Team to support goals.
Women's Commission/United Family
Services advocacy and public
awareness initiatives
Women’s Summit, Violence Against
Women Task Force conference
DV Advocacy Council
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Hosted monthly “lunch and learn”
seminars
Organized a Candlelight Vigil
Organized the 3rd annual domestic
violence memorial tree service in
uptown Charlotte
Held DV homicide awareness marches
in uptown Charlotte
Weekly email about training and public
awareness events.
DVAC Priorities
Carried over from 2007
 a larger shelter facility
 transitional housing
 a domestic violence coordinator position
 geographically diverse services
 culturally and linguistically competent services at
all agencies
 a child exchange and supervised visitation program
 prevention programs in the schools and community
 system of data collection across domestic violence
agencies
NEW
Adoption by the DA of the use of evidence-based
(“victimless”) prosecution practices for all
domestic violence cases, so avoid dismissals when
the victim does not appear to testify
DVAB IS CHARGED TO:
MAKE APPROPRIATE
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS (BOCC)
AND THE CHARLOTTE CITY
COUNCIL
DVAB 2008 Recommendations
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Continue to support planning for a new
DV emergency shelter(s) and DV
transitional housing
Convene a working group to develop a
plan for providing shelter now for
every victim who needs it
Create a City/County DV Coordinator
position to coordinate DV services to
meet the needs of the city/county
Establish a supervised visitation/child
exchange center
Thank you
For your work
to make our
city and
county safer.