SAC Meeting Minutes
March 3, 2017
Page 5 of 5
STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIM SERVICES (SAC)
Friday, March 3, 2017 – 9:30 AM
California District Attorneys Association
921 11th Street, Suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95814
MEETING MINUTES
Voting Members
Present: William Green
Via Conference Call: Kirk Andrus, Heidy Kellison, Linda McFarlane, and Candy Stallings
Absent: Jennifer Cannady, Dawnita Franklin, Sandra Henriquez, Nancy O’Malley, and Jennifer
Tejada
Program Representatives (Non-Voting)
Present: Anthony Urquiza
Via Conference Call: None
Absent: Sparky Harlan
Cal OES Staff
Present: Sonia Banales, Leigh Bills, Johanna Roman, Peter Town, and Janine Williams
Via Conference Call: Gina Buccieri-Harrington
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Representative(s)
Present: None
Via Conference Call: None
Audience Members: CALCASA representative, Leah Aldridge
I. CALL TO ORDER
William Green, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:38 am. Committee members,
Cal OES staff, and a CALCASA representative introduced themselves.
II. MEETING MINUTES
Heidy Kellison requested the September 30, 2016 Meeting Minutes be amended to include that there was a discussion around the Unit G title of the Sexual Assault Counselor Training being too restrictive.
A motion was made to approve the September 30, 2016 Meeting Minutes, as amended.
Motion: Heidy Kellison, Committee Member
Second: Kirk Andrus, Committee Member
Motion passed (Aye: 4, Nay: 0, Abstain: 1)
III. CAL OES ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Leigh Bills, Chief of the Victim Services Division, provided updates regarding the absorption of the Monitoring Unit, which is now under Grants Management. This shift will help improve the process and help work towards achieving the same goal.
Ms. Bills updated the Committee on the Increased Access Request for Proposal (RFP) that closes on March 15, 2017. This RFP is for $150,000 to assist anyone who does not have full access to services and Cal OES hopes to fund 20 projects. The RFP was intended to be broad enough to capture the various types of access needs, such as building ramps, providing translation services, revamping websites, etc.
Ms. Bills also updated the Committee on the changes made in the 2017 Subrecipient Handbook effective January 1, 2017. The three main changes were that the Certification of Assurance of Compliance now requires the Grant Subaward number, there is no longer a need to verify crime for emergency funds, and the liquidation period for Grant Subawards has been reduced from 90 days to 60 days to allow funds to be reallocated sooner.
Ms. Bills provided an update on the Victims Against Crime Act (VOCA) Victim Assistance Funds. These funds have allowed Cal OES to begin developing several new programs that will be one time funded programs. Some of the new programs discussed are going to be focusing on emergency shelter, victim advocacy in detention, child abuse family therapy, innovative responses to marginalized victims, tribal court advocates, and victim services training.
b. Sonia Banales, Chief of the Victim Services and Public Safety Branch, informed the committee that Cal OES is sending out a survey to the field to identify what issues projects are having in terms of meeting administrative and financial requirements of Subawards now that Monitoring is under Grants Management.
Ms. Banales was asked a question from Ms. Kellison, regarding the future of the Violence Against Women Act Services*Training*Officers* Prosecutors (STOP) Formula Grant Program Funding (STOP Formula Grant Funding). At this point the future funding levels are unknown, but will soon learn more in the spring when the STOP Formula Grant Funding allocation is expected to be received.
IV. THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ANNOUNCEMENTS
No update was provided.
V. CHILDREN’S PROGRAM UPDATES
No update was provided.
VI. SEXUAL ASSAULT UNIT UPDATES – New Training Topics for 40-hour Training Curriculum – Review and Vote
a. Janine Williams, Sexual Assault Unit Chief, discussed the New Training Topics for 40-hour Sexual Assault Training Curriculum and how it was sent to the field with minor corrections requested. The goal of this training is to provide enough structure to ensure topics are sufficiently covered, yet flexible enough to meet the needs of all 84 rape crisis centers. Ms. Kellison, again discussed her concern with the word “Collaboration” as one of the unit topic titles, since it may be understood that victims need to collaborate, when in actuality they have the choice not to. Leah Aldridge, CALCASA Representative, offered “Multidisciplinary Systems Engagement” as an alternative title. Candy Stallings, Committee Member stated that she does not have an issue with either title.
A motion was made to approve the Sexual Assault Counselor Training as amended.
Motion: Kirk Andrus, Committee Member
Second: Linda McFarlane, Committee Member
Motion passed (Aye: 5, Nay: 0, Abstain: 0)
VII. SAC BUSINESS
a. Assembly Bill 2888 (Dodd)
Ms. Kellison discussed that the Assembly Bill did not extend to spousal rape and therefore there is no parity in the law for spousal rape. Ms. Kellison hopes were to have this bill revised. She received a lukewarm response and no actions came out of her efforts. This response was a surprise to Ms. Kellison and the Committee. Mr. Andrus said that he would present this topic up to California District Attorneys Association’s (CDAA) Sexual Assault Committee and Legislative Committee.
b. Vacancies – Member-At-Large & Non-Voting Position/Rape Crisis Representative
It was discussed that first Gary Liebersein’s vacated position will be filled and then the Member-At-Large will be decided. It is up to the chair to appoint the Member-At-Large. In order to fill the vacant position, a posting will be placed on the Cal OES website. The Committee will then be able to make a suggestion and the candidates will be vetted and approved by Cal OES Executive Staff.
As for the non-voting Sexual Assault Representative, this position was originally Candy Stallings, before she was made a voting member. All the Committee Members agreed that it would be best to fill this vacant position to get another perspective. A solicitation will go out and the Cal OES Director will make the selection. The Bylaws state the Executive Committee will appoint the Chair, Co-Chair and Member-At-Large.
VIII. CALIFORNIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S ASSOCIATION (CDAA) REPORT
Mr. Andrus provided the CDAA report and discussed the numerous trainings that are scheduled for the 2017 calendar year. Some of the trainings topics are non-stranger sexual assault prosecution, sexually violent predators, and physical and sexual abuse of children.
Dr. Green updated the Committee on the Forensic Medical Report, Acute-Adolescent Sexual Examination electronic form 2-923, that is near completion after four and a half years. The final piece that they are waiting on is the Walk Me System, which is a self-guided training system. They are expecting this portion to take about a month. Once the Walk Me portion is complete, the form will be launched.
IX. CALIFORNIA COALITION AGAINST SEXUAL ASSAULT (CALCASA) UPDATES
Ms. Aldridge provided the CALCASA report. Support for Survivors Manual is currently being updated with an expected release date of summer 2018. The Training Facilitators Guide, which will accompany the updated 40 hour training curriculum, is scheduled to be released later this year.
Ms. Aldridge also mentioned that CALCASA has been providing a series of action alerts. One of the alerts was regarding the potential of STOP Formula Grant Funds being cut. With these action alerts CALCASA wants to keep everyone informed, focus on maintaining a strong presence and help rape crisis centers (RCCs) focus on having better relationships with appropriation committees. CALCASA is also collecting data on funding levels and streams.
CALCASA is scheduled to have their Statewide Leadership Conference on August 7-11th, 2017, location to be determined. The working title for this conference is “Transformative Conversations: Thinking Differently to End Sexual Assault”. The goal is to encourage participants to be innovative and challenge them to think differently on how to end sexual assault.
In addition to the Statewide Leadership Conference, CALCASA has had several teleconferences and trainings on various topics. One training in particular will focus on fostering relationships between faith based communities and RCCs which will be held on March 14, 2017.
X. MISCELLANEOUS
Ms. Williams encouraged Committee Members to attend future meetings
in-person.
XI. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for June 2, 2017 in Burbank.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:40 am.