DHR Domestic Violence Advisory Committee
April 17, 2008 Minutes
SPECIAL REMINDER: Please remember that the next Advisory Committee meeting date has been changed to August 14. The Advisory Committee voted on this change so shelter representatives could attend the August 21 meeting of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council where the new grant allocations will be discussed.
DISTRICT/DFCS Reg / SHELTER
OR AGENCY / AGENCY NAME / COMMITTEE / SHELTER REP / ATTENDING / VOTING
Yes/No
1/1 / Blue Ridge / N GA Mtn Crisis Network / Allocations / Linda Holler
Shawna Ensley / Linda Holler
Shawna Ensley / Yes
No
1/3 / Cartersville / Tranquility House / Sandra Bruce
1/3 / Cedartown / Our House / Conni Purser
1/1 & 3 / Dalton / NW GA Family Crisis Center / Allocations / Betty Higgins / Beth Peters / Yes
1/1 & 3 / Lafayette / Family Crisis Ctr / Tara Hampton
1/3 / Rome / Hospitality House / Lynn Rousseau / Amy Weaver
2/2 / Blairsville / S.A.F.E. / Allocations / Kathie Hollis / Kathie Hollis / Yes
2/2 / Clayton / F.A.I.T.H. / Caroline White
2/2 / Cornelia / Circle of Hope / Allocations / Suzanne Dow / Suzanne Dow / Yes
2/2 / Cumming / Family Haven / Shalon Coffey
2/2 / Dahlonega / NOA’s Ark / Allocations / Marina Barron / Cathy Sitzwohl / No
2/2 / Gainesville / Gateway House / Allocations / Jessica Butler / Jessica Butler / Yes
2/2 / Hartwell / Hart Haven / Blondie Willingham
3/13 / Atlanta / PADV / Cathy Spraetz / Cathy Spraetz / Yes
3/5 / Conyers / Project ReNeWal / Training / Vickie Stevenson / Vickie Stevenson / Yes
3/14 / Decatur (WRC) / Women’s Resource Center / Jean Douglas
3/14 / Decatur (IWH) / Int. Women’s House / Special Proj. / Anna Blau / Anna Blau / Yes
3/13 & 14 / Lawrenceville / PADV / Cathy Spraetz / Cathy Spraetz / Yes
3/17 / Canton / Cherokee FV Ctr / Meg Rogers
3/3 & 17 / Douglasville / S.H.A.R.E. House / Teresa Smith / Teresa Smith / Yes
3/16 / Fayetteville / Promise Place / Sonja Strickland / Sonja Strickland / Yes
3/17 / Marietta / YWCA NW Ga / Holly Comer / Holly Comer / Yes
3/ 4, 5 , 16 / McDonough / Flint Circuit / Training / Marjorie Lacy / Marjorie Lacy / Yes
3/16 / Morrow / Securus House / Training / Pat Altemus / Pat Altemus / Yes
3/16 / Morrow / Securus House / Tanika Nichols / Tanika Nichols / No
4/3 & 4 / Carrollton / Carroll County / Planning / Martha Boyce / Martha Boyce / Yes
4/3 & 4 / Carrollton / Carroll County / Planning / Arlene Mackel / Arlene Mackel / No
?/4 / LaGrange / Harmony House / Allocations / Michele Bedingfield / Michele Bedingfield / Yes
5/5 / Athens / Project Safe / Joan Prittie
5/5 ,6, & 7 / Greensboro / Circle of Love / Sharon Patterson
5/2 & 5 / Winder / Peace Place / Charlene Garrett
6/6 / Macon / Crisis Line & Safe House / Julie Steele
6/6 / Warner Robins / Salvation Army Safe House / Nicole Rosser / Nicole Rosser / Yes
7/7 / Augusta / Safe Homes / Amy Hall
8/8 / Columbus / Hope Harbour / Diane Sinkule / Diane Sinkule / Yes
9/9 / Dublin / WINGS / Heather Mullis
9/9 / Jesup / Fair Haven / Zina Nance
9/9 / Vidalia / Refuge DV Shelter / Betty Dell Williams / Betty Dell Williams / Yes
10/8,10,11 / Albany / Liberty House / Training / Silke Deeley / Silke Deeley / Yes
10/10, / Thomasville / Halcyon House / Chris Marsh / Chris Marsh / Yes
11/10,11 / Tifton / Ruth’s Cottage / Rosemary Alexander
11/10,11 / Valdosta / The Haven / Mandy Rowe / Mandy Rowe / Yes
11/11 / Waycross / Magnolia House / Michelle Girtman / Michelle Girtman / Yes
12/12 / Brunswick / Amity House / Mary Hogan / Mary Hogan / Yes
12/9,12 / Hinesville / Tri-County / Paula Foerstel
12/11,12 / St. Mary’s / Camden House / Cheryl Fulton
12/12 / Savannah / SAFE Shelter / Cheryl Branch / Cheryl Branch / Yes
12/7,9,12 / Statesboro / Safe Haven / Allocations / Mary Harden / Mary Harden / Yes
12/7,9,12 / Statesboro / Safe Haven / Planning / Bryant Bradley / Bryant Bradley / No
GCADV / Beck Dunn / Beck Dunn / No
GCADV / Christy Cardina / Christy Cardina / No
CJCC / Marla Moore
CJCC / Laura Thompson / Laura Thompson / No
CJCC
DCA / Phillis Thomas / Phillis Thomas / No
DHR / Kim Washington
DHR / Pat Holloway / Pat Holloway / No
DHR / Planning / Tracy Marshall / Tracy Marshall / No
DHR / Training / Shontel Wright / Shontel Wright / No
DHR / Delores Haynes
DHR / Shankeria Walker / Shankeria Walker / No
DHR / Crystal Barkley / Crystal Barkley / No
COMMISSION / Jennifer Thomas / Jennifer Thomas / No
COMMISSION / Jameelah Ferrell / Jameelah Ferrell / No
COMMISSION
Visitor / Moultrie / Serenity House / Planning / Blue Shaddix / Blue Shaddix / No
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Minutes--Approved as submitted. Later in the meeting Marjorie Lacy stated that Pat Altemus is now the Chairperson of the Training Committee.
3. Treasurer’s report—Marjorie Lacy
Marjorie presented the following Treasurer’s Report:
Beginning Balance $2,418.32
Expenditures for 1/17/08 Meeting and Lunch $ 284.31
Deposits from 11 shelters $1,100.00
Ending Balance $3,234.01
The Treasurer’s Report was approved as presented.
4. Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Phillis Thomas reported that Bonnie Woods had met with Suzanne Dow at Circle of Hope re: Shelter Plus Care for the north Georgia area and that Bonnie was also meeting with the Partnership Against Domestic Violence. Phillis also stated that Lindsey Stillman is looking at information regarding housing support specialists.
5. Georgia Commission on Family Violence
Jameelah Ferrell introduced Jennifer Thomas, who is the new statewide task force coordinator. Jameelah also stated the Commission is getting ready for 15th Annual Conference to be held 9/7 – 9/10/08 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Savannah.
Last year the Commission received 78 scholarships from DHR and Jameelah stated she hoped to receive that many again this year. Registration for the conference will be online.
6. Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Christy Cardina reported there would be two upcoming trainings:
· April 25 (next Friday) on Danger Assessment and Safety Planning. This training is in Macon, it is already full, but will be offered again in June in the northern area of the state.
· May 7-9 Frontline Training for Advocates. Training will take place in Macon.
Beck Dunn stated that GCADV has just issued its first newsletter sending it out by email. She stated this is GCADV’s first attempt; will only get better if you give us some idea of what you want; please let us know. She added that by going electronic we can make it as big or small as we’d like. Other items discussed by Beck included:
· The Fatality Review Project will have a conference in June with Neil Websdale, Ph.D. We would like to see some shelter representation, but the conference is by invitation only. Contact Beck for further details.
· Shelley Senterfitt and the legislative committee were able to get $815,000 added to the budget for certified domestic violence programs. The budget has not been approved by the governor; don’t call ahead, we have overwhelmed them. The initial increase that was proposed was immediately taken out of the budget and the inclusion of the $815,000 occurred somewhat by accident; this increase may be the last for a little while.
· GCADV lost funding from the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, which funded Shelley’s salary for lobbying. We don’t know where we are going to get that money for the future. GNESA also lost the same money from the same source. We are sending out a fundraising letter; depending on the response, we may have to approach shelters for the difference. If you have a mailing list you are willing to share, we would like it. Question: Do you have any idea of a dollar figure that might be needed from each shelter. Beck stated probably $500-$700 per shelter. We currently pay her $28,000 and she works most of the year. Cathy Spraetz stated that eight years ago PADV paid Elizabeth Appley $20,000 plus in a year to lobby for dv issues. Beck also explained that the Atlanta Women’s Foundation revised its mission statement last year and now focuses on just metro Atlanta issues and direct services. Therefore, a number of statewide efforts fell by the wayside.
7. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
Laura Thompson stated that CJCC hasn’t heard yet what our VOCA/VAWA allocation will be. She felt that VAWA will be up about $150,000. CJCC will have an open solicitation for both VOCA and VAWA grants. There will be one RFP that will talk about both grants within one document. Information will be included if you decide to switch from one funding source to the other. The RFP should be out about May 1st and will have a June deadline. The Crime Victims Committee will make recommendations around Aug. 15. Question: if an agency is currently doing well with its grant, will that be considered? You will have an opportunity to state your experience in the grant application. Agencies can apply for both. Grant years will remain the same. VOCA starts on 10/01; VAWA will apply to calendar year. Law enforcement and prosecution agencies will have to comply with the four-year rule. Programs must still adhere to the federal guidelines. The full CJCC Council Meeting has been set for 8/21 which conflicts with the DHR Advisory Meeting. Council will meet in southern Atlanta. Chris Marsh stated that the DHR Advisory Committee could change their meeting date if the members wish to change the date to be able to attend the CJCC Meeting.
Other information shared by CJCC representatives included:
· Certifications that needed to be in place to meet VAWA guidelines got passed by the Georgia legislature (that victims don’t have to pay for rape exam and/or cooperate with law enforcement investigation.) Victims of sexual assault can not be forced to take a polygraph exam as criteria for continuing the investigation. A copy of HB 1297 is attached for your review.
· 5% re-certifications must be in by April 30. Bryant Bradley asked that CJCC send something out that says agencies won’t get something back until the end of May. She stated Statesboro had received a letter from one of its counties stating the Board of Commissioners would hold issuing 5% funds until the re-certifications are received.
· CJCC will hold its 15th Annual Victims Training Conference May 20-22 at the Renaissance in Atlanta. Can register online.
· The Victims Assistance Academy has been revamped. The next Academy will be 8/24-27; attendees will complete VAT online and then go to this at the Ga. Center in Athens; details are still being ironed out.
· Performance measures reporting, for quarter, has been entered online; some problems in entering it due to technical problems. Question: How does an agency know if it was received? Response: If the home page comes up it has been submitted. We are trying to get something installed that will send you a response. Mandy Rowe stated that her agency’s information printed out with someone else’s name on it.
Question: Can you give an update on reimbursement delays? Response: VOCA funds have been received from the feds, but VAWA funds are still running late. The problems were at the federal level with the feds not releasing the money.
Question: Who can submit a VOCA or VAWA application? Response: Agencies must be 5% re-certified to get VOCA or VAWA funds.
Chris Marsh asked for a motion to change the 8/21 DHR Advisory Meeting to 8/14. Motion made, seconded, and approved. Chris will make the necessary changes with the Forsyth Holiday Inn. Bryant Bradley stated she will be on vacation in Alaska and someone else will have to take minutes.
8. Committee Reports
Special Projects: Anna Blau
Talked about a mentor manual for new directors; also can include things for older directors. Some of the suggested ideas were rules, such as curfews; what works, what doesn’t; what do you do if someone comes in drunk; interesting to see what shelters do in other situations; we’ve laughed at situations; sometimes tongue in cheek. Short stories that you may want to share, at what point do we try to over control victims. The Committee will be soliciting this information by email.
Planning: Martha Boyce
In order for us to look at priority areas, we need something more than the map which shows the DHR regions. We specifically need statistics that show what services are being provided by counties and by shelters. We also need to be in conversation with the Allocations Committee because what we may recommend could impact on the formula that Allocations may be proposing. This work may include swapping counties between shelters to better serve victims and reduce travel costs. We would like to have our work completed by the fall and possibly consider any changes before the next contract year. Additionally, we also need to know the Judicial Circuit considerations as they impact each shelter.
Training: Pat Altemus
It is the responsibility of the Training Committee to recommend the number of scholarships that shelters should received to attend the Commission Conference and the committee’s recommendation is that each shelter will receive two full paid scholarships that can be used by any staff person (Executive Director, frontline staff, or anyone). Pat Hollaway stated that there is not enough money for each shelter to get two. She stated DHR has contracted for a set amount of money.and the registration fees have increased from year to year. Pat Altemus stated that last year we received in writing that each shelter would receive two scholarships, but there weren’t two due to money limitations. Pat Holloway stated that we have never had enough demand to give out all the scholarships; we talked with the Commission about a drop dead date and after the deadline we opened it up to sexual assault, task forces, DFCS, etc. Some agencies received more than one additional scholarship. These are FVSP funds. Cathy Spraetz stated that each shelter has two available to them, then after a certain period of time, they are opened up to other shelters. Last year there were 78, but we are unsure how many went to DHR shelters. Pat Holloway stated that money is included in the Commission contract, then that amount is divided by the cost of the conference. The Training Committee’s recommendation is two slots per shelter; if not enough shelters register, then pass the remaining slots on to other shelters.