SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION

RETREAT

MINUTES

DRAFT

Simpkins Swim Center

17th Avenue

Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Wednesday, April 18, 2007, 4:35 p.m.

Commissioners Present: Others Present:

Heidi Simonson Brook Foster

Bob Lee

Larry Biggam

Steve Robbins

Scott McDonald

JoAnn Allen

Todd Mayer

Jo Anna Goodman

Alisha Favorite

Kathi Loughlin, M.D.

Laura Segura Gallardo

1. Call to Order.

Chair Heidi Simonson called the meeting to order at 4:35 p.m.

A. Intro/Agenda for Retreat:

(1) Review 2006 Goals

(2) Review 2006 Committees and Task Forces

(3) What are the three (3) top goals for 2007/08 commission?

(4) Create action plans for goals.

2. 2006 Goal. #1; To improve and re-organize the Commission Structure.

A. Members (2006):

Heidi Simonson

JoAnn Allen

Bob Lee

Mary Simoni

Celia Organista

Dee O’Brien

Irwin Joseph

B. Accomplishments

(1) Visited Santa Clara Domestic Violence Commission

(2) Reorganized meeting structure, agenda schedule, membership/vacancy requirements.

(3) Assembled historic documents.

(4) Re-established Protocol Committee.

C. Continuing Tasks

(1) Heidi said the following issues will be addressed at the May meeting:

a. By-laws.

b. We need to refresh our membership and fill vacant spots.

1. Goal #2. The Annual Report.

A. Members (2006):

Scott MacDonald

Larry Biggam

Steve Robbins

Mary Simoni

Melissa Berrenge

Purpose: Evaluate and Improve the Annual Report’s Efficacy (responsibility of probation), emphasizing the effectiveness of the Batterer’s Intervention Programs.

B. Accomplishments

(1) Scott M. said the goal of evaluating and improving the Report has been completed, to the extent the previous Retreat had considered it (also see below).

(2) The questionnaire has been completed and revised.

(3) Main focus in 2006 was effectiveness of Batterer's Programs.

- We surveyed batterer's treatment program.

C. Continuing Tasks

(1) Still need to talk about ongoing role making Annual Report effective.

- Outcomes should be tracked in annual report.

(2) Two (2) more presentations have to be made. (Alto, and Pac Treatement Batterer’s Program)

(3) Goals should be how to use report to guide the Commission’s overall strategic plan through the year, and to show effectiveness of Batterer's Treatment Program.

2. Goal #3. To Provide Community Education on Domestic Violence.

A. Members (2006):

Kristie Clemens

Bob Lee

Gillian Greensite

Francesca Raphael

Kathi Loughlin

Celia Organista

B. Accomplishments

(1) Hospital staff has been trained.

C. Continuing Tasks

(1) County Offices training is continuing.

(2) Find out if Medical Cards have been updated, are pamphlets updated and available?

3. Reviewed 2006 Subcommittees

A. Report to Community task force: (Was ‘Annual Report’ Committee)

(1) Scott reported:

a. Ongoing work on Goal #2

b. See notes above.

B. Direct Services Committee.

(1) Heidi says Women's Crisis, Walnut Avenue and maybe Simply Your Best;

a. Not active for long time;

b. Heidi asked, should it be inactive or active?

1. Scott replys, thought they were going to train law enforcement about TRO.

(a) Steve R. said its going to happen; Chiefs already approved.

(2) Heidi asked if there were any suggestion from the committee?

C. Report to Community Committee.

(1) Heidi said we need to go over committee members.

(2) Suggestion to divide the members/committee into working group and data group:

Alan H., Joanne De Los Reyes, Patty King (CPS), Heather Harris (SO), Michaela Scott, Jennifer Buesing, Susan Rosario, Eric Seib (DA), Scott MacDonald, Janet Seminario, Kristie Clemens, Steve Robbins, Todd M., Bob L., Larry B., Laura S.

D. Education Sub-Committee.

(1) Heidi went over membership: Brook F., Bob L., Kristie Clemens, Alisha Favorite, JoAnn Allen

(2) Accomplished DV Awareness Campaign for medical providers, have scheduled it for work places, need to do schools, community, media, public relations and video for teens.  Add education for teens as well.

(3) This sub-c will inventory what written resources are already out there, and see what needs updating. Many agencies already print their own resource cards – get and review.

E. Executive Sub-Committee

(1) Heidi goes over membership: Heidi, JoAnn, Bob

(2) What is the scope: Sets agenda, improve and reorg. Commission structure (ongoing), membership.

(3) Joanne talked about the By-Laws review. Heidi, Bob, JoAnn, Kathy L., Julie S.

(a) Heidi said By-Laws should be handled next meeting, and she will contact County Counsel.

F. Policy and Protocol Committee (new name for Protocol Review Committee)

(1) Medical Protocol Task Force

JoAnna Goodman stated that they met with Mario Sulay SCSO and Robin Welty of Dominican ER; Marian Lundgren of Community Hospital Unit.

Other members, Patrick M., Barbara Rice

(2) DV LE Task force

Meeting Ap. 30, 2007 to finalize the protocol.

Julie S., Scott M., Todd M., Heidi S., Phil W., Bob L., Kathi L., Steve R., Jean J., Brook F., and want to invite direct service providers

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Commission ate dinner; Thanks to JoAnn

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4. New 2007 Goals: (We decided to prioritize these new goals within our existing Committee structure)

A. Educate schools and school children on dynamics of DV.

Priority goal for Bob and others.

Joann mentioned what is happening now through Cty. Office of Ed.

Women's Crisis/Defensa Laura says a limitation is that schools educations is by invitation only to the school

Joann said it’s tough to get mandates to school administrations.

Bob suggested having a DV jury trail in front of the school.

JoAnn should be part of this goal.

Kathy said maybe new members are needed;

Alisha Favorite and Joann Allen volunteers for Education task force;

Kathy Laughlin is off.

Larry asked what access to schools do we have?

Joann said some more than others; Pajaro very good;

Bob suggests inventory of what schools are doing.

Heidi suggested education sub-committee should do this. Inventory what each school district is doing.

Steve suggested in May (DV); ask sub-committee to get inventory.

B. Specialized domestic violence unit to investigate and videotape domestic violence witnesses. (Bob L.)

Important because witnesses recant first statement, combined with the recent Crawford decision.

a. Todd agrees;

b. Steve said its tough to get because no money by the county;

c. Bob emphasized it should happen because domestic violence victims still recant unlike other crimes and cheaper in long run.

Heidi: where does this goal fit?

Steve: in Law Enforcement protocols....could be in that sub-committee.

Scott: come up with best practices.

Todd: like DV training

Scott: it can be one of the cores of the annual report.

Kathy: can standing sub committees review policy behind protocols.

Heidi suggested we change the name to Protocol and Policy subcommittee.

Bob volunteers for subcommittee along with Jean Jordan from his office.

Kathy volunteers

Steve Robbins volunteers along with Lt. Phil Wowak.

(see other members above)

C. Report to the Community should be ongoing primary goal. (Scott)

Annual Report Should be Data Driven vs. Print Deadline Driven.

Heidi believes every meeting should have data driven questions for discussion;

Kathy said last meeting was horrible in that the data wasn't able to be replicated.

(1) How to use Annual Report is necessary thing to do. It should be mechanism to create momentum and structure our work.

a. Scott said report to community should also report to Board of Supes.

(2) Todd discussed real problems reconciling CPS vs. law enforcement stats in Annual Report.

CPS counts every child there...law enforcement does not.

(3) We would need meaningful data instead of random data.

(4) Scott suggests, what does Annual Report mean. Need executive steering committee to look at data. To rationalize data. Probably a new sub committee.

(5) Larry B. said we need people who understands data. Not just collectors. So "apples are apples."

(6) Scott, Todd, Larry, Steve, are recommended to the executive committee to review data.

(7) “Steering” committee to be department heads, and “working group” or data collection by the others.

D. Direct Services: How to better network all the direct service providers to collaborate services.

Need to renew/revitalize the Direct Services Committee.

General discussion: for each Committee, make their timelines and action plans part of regular monthly agenda. Can be included in report from each Committee at each full meeting.

7. Heidi said the goal should be for executive committee to have notes and agenda out by April 27th.

8. Adjournment. Next meeting scheduled for May 9th, 2007.

C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\HSIMONSON\MY DOCUMENTS\DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COMMISSION\DVC MINUTES\RETREAT 2007 MINUTES.DOC