Santa Cruz County Domestic Violence Commission

 

Minutes

 

Wednesday, March 14, 5:30 p.m.

 

Commissioners Present:  (11)

 

Heidi Simonson                        Steve Robbins                          Irwin Joseph

Francesca Raphael                   Charles Molnar             Scott McDonald

Jo Ann Allen                             Patrick Meehan                        Laura Segura   

Kathleen Loughlin                     Brooke Foster

 

Commissioners Excused:

 

Todd Mayer                             Bob Lee                                   Julie Schneider

Barbara Rice                            Dee O’Brien

 

Commissioners Unexcused:

 

Alan Hiromura              Joanna Goodman                      Larry Biggam

Candace Atkins

 

Others Present:

 

Bradley Alerich             Kristie Clemens                        Jeanine Cowan

Steve Carlton                           David Jeffers                            Mitch Weatherly

Mitch Lopez                             Ofelia Gomez                           Janet Seminerio

Alisha Favorite            

 

 

1.                  Call to Order:

                  Chair Simonson called the meeting to order at 5:38 p.m.

 

2.                  Roll Call:  Introduction of Members:

             Each Commissioner introduced him/herself.

 

3.                  Additions or Deletions to Agenda:

None.

 

 

 

4.                  Approval of November and February Minutes:

 

5.                  Oral Communications from the Community:

Several people from Simply Your best discussed how well the program has been working for them.  They are learning about respect in relationships, compassion, good communication, amongst many great things to better their relationship with partner/spouse. Someone commented on the fact that he thought it would be very helpful if his partner/spouse was in the same program, that way both would be learning the same techniques, which in the long term, would be very helpful.  A voluntary program for partners was mentioned and people attending “Simply Your Best” were asked, “Would you pay for this program for your partner/spouse.” Someone responded “yes, because this program is so good, it would be worth it, and yes I would be willing to pay for this.   A question was asked to person in charge of Simply your best in regards to if these people have some kind of support group after program ends, she responded “No, but they can keep coming to the program if they wish.”

 

6.                  Old Business:

             None

 

7.                  New Business:

 

  1. Discussion of Annual Report to Community:

We have been using different data collection methods over the past few years.  Numbers from previous years are being inflated because of duplication, therefore data from previous years is not accurate.  Therefore, prior year’s data should not be included as it is not providing useful numbers.  Should be doing yearly totals instead of monthly totals.

 

B.  Subcommittee Reports:

 

           1)    By-Laws Taskforce.  

                  Julie working on it and she is not present today.           

           2)    Education Subcommittee.

                   Meeting not yet scheduled.  Will get this scheduled. 

3)        Annual Report of Batterer’s Programs.

      

           4)    Report to the Community.  Speakers from Court and Direct Services.

                        Steve Carlton discussed how data is collected.  In the last two years he has been part of a team compiling data.  Data is computer generated.  Each case is assigned a category – first year data is 100% computerized.  There has been a significant decrease in restraining orders.  Prior year margin of error is very high because it was manually done.  Permanent orders are going up, more of the people requesting them are getting them – they are following through with these orders. 

 

Discussion on creating a “bridge” between agencies, connection of services, doing advocacy with sheriff’s/police  department.

            Extensive discussion on data collection from Direct Services Agencies and accuracy of the numbers, as well as usefulness to the Report.

                  

           5)     Executive Committee

                   a.  Semi-Retreat: This was discussed, voted on different times and final                             

                   decision was for April 4/18 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

 

            6) Medical Protocol Subcommittee

                 None.

 

      C.   Grand Jury Final Report With Responses:

 Handout was given to all.

      

      9)        Announcements from Commissioners:

 

10)   Adjournment:

 The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.