HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-15-2010 - 3aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 15, 2010
Action Agenda
Item No. 3 -g2
SUBJECT: Report from the Domestic Violence Shelter Work Group of the Commission for
Women
DEPARTMENT: County Manager's Office PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Final Report from the Work Group
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jenny Galassi, Staff Liaison, 245 -2320
Shannon Jackson, Chair, Commission for
Women
Beverly Kennedy, Executive Director,
Family Violence Prevention Center,
Work Group Convener
PURPOSE: To present the final report from the Domestic Violence Shelter Work Group of the
Commission for Women based on a June 16, 2009 charge from the BOCC.
BACKGROUND: The BOCC endorsed a proposal in 2009 for the Commission for Women
(CFW) acting under the Office of Human Rights and Relations to convene a work group of
partners to explore and evaluate more fully the potential for developing a community- directed
domestic violence (DV) shelter in Orange County. The Orange County Commission for Women
was charged with the establishment of a Domestic Violence Shelter Work Group to:
• Serve as a facilitator /convener of the Work Group, with guidance and support from the
Human Rights & Relations Office
• Contact nonprofits and other stakeholders and serve as central point of contact in
bringing them to the table to discuss the potential for a DV shelter
• Serve as intermediary between the DV Work Group and the BOCC
• Provide an update on Work Group activities related to the charge to the BOCC in
December 2009
• Assist in determining the best use of $1,200 in seed money.
The Commission for Women, Orange County nonprofits and other identified stakeholders met
regularly to achieve the requirements of the charge. Collaboratively these participants, along
with the research assistance of three UNC communications major students, have completed a
report addressing the short term and long term issue(s) related to the establishment of an
Orange County Domestic Violence Shelter and alternatives.
The principal recommendations of the Work Group are based on a "tiered" approach to
providing shelter services:
• "Virtual Shelters" - building upon a collaborative relationship with Orange County hotels
and motels and the Family Violence Prevention Center and Orange County Rape Crisis
Center to provide temporary emergency shelter for victims.
• Room Set -aside at IFC HomeStart — pursuing a cooperative venture between the Family
Violence Prevention Center and Inter -Faith Council to designate a certain number of
rooms at HomeStart as emergency shelter for Orange County victims of domestic
violence. The necessity of increased security, staffing and other safety services would
need to be incorporated.
• "Bricks and Mortar" Shelter — continuing exploration of this model, albeit acknowledged
as a long term project requiring coordinated community response and considerable
financial commitment.
The complete report of the Work Group is attached for BOCC review and reference. The
convener /facilitator of the Work Group and the Chair of the Commission for Women will
be present at the BOCC meeting and provide a brief verbal report.
The Work Group endorses the proposal that The Women's Center serve as convener and
facilitator of a subsequent work group to maintain the momentum and pursue the principal
recommendations as presented.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact with receiving the final report of the Work
Group. Future involvement or responsibility by the BOCC in funding the virtual shelters, room
set - asides, or development of a physical structure for housing victims of domestic violence are
not requested or obligated by the report.
The BOCC has approved in concept the County Manager's recommendation to incorporate the
convener /facilitator function within the funding and performance agreement with The Women's
Center in adopting the proposed FY 2010 -11 budget.
The Commission for Women has discussed and affirmed that the $1,200 in seed money carried
forward in the current fiscal year for DV purposes be divided equally between the Family
Violence Prevention Center and Orange County Rape Crisis Center and used for client
sheltering services. These funds are included as part of the FY 2010 -11 Outside Agency
allocations in the proposed FY 2010 -11 budget.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board receive the final report and
acknowledge the effort by the Work Group of the Commission for Women in advancing the
cause of a domestic violence shelter in Orange County. Additionally, the Manager recommends
the Board direct staff to assist in transitioning further efforts on its principal recommendations to
The Women's Center and returning an update to the BOCC from The Women's Center by
January 2011.
ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER WORK GROUP
FINAL REPORT TO: Orange County Board of County Commissioners
June 3, 2010
This report from the Orange County Commission for Women (CFW) to the Orange County Board of
County Commissioners (BOCC) is submitted pursuant to the Charge to the CFW by the BOCC on June
16, 2009, under Action Agenda Item No. 6.e which stated:
"The CFW will:
• Serve as a facilitator /convener of the Work Group, with guidance and support from the
Human Rights & Relations office
• Contact nonprofits and other stakeholders and serve as central point of contact in
bringing them to the table to discuss the potential for a DV shelter
• Serve as intermediary between DV Work Group and the BOCC
• Provide update on Work Group activities related to the charge to the BOCC in December
2009
• Assist in determining the best use of $1,200 seed money."
In proceeding with the work to be accomplished under the Charge members of the Work Group reached
consensus that there were multiple issues to be addressed and questions to be explored and answered,
including, but not limited to, the following:
• Was there a need for a domestic violence shelter services in Orange County?
• Should shelter also be provided for victims of sexual violence?
• Were there alternatives to construction of a shelter?
• Who should/would be responsible for implementation of a program to build a shelter or
implement program(s) for alternatives?
• What would be the most responsible approach to continued work based on the recommendations?
It was agreed that documented research supported the conclusion that, "There is a need for safe `shelter
services' for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Orange County. "
During FY `08 -`09 Family Violence Prevention Center of Orange County (FVPC) served 733
clients and referred 42 clients to shelter during that time period.
Statistics from Orange County Rape Crisis Center (OCRCC) showed that for the period from
January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, there we 17 requests for shelter, 22 referrals to shelter, 2
referrals to hotels, 9 referrals to physical shelter and 7 referrals to "other ". There were more
referrals than requests for shelter because sometimes referrals were made without a client
requesting shelter.
FVPC indicated, and it was agreed by Work Group members, that the magnitude of the issue of
building an Orange County Shelter required a "coordinated community response" defined as one
that has the support of all stakeholders in the community to achieve the mission/goal. This
approach is defined as "best practice."
4
Other information, obtained from "MEETING SURVIVORS' NEEDS: A MULTI -STATE STUDY OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER EXPERIENCES ", Eleanor Lyon & Shannon Lane, University of
Connecticut School of Social Work and Anne Menard, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence,
October, 2008, Prepared for National Institute of Justice, Grant #2007- U- CS -K022, and suggestions from
Work Group members were also presented and discussed. An Abstract of the Lyon, Lane and Menard
Study is included in this report beginning on page 4. The information and suggestions included but were
not limited to the following:
➢ ....there are currently (2008) an estimated 1,949 domestic violence programs across the United
States. "
➢ if the shelter did not exist the consequences for them [victims of DV] would be dire:
homelessness, serious losses including children, continued abuse or death or actions taken in
desperation. "
➢ .....primary needs at entry were safety, housing, information, emotional support, and help for
their children. "
➢ RE: shelter stay at locations outside North Carolina: `At exit, after a median length of stay of 22
days (27 for mothers) respondents reported a larger number of needs than they had identified at
entry. "
➢ ".....domestic violence shelters address compelling needs that survivors cannot meet elsewhere.
Shelter programs provide a complex array of services to victims of abuse and their children;
most prominent are safety, information, help with children and help with emotional distress. "
Following extensive research and discussion(s) by Work Group members, consensus was reached that
working to create shelter services in Orange County should proceed on a "tiered" basis. Using this
approach would provide for immediate, short term shelter, with necessary ancillary services to be
provided by existing Orange County non - profit agencies, while more complex, long -term projects were
initiated. Consensus was reached and recommended on the following tiers:
❖ "Virtual' Shelters — hotels /motels within Orange County.
1. FVPC has an existing working relationship with a generous hotelier who provides rooms
at no cost if there is a vacancy. The hotelier has made efforts in the past to have other
area hotels join in a collaborative to make more rooms available for DV clients. To date
he has been unsuccessful. During the first 9 months of 2009 FVPC used this option
approximately 9 times.
2. OCRCC currently uses this approach for their clients and it has infrequent use (estimated
at no more than 20 times /year). They have a contract with a hotel in Chapel Hill for a
discounted rate of approximately 35% less than the standard rate.
3. Discussions between Work Group members (one from FVPC and one from OCRCC) and
Laurie Paolicelli, Executive Director of the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau,
should be initiated to develop a working collaboration to establish a program involving
multiple Orange County hotels to expand the availability of hotel rooms for more than
one night. The provision of incentives by Orange County government officials to hotels
participating in this important step in the development of a coordinated community
response and victim safety could be critical to its success. Note: the current program
includes a volunteer accompanying victims /clients to the hotels and remaining available
11 on call" until the client leaves the hotel.
❖ Explore Possibility of Expanding Services with Home Start.
1. Through agreement between Home Start and FVPC domestic violence support groups for
women and children were conducted by FVPC staff and volunteers at the Home Start
facility during early 2010.
2. Meetings should be initiated with Chris Moran and Laurie Tucker of Interfaith Council
for Social Services to explore the possibility of designating a certain number of rooms as
emergency shelter for Orange County victims of violence (clients of both FVPC and
OCRCC). Serious consideration and funding would be necessary to provide for the
necessity of increased security, staffing and other physical safety,
psychological /emotional and other needs of victims. A subcommittee of a continued
Work Group or Task Force should be formed to explore this as a secondary stage /tier of
providing shelter services.
❖ "Bricks & Mortar" Shelter for Orange County
1. This is acknowledged to be a long term project requiring a coordinated community
response. A separate Task Force should be formed (with members of the current Work
Group included) to explore this complex issue which will require funded staff time either
through a County office or County funded nonprofit agency.
2. Complete Research information compiled by the UNC students who worked on this
project is available through the below Convener. An Abstract and synopsis entitled,
"Synopsis of UNC Student Research ", is included in this report beginning on page 6.
3. A subcommittee of a continued Work Group or Task Force should be formed to explore
fund development for this project.
Suggested time lines for implementation and/or further research and planning on the above three
tiers are as follows:
"Virtual" Shelters — hotels /motels within Orange County — by December 31, 2010;
Explore Possibility of Expanding Services with Home Start — by September 30, 2011;
"Bricks & Mortar" Shelter for Orange County — work to start upon approval by
BOCC of said recommendation. With a view to maintaining momentum on the project
consideration is suggested that a Work Group/Task Force be formed by June, 2011 with
preliminary and final reporting completed in a time frame determined by said Work
Group /Task Force to be reasonable to complete all required work.
It is strongly recommended that the knowledge gained by members of the Work Group be
leveraged for continuing progress on the project.
Beverly Kennedy
Convener
June 2, 1010
"MEETING SURVIVORS' NEEDS: A MULTI -STATE STUDY OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
SHELTER EXPERIENCES ", Eleanor Lyon & Shannon Lane, University of Connecticut School of
Social Work and Anne Menard, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, October, 2008,
Prepared for National Institute of Justice, Grant #2007- U- CS -K022
M
Abstract
This study of domestic violence shelters in eight states was designed to help fill a gap in
current knowledge about the range of services provided, the needs and experiences of survivors who
have turned to shelters for help, and the types of help they received. Research goals included
obtaining a large and diverse sample of survivors and shelter programs, so that meaningful
comparisons of services, immediate outcomes, and experiences could be conducted by presence of
children, age, education, race /ethnicity and other characteristics of survivors, while also taking
shelter program capacity into account.
Data were collected during a six ❑month period from 3,410 residents of 215 domestic
violence shelters -81% of the shelters in the eight states. The states were chosen to maximize
geographical, population, rural/ urban and economic diversity. Programs provided information about
their capacity (number of beds and staff) and the services they offered; Census data were also
collected about the region served by the shelter. Shelter residents were asked to complete a written
survey at or near entrance (Shelter 1), and again at or near exit (Shelter 2). All study materials were
translated into eleven languages to increase accessibility. Both surveys asked about 38 different
possible needs; Shelter 1 also addressed initial impressions and concerns, while Shelter 2 also
addressed immediate outcomes, difficulties experienced during the stay, and the respect and support
survivors had received from shelter staff.
Data from programs showed that they ranged greatly in capacity: a range of 4 to 102 beds,
1.25 to 99 FTE staff, and had sheltered 2 to 2,300 adults and 1 to 1,242 children in the past year. The
median maximum length of stay was two months. Across shelters staff could speak 37 different
languages; 72% had staff who were bi- lingual in Spanish. Ninety -eight percent could accommodate
at least one type of disability.
Respondents reported that if the shelter did not exist the consequences for them would be
dire: homelessness, serious losses including children, continued abuse or death, or actions taken in
desperation. Their primary needs at entry were safety, housing, information, emotional support, and
help for their children. At exit, after a median length of stay of 22 days (27 for mothers) respondents
reported a larger number of needs than they had identified at entry. They also indicated that their
needs had largely been met. Although over half reported some kind of difficulty during their stay,
such as conflicts with others or problems with rules, most of the problems were resolved. At least
two- thirds strongly agreed with every rating of staff respect and support, and 95% or more agreed.
Neither difficulties nor ratings of staff respect and support differed significantly among respondents,
based on demographic characteristics.
Detailed findings showed specific differences in particular needs across race /ethnicity, age,
education, presence of children, and language in which surveys were completed (Hispanics who
filled out English and Spanish surveys were compared). Differences in survivors' experiences were
also found related to shelter capacity.
The study shows that domestic violence shelters address compelling needs that survivors
cannot meet elsewhere. Shelter programs provide a complex array of services to victims of abuse and
their children; most prominent are safety, information, help with children and help with emotional
distress. Most needs are met for most residents, and most problems are resolved. Implications for
policy and programming are discussed, and include expanding diversity of shelter staff, expanding
conflict resolution training for staff (and perhaps offering it to residents), re- consideration of time
limits and eligibility requirements for shelters that have them, and further research on the full array of
services (including non - shelter services) provided by domestic violence programs.
UNC Student Research Conducted by:
Dave Wylie, Jeff Johnson and Mary Margaret Morris
"Engaged Scholarship Project with the Orange County Domestic Violence Shelter Work Group"
May 3, 2010
8
ABSTRACT
The impact of domestic abuse is a consistent problem facing communities in North Carolina. Women's
shelters have been erected in communities as a means for protection and guidance for abused individuals.
These shelters provide a myriad of services to victims of domestic abuse, such as clothing and food,
childcare, education and transitional services. This project discusses models of domestic abuse shelters in
various communities as brought forth by nonprofit organizations. The primary local shelter reviewed for
case study was the Interact of Wake County in North Carolina; two other nonprofits, the Safehouse
Alliance for Nonviolence of Boulder, Colorado and the Family Justice Center Alliance of San Diego,
California were reviewed as focus studies of various shelters in nonlocal parameters. Due to the growing
concerns of domestic violence in Orange County and the lack of necessary shelter for abused women, the
Orange County Commission for Women (OCCW) have set to motion the creation of a domestic violence
shelter within the borders of Orange County. The goal of this research was to provide the OCCW with
preliminary data on what allowed these shelters to be erected, also know as a bestpractices model. Such
research consisted of number of rooms within the shelter, and other essential information pertinent to
OCCW's concerns. This research was then collected and brought forth to the OCCW and other Orange
County government officials for further review.
"Synopsis of UNC Student Research"
Best Practices from Wylie, et al. (2010), Reyno and Johnson:
• Domestic /relationship /interpersonal violence is a community issue
o DV, sexual assault, sex trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation
• Need to identify key stakeholders
• Involve survivors in planning process in some way
• Funding is a continual challenge
• Coordinated community response is necessary
• Need to synchronize multiple agency polices and practices
• One stop /wrap- around services
• Build in evaluation/assessment processes from the beginning
o Self reflection, continuous improvement
• Shelters must have zero tolerance for any forms of violence
o Staff should be skilled in conflict resolution
• Need continuity of care
• Trauma - informed care
• Integrated care
• Evidence -based practices
• Gender specific services
• Attend to demographics of staff /leadership in comparison to clients served
o Must address issues of power /privilege /inequality
• Address intervention /primary prevention
o Education, training, outreach, cultural change
E
Service Provision/needs:
• Shelter
• Crisis, transitional, long -term
• Family, individual, women only?
• Male children — age limited?
• Security systems
• Confidential/hidden /publicly known
• ADA- compliant facilities; ADA - accessible services
o Universal access model
• Food
o Emergency, sustained
• Medical care
• Mental health/counseling
o Garden therapy, arts therapy, health/wellness
• Substance abuse
• Transportation to /from shelter space
• Path to economic stability
• Job Skills
• Access to available benefits
• Child needs
• Access to child care
• Access to school, safety at school
• Parenting classes?
• Legal advocacy
• Criminal justice system
• Child custody /family law
• Immigration
• Worship/Faith Community
o Access to services
• Culturally competent care /service provision
o Language capabilities
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MEMBERS OF THE ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER WORK GROUP
2009 -2010
Hudson Fuller (FVPC)
Monika Johnson Hostler (NCCASA)
Donna Bickford (CFW & CWC)
Carolina Alzuru (CFW & OCRCC)
Becca Edwards (OCRCC)
Jenn Frye (CFW)
Mike Nelson (BOCC)
Beverly Kennedy (FVPC)
Ann Gerhardt (TWC)
Gwen Harvey (County Manager's Office)
Shoshannah Sayers (Housing & Community Development)
Patricia Muhammad (CFW)
Camilla Eubanks (NCCADV)
Jasmine Farhadi (CFW)
Dave Wylie (UNC student)
Mary Margaret Morris (UNC student)
Jeff Johnson (UNC student)
Michelle Williams (Orange County Assistant District Attorney)
Jenny Galassi (County Manager's Office)
Shannon Jackson (CFW Chair)
Rachel Kinney (Orange County Rape Crisis Center)
Shamecca Bryant (Orange County Rape Crisis Center)