HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-15-2011 - 3bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 15, 2011
Action Agenda
Item No. 3 ' b
SUBJECT: Update on the Recommendations for Domestic Violence Shelter Services
DEPARTMENT: County Manager PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Final Report -Domestic Violence Shelter Gwen Harvey, Assistant Manager,
Work Group of the Commission for 245-2307
Women (2010)
PURPOSE: To provide the Board of County Commissioners with an update from The Women's
Center on activities underway as a result of the final report of the Domestic Violence Shelter
Work Group of the Commission for Women in the summer 2010 (the Women's Center
assumed convening responsibilities for this community effort with the sunset of the Commission
for Women).
BACKGROUND: The Commission for Women during FY2009 -10 established a work group to
explore the need for a domestic violence shelter to be physically located inside Orange County.
The Commission's research and outreach led to the development of a final report presented to
the BOCC in the summer 2010. In accepting the final report, the BOCC asked to receive an
update on initial findings and preliminary steps by the first of 2011. The Women's Center, in
assuming through agreement with the County Manager's office several activities previously
advanced by the Commission for Women, has continued discussions among community
partners concerned with the welfare and safety of women and children in Orange County. The
Director, Ann Gerhardt, will be present to provide a brief report on work in progress to the
BOCC.
A copy of the Work Group final report is attached for review and reference.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the BOCC receiving an
update report from The Women's Center.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends the Board receive the report and provide
comments as may be desired.
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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, '?here 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 were 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
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one that has the support of all stakeholders in the community to achieve the mission/goal. This
approach is defined as "best practice."
Other information, obtained from "MEETING SURVIVORS' NEEDS: AMULTI-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 DVJ 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
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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
"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
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"MEETING SURVIVORS' NEEDS: AMULTI-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
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 asix-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%
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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.
***
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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
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 best practices 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
o Need to synchronize multiple agency polices and practices
o 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
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o Staff should be skilled in conflict resolution
• Need continuity of care
o Trauma-informed care
o Integrated care
o Evidence-based practices
o 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
Service Provision/needs:
• Shelter
o Crisis, transitional, long-term
o Famify, individual, women only?
o Male children -age limited?
o Security systems
o 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
o Job Skills
o Access to available benefits
• Child needs
o Access to child care
o Access to school, safety at school
o Parenting classes?
• Legal advocacy
o Criminal justice system
o Child custody/family law
o 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)
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