Domestic ViolenceAdvisory Board

2008 Annual Report

Presented to the Board of County Commissioner

April 7, 2009

Mecklenburg County Definition of Domestic Violence

We define domestic violence as occurring when one person in an intimate relationship attempts to gain coercive power and control

over the other by using physical, emotional/verbal, sexual or material force.

This abuse takes place within a system of power and control and is not an isolated incident.

Mecklenburg County DV Leadership Team, 2008

DVAB Board MembersContinuing Marage Blakeney, Chair Julie Owens , Co-Chair Tyyawdi Hands

County Commissioner Jennifer Roberts

Term expired during 2008 Rona Karacaova Morgan Cromwell Patricia Kelly

New Appointees

Joe Marinello Debra Wideman Jackie Dienemann Wanda Mobley

The Mecklenburg County Domestic Violence Advisory Board (DVAB) has been charged with:

Reviewing and evaluating Charlotte and Mecklenburg CountyDomestic Violence services

Police and Sherriff

Police responded to 31,758 calls to 911 for DV

2,142 Protection Orders Received by Sheriff’s Office

11DV related homicides

in Mecklenburg in 2008(84 total in NC)

DV Related Homicides

Other Sources Indicating DV is a Serious Problem in Charlotte Mecklenburg County

Department of Social Services:Women applying for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

An increase of 4% in number of Screening Positive for Domestic Violence

Department of Social Services, Youth and Family Services:

Child Protective Services 13% Referrals with DV as a factor

Youth Risk Behavior Survey in CMS Schools by CDC biennial

Survey 2007 Positive responses to DV item increased to 10.7%

2006 DV AuditStudy done toIdentify seriousness of DV problem in the City and County no central data collection or standardized definitions.

Assess adequacy of DV Related Services and Degree they were coordinated

Compare Charlotte/Mecklenburg level of services with other similar cities.

BOCC and City have supported changes to improve data collection through a data warehouse

Convene DV Leadership Team

Improve services through - integrate Community Support Services and preserve Women’s Commission

Support Hotel shelter rooms until additional shelter beds available

Domestic Violence Services Provided

byMultiple Agencies

Private, County, City, Volunteer

Emergency Shelter DV Clients

502 women/children were sheltered & counseled at UFS 29 bed Shelter (150 days at capacity)

696 women/children hotel room shelter through UFS/CSS collaboration

283 women/children no shelter available in Mecklenburg County

Victim Assistance by United Family Services

1261 victims were assisted with applying for domestic violence protective orders

3297 victims were accompanied to court, perpetrator charged

3011 victims were provided with telephone counseling

Counseling for DV Victims

Women’s Commission Provided: 1,556 women individual in-person

counseling 4,915 women telephone counseling 1,152 children telephone counseling 796 children/teens counseling in

support groups

United Family Services Provided: 671 women individual in-person

counseling (in addition to those in shelter)

LEGAL SERVICES TO VICTIMS Issues DV, custody, financial child support,

divorce, restraining order hearing.

Legal Aid of North Carolina advised/ represented 308 victims through 12/09/08

Legal Services of Southern Piedmont had 1 counselor to assist Spanish Speaking low income DV victims.

UFS new grant to hire 29 hour/week attorney to recruit pro bono lawyers, supervise law interns, represent in court.

Abuser Intervention

There are two state certified abuser intervention programs in Mecklenburg County:

NOVA (New Options for Violent Actions) screened 661 new clients and served 1003 clients in accountability groups

The Be There Group/ IMPACT- screened 48 new clients and served 43 clients in accountability groups.

Provide vigorous advocacy for domestic violence victims

Play a role in increasing public awareness and education pertaining to the problems and related costs of domestic violence within the community

DVAB IS CHARGED TO:

DVAB Collaborates

DV Advocacy Council to increase public awareness about DV in Char/Meck. Communicates with DV Leadership Team to support goals. Women's Commission/United Family Services advocacy and public awareness initiativesWomen’s Summit, Violence Against Women Task Force conference

DV Advocacy Council Hosted monthly “lunch and learn”

seminars Organized a Candlelight Vigil Organized the 3rd annual domestic

violence memorial tree service in uptown Charlotte

Held DV homicide awareness marches in uptown Charlotte

Weekly email about training and public awareness events.

DVAC Priorities

Carried over from 2007 a larger shelter facility transitional housing a domestic violence coordinator position geographically diverse services culturally and linguistically competent services at

all agencies a child exchange and supervised visitation

program prevention programs in the schools and community system of data collection across domestic violence

agencies

NEW Adoption by the DA of the use of evidence-based

(“victimless”) prosecution practices for all domestic violence cases, so avoid dismissals when the victim does not appear to testify

MAKE APPROPRIATE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS (BOCC) AND THE CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL

DVAB IS CHARGED TO:

DVAB 2008 Recommendations

Continue to support planning for a new DV emergency shelter(s) and DV transitional housing

Convene a working group to develop a plan for providing shelter now for every victim who needs it

Create a City/County DV Coordinator position to coordinate DV services to meet the needs of the city/county

Establish a supervised visitation/child exchange center

Thank you For your work to make our

city and county safer.