FJC Newsletter

April 2011

Rounded Rectangle: Family Justice Center 9309 N. Florida Ave. Suite #109 Tampa, Florida 33612 Phone: 813-935-2015 Fax: 813-935-2019 E-mail: info@fjchc.org Website: www.fjchc.org Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm Friday 8am-5pm

Rounded Rectangle: In This Issue: April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Volunteer Month Sexual Abuse Intervention Network New Program FJC VOICES FJC Lunch and Learn Adopt A room at the Family Justice Center FJC Volunteer Program FJC Training Academy Sexual Assault on College Campuses: How DV providers can help Webinar Child Welfare and Domestic Violence Cross-System Training Series Nuts & Bolts Sexual Abuse Intervention Network Training April 2011 Focused Fridays Cross System Training Series Schedule Take Back the Night Domestic Violence and the effects on raising young children Community Meetings

Rounded Rectangle: Family Justice Center Newsletter

Text Box: Written by: Patricia Parra Perez Reflecting on the Schenecker Murder: VOICES is a committee of the FJC made up of survivors who have reached a level of healing where they feel prepared to share their stories, provide feedback from a survivor perspective on FJC programs/systems, and to advocate on behalf of those whose voices have been silenced by violence. This monthly section of the FJC newsletter is dedicated to the journeys and perspectives of the VOICES membership so that their voices are always heard. I often listen to the news when either cooking or folding laundry. One of those times I overheard the following; “Tampa mother has killed her children”. I said, “Oh, No, No! I did not just hear that news reporter right,” or did I? Did she say their own mother killed them? What? How? Oh, there she is on the screen, her body shaking. How could she have done that? Why would she ever do that? This is horrific! This entire family is forever changed, and is about to go through some extremely difficult times. I know, because I lived through the same horrific kind of experience on December 10, 2004. I am the woman in Tampa who was ambushed by her ex-husband and shot in the head at point-blank range with a .38 caliber pistol. Then, with the same gun, he shot my kids – but they were his own biological kids, too. Yes, my 12-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son were killed by their own father. He finished his rampage by committing suicide, with that same gun. My whole life changed forever in a matter of only a few minutes. I was hospitalized and put into a medically induced coma. During that time, my life became the hottest public news without my knowledge or permission. I woke up on Christmas Eve, and was told that my two beautiful children had not survived. I remember thinking, “They are wrong.” I said, “If I survived, they did too.” I even told myself, “They are probably in the hospital too, and I will see them very soon.” The process of healing that I have lived through is one I would never wish on anyone. It was, and continues to be very difficult and painful. As a parent, my heart has felt physical and emotional pain beyond any pain I experienced before. You never forget such a thing, and there is not a day that you live without memories of your children. I woke up one day having lost 12 years of memories, as well as any plans I ever had for my children's future. I could no longer ask them what they wanted for dinner, or what theme they wanted to have for their birthday parties. I could no longer take them to track practice, go to their church plays, experience family night movies or taking my daughter to her flute lessons. All of these everyday events were gone forever and I have to face that again each time these events trigger those memories. Domestic violence is an epidemic in America. Someone in America lives in a domestic violence situation every day. It does not matter what your economic lifestyle might be, nor your race, your age, or your gender. It is currently affecting everyone. Let’s not forget about the babies who have been and are currently abused by others, the school kids either hurt by their loved ones or bullied by other kids in school or teenagers with abusive boyfriends or girlfriends. Think of the teenagers physically beating one another while someone video tapes the assault and then posts the video online for school popularity. Don’t forget the college students in abusive relationships. Do you know who is prone to being domestically abused? The answer is simple: it could be you, your child, a friend, family member or your elderly grandparent. Anyone is at risk. But what is most important is that we all become as involved as possible in helping those in a domestic violence situation. That is what membership in the VOICES Advocacy Committee means to me…the opportunity to help prevent another tragedy or the opportunity to help another victim become a survivor. If you know of a group who might be interested in a visit from VOICES, or perhaps inviting one of the members as a guest speaker, or if you are a DV survivor interested in becoming a part of the VOICES Group, please contact Shannon Sokolowski at the Center for further information. Shannon can be reached directly at (813)490-9403. FJC “Lunch and Learn” Program Presented by the Board of Directors and Nikki Daniels, FJC Executive Director The Family Justice Center of Hillsborough County is now taking reservations for our “Lunch and Learn” Program! April 19th, 2011 Please join us for a complimentary lunch and learn more about the FJC, our partner agencies and the valuable services that are helping our community combat domestic violence. Lunch and Learns are from 12:00pm - 1:00pm At the FJC Make your reservation now ~ space is limited. RSVP to Nikki Daniels at: ndaniels@fjchc.org Adopt A Room at the Family Justice Center Have you ever felt like you should have been an interior decorator? Do you enjoy coming up with themes? We are looking for individuals or groups to adopt a room at the Family Justice Center. This is your chance to create your own masterpiece within reason. These room need to be decorated and/ or painted. We hope that these rooms can provide a relaxing and soothing environment for our guest visiting the Family Justice Center. We have two rooms that are in need of some tender love and care. If this is something you would be interested in doing please email outreach@fjchc.org. FJC Volunteer Program Are YOU interested in volunteering at the Family Justice Center? The Family Justice Center is always looking for people willing to share their time and service to help provide a safe and comfortable environment for all those we serve. Want to know more? Please attend our upcoming “Helping Hands” FJC Volunteer Training and Information Session. Helping Hands: Volunteering at the FJC April 14th, 2011 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Interested in volunteering at the FJC? The Helping Hands: Volunteering at the FJC Training and Information Session is for you! Potential volunteers will learn about each volunteer position, safety and security policies of the FJC, volunteer scheduling, and other topics specific to volunteers in the program. Those interested in volunteering will also complete their volunteer application, have their initial interview, and tour the FJC. To register for Helping Hands, CLICK HERE Unable to attend Helping Hands? Please visit the link below to complete a volunteer application: FJC VOLUNTEER PROGRAM Is your group interested in volunteering at the FJC? Please contact The Education and Outreach Coordinator: 813.490.9428 or outreach@fjchc.org . The Family Justice Center Training Academy The Jewish Women International and the Family Justice Center of Hillsborough County, Inc. Presents Sexual Assault on College Campuses:
How DV Providers Can Help Webinar Thursday, April 14 ,2011 12:00 pm- 1:00 pm Family Justice Center Presented by: Jan Russell, JD Dan Esparza, is the Director of Campus Program at the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA). Carmen Hotvedt, Violence Prevention Specialist and project director for the campus grant program at UW-Madison. Livia Rojas, is the Training & Resource Coordinator of the Campus Program at the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA). It has been a year since Yeardley Love was murdered on her UVA campus. We know that sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking occurs on college campuses. But we don’t know what, if anything has changed. Join us as we look at a model program at UW- Madison that provides a multidisciplinary and survivor centered approach in coordinating services and prevention efforts to better serve students, providers and community members at large. This webinar will address the challenges campuses face in ending sexual violence, review how community based organizations can work with campuses as well as discuss opportunities for collaboration with funding programs offered by the federal government. Visit www.jwi.org if you want to sign up with JWI for this webinar at your location Family Justice Center of Hillsborough County, Inc. Presents The Child Welfare Domestic Violence Cross-System Training Series Presents: The Court System: Criminal Court Facilitators: Renee Muratti - State Attorney’s Office, Rhonda King - State Attorney’s Office April 13th, 2011 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm FJC Free This training will provide information on criminal prosecution of domestic violence and child abuse/ neglect cases. Nuts and Bolts: The Basics of Domestic Violence Advocacy Training May 24th and 25th, 2011 8:30am - 5:00pm June 28th and 29th 8:30am - 5:00pm FJC ***12 CEU’s*** ***14.5 General CLE’s*** $20 suggested donation Nuts and Bolts is a four part (FJC 101, 201, 301, 401), 2-day training offered to advocates, volunteers, interns, clergy, and other community based providers who work with victims of domestic violence. Topics include, dynamics of domestic violence, safety planning, lethality assessment, confidentiality, boundaries, working with diverse populations, dating violence, and effects of domestic violence on children and adolescents. Please Register for All FJC Trainings at: http://www.fjchc.org/public/events.html SAIN Training Academy Presents: Children with Sexually Acting Out Behaviors Tuesday, April 12th, 2011 Family Justice Center SAIN is a collaboration of volunteer professionals working to reduce the incidence of child on child sexual abuse in our community through identifying, referring, supervising and treating children with sexual behavior problems. “Children with Sexual Acting Out Behaviors” is a two-hour, introductory course for professionals working with children. This course enables participants to distinguish between healthy and problematic sexual behaviors in children. Topics including characteristics of sexually abusive youth, definition of child sexual abuse, strategies for preventing further victimization and the legal process in Hillsborough County are also covered in this course. Comprehensive Risk Assessments with Adolescents Who Have Offended Sexually: Focus on the ERASOR (Estimate of Risk of Adolescent Sexual Offense Recidivism) Featuring: Dr. James R. Worling, Ph.D., C.Psych. (Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Ontario, Canada) with keynote speaker: Marcie Estes, LCSW and author of “Secrets, Silence and Sessions” Friday, May 13, 2011 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Registration Opens at 7:00 AM Crowne Plaza Tampa Westshore: 5305 West Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, FL 33609 Low Fee: $75 includes lunch and 7 CEU’s CEU’s courtesy of the Family Justice Center of Hillsborough County CEU’s: (Provider # 50-7820 Exp. 3/31/2013): For Florida : Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, Psychologists, Limited Licensed Psychologists & School Psychologists Questions: Renee Ristow (813) 490-9406 rristow@fjchc.org Topics for Featured Presentation will include: Risky assumptions in working with adolescents who offend sexually Detailed use of the ERASOR; a structured professional judgment tool for estimating the short-term risk of an adolescent sexual re-offense Brief overview of research regarding the reliability and validity of the ERASOR Ethical issues involved in communicating risk-assessment findings Tips and techniques for the clinical interview The assessment report Please Register for All SAIN Trainings at: http://www.fjchc.org/public/events.html April 2011 Focused Fridays Raz Relations and the Family Justice Center invite you to Change your ACTIONS and Change your LIFE! Every Friday in April 2011 from 1pm – 3pm At the Family Justice Center 9309 North Florida Avenue, Tampa, Florida Experience a Course Called Authentic LIFE A Personal Evolution Find the tools to change and the motivated desire to succeed in raising your own Happiness Levels, Enjoyable Relationships, Healthy States of Well-Being, And Personal Strategic Planning. LIMITED SEATING for FREE Complimentary Accelerated Courses Valued at $269 Join us to take a look at the scientifically based studies and formulas that help move the individual into true healthy authentic experiences for a better life. Walk away with a plan of action to evolve! Regardless of your level today, you can always increase your own happiness, peace, and authentic experience of life. Please join us for these accelerated courses offered through the Family Justice Center tuition free compliments of RAZ Relations. For more information on the courses go to www.authenticlife.us Dates of Courses 4/8 Happiness (The Kaleidoscope Focus) 4/15 Relationships (Frontier Love) 4/22 Well-being (Energy of Enlightenment) 4/29 Personal Strategic Planning (Vision of the Voyage) Participants for Focused Friday’s from 1pm-3pm April 2011 must register at the FJC Training Academy www.fjchc.org Limited seating of 30 or less for each course offered. This training is designed for professionals Mission Statement: The Hillsborough County System of Care is committed to the prevention and elimination of domestic violence in our community. We will increase public awareness and community involvement while encouraging local community leaders and other key service providers to support efforts to change the conventional polices and cultural practices that perpetuate violence against men, women and children. We will work to ensure policy and procedures support victims and hold offenders accountable. Vision Statement: To create a culture shift to eradicate domestic violence in our community while overcoming obstacles and challenges through advocacy, education and training. Statement of Philosophy: Domestic Violence is a choice made by persons who strive to achieve power, control, and gratification through the manipulation of another person. This is obtained through a variety of abuse, such as, emotional, physical, sexual, psychological and economic. It is the objective of this training series to educate the community to further understand these types of victimization. Clarifying this would promote better and more meaningful supports and services. This is accomplished through: Training at the community and local level Dissemination of a variety of education materials Challenge system wide beliefs through multi-disciplinary collaborations Dynamics of Domestic Violence – (also known as domestic abuse or spousal abuse) occurs when a family member or intimate partner dominates another through coercion, threats or physical abuse. This course will provide a basic understanding of the dynamics of power and control, forms of abuse and ways in which community members can intervene to provide safety and support to survivors. October 13, 2010 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Sherrail Brown - Family Justice Center Hillsborough Kids, Inc. – This class will address the Florida Statute Chapter 39 as it pertains to our children coming into care. Discussion will include the process for when the children are in care, such as, how and what is developed in terms of the case plan where the parents will need to follow in hopes of gaining back their children, how the adoption process works when the parents do not follow the case plan or abandon the children, and what resources our community has to support these families by providing assistance to the parents and reducing the risk of harm to the children. November 10, 2010 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Michelle Costley - Hillsborough Kids Effects of Family Violence on Children – This course will examine normal developmental milestones in young children and the potential impact of family violence on children’s learning, health and behavior. Family violence includes the impact of domestic violence in the family as well as the impact of child abuse. December 9, 2010 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Christina Bilyeu - Child Survivor. Dr. Brian McEwen - Child Abuse Council, Sherrail Brown - Family Justice Center Safety Planning and Lethality Assessment – This class will assist with discovering the links between an abusive partner’s behaviors and gauging the level of threat a particular victim faces, taking steps to increase personal security before and after violence and preparing to get to a safe place. The class will also explore safety planning from the child welfare perspective. The safety plan is a specific course of action that is determined necessary to control threats of serious harm or supplementing a family's protective capacities implemented immediately when a family's protective capacities are not sufficient to manage immediate or serious harm threats. January 12, 2011 from 1pm to 4 pm Facilitator: Roseanne Cupoli - The Spring Of Tampa Bay, Kathleen Matthews - HCSO/CPID Child Protective Investigations – The class will provide basic information on how abuse reports are handled from the Florida Abuse Hotline through distribution to the field. Additionally, it will address the investigations process; types of reports investigated, maltreatments, and mandated reporting. February 9, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Marion Tarallo - Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office The Court System – Civil Dependency– Dependency law as related to child abuse and domestic violence will be discussed along with granting civil injunctions for protection and enforcing them and family law (establishing paternity, custody, visitation, support and obtaining a divorce). March 9, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Jason Valkenburg - Valkenburg & Velez, David Silverstein - Office Of Attorney General, Yvonne Marraone - Guardian ad Litem The Court System – Criminal Court-Criminal prosecution of domestic violence and child abuse/neglect cases will be discussed, to include drug court and juvenile court. April 14, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Renee Muratti - State Attorney’s Office, Rhonda King - State Attorney’s Office Mental Health and Trauma – This class is designed to assist service providers with identifying mental health issues among families they serve. Appropriate referrals, crisis intervention strategies, and information regarding work with survivors of trauma will also be addressed. The concepts of resiliency and the journey from victim to survivor to thriver will also be explored. May 11, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Victoria Hummer - USF, FMHI Substance Abuse – This training is designed to assist service providers with identifying substance abuse and intervention strategies. Effects of substance abuse on children and considerations to be taken when working with substance abusing survivors and perpetrators of domestic violence will also be discussed. June 8, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Linda Mann and Cary Hopkins– Eyles - DACCO Cultural Competency – The focus of this training is to understand how domestic violence crosses over all socio economic classes, races, and ethnicity. Helping child welfare participants to make better decisions about how domestic violence impacts families & children and understand how cultural issues impact family acceptance of service. Helping others gain a better understanding of cultural competency and domestic violence. July 13, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Niki Kelly - Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services Understanding Batterers and Batterers Intervention Programs – This training will focus on understanding the Model used in psycho-educational treatment and the learning how to increase communication between BIP providers and child welfare professionals. Additionally, participants will look at how domestic violence impacts our society as a whole. August 10, 2011 from 1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Dr. Bob Wright - Psychological Management Group and Daniel Hersey, LMFT – Brandon Psychiatric Associates Compassion Fatigue – This class focuses on how exposure to family violence affects those in the helping professions. Discussion will consist of coping and adapting measures to assist in the prevention of burn-out. September 14, 2011 from1pm to 4pm Facilitator: Michelle Costley - Hillsborough Kids The Child Welfare/Domestic Violence Training series is designed for all staff who works in the child welfare and/or domestic violence systems. It is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of issues facing families impacted by child welfare and domestic violence issues. The goal is to help all professionals understand the complex issues of both child welfare and domestic violence advocates, and begin to develop a common understanding and language. Each training session is offered at the Family Justice Center, 9309 North Florida Ave, Suite 109, Tampa FL 33612. Please go to www.fjchc.org, go to the main site and click “events” to register. Registration is free, CEU’s are available for coursed indicated above. Domestic Violence And the Effects on Raising Young Children Friday, April 29, 2011 Time: 9 am – 12N Location: Children’s Board of Hillsborough County 1002 E. Palm Avenue, Tampa, Fl 33605 Presenter: Nikki Daniels, Executive Director Family Justice Center In the past two decades, there has been growing recognition of the prevalence of domestic violence in our society. Moreover, it has become apparent that some individuals are at greater risk for victimization than others. Domestic violence has adverse effects on individuals, families, and society in general. Over 3 million children are at risk of exposure to parental violence each year. Children from homes where domestic violence occurs are physically or sexually abused and/or seriously neglected at a rate 15 times the national average. Approximately, 45% to 70% of battered women in shelters have reported the presence of child abuse in their home About two-thirds of abused children are being parented by battered women. Of the abused children, they are three times more likely to have been abused by their fathers. Participants will learn about the dynamics of domestic violence, and the pattern of power and control in these complex relationships. Special emphasis will be placed on understanding the impact on children, and methods to support the children in their healthy development. Please join us for this important presentation by Nikki Daniels, Executive Director of the Family Justice Center. On-site Registration/Check-in begins at 8:15 am Domestic Violence and the Effects on Raising Young Children Registration Cost: $20.00 ECC Members/ Non Members $35.00{Non Refundable) Please RSVP by April 22, 2011to Belkis Velasquez, (813) 837-7753 orbvelasquez@ecctampabay.org Please make checks payable to: Early Childhood Council of Hillsborough County Mail to: Early Childhood Council /Manhattan Center 4210 W. Bay Villa Ave., Tampa, FL 33611 Your Name, Agency, Address, Telephone number and E-Mail address Community Meetings FJC Partner Council Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be on April 13th, 2011 at 9 am at the Family Justice Center. Contact Shannon Sokolowski at: ssokolowski@fjchc.org with any questions. Sexual Abuse Intervention Network (SAIN) Meetings are held every third Wednesday of the month. The next meeting will be on April 20th 2011 at 9 am at the Family Justice Center. Contact Renee Ristow at: rristow@fjchc.org with any questions. Sexual Violence Task Force Meetings are held monthly at rotating partner agencies. The next meeting will be on April 27th, 2011 at noon at Mary Lee’s House. Contact Marilyn Bray at: mbray@crisiscenter.com with any questions. Child Welfare/ Domestic Violence Policy Group April 28th, 2011 at 3:00pm at the Family Justice Center. Contact Nikki Daniels at: ndaniels@fjchc.org with any questions. Hillsborough County Domestic Violence Task Force Committee Meetings: Domestic Violence Task Force May 12th 2011 at 10:30am at the Crisis Center. Contact Nikki Daniels at ndaniels@fjchc.org for more information. DVTF Committee Meetings Fatality Review Planning Committee ( Formerly Project L.A.U.R.A) TBA at the Family Justice Center. Contact Roseanne Cupoli at: rocupoli@thespring.org or 813-247-5433 ext. 309 for more information. Public Policy Committee Working on DV and Child Welfare project. April 28th, 2011 at 3:00pm at the Family Justice Center. Contact Nikki Daniels at: ndaniels@fjchc.org or 813-490-9401. Community Education & Awareness Committee April 14th, 2011 at 9:00am at FJC. Contact Brenda Rouse at: bprouse@thespring.org or 813-247-5433 ext. 325.

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Text Box: April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Volunteer Month The month of April has many holidays and special days such as Sexual Violence Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Volunteer Month. Sexual violence, including child sexual abuse, crosses all ages, genders, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds. According to research published in the Journal of Violence and Victims in 2007, in the United States, an estimated 2.7 million women and 978,000 men are victims of sexual violence each year. If you would like to read more about this topic please visit http://www.nctsnet.org/resources/public-awareness/national-sexual-assault-awareness-month%20. There will be events happening all over Tampa focusing on Sexual Violence Awareness such as Take Back The Night. One Take Back the Night event will be on April 16, 2011 at Hyde Park Village at 5pm. This is an interactive event that creates awareness, empowers survivors, and educates the community about sexual violence. Also, USF will be hosting a Take Back The Night event on April 13 on campus at 6:30 with guest speakers Leroy Selmon and Nikki Daniels. This event is designed to advocate against sexual and relationship violence during Sexual Violence Awareness Month. During the event, students, faculty and staff will join survivors, victims and allies of sexual violence in a candlelight vigil, silent march and speak out against sexual violence. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Everyone can do small things every day that help children to have healthy and safe lives. The Pinwheel’s for Prevention project is an effort to change the way our nation thinks about prevention, focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize prevention right from the start to make sure child abuse and neglect never occur. The Family Justice Center will be participating in the Pinwheels for Prevention activities by incorporating the children who visit the Family Justice Center with assembling there own pinwheel and having a discussion about what safety looks like to them. If you would like to get more information on this topic please visit http://www.pinwheelsforprevention.org. National Volunteer Month recognizes the great things that people are doing surrounding volunteerism in the community. At the Family Justice Center we are lucky enough to have a team of wonderful volunteers to help us advance our mission. Thank you for all you do volunteers, you really make a difference! Sexual Abuse Intervention Network New Program SAIN is very excited to announce that we have added a new component to our program! Please see below for more info. Any individual with a concern about a child’s sexual behavior may make a referral to the SAIN Program. The SAIN Program will offer a face to face assessment of the child and family to determine if a sexual behavior problem exists. Individualized Safety Planning will be developed with the family to address the client’s/families unique needs. Action steps will be identified by the family and timeframes for completion noted. Psycho-Education will be offered to the client/family about the dynamics of child-on-child sexual abuse; normal sexuality in children/adolescents; healthy relationships; sexual abuse prevention activities, facilitated by the SAIN Family Coordinator. Individualized Information and Referral services will be provided to the client/family and driven by the SAIN assessment. Treatment service recommendations will be given to the client/family and follow-up by the SAIN Family Coordinator will be made to determine progress towards completion of the identified safety plan action steps. All referrals should be directed to: The SAIN Family Coordinator 9309 N. Florida Avenue, Suite 109 Tampa, FL 33612 (813) 490-9405 (813) 935-2019 Fax hgraziano@fjchc.org An initial telephone contact is acceptable; however, a written referral is recommended before the program services can precede. Written referrals are available in paper copy and on the SAIN website, www.hillsboroughsain.org.