July 2010
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: FJC Featured on the Examiner.com! FJC VOICES FJC Donors F.Y. 09-01 3rd Quarter FJC Lunch and Learn Program Article: Teen Boys Who Attempt Suicide More Likely to Abuse as Adults Website to Visit: Be Smart. Be Well FJC Monthly Partner Spotlight - Crisis Center of Tampa Bay FJC Volunteer Program FJC Training Academy Child Welfare and Domestic Violence Cross-System Training Series Sexual Abuse Intervention Network Training Community Meetings Rounded Rectangle: Family Justice Center Newsletter Text Box:  FJC Voices Committee VOICES – Hear Us Here! I am proud to introduce the FJC VOICES Committee, launched in April 2010. Nationally, VOICES is an advocacy committee sponsored by the Verizon Foundation, with many chapters around the country modeled after the Family Justice Center Alliance in San Diego, CA which was launched in 2002. The VOICES slogan is: HOPE, COURAGE, STRENGTH. In Hillsborough County, we are excited that now our VOICES can be heard! FJC VOICES Committee members are survivors of domestic violence who come from diverse backgrounds, races and circumstances, and whose stories share one common thread – we each have reached a level of recovery and restoration and are now inspired and motivated to speak out in order to make a difference one person and one day at a time. We speak for those who are silenced by fear, death, or are early in their recovery process, putting a face to the unnoticed or unaccounted for. Courageously we step forward to combat the current pandemic of domestic violence and abuse. We aspire to empower other survivors to make changes in their lives so that fear does not imprison them and violence is not a repeated cycle. We also aspire to educate professionals about working with domestic violence from a survivor’s perspective in order to foster a community response to domestic violence that is effective and sensitive to survivor needs. As VOICES members, we understand that domestic violence is not just a personal problem, it is a concern for the entire community and it requires a collaborative response. Helping one helps us all. We welcome opportunities to develop community awareness through public speaking and events in order to stop the cycle of domestic violence. No effort is too small, no invitation to large. VOICES is excited about this opportunity to share our unique perspective with the community. Look for updates and further information about VOICES in upcoming newsletters. If you are interested in more information about VOICES or would like to get involved, please contact the FJC Program Coordinator at programcoord@fjchc.org or 813-935-2015.     FJC Donors Fiscal Year 09-10 3rd Quarter   $0 - $500 CHUBB & SON Thomas and Cheryl Colhouer Henry Gill James Hengelbrok and Mary Haberland Hobson, Bishoff & Dowdy, PLLC Linda Reynolds Psychological Assessment Resources, INC.   $500+ We thank Outback Steak House for donating $2000 to the Family Justice Center from their Pro-Am in April, 2010. The amount of the donation resulted from four $500 Kookaburra Charity Ticket Packages purchased by: Ryan Companies US, Inc. , Signator Financial Solutions, Psychological Assessment Resources, INC. , and Rogan & Associates, Inc.   Clothing Closet Donations We thank the many individuals that have made clothing and toiletry donations to our clothing closet. During quarter 3, over 200 guests have benefited from these donations. For more information or to make a donation please e-mail the Outreach Coordinator at outreachcoord@fjchc.org .     We, and those we serve, deeply appreciate your support and generosity.         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! 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. Each month our ‘Lunch and Learn’ has a corporate sponsor. The sponsor for the month of July is: Ryan Companies US, Inc.  Thank you, Ryan Companies US, Inc. for your ongoing commitment to the FJC! Lunch and Learns are from 12:00pm - 1:00pm At the FJC Upcoming Dates July 20th August 17th September 21st October 19th November 16th December 21st Make your reservation now - space is limited. RSVP to Nikki Daniels at: ndaniels@fjchc.org  Teen Boys Who Attempt Suicide More Likely to Abuse as Adults Men with this history are more prone to hit and injure partner, study shows HealthDay News By Robert Preidt June 14th, 2010 Men who attempted suicide before age 18 are much more likely to abuse their girlfriends or wives, according to a study from the Oregon Social Learning Center in Eugene. The U.S. study included 153 males from relatively high-crime neighborhoods who were assessed annually from ages 10 to 32. The men's romantic partners were added to the study when the men were aged 18 to 25. Researchers found that 58 percent of males who tried to kill themselves before age 18 went on to injure a girlfriend or wife, compared with 23 percent of males who didn't attempt suicide when they were youths. The association between attempted suicide and later aggression toward partners remained even after the researchers controlled for a number of other factors, including aggression, depression, substance abuse and a family history of abuse. The study documented partner abuse through several types of data, including domestic violence arrest records, women's and men's accounts of injuries and live observations of couples. The findings, published online in the journal Psychological Medicine, offer evidence of the need for intervention programs for suicidal teens, said study co-author David Kerr, an assistant professor of psychology at Oregon State University (OSU). "It was fascinating that this link just refused to be explained away," Kerr said in an OSU press release. "The study began when these men were kids, before anyone knew who was going to be violent," Kerr continued. That is quite different from research that starts with violent men, or women from a domestic violence shelter, and tries to look back in time for explanations." The study offers new insight into the causes of men's violence toward women. "Conventional wisdom portrays men's violence to women as more cold, controlled and calculated," study co-author Deborah Capaldi, a senior scientist at the Oregon Social Learning Center, said in the news release. "The findings of this study indicate that for some men violence is related to a history of impulsive aggression that includes self-harm as well as aggression to others."   Website to Visit - Be Smart. Be Well ! Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Be Smart. Be Well is a site dedicated to healthy living and being well. Their section on domestic violence includes videos, news, and links to many different useful resources. Habits to Have ® lists nine steps and tips that victims of domestic violence can take to remain safer and heal from the abuse. To visit Be Smart. Be Well’s Domestic Violence Site: CLICK HERE   FJC Partner Council Spotlight The FJC ‘Partner Spotlight’ for the month of July is the FJC Chaplaincy Program. The FJC Chaplaincy Program trains volunteer chaplains to provide the Gift of Presence; to hear and validate the individual in the context of their own spiritual beliefs. FJC Chaplains are there to maintain a peaceful, welcoming presence in the center and be available to discuss spiritual issues with victims, staff, and volunteers as requested. Guests of the FJC are able to request to see a chaplain during their initial intake or at any point during their time at the FJC. The FJC Chaplaincy Program also educates clergy and their parishioners about domestic violence and available community resources. The Chaplaincy Program’s guest success story is of a guest of FJC Inter-faith Chaplain, Pastor Michael Neely. The guest initially came to the FJC to receive domestic violence services but quickly began utilizing the services of the Chaplaincy Program. Being the wife of a pastor , she like many of our other guest was looking for spiritual support that would help her overcome some of the myths about domestic violence and faith. During her meetings with Pastor Neely she was able to build self confidence, become empowered, and begin to make healthy decisions for herself. There's nothing greater in the world than when somebody on the team does something good, and everybody gathers around to pat them on the back - Billy Martin. Thank you, Pastor Neely and the Chaplaincy Program for being a part of the Family Justice Center team and for all the work that you do!   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 July 13th, 2010 1:00 to 3:00 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, safe 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 Education and Outreach Coordinator, Mona Cruz at: 813.490.9428 or outreachcoord@fjchc.org .  The Family Justice Center Training Academy  Nuts and Bolts: The Basics of Domestic Violence Advocacy Training August 2nd and 3rd and August 30th and 31st, 2010 8:30am to 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.  The Child Welfare Domestic Violence Cross-System Training Series Presents: Cultural Competency July 14th, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm FJC Free 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.  Please Register for All FJC Trainings at: http://www.fjchc.org/public/events.html   SAIN Presents:  Juveniles Who Sexually Offend: Policy and Practice Research     Presenter:  Elizabeth J. Letourneau, Ph.D. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences MUSC   Thursday July 22, 2010 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Children’s Board of Hillsborough County   Workshop Fee $20.00  Workshop Description: This workshop will provide a review of policy and practice research outcomes pertaining to youth who have sexually offended. A discussion of common interventions for juveniles who sexually offend and children with sexual behavior problems and a review of Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST), an evidenced-based intervention that has been successfully adapted for these clinical populations. Participants will be provided relevant publications, handouts and case presentation materials. In the final workshop exercise, participants will select one of their own clients and apply the MST assessment and treatment steps with that youth and his or her family. Children with  Sexual Acting Out Behaviors  August 10th, 9 am - 11 am FJC ***2 CEU’s*** $5 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. Please Register for the Conference and All SAIN Trainings at: http://www.fjchc.org/public/events.html   Community Meetings FJC Partner Council Meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month. The next meeting will be on July 14th, 2010 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 July 21st, 2010 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 the fourth Wednesday of each month at rotating partner agencies. The next meeting will be on July 28th, 2010 at noon at The Crisis Center. Contact Marilyn Bray at: mbray@crisiscenter.com with any questions. Child Welfare/ Domestic Violence Policy Group July 13th, 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 July 8th, 2010 at 10:30a at the Crisis Center. Contact Nikki Daniels at ndaniels@fjchc.org for more information. Fatality Review Planning Committee ( Formerly Project L.A.U.R.A) July16 at 2:00p 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. July 13th, 2010 at 3:00pm at the Family Justice Center. Contact Nikki Daniels at: ndaniels@fjchc.org or 813-490-9401. Community Education & Awareness Committee August 19th, 2010 at 9:00am at The Family Justice Center. Contact Brenda Rouse at: bprouse@thespring.org or 813-247-5433 ext. 315. Conference Planning Committee Meeting Committee is currently planning the 2010 DVTF Annual Conference. TBA at the Family Justice Center. For more information please contact Laura Rice at: ricel@hillsboroughcounty.org  facebookRounded Rectangle: Volunteer Now! Rounded Rectangle: Donate Now! Rounded Rectangle: follow us on

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Text Box: FJC Featured on the Examiner.com! Amy Rogers of the Examiner.com writes a daily column on domestic violence in the Tampa Bay area. On May 27th, 2010 Amy wrote a touching story of the care and concern that she received while seeking services at the Family Justice Center. Family Justice Center Offers Hope, Help, Respect Examiner.com May 27th, 2010 She was an educated professional, and had worked in the mental health field for many years. So though she saw it coming "from  a mile away," it didn't make things any easier.  Less than a year after working and sacrificing to buy their first home, and moving from Tampa to Spring Hill, her fiancée was injured, laid off, and developed an addiction to prescription pain medication. The addiction escalated rapidly, and within the space of a few months, he had become irrational, erratic, rageful and verbally abusive and threatening. He had not yet become physically violent, but she could see the "handwriting on the wall." After an incident during which she became so fearful she called the police, she sent her son to Tampa the next morning. She then spent the next few days quietly packing and wrapping up her affairs in Spring Hill. She called friends and told them she was ready one day while he was at work. They came to get her and she left her beautiful new home with only a few boxes of clothes and her computer. Back in Tampa, she moved in with her son's godmother, who was kind enough to offer the only space she had , the futon in the living room. Only then, that first night on the futon in a house that was not her own, did the woman breathe a sigh of relief. They were safe- for now at least. But it wasn't long before the relief gave way to extreme anxiety. He had left her with no access to their money, she was on an unpaid  medical leave of absence from her job, and anyway it was now 90 miles away. He still had the house. What will we do? Where will we live? How will we eat? How were we going to get through this? She had worked with countless women and children who were survivors of domestic violence, and had had to rebuild their lives from nothing, but she never imagined it would happen to her. She did what she had done countless times before, she called the Spring. An appointment was made for her the next day. She was surprised to learn that the Spring was now located in a hub of community service providers called  the Family Justice Center, all geared towards getting a victim help with getting safely out of a relationship, into a stable environment, and help with building the future from the wreckage. No longer does a traumatized victim have to have the added stress, expense and danger of running all over town to try to get help. The woman was treated with kindness, empathy, and, what she was most grateful for, respect. She was given a box of food, a shoulder to cry on, some new suits for work, help creating a personal safety plan, and an appointment with the social worker to help apply for food stamps, Medicaid, and possible housing assistance. She was also given hope, and this was something she did not  expect. It was a painful, difficult process, but the woman rebuilt her life very quickly with a great deal of help from friends in her support network. Today, the woman and her son are thriving, and she looks back at her experience with the Family Justice Center with gratitude. I don't think she would have been able to recover as fast without the support and guidance of  the Family Justice Center. I know this for sure, because as you may have already guessed, I am that woman, and the Family Justice Center of Hillsborough County helped me tremendously. We thank Amy for such an incredible article about the Family Justice Center. We strive to provide exceptional service for victims of domestic violence and are thankful that we were able to make a difference for Amy. For more information about Amy, or to read other articles from her, CLICK HERE