FJC Newsletter

June 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 and Nikki Daniels honored! TELLING Amy’s Story Brighter Tomorrows, Inc. Fundraiser Thank You! FJC Lunch and Learn Program Casey Gwinn’s Blog: Who Should Answer for Yeardley Love’s Death? Article: Link Between Domestic Violence and Reproductive Coercion/Control Article: Higher Healthcare Costs for Abused Women FJC Monthly Partner Spotlight - Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections: Adopt a Precinct Program 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: Thank You, Brighter Tomorrows! On May 1st, 2010 Brighter Tomorrows, Inc. held a Mother’s Day Tea, Fashion Show and Silent Auction to raise funds for victims of domestic violence. Brighter Tomorrows’ purpose is to increase awareness of domestic violence in our community, sponsor educational programs designed to reduce it, support organizations that directly address the needs of its victims and to strive to eliminate the conditions that allow such violence to continue. The fundraiser was not only to benefit the Family Justice Center but also raised funds for three FJC partner agencies; Are You Safe, Child Abuse Council, and The Spring. We thank Brighter Tomorrows for their dedication and commitment to victims of domestic violence in our community. 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 May was: Psychological Assessment Resources Thank you, Psychological Assessment Resources for your ongoing commitment to the FJC! Lunch and Learns are from 12:00pm - 1:00pm At the FJC Upcoming Dates June 15th July 20th August 17th September 21st October 19th November 16th December 21 Make your reservation now - space is limited. RSVP to Nikki Daniels at: ndaniels@fjchc.org Casey Gwinn’s Blog: Who Should Answer for Yeardley Love’s Murder? The President of the Family Justice Center Alliance, Casey Gwinn writes a monthly blog on various topics related to domestic violence and the Family Justice Center Alliance. May 2010’s Blog was about the murder of University of Virginia student, Yeardley Love. Yeardley was murdered by her former boyfriend, George Huguely. “Though three other women died the same day Yeardley died and though four women have died every day since her death, this case has captured more attention. She was from an upper middle class family. Her killer was from a wealthy Florida family. They were both good looking, white, successful college lacrosse players with scholarships.” wrote Gwinn. The blog not only focuses on who’s ‘truly to blame’ for Yardley’s murder, but also focuses on who’s to blame for domestic violence related homicides as a whole. To view this and prior month’s blogs CLICK HERE New Study Offers Further Evidence of Link Between Domestic Violence and Reproductive Coercion/Control Family Violence Prevention Fund April 7, 2010 Reproductive control – when a partner imposes his reproductive intentions through intimidation, threats or actual violence – is a common problem for women who experience intimate partner violence, according to a new study released by the Guttmacher Institute on April 6. Three in four respondents (74 percent) in the new study – of 71 domestic violence victims seeking services at a family planning clinic, an abortion clinic and a domestic violence shelter – reported that their partners had threatened to get them pregnant, forced them to have unprotected sex, sabotaged or interfered with their contraception, threatened them with sexual intercourse, tried to control the outcome of their pregnancies if they became pregnant, or in other ways tried to coerce their reproductive outcomes. These abusive behaviors can lead to unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and a host of other problems. “This study adds to the growing body of evidence that partner violence often includes reproductive coercion and control, which can lead to unplanned pregnancy,” said Family Violence Prevention Fund President Esta Soler. “We make a mistake by putting these issues in silos and promoting solutions that ignore the connection. If we are serious about stopping unplanned pregnancy in this country, we simply must address the sexual violence and reproductive control that often cause it. If we are serious about stopping dating and domestic violence, we must recognize that many victims grapple daily with sexual violence and reproductive coercion. And if we are serious about improving women’s health, we must address the violence that too many young women experience.” The authors of “Male Reproductive Control of Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence in the United States,” conducted in-depth interviews with 71 women aged 18–49 who had a history of intimate partner violence; they were recruited in 2007 from a domestic violence shelter, a freestanding abortion clinic and a family planning clinic providing a full range of reproductive health services. “We believe that reproductive control is, itself, a form of intimate partner violence, and one worthy of public health attention,” said Ann Moore, senior research associate at the Guttmacher Institute and one of the study’s authors. The study recommends that providers assess their patients in order to identify women who may need to hide their contraceptives from their partner, conduct prenatal care and abortion counseling in private, and ask questions designed to ascertain if anyone is pressuring the woman either to terminate or continue the pregnancy. To view , “Male Reproductive Control of Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence in the United States” CLICK HERE Higher Healthcare Costs for Abused Women UPI.COM May 3, 2010 Women who have suffered domestic violence have significantly higher healthcare costs, even after abuse stops, U.S. researchers found. The study, published online ahead of print in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found female abuse victims average more than $1,200 more in healthcare costs for the first two years after abuse ended, compared with women who had not been abused. Study co-authors Amy Bonomi of Ohio State University and Paul Fishman of the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle said the study involved 2,026 women at Group Health Cooperative who consented to give researchers confidential access to their medical records. The researchers said 859 women reported some type of abuse - severe physical and sexual abuse to controlling behavior that could qualify as psychological abuse - during their adult life, while 1,167 reported no abuse. The researchers examined women's healthcare costs from 1992 to 2002 and took into account factors that may also be related to increased healthcare cost including the women's age, race and ethnicity, education and income, marital and employment status. "Victims of abuse require more healthcare resources for years after their abuse ends," Bonomi said in a statement. "If we can prevent domestic violence, we are not only helping the women involved, we are also saving money in our healthcare system." For more information regarding this study, CLICK HERE FJC Partner Council Spotlight The FJC ‘Partner Spotlight’ for the month of May was the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay offers help, hope and healing to all people experiencing life’s problems and challenges, big and small. Their services cover a wide range of needs, regardless of income or ability to pay. Available services include their 2-1-1 service for free crisis counseling providing useful information and referrals to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, counseling and treatment services, sexual assault examinations, educational programs and workshops, and emergency mental health and basic life support ambulance services. The Crisis Center’s client spotlight for the month of June is of a FJC guest that had been severely battered by her partner. Following the battery, law enforcement arrived and she was told that the case would be direct filed with the State Attorney’s Office. At that time, law enforcement was unable to document any injuries to her so charges were being brought against her. During the initial intake at the Family Justice Center, the service specialist could see bruises and marks appearing on the guest’s arms. The service specialist acknowledged the bruising and she followed up with The Crisis Center for forensic photographs. She filed for an injunction for protection at the FJC , and received safety planning at both the FJC and The Crisis Center. With the help of The Crisis Center and the FJC, she was able to have her abuser removed from her home and the case against her did not go forward due to the forensic photographs documenting her extensive injuries. 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, The Crisis Center for being a part of the Family Justice Center team and for all the work that you do! Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections: Adopt A Precinct Program The Adopt A Precinct Program is a way for the Supervisor of Elections to recruit poll workers; for community service organizations, PTSAs, clubs and nonprofits to raise funds; and for voters in our county to receive excellent Election Day services. If you are interested in volunteering for and making a donation to the Family Justice Center this is a perfect fit for you! The Supervisor of Elections will train you as a poll worker and assign you to a polling site. You will ’volunteer’ the required hours at the poll for the day; or in special circumstances, a half day. After the election, the FJC will receive a check from the Supervisor of Elections in the amount equal to what you would have earned for working at the polls. You’ll be able to meet lots of great people and be able to help the FJC at the same time! For more information, or to become involved, please contact: Education and Outreach Coordinator, Mona Cruz at outreachcoord@fjchc.org or 813-490-9428. 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 June 22nd, 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 Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women and Judge Susan B. Carbon, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women in the DOJ Webinar June 3rd, 2010 12pm - 1pm Hosted by: FJC This is your opportunity to ask questions of the leading advisors and federal agencies
on the implementation of VAWA from a funding & policy perspective.

Join us as Lynn Rosenthal, White House Advisor on Violence Against Women, and Judge Susan B. Carbon, Director of the Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice, brief us on the federal government’s initiatives on domestic violence and sexual assault. Lynn Rosenthal is the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women. Ms. Rosenthal was Executive Director of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NMCADV) and the former Executive Director and President of the National Network To End Domestic Violence from 2000 to 2006.

Judge Susan B. Carbon is the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice. Judge Carbon chaired New Hampshire’s Fatality Review Committee. She also served as faculty for the National Judicial Institute on Domestic Violence - a partnership of the US DOJ Office of Violence Against Women, the Family Violence Prevention Fund, and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges.
Agenda: 1. Innovative federal domestic violence and sexual assault projects
2. Grant programs & funding streams available
3. Q & A’s Nuts and Bolts: The Basics of Domestic Violence Advocacy Training June 7th and 8th and June 28th and 29th, 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: Substance Abuse June 9th, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm FJC ***3 CEU’s*** Free 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. Please Register for All FJC Trainings at: http://www.fjchc.org/public/events.html SAIN Presents: Children with Sexual Acting Out Behaviors June 8th, 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 June 9th, 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 June 16th, 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 June 23rd, 2010 at noon at Mary Lee’s House. 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) TBA. 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 TBA Conference Planning Committee Meeting Committee is currently planning the 2010 DVTF Annual Conference. June 15th at 2:00pm at the Family Justice Center. For more information please contact Laura Rice at: ricel@hillsboroughcounty.org

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Text Box: Family Justice Center and Director, Nikki Daniels Honored! On April 27th, 2010, Wheels of Success held their 4th Annual R.A.C.E. Luncheon and Hub Cap Awards ceremony. The Family Justice Center and our director, Nikki Daniels were honored as this year’s Community Champion. When the FJC opened at it’s current location in 2006, Nikki offered Wheels of Success founder, Susan Jacobs a home base for her company at no charge for two years. Without this offer, Susan would have had to continue to operate her business out of her home. WOS thanked Nikki for her “willingness to share her expertise...complemented by her graciousness in introducing everyone who tours the FJC facility to Wheels' staff and mission. We are truly fortunate to have formed this importance alliance.” We congratulate Nikki for all of her hard work and dedication to this community! Jim Hengelbrok Accepts the Hub Cap Award
on Nikki Daniels' Behalf Hosted by actress and advocate Mariska Hargitay, and told by detective Deirdri Fishel, Telling Amy’s Story follows the timeline of a domestic violence homicide that occurred on November 8th, 2001. Sponsored by the Verizon Foundation, this documentary outlines the life and untimely death of Verizon employee, Amy McGee. Amy’s parents and co-workers, law enforcement officers, and court personnel share their perspectives on what happened to Amy in the weeks, months, and years leading up to her death. Telling Amy’s Story will air on local Public Broadcasting Stations beginning June 1st. To learn more about Amy’s story and view a trailer of the documentary, CLICK HERE Telling Amy’s Story Facebook Page