Home Page | Steering Committee | Domestic Violence | Substance Abuse | YELL | The Advocate
June 2005
Attendees: Deb Brown (TPS), Millie Burrows (AHS), Valerie Calais (Arbour-Fuller), Dan LeBrun (New Hope), Annemarie Matulis (SEMA-VAV), Lorraine Rosa (GATHER)
Discussion Highlights:
Announcements:
· Arbour Fuller Hospital has 3 new programs: an older adult partial program, substance abuse treatment for adolescents, and a 16 week dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents (for self-destructive, self-victimizing youth).
· Voices Against Violence received a Verizon Wireless HopeLine grant to replenish action kits and keep working in the community.
· Grants – The Lowes Grant serves beautification projects that benefit the entire community. The grant was submitted in hope that this would allow us to complete the 2004 Make a Difference Day project at Head Start, such as the landscaping and planting to improve the environment for low income & disadvantaged children. Annemarie is also looking into Target and Enterprise grants.
· Associates for Human Services Fundraiser – AHS is planning a Chicken barbeque on 8/5/05, 5:30-7:30, at the PACC, 175 School St. Includes Willow Tree chicken, coleslaw, roll, watermelon and music. All proceeds benefit children, adults and seniors supported by AHS. $10.00.
· GATHER/GTHHSC is holding an annual breakfast meeting at Bristol-Plymouth High School’s Silver Platter restaurant. The $10.00 cost includes a full breakfast and the motivational keynote speaker Gary Marino of the Million Calorie March. Please save the date: 9/20/05, 8:00-10:00.
· Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant is now competitive and smaller. Deb is currently working on this.
· Mentors in Violence Prevention – Help is needed for this peer program during which students present scenarios to others. Deb will do trainings and schedules, and needs an intern or volunteer.
· Taunton Police Data – Highlights will be presented at the next meeting.
· Former Prevention Center Technical Assistant – Florence Seidell extends her greetings to GATHER members. She now works for the New England Inhalant Abuse Prevention Coalition in Framingham.
· Jane Doe Development Meeting focused on difficulties involved in fundraising in the DV field (Ex: You can’t bring donors to see the new shelter due to confidentiality and protection of victims, DV subject makes some uncomfortable.) New Hope’s Covenant Project was sited as a good practice. This project asks each religious congregation to support the project with a $1 donation per member.
5 Year Plan – The Committee plans to continue working on events for April and October, and include the spectrum of ages from birth through elders. The Substance Abuse Round Table 9 (SART IX) report has provided a wealth of information, and provides feedback on local needs. Although they do not always exist together, there is a link between violence and substance abuse.
DV Awareness Month, October 2005
· The candlelight vigil is just 3 months away. All churches in the GATHER area will be contacted and asked to ring their bells from 7:00-7:15, and send a representative from their congregation. Elected officials will receive an invitation from GATHER to also attend, and say a few words.
· National Make a Difference Day is 10/22/05. The Committee hopes for broader, more visible participation from the Greater Taunton area, with future expansion into other communities.
Crawford v. Washington – The Supreme Court case is not expected to affect DV cases to a great extent. The concern was that victims would change their minds and not testify in court against an abuser, and police reports would be held as hearsay and non admissible. The bottom line is that the decision isn’t expected to really change what is or is not admissible, or what police can testify to, but means a stricter application and greater scrutiny of excited utterances. A witness is needed for testimonial statements, but excited utterances are often deemed reliable.
Highlights from the (Online) Professional Training Conference on Abuse of Children and Adults with Disabilities – Interviewing Skills for Elders and Adults with Disabilities (Presentation by Lorraine Rosa) – Handouts were shared that could be summed up with “Treat people the way you would want to be treated”. It is extremely important to prepare for the interview by having the facts, documents, prepared questions, and attendance to the personal and medical needs of the individual being interviewed. A “mini-mental” exam includes long term memory, short term memory and current events. Victims appreciate being walked through the process and what comes next. More than one interview is acceptable.
Next Steps:
Find the cost of DV ribbons
Next Meetings:
GATHER DV/VP: 8/18/05 (3rd Thursday of the Month), 3:30, New Hope, 39 Taunton Green
Contact Persons:
Dan LeBrun, 508-226-4015
Annemarie Matulis, 508-824-3227 or 508-922-7278 cell