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COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
ARKANSAS COMMISSION ON CHILD ABUSE, RAPE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
January 18, 2012
Members Present : Stephen Bingham, Cecile Blucker, David R. Goodson, Avis Lane, Mary Hartwig, Lisa Channell, Merlin Leach, Jerry Jones, Robert Parker, Larry Rob Combs, Gracie Gonner, Charles Ellis, Stacey McKeown, Pamela Davidson, Eddie Schmeckenbecher, Annette Watson, Suzanne Jessup, Karen Worley, Dorinda Edmisten and Sharon Schrantz,.
Members Absent: Carol Maxwell, Vicki Cook, Steven Oliver, David Reynolds and Victor Rose.
Guest: Kola L. Brown
Others Present: Max Snowden, Candy Garland, Sandra Gilmore, Sherry Williamson, Kendra Koehler, Michelle Cline, Elizabeth Waldrum and Stasia Burk (ACCARDV).
Call To Order: Merlin Leach
The meeting was called to order at 1:35 p.m. The meeting is being held in the Freeway Medical Building, 5800 W. 10th Street. Little Rock, Arkansas, Suite 906.
Dr. Leach read designated proxies: Judge Vicki Cook designated Dr. Karen Worley, Steve Oliver designated Karen Worley, and Carol Maxwell designated Dr. Jerry Jones
Review of Minutes from Last Meeting – Merlin Leach
Mary Hartwig moved that minutes from October 19th, 2011 be approved with minor correction. David Goodson seconded the motion and the motion carried.
New and Reappointed Commissioners Introduced
Dr. Patricia Scott stated that she is a recent transplant from Nashville, Tennessee. In Nashville Dr. Scott worked as a Nursing Instructor for Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Little Rock had been her home prior to living in Tennessee.
Sharon Schrantz has been reappointed as representative in the Parent Group position.
Resignation
Max reminded members that Lori Gardner has resigned as the Rape Project Coordinator with ACCARDV. Lori has taken a position with a domestic violence shelter in Naples, Florida. Michelle Cline will be moving into Lori’s former position.
Recognize Dorinda Edmisten
Max presented Dorinda Edmisten with an inscribed award honoring her service as Vice Chair and Chair of the Commission.
Child Abuse Project/Committee Report - Sherry Williamson
Training Report
In the second quarter of 2012 fiscal year Sherry conducted 18 trainings focusing on Act 1236 of 2011 which requires all certified personnel in schools to receive specific training on child maltreatment issues.
On December 13th Sherry presented child abuse training for educators, which was recorded for the Arkansas Ideas website (ideas.aetn.org). Ideas stand for Internet Delivered Education for Arkansas Schools. All licensed school personnel can login on to the website and access training for professional development hours. A PowerPoint presentation can be printed out to allow personnel to follow as they view the video. After completing the video a post test is given.
Meetings
The Child Death Review Panel (CDR) voted at the last meeting in October to meet twice a year in April and October rather than quarterly, beginning in 2012. This will allow Dr. Pamela Tabor, Director of CDR, to focus more on the two pilot teams that have been created in Faulkner and Washington counties.
Other
This quarter Sherry will be reviewing current child welfare legislation for any addition or changes in regard to the Children’s Justice Act grant three year assessment.
Domestic Violence Project/Committee Report – Kendra Koehler
Trainings Conducted
For the calendar year Kendra completed 18 trainings including four in the last quarter.
On October 18th she conducted a training with Ginger Kimes of the Prosecutor Coordinator Office for the Clark County Victim Witness program. District Court Judge Randy Hill attended the training. The discussion centered on domestic violence victims and how the court might better serve them. Another concern is how the courts can help to rehabilitate perpetrators in the current system.
Meetings
Crime Victims Assistance Association of Arkansas submitted an application to obtain a grant to cover activities during Crime Victims Week April 21-28. The Arkansas Victims Assistance Academy will be held July 9-13, at the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI).
Rape Project/Committee Report – Michelle Cline
Quarterly Reports
All quarterly reports for last year are represented in this report. All programs that were funded for the current year met or exceeded their goals and objectives for Educational Seminars and Professional Trainings.
Ozark Rape Crisis Center
This center has exceeded their goals and objectives. Evaluations for them have been consistently very good. The staff has been working with Partners for Inclusive Communities to provide trainings for individuals with disabilities at risk for sexual violence.
The Valley Springs ninth grade students on the intermediate level of the Media Literacy program will be going into the community to create video clips. “Man on the Street” is what the students are calling the video project which will be shown to other students, parents and school staff. The project is scheduled to begin in March.
Southwest Domestic Violence Center
Goals and objectives were exceeded. Pre to post test evaluations are good.
Bully Proof training is continuing with elementary and middle school students.
U of A- Zero Tolerance
They did well on their goals and objectives.
U of A is continuing to offer three 8-week academic courses. Peer educators continue to visit high school seniors on the topic of relationships as they transition to college. Sexual violence, bystander intervention, and drug facilitated sexual assault are other topics they speak on to high school seniors.
Two of the three centers that were not funded did not implement the new required Media Literacy program. The CDC has instructed the Commission to fund quality programs that have exceeded their goals, which may mean a decrease in the number of programs being funded.
Rape Prevention Education Annual Report
All but one of the goals and objectives were met or exceeded, with the exception being the number of parent participants. However, the Train-the-Trainer workshop for the Media Literacy project was not provided to funded programs until the beginning of the 2nd quarter. Therefore, funded programs only had the last two quarters in which to meet this goal. Mentors in Violence Prevention program goal has been removed, due to costs of the program exceeding previous expectations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the program be terminated and resources re-directed to further develop the Media Literacy program.
Sexual Violence Comprehensive Planning Process
The centers are well into the implementation process of the Media Literacy program. Quarterly reports, evaluations and feedback from the program have been very good.
Instead of starting new strategies in the Comprehensive Plan, the CDC recommends ecologically expanding on plans already in process. By May, Michelle will be working to assess and modify strategies for the new grant cycle application. The application for new CDC funding should be ready by June of this year. The upcoming request for proposal (RFP) may be a competitive one between states.
Michelle will be working with Partners for Inclusive Communities to develop trainings for professionals who work with persons with disabilities on social norms that contribute to sexual violence in that community. Partners is developing a survey to gather data. Information received will be used to better construct trainings that will support the identified needs in Arkansas.
The Commission will conduct continuing education training for Rape Prevention program coordinators scheduled for March 29th. The training will focus on improving presentation and facilitation skills.
Other information
The Justice Blog - An Updated Definition of Rape, http://blogs.usdoj.gov/blog/archives/1801
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will be announcing a newly revised definition of rape for nationwide data collection. The current one was last defined in 1927.
The prior definition of rape reflected that the victim was female and the act was one of force with carnal knowledge. The new definition has been expanded to include male victims, drug or alcohol facilitated assault, and under-age or disability related. In the past, if the crime did not fit the old definition it was said to be un-substantiated and was not included in data collection resulting in an inaccurate reflection of the scope of the problem.
National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey-Fact Sheet: www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/nisvs
It has been about 20 years since the last survey was completed. Based on the data of this report there has been little if any improvement.
Preventive Health Block Grant
In 2011 Michelle provided CDC with impact statements describing the consequence if this funding was not forthcoming. We have not as yet received a Notice of Award from the application submitted to the Department of Health in October. The amount of funding awarded with the Block Grant has been approximately $64,000 a year.
It is possible that the Sex Offense Set Aside portion of the Block Grant will no longer be available and will instead be absorbed into the Rape Prevention Education Program. Frugal spending by Michelle has allowed the Commission to carry over a small portion of the Block Grant from last year.
Domestic Violence Shelter Program Block Grant
Quarterly Reports
We have received 8 of the 10 quarterly reports from the domestic violence shelters. Those 8 reporting have provided shelter for 287 women and 226 children. We are expecting to award approximately $43,000 for this quarter.
Annual Compliance Review
Our annual compliance review from the Arkansas Department of Human Services was completed in December 2011. The outcome of that review is that they are pleased with the use of the funds awarded to the Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence.
Meetings & Trainings Attended
Michelle, as a sub-committee member of the Human Trafficking Work Group, has been reviewing legislation and policies that would aid the functions of the group.
Multi-Disciplinary Team Project Report – Stasia Burk
County Updates
The current map of Arkansas with Multi-Disciplinary Team program was circulated showing 61 counties currently served by Multi-Disciplinary Teams.
Multi-Disciplinary Teams are being contacted by others to utilize its services and available information. MDT’s are partnering with Criminal Justice Institute on the Drug Endangered Children initiative in many Arkansas counties.
Stasia has been contacted by Brent Moore of the Human Trafficking-Education committee to make use of MDTs by presenting educational trainings. Stasia will be attending their next meeting to coordinate the next steps in this process.
The National Child Protection Training Center at Northwest Arkansas Community College, which manages the Child First program and trains professionals in conducting forensic interviews is in the process of implementing a regional MDT Peer Review training to be held quarterly. Currently, they conduct Forensic Interviewer peer reviews for those who are housed at Child Advocacy Centers (CACs). Debbie Roark met with Child First to discuss the implementation of an MDT peer review so that CACD, DCFS investigators and law enforcement can also benefit from peer review.
State Protocol/Implementing New Teams
The outside time frame for a county Core Team to meet is 6 months. Core Teams are required to discuss certain topics in their meetings. The purpose of the meeting is for MDT agency supervisors to discuss various issues regarding communities. Some of the issues in the southern counties reflect not having enough resources.
CAC/CSC Project Report – Elizabeth Waldrum
Update
The CAC/MDT survey, which utilizes Survey Monkey, will be available by the end of the quarter.
After attending the Crime Victims with Disabilities Conference in Orlando, Florida a deficit was realized in regard to helping crime victims who are disabled and use the services of the Children’s Advocacy Centers in Arkansas. We will be searching for persons who have the skills and ability to train Forensic Interviewers on how to interview individuals with disabilities.
The individuals that have expressed interest in a CAC in Clark County-Arkadelphia have submitted an application to join the State Chapter of CAC’s. Union County is in the beginning stage of forming a CAC committee.
Funding Recommendation from Subcommittee
Members were reminded of their approval of initial funding for the Pine Bluff CAC for 50% of the amount requested. Elizabeth reviewed the reasons for this and gave an update of the Center’s progress to address identified issues.
The status of the Pine Bluff CAC is progressing. They have had employee turnover and are in the process of searching for a new executive director. Currently, someone has expressed interest in the medical director position. Nurses are interested in receiving the Sexual Assault Nurses Examiner training (SANE). The CAC has been making an effort to attend MDT meetings. Representatives from the State CAC Chapter have visited the center to provide technical assistance and help with accreditation. At this time, the CSC sub-committee has evaluated and approved information and materials received from the Center and asking the Commission to concur in their recommendation to disburse the remaining 50% of the funding to the Pine Bluff CAC.
Robert Parker moved to accept the funding recommendation of the sub-committee. Pam Davidson seconded the motion and the motion carried.
Financial Report – Candy Garland
Funding listed below reflects financial activity since the October 19, 2011 Commission meeting:
2011- 2012 Division on Aging State Department of Human Services
On November 2, 2011 ACCARDV disbursed a total of $63,420.22 to the 10 domestic violence shelters funded by the Commission to provide client services. Anticipated funding through June 30, 2012, is $144,959.
2011-2012 Domestic Peace Fund State Appropriations
As of January 6, 2012 we have distributed $539,070 to 34 domestic violence shelters. Each shelter received a total of $15,855. No shelter was out of compliance for the first three reporting periods. Anticipated total payout through June 30, 2012, is $718,806.
2011-2012 Rape Prevention Education Grant Federal Centers for Disease Control
On October 29, 2011 ACCARDV received notice of award for $252,324 for the 2011-2012 Rape Prevention Education grant. This was a significant reduction of funds from years’ past. Funds have been reduced by a total of $104,453 over the past three years. Grant funds will be used for sub-contracts to five (5) competitively selected providers to deliver community-based sexual violence primary prevention programs. Funds are also used for salaries/fringe of the Rape Prevention Coordinator, as well as the ACCARDV Business Administrator for the oversight, implementation and fiscal management of the grant award.
Other Business
Max reminded commissioners regarding filing the Statement of Financial Interest (SFI) with the Secretary of State Office by January 31, 2012 for the 2011 time frame. The forms can be accessed online then submit a notarized copy by mail.
Merlin, Max and Sherry Williamson will be in Washington, D.C. for the required Children’s Justice Act meeting the week of April 16th. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for
April 18th and, because of the required attendance at the CJA meeting, will need to be rescheduled or cancelled. Since the Arkansas Legislative budget session is scheduled to be ended by then it would be best to reschedule the meeting. Max suggested Wednesday of the following week, April 25. With no objections the next Commission meeting was rescheduled to that date.
http://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/data
Max spoke concerning the article “Child Welfare Information Gateway” which can be accessed online at the above address. The information shows how Arkansas compares to other states on child abuse and neglect and other topics.
http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2011/p1214
This article is entitled “CDC Survey Finds Sexual Violence, Stalking, and Intimate Partner Violence Widespread in the U.S.” It has facts and statistics on the subject.
Commissioners were asked to welcome and chat with our newest commissioner Dr. Patricia Scott.
Meeting was adjourned