KITSAP COUNTY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TASK FORCE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
May 23, 2006
Bremerton Parks Dept.

Board members present Oudy Acosta Perez, Jackie Aitchison, Dave Bell, Susan Dewees, Jody Stewart, Sharlyne Hays, Steve Garcia & Kevin Grandy.

Board members excused: Laura Grayum, Sandy Robbins, Sue Shultz, Rebecca Garcia, Benny Myers & Mike Lasnier.

Board members not excused: Laurie Adamson, Joyce Figueroa de Raschke & Lynda Walters

Others present: Joan Taie, Administrative Assistant.

Jackie called the meeting to order.

April minutes were approved.

Financial report: Financial report was handed out and explained.

Committee reports:

Program/Community Outreach- Everyone felt the Awards went well but think that next years should be joined with the Summit. The program committee will work out different possibilities and recommend to the board.

Kevin spoke to Denise Kinney from O.C. She has tons of experience producing plays all over including prisons. She will consult either by phone or in person. Kevin will be calling Sue Shultz and her partner to run through the 1st scene.

Financial: Administrative contracts. Still no valid contract for Joan since 2001. The finance committee will get together again to decide on a recommendation on the admin. contract and suggested raise.

Bridging the Gaps: No Report

Faith Committee: No Report

Respect group: RESPECT is asking for input from the board regarding the Silent Witness project. There are no male figures. How should the plaques be shaped? Should they have the real victims name? These questions need to be answered at the next meeting. Sue D is checking to see if her sister's friend will help with the canvas covers. The figures need to have Task Force info on back and donor info as well. There could be 19 to 30 figures. The Task Force would need to rent additional storage to store that many. Also, will look to the local businesses for donated materials. We will invite Dayle to the next program meeting to discuss further.

1. Substance Abuse Providers : Roy Carson described his function in DSHS. He manages the statewide domestic violence perpetrator treatment certification program pursuant to RCW 26.50.150 and WAC 388-60. For Contact information for the Domestic Violence and Victim Services Program Click here He represented DSHS's positions on a number of topics:

1. What about giving clients credit for prior treatment attendance?

1. New clients are required to attend treatment for at least twelve consecutive months. Consecutive weekly attendance is required for the first twenty-six weeks. See Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 388-60-0255 (2) & (3).

2. Programs are required to have policies for clients who reoffend while in treatment. See WAC 388-60-0285. The WAC does not require programs to terminate or restart clients who reoffend while in treatment. Conversely, the WAC does not prohibit programs from having policies that would terminate or restart the client for reoffending.

3. Consequently, while programs are required to have policies for reoffending clients, there is program discretion as to what those policies include.

2. What is the difference between "assessment" and "evaluation"? Assessments are defines within the WAC http://apps.leg.wa.gov/WAC/default.aspx?cite=388-60-0165 Click here]). Find the WAC and RCW links here: Domestic_Violence_links. DV evaluations are not defined with in RCW or WAC. Generally speaking there are no evaluation tools that are widely accepted as reliable in terms of predicting future risky behavior.

3. Can treatment be extended? The one year program is a minimum. Clients can be extended beyond the minimum requirements.

4. DV treatment programs are recertified every two years. Roy said he includes a current copy of WAC 388-60 in the recertification packet.

5. Are there any rules around anger management? Roy stated that he was unaware of regulations regarding anger management programs, but that the Department of Health has regulations for any person who is licensed as a counselor in Washington State. Anger management is inappropriate for domestic violence perpetrators.

6.A discussion ensued around anger management being ordered in cases that are clearly domestic violence. The generally accepted that anger management class could cause more problems and "teach" the perpetrator how to be a better perpetrator. However, it depends on the content of the anger management class. If minimum standards existed around class's content, then there may be some benefit to ordering anger management class. The problem circles back to the fact that there are no clear rules around defining the class.

7.Obtaining Police Reports. The group agreed that something has changed and it is taking longer to obtain police reports from the District Court Prosecutors office. Treatment providers had set up a protocol where they would fax the request to the prosecutor's office. It now takes between three and 6 weeks to receive the police report. This is problematic since they need this report in preparation for the client's intake. We do not want to have the client/perpetrator obtaining the police report form the prosecutor because there may be sensitive victim information. One provider has been requesting the police report from the defense attorney. Another provider has been making the request to the district court clerks. A follow-up with the district court prosecutor's office will be made to research solutions.

8.No Contact Orders - Screenings for lifting. Kitsap County's process was reviewed. Screenings are restricted to Domestic Violence. Victims requesting a NCO to be lifted need to be screened. If the case is criminal in District Court or criminal in Superior Court then the victim is directed to District Court Probation. If the case is civil or is criminal in municipal court then the victims is directed to the YWCA. Neither the YWCA or District Court probation is screening criminal superior court cases if they are rape or child molestation. It was agreed that some regrouping and planning needs to occur in this area.

9. New web site. A new website has been developed to provide information around probation, domestic violence, chemical dependency, and may other topics that cross disaplins. Check it out http://wiki.courtsupervision.com

Next Meeting:
August 17, 2006 @ noon. 3rd Floor conf. room of Public Works building, 614 Division St., Port Orchard, WA.

Minority Services: Jan Angel could not approve collection boxes for El Centro. They are looking into it further. Will try first contacting the local Chamber of Commerce.

Medical: No report.

Perpetrator/TX: 1. Obtaining District Court Police reports by treatment providers. The prosecutor's office is not the best location to request police reports. Every defendant, including DV and DUI cases, are given their police report and DCH (criminal history) as part of their court process. So it is reasonable to expect the defendant to have those documents available for the treatment provider.

In the case when a defendant does not have those documents available the treatment provider can fax a request to the District Court, and should receive the police report within a few days. The request should have the defendant's name and case number, and a number where to fax the report.

2. Keeping police reports in client files at treatment agencies. It was suggested that police reports be given a final check for sensitive victim information before placing in clients files, since the client has a right to review the content of their file.

3. Dayle Crane's Retirement gathering will be in Dayle's office May 25, 1:30 to 3:30 pm. See attached flyer.

4. DASA Training, December 1. If you are interested in being part of the planning please contact Miae Christofferson at chrism@dshs.wa.gov. Some planning has begun, but there is an opportunity to have influence on the training content/agenda.

Membership committee: No new applications and no openings at this time.

New Business:

Old Business:

A. Evaluations - Not enough still for good response. Sharlyne will email them out again and have a report at the retreat June 13th

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,
Joan Taie
Administrative Coordinator