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Attending: Fred Herath, GCHD Addictions Services; Bob Stephens, GC OCYF; Henry Brown, GCDSS; Edgar Harman, GC Commissioners; Elizabeth Biser, Community Rep.; Barb Smith, P & P Victim Advocate; Donna Shafer, Interested Party; Erica Mowbray, Child Protective Services; Carol Bass, GCHD-WIC; Jodi Finkelstein, MNADV; Elaine Gast, MNADV; Jennifer Pollitt, MNADV; Tfc. Jim Hovis, MD State Police Family Violence Unit; Linda Spassil, Dove Center; Lisa Thayer Welch, Garrett Co. State’s Attorney’s Office; Larry Gnegy, Garrett Co. Sheriff’s Department; Lucia Ayers, Community Rep.; R. Samuel Wachter, Clergy Community; June Heseslbach, AAoA; Mary VanSickle, GCMH; Misty Sanders, SOWK Student at GCMH; Kellie Warnick, GCCAC; Wilda Massi, GCBOE; and Phyllis B. Trickett, GCCW
The next regularly scheduled meeting will be November 10, 8:30 a.m. at the Garrett County Department of Social Services.
Lisa Thayer Welch called the meeting to order.
The September 8, minutes were approved as written.
Committee Reports:
Public Awareness:
The Public Relations committee and members of the Public and Professional Awareness committees met to review the slides that will be shown at the Garrett 8 Cinemas. Six slides involving Domestic Violence were available to select from, three slides were chosen as preferences with the remaining three as alternates. The first choice is a slide showing a casket with flowers on top with the caption – “This will be her last bouquet.” The second choice is a slide showing a crouching girl with bruises holding a teddy bear with the caption – “Love shouldn’t hurt like this.” The third choice is a slide showing two adolescents the boy has the girl pinned against a wall with the caption – “Is this you?” Each of the three slides will have “End Domestic Violence” across the top and across the bottom it will say the Family Violence Coalition. The contact number for the Dove Center will be listed on each slide. There are also three slides that were chosen as alternates. The first two slides are currently at McClarran and Williams being prepared. The Garrett 8 Cinema has agreed to run the slides for the first three months at no charge after which we will be charged $50 per month. Mitecke and Garrett County Department of Social Services will serve as financial sponsors. The committee hopes to gain additional corporate sponsorship for the slides. The slides will run one per month as part of a loop of slides shown by the theatre.
Public Awareness and Public Relation committees will be combined into the Public Relation committee.
October is Domestic Violence awareness month and public service announcements are being played on the local radio station (KHJ) along with articles in the Republican newspaper.
The Silent Witness display is currently in Crellin and from Crellin
it will be moved to
Bloomington. The display will then be stored for the winter and
is need of some repairs. Rick DeWitt and Larry Bruch were commended
for taking the Silent Witness display to all of the locations throughout
the County. Lucia Ayers was also commended for her assistance with
the display in making new signs as needed for each silhouette.
A letter is being developed that will be sent to members of the legal community along with copies of the Pathways brochure to make them aware of additional services offered to victims of Domestic Violence.
Professional Awareness:
The seminar for clergy was changed to Wednesday, November 4th at Garrett Community College. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Gall, Director of Western Maryland Health System Center for Counseling Services and Pastoral Care. Jodi Finkelstein currently the Special Projects Associate for the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence will also be presenting. The video “Broken Vows” will be presented and personnel from area agencies will be presenting in the afternoon.
Data Mart Team:
The committee is getting ready to bring a consultant on board to outline
the action steps for exactly what we need to do next. At the last
meeting it was decided the natural starting point would be Domestic Violence
in the family and looking at children’s issues.
Lucia stated the team is now at the point of getting ready to purchase
necessary equipment. Bill Flockhart is working to spec out the type
of server that will be necessary for this project.
There will be a short Data Mart Team meeting November 10th at 10:00 a.m.
Strategic Plan:
No report.
Maryland State Police:
Tfc. Jim Hovis, MD State Police Family Violence Unit stated that his role is to follow-up with victims of Domestic Violence usually within 48 hours. He ensures that victims were given information on how to contact a variety of support agencies. Tfc. Hovis also supplements the Troopers report to provide the States Attorney’s Office with additional information for prosecution. Tfc. Hovis stated he takes additional written statements, tape-recorded statements and photographs of injuries. Tfc. Hovis stated he assists the victim in obtaining an exparte order to have the abuser quickly removed from the residence. Tfc. Hovis stated he tries to contact the suspect to obtain a written or tape-recorded statement. Tfc. Hovis follows up with additional visits if he feels the situation warrants them, he is also on call 24 hours a day to provide the victim with maximum discretion. Tfc. Hovis stated that if an incident is reported to him he is bound to file the report and prosecute. Tfc. Hovis may be contacted by calling 301-729-6467.
Mary VanSickle raised a concern about security at the local hospital. Her concern stemmed from an incident involving a victim of Domestic Violence and her abuser, who threatened to come to the hospital with a gun. The local hospital does not have a security force and local law enforcement authorities stated they would respond when the suspect arrived. This obviously would create a very threatening situation for all involved. Tfc. Hovis stated that MD State Police would respond or he could be called and he would ask that they respond.
Maryland Network Information:
Jodi Finkelstein stated that the Bi-Annual Conference would be held
October 16 and 17. Jodi encouraged Coalition members to sign up if they
had not already done so. Barb Smith stated that she would be attending
the conference. Jodi will no longer be working on the Pro-Prosecution
Project she will be working with the State of Maryland on the
Domestic Violence Policy in the Work Place. Elaine Gast will
be replacing Jodi on the Pro-Prosecution Project.
Jennifer Pollitt, Diversity Specialist with the MNADV stated that she would be happy to work with members of the Coalition in identifying people with special needs in Garrett County. Needs could include a lack of telephone service or transportation which may prevent victims from seeking assistance in cases of Domestic Violence. Lucia asked how information was currently being collected and Jennifer stated that she is currently trying to meet with each Director of the Family Violence Shelter in each county. Jennifer stated that although she is gathering information it is not a formalized data collection process. Jennifer stated that ideally she would like to see all counties have access to a state wide data system with each county using the same format for gathering and recording information.
Continuing Business:
Family Violence Coalition Grants:
Henry Brown reported that applications have been received for the position of Family Violence Coordinator. The applications that were received have been screened and three candidates will be interviewed today by Lisa Thayer-Welch, Henry Brown and Edgar Harman. Henry stated that the Coordinator might use GCDSS as their home base.
Shelter Update:
Linda Spassill stated that a Volunteer Training would begin on Monday, October 19, at Garrett Community College. The training will run for six consecutive Mondays from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Linda stated she would be happy to forward information to any interested Coalition member. Two groups for victims of Domestic Violence will begin next week one during the day and one in the evening. The daytime group will meet on Friday and this group is filled. The evening group will meet on Wednesday and openings are still available. The groups will meet at the Dove Center.
Linda stated that there are currently two families in shelter.
Linda stated the newsletter for the Dove Center is being reprinted and hopefully can be sent out by the end of the week.
Linda stated that there would be a cross training between GCDSS and the Dove Center on Friday, November 13th at GCDSS.
Caring Kids Campaign:
No report.
Lisa Thayer Welch noted in the absence of June Heseslbach, AAoA, that October 20th, has been designated as the date set for the Domestic Violence Hot Line 301-334-9000.
Wilda Massi thanked the Coalition members who attend the Inter-Agency
Pow Wow.
New Business:
The first issue raised was if the Coalition should invite with other Counties outside of the State of Maryland to attend and share information. Preston and Grant Counties of West Virginia were mentioned. The Coalition agreed that a representative should be invited.
The Coalition agreed that new members should receive background information about the purpose of the Coalition as well as copies of minutes from previous meetings.
Information from Mettle Workers (a treatment group for male batters) will be placed in area restrooms to assist batters in getting help.
The meeting was adjourned.
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