FREE TRAINING

JULY 14
11:00 AM- 1:00 PM
SAN SABA CIVIC CENTER

TCLEOSE & CEUs

PROTECTIVE ORDERS, EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDERS, SEXUAL ASSAULT PROTECTIVE ORDERS
&
THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF TRAUMA

INSTRUCTORS:
WENDE HILSENROD (TAASA)
&
HEATHER BUSBY (TAP)

Sponsored by the San Saba Domestic Violence Task Force (SSDVTF) and City of San Saba Dove Project

June Meeting

Please join us:

June 9
11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
City Hall Council Chambers
303 South Clear Street
San Saba, Texas

May Minutes

Minutes

San Saba Domestic Violence Task Force

May 12, 2009

The TaskForce met at noon at the Dove Project. In attendance were Brenna Troncoso, Charles Carter, Danna Smith, Lexie Wiley, Sabrina Maultsby, Georgia Harris, Melissa Switzer, and Adella.

Minutes of the April meeting were read by Adella. Brenna made a motion to approve and Charles seconded.

Old Business – A brief discussion of the Community Plan and the involvement of the Task Force in future Planning meetings.

Georgia stated that she will be working on a short term housing grant to serve victims of domestic violence through the Texas Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs. She also stated the Dove Project was in a financial crisis right now. Sabrina’s position has not been funded for 6 months and Georgia’s funding ends on Jun 30. However, the Attorney General’s office through whom we receive VOCA funding has asked all DV Projects to extend their funding for 2 months and in exchange they would only pay for 40% of our expenses. Georgia and Sabrina will be meeting with Stan Weik, City Manager on Friday to determine whether the Dove Project will remain open until new funding is received. Regardless, Georgia stated that the Dove Project would try to maintain a volunteer base and some core services.

Discussion was had of the evolution of the Task Force toward a more inclusive, broader-based community approach to providing services to families. The idea of having a tri-county, quarterly interagency meeting was also discussed, either under the auspices of the SSDVTF or in some other form. It was generally agreed that this might be a good idea. Georgia noted that the Dove Project has been providing services predominately to domestic violence victims but that it is also mandated by the Governor’s Office Criminal Justice Division to provide a wholistic approach to restoring the victim to a full mental, emotional, and physical state, which implies services broader than those having to do directly with domestic violence.

Danna had contacted the school about a presentation about Teen Dating Violence. Georgia met with Ms. Pannell at the High School and a program will be presented on Monday morning at 8 a.m. in the new gymnasium.

A back to school Children’s Health and Safety Fair is planned for July 31 at the Civic Center. Georgia handed out a draft of a request for sponsors and booths. After discussion and input from Melissa and others, it was determined that we should look for and find a primary/main sponsor for the fair rather than set a specific amount for a number of smaller sponsors. Georgia will meet with the Chamber of Commerce first to get a list of potential supporters. Adella and Danna will work with Georgia in the planning of the fair. It was suggested that we also get out a notice to all service providers about having a booth and to students by May 28.

Future Meetings:

June:

Nancy Watson, Regional Director, Congressman K. Michael Conaway

July (11:00 AM - 1 PM, San Saba Civic Center):

Free Sexual Assault PO, EPO, PO, & Neurobiology of Trauma Training - TCLEOSE and CEU's available

August:

Legal Advocates Network training on legislative updates, etc.

The May meeting ran late and adjourned about 1:45 PM.

Save the Date - San Saba Health & Safety Fair

Save the Date! San Saba Health & Safety Fair to be held July 31st, 10 AM - 2 PM. Details to follow.

April Minutes, May to Follow

Minutes – April 14, 2009

San Saba Domestic Violence Task Force

San Saba Senior Center

The meeting began at noon. In attendance were Penny Starks Williams, Danna Smith, Georgia Harris, Linda Mixon, and Melissa Switzer.

Old Business:

Georgia explained that she withdrew the federal grant she was working on for transitional housing. There were several reasons but the most motivating was that the Texas Dept. of Housing and Community Affairs were getting ready to post a state grant that would be even more beneficial in that it would not only help families in the shelter get their rent and utilities paid for 3 months but it would allow clients whose abuser was in jail stay in their own homes by paying their rent and utilities.

Brenna has the proposed letter for a $10,000 grant to assist the Task Force ready but is waiting on 3 letters of support from San Saba to attach to it.

New Business:

The Central Texas Council of Governments has given the go ahead for each county in their COG to receive $67,000 for equipment for law enforcement. However, the Community Plan has to be amended to spell out specifically the need. Georgia stated that since the plan was going to be amended she also wanted to make sure that short term transitional housing money was included.

Georgia reported that plans are underway for a health fair to be held on a Friday, July 31, for a back-to-school health and safety fair. She will be sending out information and an invitation for other organizations to participate. The goal is to raise community awareness of programs available to children and their families and to provide school supplies at each booth that has an activity.

Next meeting is scheduled for May 12 from 11:30 – 1:00pm. We will meet at the Dove Project, 2005 West Wallace Suite 5.

FYI

San Saba featured in Texas Hill Country Magazine, Winter 2008. Read article, here.

March Minutes

March 10, 2009

SSDVTF

San Saba, Texas

Those present were Georgia Harris, Jennifer Fleming (CVC Coordinator), Danna Smith, Patricia Trichel, Melissa Pressley, Sabrina Maultsby, Melissa Switzer, Linda Mixon (guest speaker), Brenna Troncoso, and various Survivors.

Linda Mixon, Center Director for Hill Country Community Action Senior Center, spoke about programs and services (such as weatherization services) that could be offered and made available to victims and survivors of family violence, as well as to others who qualify. The motto is "Helping people, Changing Lives". Ms. Mixon said, for example, in addition to weatherization, they are able to assist clients with energy assistance (i.e., utility bills). She also invited the Task Force to have its meetings occasionally at the Senior Center, where lunch is served. Georgia Harris said she would poll members to see if we might want to have our next meeting there.

Jennifer Fleming, CVC Coordinator with the County Attorney's Office, also spoke briefly about her role and duties. Ideas were discussed for projects for National Crime Victims Week, April 26 - May 2. Nothing was decided. Patricia, however, volunteered to assist as needed.

Brenna has prepared the letter of interest for the Hope Grant that would give the Task Force up to $10,000. This is on hold until 3 letters of support can be obtained from member agencies. Information about the grant and letters of support can be found, here.

BT also reported on the Trafficking Training held on March 6 and recommended that the Dove Project and other interested agencies look into the Trafficking Coalition being formed in Waco. Sexual violence, particularly with links to organized crime, is becoming more prevalent in rural areas.

Georgia stated that she had talked to the school and reports that none of the gyms are available for the health fair on July 25th -- she will look into other options, such as the civic center.

Meeting adjourned.