San Saba Domestic Violence Task Force (SSDVTF): December 2007

Minutes from San Saba Domestic Violence Taskforce

December 12, 2007

Ma & Pa’s Restaurant

11:30am – 1pm

In attendance at the December meeting of the San Saba DV Taskforce were: Georgia Harris, City of San Saba, Dove Project; Dee Vickery, Off the Beaten Path Ministries; Officer Allen Brown, City of San Saba, Police Department; Brenna Troncoso, Political Asylum Project of Austin, and Kathy Dixon, Victim Coordinator for the District Attorney’s Office.

After introductions the minutes from the November 14, 2007 meeting were read and Allen Brown motioned to approve the minutes as read and Brenna Troncoso seconded. All were in favor.

Member agency updates were provided as follows:

K.D. gave an update on the assistant district attorney, Cheryl Nelson is over San Saba and Burnet County. She was pleased to report that Ms. Nelson is not accepting affidavits of non-prosecution in felony cases of domestic violence.

D.V. reported being able to speak in other counties about her desire to put in transitional housing for victims and receiving some support for that.

G.H. gave an update regarding the involvement of Legal Aide of Northwest Texas coming monthly to San Saba Dove Project to provide legal services and match victims of domestic violence with a private attorney. An attorney from Lampasas volunteered her services this past month and more local pro bono attorneys will be sought to assist with pro se divorces, etc. Legal Aid will also be attending our monthly task force meetings as they are coming on the day of our regularly scheduled meetings.

B.T. reported on the services of the PAPA program and gave an update on U-Visa regulations that assist immigrant victims of crime. Also discussed was the issue of human trafficking in central Texas and increasing rural outreach in this area of need.

A.B. reported a large drug bust that had just happened. He pointed out the link between this kind of crime and domestic violence.

Law Enforcement information/ concerns - A.B. wanted to make sure that during the holidays we had a plan for coverage by volunteers or staff for domestic violence related calls. G.H. assured him that there would be adequate coverage through her or her assistant and volunteers of the Dove Project. He also highlighted the need for bilingual volunteers.

A.B. wanted to emphasize his concern about victims of domestic violence, particularily where children are involved, dropping charges. He felt there needed to be some kind of deterrent to protect victims and their children from future harm. He didn’t know if Child Protective Services needed to be involved or perhaps even filing charges against the victim for failing to testify. He would like to see this topic considered at a possible future training as a secondary issue under protocols for dealing with cases involving domestic violence.

Member Recruitment: Student rep from school/survivors/volunteers – G.H. said she had sent an email to the superintendant of schools, Leann Glaze, to encourage a student rep to attend our taskforce meetings. It is the hope of the taskforce that a group of students will become involved in developing their own anti-domestic violence (dating violence/date rape, etc) initiative.

A.B. stated the need to get men involved as volunteers as well.

Community Planning Meeting – G.H. encouraged all those present to try to attend the Community Planning Meeting scheduled for Dec. 18 at the courthouse from 10:30 – 12 noon. This is an opportunity to be sure and get the issues we need put in writing for the sake of future funding through grants.

Items not covered due to lack of time were the developing a blog training at the library and an inaugural event plan. Discussion regarding this will be continued at the next taskforce meeting in 2008.

Items needing action before the next meeting are as follows:

1. B.T. will forward some information to the K.D. at the D.A.’s office regarding the work of PAPA.

2. B.T. will develop a contact information sheet for taskforce members and post to the domestic violence taskforce blog space.

3. G.H. will put the notice of next taskforce meeting in the San Saba News community calendar and contact the radio station for a psa.

4. G.H. and A.B. will spearhead a youth initiative within the school by contacting the superintendant. B.T. said that a trainer through various agencies in Austin that could assist with that.

NEXT SCHEDULED TASKFORCE MEETING – JANUARY 9, 2008 from 11:30 – 1:00pm at Ma & Pa’s Restaurant.