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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 12171996 - C121 C. 1199 C.1209 C. 121 and C.122 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on December 17, 1996 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Bishop, DeSaulnier, Canciamilla and Smith NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None SUBJECT: Con espondence C.119 LETTER dated December 2, 1996, from Guy S. Houston, Mayor of the City of Dublin, P.O. Box 2340, Dublin, CA 94568, advising that the Dublin City Council has agreed to fund the $116,760 shortfall in local match funds for construction of the I- 580/I-680 interchange, with the expectation of recovering these funds through the proposed Tri-Valley Regional Transportation Fee. ****REFERRED TO DIRECTOR, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY C.120 LETTER dated December 4, 1996, from Darrel "Jay" Tucker, Mayor, City of Hercules, 111 Civic Drive, Hercules, CA 94547, expressing support for an audit of the rates of the Richmond Sanitary Service. ****REFERRED TO DIRECTOR, GROWTH MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY C.121 LETTER dated December 2, 1996, from Deedee Jenson, Interim Executive Director, Battered Women's Alternatives, P.O. Box 6406, Concord, CA 94524, requesting to be a participant in discussions on issues pertinent to the new welfare law. ****REFERRED TO SOCIAL SERVICE DIRECTOR C.122 LETTER dated December 6, 1996, from Mary Frances Draper, 100 Devon Avenue, #1, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, expressing concern with a suggestion to close the Central Library located in Pleasant Hill. ""REFERRED**REFERRED TO THE COUNTY LIBRARIAN THE BOARD APPROVED the above recommendations as noted 1 hereby certify that this Is a true and correct spy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of"fh0 Board of Sup sora on�Clerk ATTESTED:PHIL BATCHELOard Of Supervisors and Cou AM,J, ,% .7&., 10 c.c.Correspondents County Administrators Director,G MEDA Social Service.,Director County Librarian REQFIVFn BDEc 4 P.O. Box 6406 W� Concord CA 94524 Battered Women's Business: (510) 676-2845 \� CLERK C�G�si�.vF SUPERVISORS Fax: (510) 676-2326 1 Alternatives C 0 N 1"A -,Q.CO. Crisis: (5 10) 930-8300 S pervisor Mark Desaulnier December 2 , 1996 651 Pine Street Martinez, Ca 94553 Dear Supervisor Desaulnier, Throughout the last few months, Battered Women's Alternatives has been working in coalition with health, human service & immigrant rights organizations to address the impact of welfare legislation on communities we serve. We are concerned that many provisions within the new law are potentially detrimental to battered women's ability to leave violent relationships. Much of the impact of the legislation on communities will depend on decisions at the state level about implementation. In the coming weeks and months as the bill continues to be interpreted and regulations are promulgated, public hearings at the local level will be held to inform the decision making process. Although the only state sponsored public hearing scheduled in the Bay Area was held in Santa Clara County, we hope that local awareness & responsible education about the needs of our communities can make a difference. Toward this end, BWA shares the following information with you in a spirit of raising awareness about the needs of the over 101, 300 battered women in Contra Costa County. As the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence recently stated, public assistance can be a lifeline to safety for women attempting to leave an abusive relationship. While domestic violence cuts across all socioeconomic categories, 70% of women who enter BWA's shelter for battered women utilize AFDC as a bridge out of their abusive relationships. Women and children who enter shelter are in serious danger -- and have the fewest resources. Battered women with children may need more time receiving benefits than the two to five year cap outlined in the law, may have difficulty seeking employment if their partners are continuing to stalk or harass them in the workplace, and may have no other recourse than public benefits to leave a battering relationship. The exclusion of battered legal immigrant women from receiving benefits effectively traps them in battering relationships. This is a problem recognized in federal legislation providing a legal remedy for battered women depending on US citizen or permanent resident spouses to petition for residency on their own behalf if they can prove they are battered. Within section 103--402(a) (7) of the new welfare law, each state has the option to adopt a "Family Violence Amendment" . This would set up a system to screen all applicants for public,.assistance for family violence, and refer them to appropriate resources. In 24 Hour Crisis Line Counseling Services Legal Advocacy Program Teen Program Shelter/Safe Homes Support Groups Men's Program Workplace Program Transitional Housing Employment Assistance Children's Program Speaker's Bureau _2- adopting this amendment, waivers for battered women could be made available to women in the areas addressed above. Proof of battering to receive such a waiver or exemption might include personal affidavits or statements from service providers, as well as_ police or medical records. Placing a significant burden of proof on battered women would be problematic, since battered women in these situations are often threatened by their partners, isolated, fearful & unlikely to have thorough documentation of abuse. Each state also has the option to exempt 20% of recipients from the lifetime (60 month) cap, based on hardship, battering or extreme cruelty. In adopting this exemption, the state would acknowledge the barriers and struggles faced by battered women and children in poverty, including ongoing contact with batterers who often escalate their abuse after the woman leaves the relationship. Another problematic area of the law is the requirement of TANF recipients to assist child support enforcement agencies in establishing paternity. This has already been a problem for women clients of BWA, who often face retaliation from their ex partners for establishing paternity & seeking enforcement of support orders. Training TANF workers to screen for good cause waivers to this requirement would maximize safety for battered women and their children. A Family Violence Amendment, with waivers in the areas outlined above, maintenance of the full 20% exemption capability, and waivers for battered women in the area of paternity & child support enforcement are a few of the remedies available to the state to help battered women and their children survive and flourish. Unfortunately, there was little testimony at the regional public hearing about what this legislation will mean for battered women. We welcome the opportunity to address these issues with you in further detail, and would like to be an active part of any effort to hold public hearings or forums on welfare reform in Contra Costa County. At a time when federal and state domestic violence laws reflect increasing awareness and sophistication about the needs of battered women, it is important that we not take a step backward by failing to act. Thank you for your consideration of these issues. Please contact me should you like to discuss these issues in greater detail. I can be reached at 676-2845. Sincerely, Deedee Jens 9nn Interim Executive Director