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CONTRA
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COSTA
FROM: John Sweeten, County Administrator COUNTY
DATE: October 25, 2005
SUBJECT: "Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence" Initiative — Progress Report
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. ACCEPT the 2004-2005 report on the County's progress toward reducing domestic and family violence
and elder abuse through the "Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence" initiative.
2. REAFFIRM the high priority of"Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence" as the County's primary system-
change effort to reduce harm to victims of abuse, children who witness or suffer abuse and vulnerable
elders.
3. APPROVE the recommended strategic directions contained in the progress report and DIRECT the
County Administrator to pursue additional public and private funding, implement the strategic plan,
strengthen evaluation efforts, strengthen the initiative's working collaborative and report back to the
Board of Supervisors by October 2006.
4. DIRECT the County Administrator or designee to include SB 425's reauthorization in the County's 2006
proposed legislative platform.
5. COMMEND the results documented through the partner Departments, Superior Court, and community
service provider agencies "return on investment" performance measures which represent incremental
progress toward the goals of assisting victims of domestic/family violence and elder abuse and their
families and to reduce the short-and-long term financial, emotional and institutional costs of domestic
and family violence and elder abuse.
6. ACKNOWLEDGE partner Departments, Superior Court and community service provider agencies'
dedication and commitment to reducing domestic and family violence and elder abuse.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
.46APPROVE _OTHER
SIGNATURES .
ACTION OF BO D N APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED O ER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ON MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Contact: Devorah Levine 5-1017
ATTESTED NV
JOHN SWEETEN,CLERK OF
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: CAO—Devorah Levine
Presiding Judge,Superior Court;Sheriff;District Attorney;
Public Defender;Chief Probation Officer;Health Services Director;
Employment and Human Services Director;
STAND!Against Domestic Violence—Exec.Director;
Bay Area Legal Aid—Exec.Director;CCC /
Advisory Council Against Domestic Violence(via CAO) �/
BY _ t EPUTY
a
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative supports three of Contra Costa's community outcomes
("Children and Youth Healthy and Preparing for Productive Adulthood", "Families that are Safe, Stable and
Nurturing" and "Communities that are Safe and provide a High Quality of Life") through coordinated
intervention services designed to reduce domestic and family violence and elder abuse.
BACKGROUND:
Annually, the Board of Supervisors requests a progress report on the status of the Zero Tolerance for
Domestic Violence Initiative. Attached is an annual report covering the period July 2004 through June 2005.
ADDENDUM TO D.2
OCTOBER 25, 2005
On this day the Board considered accepting the 2004/2005 report on the County's progress
toward reducing domestic and family violence and elder abuse through the"Zero
Tolerance for Domestic Violence"initiative.
Devorah Levine, Zero Tolerance Coordinator for Domestic Violence presented a report
on the County's progress toward reducing domestic and family violence and elder abuse
through the"Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence"initiative. She was accompanied by
Judge Joni Hiramoto, Superior Court; Gloria Sandoval, Executive Director, STAND;
Jane Randolph,Bay Area Legal Aid; and Nancy Valencia,Probation Department.
Supervisor Gioia said he recalled members of the Police Departments of several cities
had requested the Board not cut the program during the County budget hearings. He
suggested looking at making this presentation to various city councils with the Domestic
Violence team, and he added that he would be willing to go to the cities in his District,
noting that other Supervisors may also choose to do the same. He stressed how important
it is to highlight the success of this program and why cities should fund this program.
Supervisor Gioia asked about the relationships of drugs and Domestic Violence, and
suggested that it might be useful to collect data in Contra Costa County involving alcohol
%0.0
in Domestic Violence cases. He asked Ms. Levine to collect literature on the issue of
alcohol misuse and Domestic Violence and said this would be useful for the Board.
Ms. Levine answered, saying that violence is a stand-alone issue not caused by alcohol.
She went on to say Domestic Violence is the use of violence as a control mechanism to
control someone else in a relationship. She said it is useful to continue this inquiry but
with the understanding the violence has to be addressed as the primary issue. She noted
the Domestic Violence team would like to involve alcohol and drug rehabilitation in
conjunction with the Batterers Intervention program.
Supervisor DeSaulnier referred to the$225,000 Hotel Tax from the Renaissance Club
Sports Future Fund account and suggested as applications are taken for the Prevention
Fund, STAND could be considered an applicant for this fund.
Supervisor DeSaulnier noted it is important to sustain this program and suggested that the
Family and Human Services Committee could study funding,sustainability.
Chair Uilkema suggested presenting information about the Domestic Violence Program
in several key places such as St. Mary's College and Community Colleges, saying she
was sure it could fit into the curriculum at the Community College level. Chair Uilkema
also suggested staging several forums for High School and college students within Contra
Costa.
Addendum to D.2
October 25, 2005
Page 2 of 2
With none absent,the Board of Supervisors took the following action by unanimous decision:
ACCEPTED all recommendations Number I —6 from Board Order with an amendment
to REFER the Zero Tolerance Report to the FHS committee to discuss establishment of a
permanent revenue source to ensure sustainability of Zero Tolerance; DIRECTED an
outreach effort consisting of of programs and/or forums be arranged with Contra Costa
High School and Community College Districts for to increase awareness for Zero.
Tolerance