The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 04102007 - C.73 C . I An L TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �s•"= ==° Contra FROM: JOHN CULLEN Costa DATE: APRIL 10, 2007 . Count y SUBJECT: ADVISORY COUNCIL AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. APPROVE the dissolution of the Advisory Council Against Domestic Violence (ACAD) as an Advisory Council to the Board as recommended by ACAD. 2. ACKNOWLEDGE ACAD's leadership and success in providing a mechanism for inter-disciplinary information sharing; creating a uniform reporting mechanism for law enforcement; sponsorship of conferences; creation of a domestic violence death review team; and supporting the establishment of the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative. 3. DIRECT the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative to strengthen its role in countywide advocacy and oversight of domestic violence issues through the use of existing resources; to work to secure additional resources to involve additional public and private partners; and to provide education and training throughout the DV response system. FISCAL IMPACT: No General Fund Impact. BACKGROUND: After careful assessment, ACAD's membership voted to authorize the Executive Committee to forward a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to dissolve ACAD. ACAD has achieved great success over the years as a venue for education, information sharing, and problem solving. Many positive practices have been institutionalized as a result of ACAD's efforts. In recent years, however, ACAD has struggled to sustain leadership and lacked the resources necessary to convene multiple agencies on a consistent basis and provide training and education. In addition, some of ACAD's objectives are redundant with the focus of the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: _X_YES SIGNATURE: ,�I�i{COMME•NDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR M COMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE '/AI'1'IZOVI', OTT-IE"R a SIGNAT'URF(S): ACTION OF BOARD �_�/�o� d�— APPROVE AS RI COMMENDED _ OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT IRIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OI'AN ACTION TAKEN UNANIMOUS(A13SFNT �oN/LL� ) AND ENTERED ON TI IF MINIJ I'I.S OF T71E BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE AYES: NOES: SHOWN. ABSENT: t2t ;(�_ ABSTAIN: ATTLS'I EU �� MEDIA CONTACT: JOHN C:ULLEN.C'LERI�OF'1 FIF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND C'OUN I Y AD TRAT'OR ORIGINATING DE=PARTMENT:. � CAO-Devorah Levine 5-1017 B DEPUTY BACKGFtOUN D: After careful consideration the Executive Committee of the Contra Costa Advisory Council Against Domestic Violence (ACAD) requests that ACAD be disbanded as an advisory body to the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors. Section 14140 of the Penal Code authorizes each County to establish an advisory council focused on issues of domestic violence. This Code Section permits each local jurisdiction to determine the leadership structure of its council. In June of 1995, Contra Costa County's domestic violence advisory council was established under the auspices of the Superior Court, with Commissioner Josanna Berkow as Chair. In July 2002, the ACAD membership were informed by the presiding judge of the Superior Court that as of January 1, 2003 the Courts would no longer be able to provide leadership to ACAD. This determination was made to ensure the real and perceived impartiality of the legal system in the handling of domestic violence cases. Following this notification, the Executive Committee and membership of ACAD met to review alternative organizational models to present to the Board of Supervisors. The membership recommended to the Board of Supervisors that ACAD be transferred under the auspices of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. On January 25, 2003 the Board agreed to reorganize ACAD under the auspices of the Board of Supervisors. ACAD's accomplishments over the years include: ❖ Providing a mechanism for inter-disciplinary information sharing; ❖ Creating a uniform reporting mechanism for law enforcement involvement in domestic violence cases; ❖ Creation of a domestic violence death review team; and ❖ Sponsorship of annual, interdisciplinary domestic violence conferences. Recent successes include joining the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative in its successful grant applications for federal funds to support law enforcement training and implementation of a safety audit. In its recent history, however, ACAD has struggled to retain leadership and participation. From June — August 2006 the Executive Committee met to discuss options for reorganizing and re- engaging ACAD's membership. Options considered by the committee included: ■ Recommending that ACAD disband and at the same time identify gaps in the Zero Tolerance Initiative and make recommendations about areas of potential focus for Zero Tolerance. ■ Maintain ACAD and recommend restructuring to increase involvement. After careful assessment, the Committee concluded that ACAD has achieved great success over the years as a venue for education, information sharing, and problem solving. Many positive practices have been institutionalized as a result of ACAD's efforts, including the founding of the Zero Tolerance initiative. The committee noted the continuing struggle to identify leadership and the lack of resources available to convene multiple agencies on a consistent basis and provide training and education. The committee also noted the redundancy of some objectives and tasks with Zero Tolerance. The Executive Committee developed the following recommendation to forward to the general membership for consideration: ■ Recognize the significant milestones ACAD has achieved including institutionalizing many positive practices. ■ Recognizing resources are insufficient and the redundancy of some tasks between ACAD and Zero Tolerance, recommend dissolving ACAD. ■ Concurrently recommend Zero Tolerance should work to strengthen its role in countywide advocacy and oversight of domestic violence issues, working towards best practices serving families affected by domestic violence. In November 2006, the General Membership voted to authorize the Executive Committee to forward this recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Frdm December 2006 — February 2007 Zero Tolerance staff consulted with Executive Committee (Chair/members) to clarify appropriate next steps and implications for the Zero Tolerance for Domestic Violence Initiative in strengthening its role in countywide advocacy and oversight and concluded the following: • Unless additional resources are identified, Zero Tolerance will work within its existing structure to strengthen countywide advocacy and oversight. • Zero Tolerance will work to secure additional resources to involve additional partners, particularly law enforcement jurisdictions, and support consistent education and training throughout the county.