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Products -- Safe from the Start Newsletter Archives
SFTS September 2007 Newsletter
SFTS NEWS:
With funding provided by the U.S. Department of Justice, the CA Attorney General’s Safe from the Start initiative has released, “A Statewide Law Enforcement Protocol – Children Exposed to Domestic Violence.” The document has been distributed to all CA law enforcement agencies and partners to help them develop a departmental response to domestic violence where children reside. This tool will enhance law enforcement’s awareness of the dangers to children exposed to domestic violence, and can assist in establishing a department response to better protect these at-risk children. If you would like further information or technical assistance in preparing your law enforcement protocol, or in working with your law enforcement partners, contact Safe from the Start at SFTS@doj.ca.gov or call (916) 324-7863. The protocol can be downloaded from the SFTS web site at www.safefromthestart.org
As first responders, law enforcement officers have a unique opportunity to offer assistance, security and support to children exposed to domestic violence. Exposure to domestic violence can have a profound effect on children. They are vulnerable to developing mental and physical health problems, criminal behavior, school problems, and numerous other adverse issues. One of the most distressing consequences of children’s exposure to violence is the increased likelihood that the young person will become involved in violence, either as a victim or as an aggressor. In cases of domestic violence, police officers are well aware of seeing a child first as a witness to his or her parents’ fights, and later arresting the same child for juvenile delinquency. We know there are certain factors shown to help children cope with exposure to violence. These include: a strong and caring relationship with an adult (parent, teacher, mentor); community safe havens (churches, schools, clubs); and development of a child’s own internal resources (coping skills, interpersonal skills). For ideas on things law enforcement officers can do for children at the scene of a domestic violence call, go to www.safefromthestart.org/resources/lawenforcement.aspx. If you are a law enforcement agency interesting in hosting POST-certified training on domestic violence and children, contact arlene.greene@doj.ca.gov.
Last month we reported to you about the very successful Advanced Domestic Violence Training Day with Lt. Mark Wynn on July 11 th at the Ulatis Cultural Center in Vacaville . We mentioned the hard work of Vacaville and Fairfield Police Departments and the co-sponsorship by the CA Safe from the Start initiative in bringing this training to 250 Solano County criminal justice professionals. However, we forgot to acknowledge the very important and integral leadership role, coordination, and financial support provided for the training day by the Solano Partnership Against Violence (SPAV). SPAV serves as the county domestic violence coordinating council and is advisory to the Solano County Board of Supervisors. Again, congratulations to SPAV and all partners for leading the way in bringing this training to Solano County.
College can be an exciting time for students. It can also be a challenging time. Current research shows that one out of every four young adults will experience an episode of depression before the age of 24. When depression sets in, a myriad of self-destructive behavior can start. For additional information, click on www.safefromthestart.org/resources/educators.aspx.
Stanford University researcher, Dr. Victor Carrion, has completed a study on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the effect on a child’s brain. His research revealed that children diagnosed with PTSD have nearly a 9% reduction in the size of their hippocampus, the horseshoe-shaped sheet of neurons that deals with memory and emotions. To view the complete article, published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday August 26, 2007, go to:
(click icon)
RELATED RESOURCE
The Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse has a new tool to assess children’s exposure to domestic violence. Its purpose is to give practicing professionals and researchers a standard method to measure the level of exposure to domestic violence that a child aged 10 to 16 years old may have experienced. To view the Child Exposure to Domestic Violence Scale, go to www.mincava.umn.edu/cedv.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Name of Grant/Funding: Give Back a Smile Program
Funding Source: American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Deadline: none
Brief Description of the Funding: The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) offers cosmetic dentistry to domestic-violence survivors to repair injuries to the front teeth caused by an intimate partner or spouse.
Information on Grant/Funding Provider: For further information please see the www.givebackasmile.com
TRAINING AND CONFERENCES
September 17-19, 2007
Location: Town & Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego
Cost: $365
Register online: http://www.ivatcenters.org/conference
Contact Number: (858) 623-2777 ext. 427
September 17-20 , 2007
Location: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Sacramento
Contact: Christine Feenstra-Gray or register@canconference.com
October 3, 2007
Location: Bakersfield
Contact: Lupe Perez, Kern Co. Probation Dept. (661) 868-4507
October 4-5, 2007
Location: Marriott Hotel, Walnut Creek, CA
Contact: Juliana Granzotto
October 19, 2007
Location: Embassy Suites Hotel, Seaside, CA
Contact: Sheree Goldman (831) 277-7509
Additional Information: www.co.monterey.ca.us/dvcc
For more information on reducing children’s exposure to violence,
go to www.safefromthestart.org or call the Attorney General’s Crime and Violence Prevention Center at (916) 324-7863.
The California Attorney General’s Safe from the Start initiative
is funded, in part, by
First 5 California.
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