Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Grant: six month progress report July 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002 [Dec. 2002]

Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Grant
Six Month Progress Report July 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council obligated funds to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's (GBI) Child Abuse Investigative Support Center (CAISC). The center provides training in addition to consultative services. It is comprised of forensic pathologists/medical examiners, a supervisory special agent, and a program coordinator.
The center is designed to receive requests from law enforcement agencies concerning child abuse investigations and renders investigative and medico-legal expertise to requesting agencies. Additionally, the center travels throughout the state for the purpose of providing child abuse related training to Law Enforcement Agencies, social service agencies, coroners and medical examiners' office staff, prosecutors, child advocacy centers, emergency medical services personnel, and clinical professionals.

Part of the program is to provide consultations, concerning whether injuries have occurred accidentally or intentionally, to any requesting law enforcement agency and Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) staff. The Agent provided twelve investigative consultations and twenty-one forensic consultations across the state.
The Special Agent (Agent) involved in the project has been requested by local law enforcement to review ongoing investigations regarding child abuse. Acting as a liaison, the Agent has numerous contacts with state and local officials regarding cases of child abuse. During the reporting period, the Agent had contact with four local police departments, twenty-two DFCS/Advocacy centers, two District attorney's offices, the Atlanta Solicitor's Office and other meetings with the Governor's Office of the Child Advocate as well as several Protocol meetings and State Child Fatality Review Team meetings. The Special Agent also met with MARTA Criminal Investigations Unit and the Prosecuting Attorney's Council.
The second responsibility of the unit is to provide training throughout the entire state. Two classes are scheduled per month. The majority of the attendants in the class maintain law enforcement, child protective service, prosecutor, and medical backgrounds. The CAISC has on-site training programs that serve to educate and inform child abuse sector practitioners. Eleven on-site trainings have been held (275 attendees). This number does not include the multiple trainings held through various other local and state agencies of which CAISC staff has been a participant.
The CAISC works closely with the Medical Examiner's Office. The project's Program Coordinator attends every child abuse autopsy the pathologist completes. If the death becomes a homicide, the Program Coordinator alerts the GBI Child Abuse Specialist to the fact that a homicide has occurred in the respective region and consults with the local law enforcement agency to determine whether GBI assistance is needed.
The Medical Examiner's Office has assumed the responsibility of the Clayton County Coroner. The CAISC assisted with forensic crime scene reconstruction and conducted three in Clayton and one in Barrow County.
The RDVCV Grant has also enabled the Program Coordinator to obtain the latest information in child abuse and forensic issues by allowing program staff to attend the Society of Pediatric Pathology training in Dallas, Texas and Anatomic Pathology Conference in Atlanta Corner-House Forensic Interviewing Training.
The CAISC also conducted trainings with daycare facilities regarding the recognition of child abuse.

Rural Domestic Violence Sites
During the first six months of 2002, rural sites originally awarded under the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Grant did not report activity. This is due in part by the delay in a budget adjustment approval through the Violence Against Women Grants Office. The Council did not receive approval until June 17, 2002. Sites had to dramatically reduce rural advocacy as a result of the absence of grant funding.
Women In Need of God's Shelter, Inc. Dodge County
After months of struggling with the lapse of funding and the uncertainty of future funding, WINGS was forced to close the physical Dodge County Outreach Office and reduce the Outreach Advocate's hours. At that time, the Outreach Advocate was able to work out an arrangement with the Department of Family and Children Services to use an office in their building a couple of days a week. The Advocate was able to continue to provide services for non-resident clients in Dodge County on a limited basis. Dodge County is also being served by the Domestic Violence Assessor and Legal Advocate who are based out of the Dublin office.
In July of 2002, the Outreach Advocate resigned. Since funding was not guaranteed for more than a year, WINGS chose to have the Domestic Violence Assessor and Legal Advocate continue to provide the outreach services mandated under this project. These two staff members are both in Dodge County at least once a week (on different days) to meet with clients and to collaborate with local agencies to insure that domestic violence victims in that area are receiving all the services they deserve.
The shelter answered over 18 calls. The Domestic Violence Assessor assisted five families. Three women and three children were served by the Domestic Violence Assessor. These numbers are lower than in the past due to the lack of a continual presence in Dodge County (full-time Outreach Advocate) as well as the two-month absence of the Domestic Violence Assessor (medical leave). We believe that the recent addition to our staff of a Community Development Assessor will increase the public's awareness of our services and therefore increase the number of victims who take advantage of the services offered in Dodge County. WINGS will also be hosting two interns beginning in January that will assist the other staff members in Dodge County.

The Sunshine House- Toombs County
During this time period, the Toombs County Victim Advocate served 150 primary child abuse victims. Of those, 45 cases were related to domestic violence and had other issues, such as child abuse. Two of these cases involved murder.
Four survivors of the murder case were provided counseling, home visits and multiple court accompaniments. The second case involved five victims who witness the murder of the mother. Crisis intervention, counseling and advocacy services are on going.
The Domestic Violence Advocate also assisted with four Protective Orders. During this reporting period, the advocate attending three trainings and assisted with two trainings sponsored by the Sunshine House for Toombs County law enforcement investigators. Investigators were trained on procedures for child abuse and domestic violence cases.
The advocate also taught parenting classes 3 to 5 times a week (150 classes) to those victims affected by domestic violence. Other events in this reporting period included presentations to Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, distribution of domestic violence materials in the community and submission of an article to the local newspaper regarding domestic violence issues.
Heart Haven- Hart County
During this reporting period, 31 victims of domestic violence received assistance in obtaining temporary protective orders. The legal advocate assisted each victim in properly completing the necessary TPO forms and accompanied them to the judges' chambers for review and signature. The legal advocate guided each victim to the appropriate Clerk of Court's Office and sheriff's office for filing.
Clients of domestic violence are often nervous and fearful of the legal process. The legal advocate attended additional TPO hearings and other court cases with approximately 40 clients in order to provide emotional support. The advocate located nine local attorneys who agreed to work with the agency for a reduced amount of $75 dollars an hour to represent victims of domestic violence, stalking hearings, custody cases, and housing and family support issues.
Attorneys were provided, free of charge, to 39 victims of domestic violence. The legal advocate spoke to agencies in Hart, Franklin and Elbert counties such as the clerk's offices, superior and magistrate courts, police and sheriff's departments, district attorney's offices, and DFACS to inform them of the legal services available to victims.

Five women were assisted financially and emotionally to secure a divorce from the abuser. A laptop computer, portable printer and copier were purchased with grant funds.

Greene County Family Violence Center- Greene County

Although the Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Grant took effect on July 1, 2002, the position was not filled until August 8, 2002. The first two months were spent training the Rural Project Coordinator and familiarizing the Coordinator with the counties where outreach services would take place.

Greene, Morgan, and Taliaferro Counties were served as follows during this reporting period:

Greene County:

26 victims and their children were served 16 needs assessments were completed 6 crisis calls were taken 1 intake completed 2 legal referrals 14 counseling referrals (4 of which were children) 2 victims were photographed to document injuries 43 follow-up contacts 54 crisis counsels were conducted 2 received successful help in locating housing 1 received help in providing a resume

Morgan County:

6 victims and their children were served 3 needs assessments were completed 3 crisis calls were taken 2 counseling referrals 1 transport/assist in filing TPO 3 transports provided 6 crisis counsels were conducted 6 follow-up contacts 2 from-shelter-to-hospital transports for mental health evaluation 1 received bus ticket and escort to bus station

Taliaferro County: 4 victims and their children served 2 needs assessments were completed 1 crisis call was taken 2 counseling referrals

2 crisis counsels were conducted 4 follow-up contacts 1 transported/assisted in filing TPO

Outreach services provided to the above counties consisted of support groups, Morgan and Greene County Interagency and Family Connection Meetings, as well as attending a Morgan County Domestic Violence Task Force Meeting. During the latter meeting, the task force identified and requested a video to aid in their ongoing outreach services within their county. Greene County Family Violence Council is providing two copies of the video through DHR funds. The next Morgan County Domestic Violence Task Force meeting is scheduled in February 2003. A meeting is scheduled in January in Taliaferro County to develop training for law enforcement, first responders, and the fire department on domestic violence issues and their response to domestic violence situations.

Other outreach services include contacting the Greene County, Morgan County, and Taliaferro County Sheriff Departments on behalf of clients in their jurisdiction. Also, the Ford Motor Company was approached for a donation to the shelter and was successful in obtaining a $1,000.00 donation earmarked for a vehicle fund. Staff hopes to raise funds to buy a vehicle strictly for transporting clients. To date, $1,125.00 has been raised toward the fund. A Spanish-speaking volunteer was recruited to serve as a translator for increasing Hispanic population in the jurisdiction. Also, four companies have been contacted regarding grant possibilities.

Victims Compensation is another area of outreach the Rural Project Coordinator has actively promoted to assist victims of domestic violence. Staff with the Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program met with Rural Project Coordinator and assisted in familiarizing the Coordinator with the information needed when applications are filed on victims' behalf. Ten victims have been assisted in completing the compensation applications. Also, the coordinator met with the Piedmont Regional Office regarding legal referrals.

The Rural Project Coordinator attended five Interagency Meetings, two of which the Coordinator took and transcribed minutes. These meetings addressed concerns and discussed early intervention for juveniles in trouble as identified by the Judge, Department of Juvenile Justice, school counselors, teachers, etc.

Although the primary service is Green, Morgan, and Taliaferro Counties, many clients were assisted from other counties:

Baldwin: Bibb: Clarke:

5 victims and their children 1 victim children and pregnant 1 victim and child

Clayton: DeKalb:
Hancock: Jasper: Newton: Putnum:

1 victim 1 crisis call which resulted in contacting DeKalb County Sheriff's DV Unit 2 victims and their children 2 victims, one with children 1 victim with child 6 victims, all but one with children

Services for the above counties included crisis calls, intakes, need assessments, crisis counseling, referrals to parenting classes, counseling, OB/GYN, medical, TANF, job and housing. Many transports took place because victims were without transportation and were seeking housing in other counties. One victim and her son were provided shelter and bus tickets to another state. Two victims, one with two children, decided on housing in Greene County. The Rural Project Coordinator followed-up with counselors on all referrals made on clients' behalf, as well as meeting with both Greene and Morgan County Mental Health.