FIA director delivers speech at MDVPTB 25th anniversary reception to renew Governor Granholm's commitment to address domestic violence and sexual assault.
In her keynote speech at the MDVPTB 25th anniversary reception, Family Independence Agency (FIA) Director, Nannette Bowler described violence against women and children as a non-partisan issue and encouraged everyone to participate in efforts to prevent it. "Chances are we may not be able to solve some of the other social problems our society faces until we stop violence in our homes and put an end to the current reality that women and children are more at risk from those who say they love them than they are from being alone on the street at 2 a.m.," stated Bowler. "Let's work together and keep moving forward toward the day when all Michigan citizens are free from the chains of domestic and sexual violence."

The reception May 7 was held in the Capitol rotunda and attracted a broad cross section of leaders. Representative Michael G. Sak presented the Board and its staff with a special tribute in honor and congratulations for the Board's work toward ending domestic and sexual violence in Michigan over the past 25 years. Governor Granholm, Lt. Governor Cherry, Attorney General Mike Cox and Sak all signed the certificate.

Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Markman and Attorney General Michael Cox also spoke, commenting on the critical role of law enforcement and the courts in increasing safety for victims and holding perpetrators accountable. Senate Democratic Floor Leader, Mark Schauer and Representative Gene DeRossett both commended the Board and its staff for its dedicated work and encouraged us all to continue our efforts in this area.

At the ceremony, MDVPTB awarded the Honorable Edward Sosnick, Oakland County Circuit Court Judge and member of the MDVPTB and Kate Young, former Executive Director to the MDVPTB in recognition and gratitude for their years of service in working to end domestic and sexual violence.

MDVPTB would like to thank all who have partnered with us over the last 25 years. Many significant changes have occurred and we look forward to continuing what we all have started.

Healing Through the Arts forum deemed a success.
The Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC) facilitated community assessments and hosted a forum in Detroit on February 20 and 21 as part of its national campaign to better understand and prevent domestic violence in African American communities.

The Institute conducted six focus groups simultaneously. The focus groups assessed Detroit African American community perspectives on domestic violence in an effort to better understand them. The local planning committee worked for more than six months to identify individuals who were willing to participate in the assessments.

The Detroit assessment is part of IDVAAC's national study, Community Insights on Domestic Violence in African American Communities. In addition to Detroit, community focus groups have also been held in San Francisco/Oakland, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Seattle, Memphis, Birmingham (AL), and Philadelphia. The analysis for San Francisco/Oakland has been published and is available from IDVAAC or the Michigan Resource Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence. The report reflects perceptions of the types, causes, and consequences of, as well as barriers and solutions to, domestic violence in African American relationships.

On the second day of the event IDVAAC convened a forum entitled, Exploring How Black Pop Culture Mediums Can Serve as Intervention Strategies to Address Domestic Violence in the African American Community. Dr. Haki R. Madhubut, professor and director emeritus of the Gwendolyn Brooks Center at Chicago State University; Ms. asha bandele, editor-at-large for Essence magazine and others engaged in a dialogue about using non-traditional, culturally relevant strategies and tools for outreach, education and training that relates to African American communities. Nearly 200 people from around the state of Michigan and elsewhere attended the one-day conference in downtown Detroit.

The Healing Through the Arts & the Media: Ending Domestic Violence in the African American Community Forum enjoyed support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services, and the Office of Women's Health; MDVPTB; and Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Governor Granholm announces Full Faith & Credit trainings have started as part of the Grants to Encourage Arrest.
Governor Granholm announced the first of 12 one-day trainings on Michigan law implementing the Full Faith & Credit provisions of the federal Violence Against Women Act took place in Detroit on May 6. The training for law enforcement officers, prosecutors, court personnel, and domestic violence service providers covered a broad range of laws and procedures for handling issues of personal protection orders that cross boundaries of states, federal and tribal jurisdictions or pose other unique problems. Participants received comprehensive training materials, including samples of protection orders from other states and Indian tribes.

The trainings are funded by $750,000 in federal Grants to Encourage Arrests (GTEA) awarded to the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board last September by the U.S. Department of Justice. They are presented by MDVPTB in partnership with the United States Attorneys Offices for the Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan, the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES), the Michigan Attorney General's Office, the Michigan Indian Judges Association, and the Michigan Judicial Institute. MCOLES credit is available to law enforcement officers. Eleven additional trainings are scheduled from June through November at locations throughout Michigan. Click here for training dates, locations and registration information. Or call Marcia Beatty at the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan to register: (517) 334-6060.

Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange work begins.
On May 1st, the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (MDVPTB) convened representatives from all the Michigan pilot projects of the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange program.

The federally funded project will develop model protocols and policies and put them into practice at four supervised visitation centers that service the six counties of Jackson, Muskegon, Oakland, Grand Traverse, Antrim and Leelanau: Child and Parent Center, Every Woman's Place, HAVEN Inc. and Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan.

Michigan was awarded $1.1 million as one of four demonstration projects in the country. MDVPTB will convene a statewide advisory group; provide training for the collaborative partners and other local court personnel; facilitate training sessions on safety audits and domestic violence; provide technical assistance and support services to collaborative partners; establish a resource center specifically for supervised visitation and exchange information; and develop and maintain a supervised visitation Web site.

For additional information please contact Shelia Hankins, Project Director, at (517) 335-3985.

Michigan State Police begin offering dating violence education.
The Michigan State Police (MSP) will begin offering dating violence education in Michigan high schools beginning fall 2003. The dating violence module, funded by and written in consultation with the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board is part of MSP's Training, Educating, and Mentoring (T.E.A.M.) School Liaison Program. T.E.A.M. is a proactive effort to increase safety in Michigan schools and communities and promote students' understanding of relevant laws, consequences of unlawful behavior and responsible citizenship.

The dating violence module was presented and modeled during MSP's May 19 conference entitled, "Dating Violence…It is a Big Deal." Law enforcement participants were provided with the dating violence module as well as accompanying posters and a video. Officers are encouraged to start teaching the lesson in Michigan high schools beginning this fall.

On June 9-13, MSP will hold a T.E.A.M School Liaison Program train-the-trainer course for local law enforcement and MSP officers. The officers will be specifically trained on how to present the dating violence module to students. For more information, call Sgt. Michele Hernandez: (517) 333-4006.

Michigan FIA director addresses dating violence
Nannette Bowler, the new director of Michigan's Family Independence Agency has been an advocate for children and families for well over 20 years, since she was an assistant prosecutor in Kent County. To take on her new role, she left a position as the director of the MSU Chance at Childhood Program. MDVPTB e-Report asked Bowler to share her thoughts about dating violence.

I am very gratified that the state of Michigan has recognized the dangers of dating violence and has put in place laws that give survivors of dating violence many of the same protections we give survivors of domestic violence.

The fact is that young people are at risk - women between the ages of 16-24 are the most vulnerable to intimate partner violence, according to one national study. Another study found that one in five female high school students reported being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. The repercussions of these statistics reverberate through a lifetime, because dating relationships are the training ground for lifetime commitments. Dating violence threatens the potential for teenagers to grow into healthy, solid and safe partners and families.

The good news is that we can do something about this issue, and we are. Batterers can change if they choose to change. The earlier we can reach youths, the better our chances of preventing future dating and domestic violence. That is why we are focusing our efforts on educational efforts such as these:

• Last fall the MDVPTB distributed the Dating Violence Youth Education Package to every public and private high school in the state. Schools are encouraged to work in concert with their local domestic violence program to implement the package with students.
• This year, participating movie theaters in Adrian, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Mt. Pleasant will be screening awareness and prevention announcements before feature films - putting these important messages where youths and young adults are likely to see them.
• Next fall, the Michigan State Police will begin offering its own module on dating violence as part of its Training, Educating, and Mentoring School Liaison Program.
• Right now, anyone may order a free brochure, "A Relationship is No Place for Violence," outlining warning signs, abusive indicators, how to help a friend, rights in dating relationships and resource options. MDVPTB created the brochure in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Women's Commission.

It is important that we direct these educational efforts toward all teenagers, because when someone becomes a victim, she is most likely to turn first to a peer for support. According to a publication from the Arizona Coalition Against Domestic Violence only one out of 25 victims of dating violence ever seeks the help of a teacher, police officer or counselor. That's why MDVPTB's dating violence materials include very important tips for friends helping friends and part of that help is always to look for adult resources in the school or community.

We have a lot of work to do on this critical issue and I look forward to moving ahead to improve our responses to dating violence victims and perpetrators and preventing these tragic crimes from happening in the first place.

Board profile: James A. Fink
The Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board's mission requires it to take a leadership role pulling together expertise from different disciplines. To that end, the seven members of the Board, appointed by the Governor, are chosen based on the depth of their experience in this multidisciplinary field. Upcoming e-Reports will provide a short profile of Board members, starting with Chairperson James A. Fink.

"Jim brings tremendous leadership to the Board," said Nannette Bowler, director of the Family Independence Agency. "Clearly, his 20-plus years of experience working with these issues and the fact that he offers both a law enforcement and legal perspective lend a vision and momentum to the work of the Board. His collaborative style and integrity set a positive tone with other Board members, staff and partnering organizations."

Fink's experience working on issues of domestic and sexual violence began more than 20 years ago when he was an officer in the Eastern Michigan University Police Department. He was then hired by the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department and quickly stepped up the ranks until he was promoted to Commander. Throughout this time, he served on many county task forces and committees addressing issues of domestic and sexual violence.

His reputation as a highly effective advocate for change in issues of domestic and sexual violence began to push the boundaries of Washtenaw County. He served on numerous statewide committees and advisory groups including: the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards/MDVPTB Training Curriculum and Model Policy Committees; MDVPTB/Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan Personal Protection Order Implementation Committee; and the Michigan Judicial Institute's Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Benchbooks Review Committees.

In 1998, Fink left the Sheriff's Department to join the Ann Arbor law firm of Reach, Ranney and Carpenter. He has been chair of the MDVPTB since 1999.

"Jim Fink's leadership in modeling and promoting an effective spirit of collaboration has greatly enhanced the progress made in intervening and preventing domestic and sexual violence in Michigan," said Mary Keefe, executive director of the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. "His skill in forging common ground among groups and individuals with differing perspectives has significantly contributed to the enactment of critical legislative and public policy initiatives benefiting survivors in our state."

"Jim has been a consistent and steadfast presence in the efforts to end domestic and sexual violence in Washtenaw County," said David Garvin, director of Alternatives to Domestic Aggression and president-elect of the Batterers Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan. "Citizens of our state can rest assured that the Chair of the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board is a compassionate, knowledgeable and collaborative leader. In essence, I think of Jim as a cop with the heart of a social worker."

What's Ahead: MDVPTB will distribute a Batterer Intervention Standards brochure
Later this summer the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (MDVPTB) will be distributing a brochure describing batterer intervention standards to judges and other court staff. The brochure is an outgrowth from a task force effort that created a reference document entitled "Batterer Intervention Standards for the State of Michigan" that outlines the standards for providing batterer treatment in domestic violence cases. The brochure will provide a brief outline of the standards and programmatic components as well as a section dedicated to critical considerations for judges.

The MDVPTB e-Report is developed and written by the Michigan Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board (MDVPTB) in association with Mort Crim Communications, Inc..

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