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Posted on September 6, 2011 by Susan
Lummi Victims of Crime (LVOC) is hosting its annual Journey to Healing this Saturday, September 10, 2011 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
The Journey to Healing is intended to raise awareness both of breast cancer (September is Breast Cancer Awareness Month) and domestic violence (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month).
You can choose between several distances including a 5k, 10k, and half-marathon (13.1 miles), and can walk, run, bike, skate, or scoot your way through the event.
The Journey to Healing will start at intersection of Black Hawk Lane and Lummi View Drive, on the Lummi Indian Reservation. There is a suggested donation of $20, and you will receive a sweatshirt for your efforts in the event. There will also be tribal drum groups playing along the route to keep you motivated.
For more information about this event, or to register, contact Lummi Victims of Crime at 360.384.2285.
Lummi Victims of Crime is a program designed to help any adult or adolescent who has been affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse, assault & battery, homicide, child abuse and/or sexual assault. They provide culturally-specific services to Native American victims of crime through their 24-hour help line as well as through their office. Their services include crisis counseling, legal advocacy, safety planning, information and referrals, support groups, a shelter, community education, therapeutic referrals, and traditional healing.
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Posted on July 29, 2011 by Susan
Each year, the DV Commission grants the Outstanding Achievement Award to honor an individual or group (such as a family, business, or organization) who has made a significant contribution to addressing the problem of domestic violence in Whatcom County through services, awareness activities, prevention efforts, leadership, or heroic deeds. The person or group being nominated must live or work in Whatcom County.
The winner of the award will be recognized by the DV Commission at our annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month Vigil on Thursday, October 6 at 6:00. For more information about this event, click here.
Please take the time to think about someone you know who has gone above and beyond to respond to or end domestic violence in our communities – and then tell us about that person or group. To nominate someone for the 2011 Outstanding Achievement Award, please download the nomination form, fill it out, and return it to Meaghan Connell by email or fax (360.312.5770) by Friday, August 19.
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Posted on June 15, 2011 by Susan
The BWCCADV has identified outreach to the media as a priority this year. (See our previous article, Making Domestic Violence Visible, for more information.)
DV Commission members and staff will be approaching local media publications throughout Whatcom County to discuss ways to best cover domestic violence in our communities.
Specifically, we will be asking media publications to:
1. Clearly label domestic violence acts in both the headline and text of the article.
2. Place the incidents in the fuller context of domestic violence in Whatcom County, using the DV Commission as an expert source as needed.
3. Provide information on how victims and perpetrators can get help in our community.
Stay tuned for information on the media’s response to our request, and for links to articles covering domestic-violence related crimes, which can be analyzed for their compliance with best-practice media coverage.
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Posted on June 2, 2011 by Susan
Verizon Wireless is conducting a national campaign to collect no-longer-being-used cellular phones. Verizon will reprogram each phone with 3000 minutes, and phone numbers for 911 and the national domestic violence hotline. They will then distribute the phones to domestic violence organizations to pass on to victims who need a phone for their safety.
As part of this campaign, Verizon is offering a reward to the County that collects the most cell phones. The Ferndale Police Department, in partnership with the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence, is taking the lead on cell phone collection for Whatcom County, and has distributed collection boxes throughout the County. Collection continues through June 10th.
The County with the most cell phones collected will win $10,000 for domestic violence victim services in their County, and will be nationally recognized at a ceremony in San Diego. Currently, Whatcom County is in the lead in this national campaign, and we have until June 10th to continue to collect the most phones and earn this funding for our community’s efforts to respond to domestic violence.
Please donate your unused cell phones to this really important cause to help victims of domestic violence be safe, and to help Whatcom County win resources and recognition for our work to respond to and prevent domestic violence.
Phones can be donated at the following locations:
Bellingham:
- DSHS Children’s Administration, 1720 Ellis St
- DSHS Community Service Office, 4101 Meridian
- Bellingham City Hall, 210 Lottie Street
- Bellingham Municipal Court, 2014 C Street
- Bellingham Police Department, 505 Grand Avenue
- Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, 311 Grand Avenue
- Western Washington University (Campus Services Building), 2001 Bill McDonald Parkway
- Western Washington University (Student Life), Viking Union 506
- Western Washington University, Old Main 563US
- Border Patrol, 2745 McLeod Rd
- Sehome High School, 2700 Bill McDonald Parkway
- Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood, 1530 Ellis Street
- Opportunity Council, 1111 Cornwall Ave
Ferndale:
- Ferndale City Hall, 2095 Main Street
- Alcoa, 4050 Mountain View Rd
- Conoco Phillips
- Haggen, 1815 Main Street
- Ferndale High School, 5830 Golden Eagle Drive
- Tru-Value, 2000 Main Street
- Ace Hardware, 5715 4th Avenue
- Elie Samuel Furniture, 1904 Main Street
- Ferndale School District, 6041 Vista Drive
- Ferndale Cost Cutter, 1750 Labounty Drive
Sumas:
- Sumas Police Department, 433 Cherry Street
Lynden:
- Lynden Police Department, 203 19th Street
Everson:
- Everson Police Department, 109 W. Main Street
If you would like to have your office become a collection site for this campaign, email the BWCCADV or call (360) 312-5700.
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Posted on May 9, 2011 by Susan
Domestic violence is an invisible issue in our communities, and the only way to end this problem is by participation of all community members – including businesses and organizations – in our efforts to shed light on and respond appropriately to the issue.
One critical partner in addressing domestic violence is the media. Because this is a way that many people learn about the community around them, the media can shine a spotlight on the impact that domestic violence has on individuals who live where we live. It is especially important that the media be a community partner in responding to high-lethality domestic violence incidents, such as those involving attempted homicide, and homicide.
According to the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV), a study in the State of Washington showed that media reports of domestic violence often fail to:
- Identify or label the act as a domestic violence crime and place the crime in the larger context of domestic violence locally.
- Provide accurate information about the nature of domestic violence. Instead, coverage often reinforces myths about domestic violence.
- Utilize experts as sources for stories. Sources often shape the stories, and were often limited or poorly chosen.
Similar issues have been noted by members of the BWCCADV related to local media.
WSCADV offers the following tips for accurately covering domestic violence related crimes in the media.
- Place the crime in the context of domestic violence using local experts (in Whatcom County, that includes the BWCCADV).
- Acknowledge that domestic violence is not a private matter.
- Look into prior history of domestic violence, and let the story evolve.
- Convey that domestic violence is a pattern of behavior that often escalates when a victims is trying to leave, or has left, the relationship.
- Illustrate the warnings signs of an abusive relationship.
- When interviewing a domestic violence survivor, consider the safety and confidentiality needs of the interviewee.
WSCADV further offers the following tips regarding what to avoid when the media covers domestic violence crimes.
- Avoid calling domestic violence a “relationship problem.”
- Do not focus on the victim’s behavior or use victim-blaming language.
- Do not assume some cultures or classes are violent, and others are not.
- Avoid using sources emotionally connected to the abuser or sources that do not have significant information about the crime or those involved.
- Avoid treating domestic violence crimes as an inexplicable tragedy, beyond the reach of community action.
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Posted on May 2, 2011 by Susan
The Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence (BWCCADV) announced the release of a new Safety Audit report this week that identifies seven primary gaps in procedures and processes involving domestic violence protection orders.
The 2011 Whatcom County Domestic Violence Protection Order Safety and Accountability Audit reviewed the process of civil domestic violence orders for protection and identified areas to improve victim safety and offender accountability. Seven agencies voluntarily participated in the audit, including courts, advocacy organizations and law enforcement.
“We began this audit with a strong foundation. All seven participating agencies are to be commended for opening their offices to the Audit process and for their willingness to continue to strengthen their agency’s response to domestic violence,” said Sue Parrott, BWCCADV Audit coordinator.
Participating agencies include Bellingham Police Department, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services, Ferndale Police Department, Whatcom County District Court, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Whatcom County Superior Court, and Womencare Shelter.
Four of the seven primary gaps include:
- Courthouse and courtroom procedures make it possible for respondents to contact and intimidate petitioners, resulting in safety concerns for petitioners.
- Although the domestic violence protection order process is pro se, it is complex and not all petitioners receive the assistance and support necessary to understand the process and make fully informed decisions.
- Standard and consistent responses to reducing respondent access to firearms in the protection order process are lacking, despite petitioner safety concerns and practitioner knowledge of the dangers of domestic violence and firearms.
- Multiple practices and procedures around service and process of protection orders place victims at risk at a time when the need for safety is actually heightened.
Parrott said Audits like these are crucial to identifying areas where victim safety and offender accountability are compromised. After a thorough look at work practices and routines, a nine-member trained local Audit Team identified nearly 70 recommendations to address the 7 gaps. Some of the recommendations made by the Audit Team contained in the report include:
- Courts, law enforcement and domestic violence agencies should collectively review existing security procedures in courthouse/courtrooms and make and implement any additional recommendations to enhance safety.
- Community based domestic violence agencies should consider finding ways to offer services to petitioners who have not reached out for advocacy services.
- Whatcom County should establish a Domestic Violence Protection Order and Firearms work group to develop preferred practices for all relevant practitioners, to include the development of any forms related to compliance that puts responsibility on the respondent.
- Law enforcement agencies should develop written procedures for service of protection orders.
- Superior and District Courts should work together to secure the resources to restore staffing at Assigned Counsel in order that District Court domestic violence protection order petitioners, at minimum, can receive assistance from the Office of Assigned Counsel again.
The BWCCADV will work with the audited agencies to implement these recommendations.
The complete 2011 Whatcom County Domestic Violence Protection Order Safety and Accountability Audit Report can be found on the Domestic Violence Commission’s web site at www.dvcommission.org (under Assets).
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Posted on April 25, 2011 by Susan
In 1997, a teenage girl in Italy was picked up by her 45-year-old driving instructor for her first lesson. He took her to an isolated location, pulled her out of the car and forcefully raped her. Despite threats that she would be killed if she told anyone, the girl reported the incident, and the case was prosecuted. The driving instructor was convicted of rape and sentenced to jail.
Months later, the perpetrator appealed the sentence, and the case made it all the way to the Italian Supreme Court. The case against the driving instructor was overturned,and the perpetrator was released.
In a statement released by the Head Judge, he stated, “because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans, it was no longer rape but consensual sex.”
Outraged by the verdict, the women in the Italian Parliament began what started out as a protest against the court case by wearing jeans to work. This led to an annual international demonstration known as Denim Day. The wearing of jeans became an international symbol of protest against erroneous and destructive attitudes about sexual assault.
To participate in Whatcom County’s Denim Day on Friday, April 29, 2011, wear jeans all day long, tell your friends and family to wear their denim throughout the day,and encourage your place of employment to designate the date as Denim Day for the entire workplace. To register your workplace and be recognized for your efforts to raise awareness about sexual assault, go to www.dvsas.org/denimday.
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Posted on April 19, 2011 by Susan
The BWCCADV will present an educational forum on Elder Abuse and the Abuse of Vulnerable Populations on Tuesday, April 26th from 2:00 pm until 4:30 pm.
The forum will be held at the Ferndale WECU (Whatcom Educational Credit Union) Community Meeting room, 5659 Barrett Rd, Ferndale.
The forum is free of charge for most participants, though there will be a small fee for those who would like Continuing Education Units (CEUs) or Continuing Legal Education (CLEs).
To attend the forum, contact Juliet Thompson by email or by phone at (360) 312-5700 x 204 by Friday, April 22nd.
According to the recommendations in the 2004 Survey of Adult Protective Services: Abuse of Adults 60 Years of Age and Older, published by the National Center on Elder Abuse, education about elder abuse should be expanded to a larger population to include potential reporters of abuse such as agents, postal service workers, utility workers, and hospital discharge planners so that the signs of abuse can be easily recognized. To speak to this aspect of elder abuse, we have invited Alice Robb, a founding co-op member of the Circle of Life Caregiver Co-operative, who will talk on recognizing the signs of elder abuse.
Jim Dolan, Esq. will cover the tools available to protect vulnerable and elderly adults. Jim worked as a prosecutor in the Skagit County Prosecutor’s Office until 2004. Since then, he has worked in private practice in Whatcom, Island, Snohomish, and (mostly) Skagit Counties, with an emphasis on estate and care planning, protection of vulnerable adults, guardianships, and probate. Most recently, he submitted a proposal to the National Council for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and was awarded a start-up grant to establish the Skagit Elder Alliance, a grass roots community group advocating for the prevention of abuse and exploitation of elders.
And finally, Jeff Quigley will speak on the role of Adult Protective Services, and enforcement of laws to protect elders in Washington State. He will also cover ethical decision making and when and how to make a report on abuse.
The top ten sources for reporting elder abuse are listed below. The Other category is composed primarily of the types of workers mentioned above; those that may come across vulnerable populations on an occasional or a regular basis.
Table 6: Top Ten Sources for Reports for Adults 60 and over
| Family Members |
17.0% |
| Social Services Agency Staff |
10.6% |
| Friends/ Neighbors |
8.0 % |
| Long Term Care Facility Staff |
5.5% |
| Self |
6.3% |
| Law Enforcement |
5.3% |
| Nurses/Nurses Aides |
4.7% |
| Anonymous |
3.8% |
| Home Health Staff |
2.9% |
| Physicians |
1.4% |
| Other |
22.8% |
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Posted on March 21, 2011 by Susan
Cutting edge practices to ensure that victims have access to and safety throughout the order for protection process are being brought to Whatcom County.
Sue Parrott, Program Supervisor for the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence (BWCCADV), traveled to Phoenix, Arizona this March to meet with leaders and thinkers from throughout the nation. At this two-day meeting, organized by the National Council on Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) in partnership with the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), these leaders, including the BWCCADV’s Sue Parrott, discussed ways to implement the best-practice Civil Protection Order Guide that was recently published by the NCJFCJ. Participants at the meeting included judges, court staff, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and national advocacy organizations.
Sue’s participation in this national meeting allowed her, and thus Whatcom County, to be a part of new and exciting efforts to truly remove barriers to victims of domestic violence receiving the protection and safety they need from our court systems. Sue will be able to use the information she gained as she works to implement some of the recommendations of the Civil Protection Order Guide in the communities of Whatcom County.
Sue was invited to participate in the national discussion because of her expertise and experience working to improve the response of the civil and criminal justice systems to victims of domestic violence. Sue has worked with the BWCCADV since its inception more than 12 years ago, first as its Director, and now as its Program Supervisor. Sue’s work and expertise have been nationally recognized by the NCJFCJ as well as the Battered Women’s Justice Project and Praxis International.
By being a part of the national discussion, Sue is gleaning critical information for our local efforts, and is also helping the national movement by contributing the knowledge and experience that we have in Whatcom County to the work of other regions throughout the country. As a result, she has been a part of forming best-practice policy not only for Whatcom County, but also nationwide.
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Posted on March 21, 2011 by Susan
Did you know that half of the fatalities in Whatcom County in 2010 were domestic violence related? These homicides took place in the communities of Bellingham, Everson, Maple Falls, and Sumas.
Whatcom County has experienced an unusual spike in domestic violence related fatalities over the past two years, with an especially difficult year in 2010. From 1997 through 2008, there were generally either one or zero intimate partner homicides in Whatcom County, with the only exception being in 2002, when there were two. Then, in 2009 there were two intimate partner homicides, and four more in 2010.
In the State of Washington, there were 37 victims of intimate partner homicides in 2010. The youngest victim was age 19, and was killed by her boyfriend; the oldest victim was 89, and was killed by her husband. There were 2 pregnant women killed, and 10 children witnessed a domestic violence murder. These homicides took place in 30 cities and towns across 16 counties.
After King and then Pierce, Whatcom had the highest number of intimate partner homicides in the State of Washington in 2010. King County had 9 homicides, Pierce County had 5.
Whatcom County is known for being a community that is dedicated to responding to and ending domestic violence. Since the inception of the Bellingham-Whatcom County Commission Against Domestic Violence (BWCCADV) in 1998, the County and its communities have received a national reputation for collaborative efforts between the civil and criminal justice systems, advocates, social service agencies, health care providers, businesses, and other community members.
When a victim of domestic violence is murdered by her/his intimate partner, it is an indication that all of our best efforts have failed, and there is no way for us to go back and make things right for that victim. These tragedies can only be addressed by going forward – which does involve an element of looking back to see where we can be even better.
Because our community is so committed to reducing all domestic violence, especially high-lethality domestic violence, the BWCCADV has decided to conduct a formal fatality review of several of the domestic violence homicides from 2010. We will look at cases that have already been fully prosecuted, and we will follow a legislatively-sanctioned process that prevents liability for any participants in the process. This ensures the ability of all of our community partners to fully take part in the process. The goal will be to take an in-depth look at the circumstances victims faced, who they asked for help, and the responses they were provided, with the constant focus on protecting victims in the future.
By conducting a fatality review, we will be using our past failures as a way to provide recommendations and opportunities for future success. It is also a way for us to honor the victims who we were unable to protect – by learning more about their stories and experiences, we can work to prevent lethal incidents of domestic violence in the future.
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