Ending Abuse—Improving Lives - Florida Department of Children ...

in May 2006. One hundred and fifty-four participants attendedthis fourteen-hour institute.FCADV published and distributed 1,200 updated copies ofthe directory of Florida certified domestic violence centersduring this year’s conference. The FCADV library added fortynew books and seven new videos relating to women’s health,teen dating relationships, and children’s issues. The Coalition’swebsite, www.FCADV.org was updated to reflect the mostrecent statistical, staff, and training information.Statewide Rural InitiativeA focus on increased rural services resulted in the competitivedistribution of funds in rural communities including Lake,Sumter, Nassau, Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty,Madison, Taylor, Wakulla, Sarasota, St. Johns, DeSoto, andPasco Counties. Successful applicants provided 54 domesticand sexual violence trainings, including six trainings onelder domestic violence, twelve trainings on domestic andsexual violence in Hispanic communities, and six trainingson domestic and sexual violence in African American communities.Because of this funding, 1,154 victims receivedoutreach services, 266 victims received injunction assistance,830 victims received safety plans, and 190 supportgroup meetings were conducted during the contract year.FCADV designed and distributed twenty-seven articles,12,131 brochures, and 949 posters about domestic andsexual violence to rural communities. Twelve technicalassistance visits were provided to private, public, and localcommunity organizations regarding shelter programs andother related topics including lack of transportation, taskforce training, injunctions, and confidentiality. The annualrural conference “Behind Closed Doors” was held March7-9, 2006 in Lake City, Florida. The conference had 184participants who attended workshops and trainings thatincluded topics on human trafficking, working with peoplewith disabilities, domestic violence and substance abuse,domestic violence in the elder community, and workingwith migrant populations. The conference offered specializedlaw enforcement, medical, and child advocacy tracks,as well as a general interest track.Statewide Legal Initiative and Legal HotlineFCADV provided 5,234 individual legal consultations tovictims of domestic violence and sexual assault duringFY 2005-2006. Representation was provided in injunctionhearings to 1,515 victims of domestic and sexual violence.FCADV responded to 538 technical assistance requests bylegal Clearinghouse attorneys. Issues addressed includedinjunctions for domestic, sexual, and dating violence; civiland criminal contempt; immigration; trafficking; custody;relocation; legislative updates; confidentiality and privilege;unified family courts; appeals; case law updates; andClearinghouse Project contracts. FCADV presented its Clerkof Court training on March 29 in Miami, Florida. FCADV conducteda courtroom decorum training at FCADV’s AnnualConference on May 17 in Orlando, Florida.FCADV collaborated with the Florida Immigrant AdvocacyCenter (FIAC) to provide onsite training to legal serviceproviders and domestic violence advocates on assistingimmigrant victims of domestic violence. A twelve-hourClearinghouse Lawyer Training was provided for Clearinghouseattorneys and advocates on February 16-17 in Tampa,Florida. The FCADV legal initiative responded to 332 technicalassistance requests from certified domestic violencecenter staff. Issues addressed included confidentiality andprivilege, record keeping, duty to report, shelter eviction,unified family courts, immigration, clemency, court staff,Homeless Management Information Strategies (HMIS), housing,liability, children witnessing domestic violence, consentforms, judicial education, public records, expert testimony,client dependency, appeals, legislation and ClearinghouseProject attorneys, and contracts. Statewide legal hotline staffresponded to 2,146 requests for legal advice and domesticviolence-related information. Services were provided to 720Spanish and Creole speaking callers through the domesticviolence hotline and 876 Spanish and Creole speaking callersreceived information and referrals.Statewide Clemency ProjectTen onsite interviews were conducted with incarceratedindividuals regarding their pending or potential clemencycases during FY 2005-2006. Four interviews were conductedwith witnesses associated with current or potential clemencycases in FY 2005-2006. FCADV subcontracted withone paraprofessional to provide 20 hours of assistancein the preparation of client cases for clemency. Additionally,FCADV executed one subcontract with an attorney toprovide twenty hours of pro bono professional services forassisting in the preparation of clemency cases. FCADV’s legalteam completed the Pilot Clemency Training curriculum andpresented it at the statewide rural conference held in Marchin Lake City, Florida. In addition, FCADV conducted oneClemency Training at FCADV’s statewide annual conferenceheld in May in Orlando, Florida.During FY 2005-2006, the project was successful in gainingthe release of one woman from prison. Three other clemencycases currently have hearings scheduled. Additionally,FCADV has identified and evaluated two potential clemencycases.18 Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-2006