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

children. The center is known throughout Florida for itsexemplary program and services.Justice System: Judge Susan Wadsworth Roberts, CircuitJudge for the 10 th Judicial Circuit, Bartow, Floridaand Cheryl Simmers, Family Court Case Coordinator,Polk County, Florida, both received awards in theJudicial System category based on their outstandingcontributions to legal programs. Both Judge Robertsand Ms. Simmers work diligently developing programsand providing services in the justice system that helpprotect thepublic andhold perpetratorsaccountablefor crimesagainstwomen.PublicAwarenessand Education:VerizonWireless, FloridaRegionreceived thePublic AwarenessandEducationAward for itspromotionof awarenessaboutdomestic violence.Verizoncreated andfunded theClothesline Project — over the course of the project,Verizon donated more than $10,000 to shelters acrossFlorida and brought the stories of healing and freedomto many women and children. Since 1995, Verizonhas been working through its Hopeline Programto put wireless products to work to benefit the community.In Florida alone, Verizon has collected morethan 80,000 phones and donated more than $250,000because of this program. Verizon created the “Drawthe Line” program to focus on educating teens aboutunhealthy relationships as they begin to date. VerizonWireless is a public sector company that has pushedthe message that domestic violence is businesses’business. It created a Corporate Summit on DomesticViolence in Jacksonville to bring awareness of the needfor guidelines, policies, and procedures in companies.Verizon will take on allcosts to relocate an employee who is a victim of domesticviolence.The Governor’s Overall service award was bestowedon Domestic Abuse Council, Inc., for its outstandingcontributions to services for women who are victims ofdomestic violence.Congratulations to this year’s winners, finalists and themany other individuals and organizations that remaincommitted to promoting policy and programs that supportending domestic violence and holding perpetratorsaccountable for their crimes.Domestic Violence TrainingThe Domestic Violence Program Office works with andprovides resources to many public and private agenciesto provide domestic violence training. The department iscommitted to ensure that quality education and trainingis provided to professionals who come in contact with do-42 Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-2006