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

mestic violence issues in their work, as well as supplyinginformation to the public on domestic violence. Belowis a summary of educational events sponsored by thedepartment in partnership with various agencies.Batterer Intervention Programs (BIP)Continuing education is an integral component ofthe minimum standards and the Domestic ViolenceProgram Office is committed to assisting battererintervention program staff and assessors in meetingtheir training and educational requirements. As part ofthis commitment, the department collaborated withthe Coalition of Batterers’Intervention Programs inFlorida to conduct the annualmeeting and trainingfor certified providers in AltamonteSprings on February8-9, 2006. This annual eventprovides an opportunity forproviders to exchange ideasand hold discussions onmany topics including policies,procedures, accountability,and victim safety.In addition to the annualmeeting, the departmentprovided a regional trainingto BIP providers on Buildinga Coordinated CommunityResponse to DomesticViolence, presented by theDomestic Abuse InterventionProject. This training washeld on Sanibel Island on December2, 2005. Communityactivists, domestic violencefatality review teams, domesticviolence workers, criminaljustice professionals, child welfare workers, and otherswere invited to attend as well.Child WelfareOn October 20, 2005, the department, in partnershipwith the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence,hosted a one-day workshop in Orlando to commemoratethe 1st National Day of Unity, which was firstcelebrated 25 years ago. Domestic violence advocatesand child welfare professionals gathered to discusshow they could work collaboratively to protect andserve victims and their children exposed to domesticviolence. The program also featured The Yellow Dresstheatrical presentation and a lecture by Lydia Walker, anationally known speaker and trainer.Additionally, on June 22, 2006, the Domestic ViolenceProgram Office sponsored a one-day training event,in Ocala, Florida designed to bring together domesticviolence advocates and child welfare professionals todiscuss how a coordinated community response assiststhose providing services to women and their childrenwho are victims of domestic violence. Graham Barnesand Rose Thelen of theDomestic Abuse InterventionProject facilitated theevent. More than 170 multidisciplinaryprofessionalsattended the training andthe department was able toprovide travel reimbursementto 24 individuals.Florida Coalition AgainstDomestic Violence (FCADV)The FCADV providednumerous professionaltraining and technical assistanceservices to domesticviolence programs, lawenforcement, social services,the judiciary, the healthcare fields, and others. Publiceducation on domesticviolence was held throughconferences, seminars, institutes,and presentations.The Coalition’s educationalgoals are to:• Strengthen direct service provision to victims of domesticviolence who receive welfare;• Increase domestic violence center and economicservice staffs’ understanding of domestic violence;• Strengthen the ability of domestic violence centers,law enforcement agencies, medical personnel andcommunity based organizations to meet the needsof rural and underserved victims of domestic violence;and• Increase victim safety by enhancing the competency ofattorneys representing victims of domestic violence.Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-200643