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

Florida Council Against Sexual Violence(FCASV)Every two and a half minutes, somewhere in America,someone is sexually assaulted. The Rape Abuse andIncest National Network (RAINN) reports one in sixAmerican women are victims of sexual assault with approximately59 percent of those assaults never reportedto police. Contrary to the belief that rapists are hidingin the bushes or in the shadows of the parking garage,almost two-third of all rapes are committed by someonewho is known to the victim, with 28 percent committedby an intimate partner.The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV) isthe statewide non-profit agency that serves as Florida’scoordinating body advancing the issue of sexual violencein the state. The mission of FCASV is to lead, educate,advocate, serve, and network on behalf of individualsimpacted by sexual violence. This mission is accomplishedthrough the efforts of its network members and the dailywork of its staff. FCASV provides training, communityawareness, public policy advisory and technical assistancearound specific service delivery issues to Florida’s rapecrisis centers through an annual conference and specifictraining initiatives. Service to underserved populationshas been an important aspect of this training initiative.The department contracts with FCASV to provide technicalassistance and training to the rape crisis centersand to expand and enhance services to victims of sexualviolence. During FY 2005-2006, FCASV received $229,346in funding from the STOP Violence Against Womengrant program. Sexual violence victims require a varietyof services in response to the many issues and systemsinvolved in this crime. Sexual assault advocates and alliedprofessionals must be well educated regarding the needsof sexual assault victims. To meet this need, the followinggoals have been addressed: 1) improving Florida’s sexualviolence programs, including development of resourcesand services; 2) collaborating with agencies from manydifferent fields, including prosecutors, law enforcement,social workers and medical professionals, to advance theissue of sexual violence; 3) providing up-to-date informationand training to Florida’s professionals; 4) raisingpublic awareness about the impact of sexual violence; 5)working with policy makers on issues that affect sexualviolence survivors and the programs that serve them; and6) supporting the reduction of the risk of sexual violencethrough prevention education and through increasedprosecution and criminal justice system accountability forperpetrators.As a statewide organization, FCASV has the opportunityto provide high quality, up-to-date training on issues ofsexual violence through an annual conference, on-sitetechnical assistance, and specific training initiatives.An annual Leadership Forum is coordinated by FCASVto serve as a resource for the leaders of Florida’s sexualviolence programs including such topics as resourcedevelopment, service standards and legislative updates,and enhancing services to sexual violence victims withdisabilities, particularly the developmentally disabled.Additionally, regional meetings allow sexual violenceprogram staff to share their best practices with each otherand to network with allied service providers and providersof similar services in their local areas.Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association(FPAA)The FPAA is a nonprofit corporation of the twenty electedState Attorneys, created to serve the needs of prosecutors.The primary function of the Association’s office isto educate through seminars, publications, and technicalsupport. The department contracts with the FPAA toprovide technical assistance, training, and newslettersto state prosecutors, victim advocates, law enforcement,and investigators who are assigned to domestic violenceand sex crimes units in State Attorney Offices and in otherrelated criminal justice agencies. The FPAA is a valuableresource for state prosecutors on complex topics suchas domestic violence, sex crimes, the civil commitmentof the sexually violent predator, juveniles as domesticviolence perpetrators, the proper utilization of DNA evidence,effectively prosecuting stalking crimes, domesticviolence homicide prosecution, and sex offender registrationlaws.Florida prosecutors and domestic violence experts begana public awareness campaign in November 2003 todeliver the message that spousal abuse in the home hasa negative impact on children. The campaign is aimedat preventing domestic violence before it starts throughpublic information announcements. The advertisementencourages victims, family members, and friends to getinformation about the signs of abuse and report domesticviolence by calling the toll free number (800) 500-1119.The campaign provides the public with information aboutthe adverse effects domestic violence has on children.During FY 2005-2006, FPAA received $128,937 throughfunding from the STOP Violence Against Women grantprogram. In addition, fifteen of the twenty State Attorneys’Offices received individual funding from the STOP52 Domestic Violence Annual Report 2005-2006