Family Rights, DV Reform Across The Nation

FAVTEA / CAFC Call For Reform Training Conference Major Success.

The Family Violence Treatment & Education Association (FAVTEA) and The California Alliance for Families & Children (CAFC) are pleased to announce that their February 2, 2007 conference, “Domestic Violence: A Call for Reform,” held in Sacramento, California, was a resounding success. Ninety-eight percent of attendees rated the conference positively. The consensus was that the presentations were a timely and refreshing alternative to what is typically offered at domestic violence trainings, and that the information given more accurately reflected the attendees’ actually experiences in the field of domestic violence.

The presentations included the most recent and accurate information on domestic violence. In addition to the serious and ongoing problem of domestic violence upon women, other, less-frequently addressed topics were also addressed, including the problem of female-perpetrated abuse and its effects on male partners and children. The conference addressed the serious problems of false allegations and how restraining orders are increasingly being used a tactical weapon in child custody cases, and the limits of California’s “one-size-fits-all” psychoeducational group model of intervention, with its exaggerated emphasis on male perpetrator/female victim distinctions. Flaws in mandatory arrest policies were addressed by several presenters, including a woman whose husband was convicted of felony spousal abuse despite her passionate objections, and the fact that the incident involved no battering, but rather a case of mutual high conflict with injuries accidentally inflicted. Specific recommendations for policy reforms were offered, and these were very well received.

Donations urgently needed or send a check made out to CAFC and mail to Attn: Paul Stroub 1380 Lead Hill Blvd. Suite 106 Roseville, CA 95661.

For additional information contact: John Hamel johnmhamel@comcast.net or Michael Robinson info@cafcusa.org . For resource material and the most current accurate data on Domestic & Family Violence from national and international experts see: www.nfvlrc.org

CALIFORNIA:

The California Men’s Center San Diego (Men’s Center) successfully staged another pro-equality, pro-family, pro-common sense demonstration last Friday, February 16, 2007. This is our third consecutive protest of the San Diego Domestic Violence Council’s Men’s Leadership Forum (anti-men) annual one day conference, the theme of which is always “What can men do to end their violence against women” rather than something like “What can each of us do to end our violence against each other”. This year’s related poster, a few thousand copies of which will be scattered throughout San Diego, has pictures of supposed community leaders, all men, with a quote from each, like a Marine saying “Violence against women…not for men of honor”, some guy with a coffee cup mouthing “Stopping men who abuse women…it’s our job”, and another unnamed minor mucky-muck in a polo shirt posed to say “Men using women? It really bothers me.” Of the six featured community leaders on the poster the one making the most sense says, “Teaching respect…never to early”. Sponsors of next years Men’s Leadership Forum Conference should remember that, and respect all victims of domestic violence, not just women.

Joining us this year were mostly members of the National Coalition of Free Men San Diego Chapter (NCFM-SD), the Coalition of Parent Support San Diego Chapter (COPS-SD), photographer par excellence Ray Blumhorst of the National Coalition of Free Men Los Angeles (NCFM-LA), area coordinator for Fathers 4 Justice (F4J-US), Donald Tenn who drove down from Sacramento, and the Children’s Rights Initiative for Sharing Parents Equally with it’s awesome road show the CRISPE bus (42′ purple custom coach).

Why did the Navy take this approach? Aside from truly wanting to reduce the incidents of relationship violence the Navy realized several things devoid in the civilian approach. In my view, two of the most important realizations are (1) that unsubstantiated allegations of domestic violence caused often irreparable damage to the families and careers of sailors and (2) such allegations were detrimental to the overall mission of the Navy.

When following more closely civilian based solutions to DV the Navy found that a wrongful allegation forced sailors from their assigned duties if not their careers; hence, the consequences were lost man-hours and increased costs for recruiting, retraining, and retention. In the civilian sector wrongful allegations of DV cause the alleged perpetrator to be forever stigmatized as a perpetrator. Harsh presumptions follow even unfounded allegations of DV into Family Court matters to the determent of the falsely accused. The falsely accused if arrested and having the means may pay tens of thousands of dollars in bail to escape jail even when in a few days all charges may be dropped for lack of evidence. In the process of sorting out the facts the civilian may loose their employment and face other such calamities. All because no effort is made to determine the voracity of the allegations before beginning to penalize the accused.

The Navy system is proactive and seeks to reduce DV while protecting the innocent and delivering prevention services designed to keep families and careers intact when possible. The civilian sector is reactionary and works to separate family members with little regard to the plethora of detrimental consequences and absolutely nor regard to societal costs. The constructive Navy system is driven by mission readiness and the wellbeing of personnel while the destructive civilian system is driven by ideology, politics, and money with little or no regard to anything else.

Friend of the Court offices across the state are currently supplying Title IV-D Welfare services to approximately 45% of their caseload that are people 150% over the poverty line. The program no longer serves Needy Families but focuses on middle and upper class families to make it look like the program is successful and justify their massive bureaucratic growth.

Lets trim this department by half and shift the focus of many of the programs back to AID TO NEEDY FAMILIES instead of supporting large bureaucratic agencies that want to keep taking more and more from our pocket books.

Carrying a 45% above poverty-line caseload actually is harming the States actual needy families that have proven need for the services by involvement in other family assistance programs like TANF or Title IV-A.

Adding eligibility requiremens should be uniform between other government assistance as with friend of the court Title IV-D welfare services. Don’t be fooled that it is just a child support enforcement program, it is actually an unchecked free for all welfare program at taxpayer expense. Remember that the federal block grants come out of a different line on your paycheck and your local taxes through your property ownership. MORE…

Randolph Townsend
775-684-1450
rtownsend@sen.state.nv.us

Maurice Washington
775-684-1480
mwashington@sen.state.nv.us
Mike McGinness

775-684-1442
mmcginness@sen.state.nv.us

Dennis Nolan
775-684-1421
dnolan@sen.state.nv.us

William Raggio
775-684-1419
wraggio@sen.state.nv.us

Randolph Townsend
775-684-1450
rtownsend@sen.state.nv.us

Maurice Washington
775-684-1480
mwashington@sen.state.nv.us

About 8 people showed up to testify last Tuesday and it went great. Between all of us I think we covered all the bases why college costs should not become incorporated into a divorce however they intend to have a subcommittee look at it further. We’ll have to keep an eye on that.

Here’s the lineup of bills that need attention this coming week. HB 470 is the shared parenting bill that passed the House unanimously last session as HB 529 but the Senate said they weren’t ready for it yet. They want to hear from people that feel the system is still not working since RSA 461-A went into effect Oct.1, 2005.

David A. Bickford
183 Brackett Road
New Durham, NH 03855
(603) 859-7899
david1@worldpath.net

HB 410, establishing a commission on child support issues. Keeps the review of child support in the hands of a commission as opposed to H&HS.

HB 463, relative to the awarding parental rights and responsibilities to a stepparent or grandparent. Requires stepparents and grandparents to get custody of children through the guardianship process rather than interfering with the parents case between each
other.

HB 470, determination of parental rights and responsibilities. Shared parenting bill that requires evidence to be used in order to deny comparable parenting and then putting in writting why, which improves chances of being able to successfully appeal the finding.

HB 704-FN-A, relative to the commission on the status of men and making an appropriation therefor. Reinstates the Men’s Commission and appropriates funds for staff. The Commission on the Status of Women promotes legislation, has been around for about 35 years and is funded with $118,000 per year. Men need equal opportunity and an equal voice before the legislature.

SB 170-FN, establishing an office of mediation and arbitration within the judicial branch. This bill raises the question of wheather the courts are taking control of mediation and arbitration which has always been an independant alternate to the judicial system.