Domestic Violence News

Policy Altered on Taking Children from Victims of Domestic Abuse

A recent ruling by the Court of Appeals of New York State, has stated that battered women will no longer lose custody of their children simply because the children have witnessed violence against their mother. In a 31 page decision, Judith Kaye, chief judge of the Court of Appeals stated that though it might be emotionally harmful for a child to witness violence against a parent, it was not enough grounds for the state to take custody. Under this ruling, social service agencies which remove children to foster care solely because of this basis, are acting illegally. Domestic violence activists expressed satisfaction at this ruling since women in the past were afraid to report abuse for fear of losing custody of their children. The removal to foster care was also traumatic for the children. The court however added that exposure to domestic violence could be grounds for removal of children in some cases, if the children were in danger, and the parent failed to take minimal steps to safeguard them.

This analysis was provided by the Court of Appeals as a result of a class action suit which was being brought against the city of New York by a federal appeals court. The original lawsuit began four years ago in US District Court when battered women claimed that they were being unfairly charged with neglect by city officials, and their children placed in foster care, simply because the children witnessed domestic violence. City officials denied that there was such a policy, but were still ordered to change their procedures in 2002. The case is now before the US Court of appeals which is working with the State Court of Appeals on how the law should be applied in certain cases.

Sherry Frohman, the Executive Director of the NYS Coalition Against Domestic Violence shared that local departments of social services have been reevaluating their policies and procedures to cooincide with the new ruling.

DV Events, Conferences, Training

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Femicide: Understanding and Preventing the Murder of Women in Intimate Relationships Description: A domestic violence conference sponsored by the Urban Resource Institute and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Date: November 7, 2008 Time: 8 am – 5pm Location: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYC Contact: Visit www.ndvl.org for more information

Bridging Perspective for Intervening with Men Who Batter - 2008 Batterers Intervention Programs Conference
Description: The next conference focusing on Batterers Intervention Programs is being planned. Dave Mathews, Director of Therapy at the Domestic Abuse Project in Minneapolis, MN, along with willing volunteers from agencies across the country, has taken on the Herculean task of planning the next get together. If you are interested in receiving more information about this conference, please send an email to the address below with your electronic contact information as well as a mailing address. You will be contacted soon with further information about location, programs, workshops etc. The work that we do is so important and our dialogue has just begun. Please send an email to bipconference@mndap.org if you are interested in receiving more information about the 2008 conference.
Date: May 13 –16, 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Contact: Please email bipconference@mndap.org for more info.

Workplace Violence
Description: NYSCADV is partnering with Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and CONNECT, NYC to present member programs with a model for engaging community members in creating a workplace response to domestic violence. Using a skills-based train-the-trainer approach, we will provide advocates with resources and information for the design and implementation of a community-wide workplace violence initiative.
Date: May 20, 2008
Location: Albany, NY
Contact: www.nyscadv.org for more details

NCVC Call for Presenters: 2008 National Conference
Description: The National Center for Victims of Crime is seeking presenters for its National Conference. The 2008 National Conference, "Responses, Rights, and Resources for Victims of Crime," emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach in sharing promising practices, current research, and effective policies to ensure comprehensive responses, rights, and resources for all crime victims. Our national conference is a forum for law enforcement, victim service professionals, allied practitioners, policy makers, and researchers to share current developments and build new collaborations. Conference sessions will highlight practical information to better support all types of crime victims.
Workshops will address a wide range of topics organized into conference tracks. We are especially seeking multidisciplinary workshops addressing:
* violent crime
* mental health needs of crime victims
* financial/property crime
* underserved populations
* administration and program development, and
* trauma and resilience. Date: June 2 – 4, 2008 Location: Hilton Portland & Executive Tower Portland, OR

Intimate Partner Sexual Violence
Description: This training will provide an overview of the nature and prevalence of Intimate Partner Sexual Violence (IPSV), explore the unique barriers for victims of IPSV, and offer recommended principles and practices for the advocates committed to assist them.
Date: June 24, 2008
Location: Albany, NY
Contact: www.nyscadv.org for more details

Faith in Violence-Free Families: Advocates & Faith/Spiritual Leaders Working Together Description: "Engage in a community-wide response to violence against women by including your local communities of faith - without compromising belief systems, nor excluding community services already in place. This 1½-day workshop will focus on fostering working relationships between faith leaders and domestic violence/sexual assault service providers and advocates, while discussing strategies for combining efforts and expertise to better serve our communities. This workshop fosters a peer-to- peer learning environment, offering time for safe and honest dialogue, as well as for sharing promising practices with each other. Participants will design action plans to develop concrete steps in support of collaborative efforts addressing violence against women. Participants will also discuss strategies for stopping the violence before it occurs. Come with partners, or potential partners, from your local communities of faith." Date: June 30th – July 1st, 2008
Location: The Hyatt at Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco, California Contact: OVW@transformcommunities.org

10th International Interdisciplinary Congress on Women: Women's World 2008 Description: The motto of the Congress is "Equality: no Utopia" and the general theme "New Frontiers: Dares, Challenges and Changes". Violence and migrations will be part of the central themes. Date: July 3 – 9, 2008 Time: See website for details Location: Madrid, Spain at the Complutense University Contact: www.mmww08.org

13th National Conference on Domestic Violence and 30th Anniversary Celebration: Building Grassroots Leadership for Social Justice
Date: July 18 – 23, 2008
Location: The Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC Contact: www.ncadv.org for more info.

International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference
Description: The Family Research Laboratory and Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire invites you to attend the International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference Date: July 27th – July 29th, 2008 Location: Sheraton Harborside Hotel and Conference Center
Portsmouth, New Hampshire Contact: email questions to frl.conference@unh.edu

NUESTRAS VOCES/OUR VOICES: Collaboration and Transformation en la Comunidad
Description: Arte Sana is pleased to announce the call for proposals for "NUESTRAS VOCES / OUR VOICES: Collaboration and Transformation en la Comunidad.” The goals of this two-day capacity-building event include: eliminating victim service barriers and engaging our communities as active partners in prevention, risk reduction and advocacy efforts. Date: August 21– 22, 2008 Location: Arte Sana National Conference San Antonio, Texas Contact: artesanando@yahoo.com and more information and workshop submission forms in both English and Spanish can be found at http://www.arte-sana.com/nuestras_voces_08.htm

Femicide: Understanding and Preventing the Murder of Women in Intimate Relationships Description: A domestic violence conference sponsored by the Urban Resource Institute and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Date: November 7, 2008 Time: 8 am – 5pm Location: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, NYC Contact: Visit www.ndvl.org for more information

Strengthening the Heartbeat of all our Relations
Description: This national conference will provide opportunities for education, skills building, and strategies on a wide variety of important issues pertaining to victimization in tribal communities. Date: December 11 – 13, 2008 Location: Agua Caliente Reservation Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel Palm Springs, California Contact: (323) 650-5467