Title
Domestic Violence Prevention, Family Advocacy Center and Victim Services Division Update
Description
This report provides the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee an update on the Human Services and Police Departments' efforts toward the prevention of Domestic Violence, the work of the Family Advocacy Center and Victim Services Division.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION.
Report
Summary
Overview of the Family Advocacy Center
The Family Advocacy Center (FAC), at 2120 North Central Ave., serves the needs of the victims of violent crime by bringing together a variety of governmental and non-profit organizations to work cooperatively to provide trauma-informed care.
Governmental agencies at the FAC include the Human Services Department (HSD) Victim Services Division, the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) Family Investigations Bureau, the Arizona Department of Child Safety, and the Arizona Office of Child Welfare Investigations. Non-governmental agencies located at the FAC include Childhelp, HonorHealth, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, La Frontera EMPACT, and Jewish Family and Children Services.
Victims under age 18 are seen by Childhelp and the Family Investigation Bureau’s Crimes Against Children Unit. Forensic medical examinations for child victims are conducted by forensic nurses from Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Additional investigative support is provided by the Department of Child Safety Office of Child Welfare Investigations.
Adult victims are seen by the Victim Advocates from the HSD Victim Services Division with investigations conducted by the Domestic Violence and Sex Assault units of the Family Investigations Bureau. Forensic medical examinations are conducted by forensic nurses from HonorHealth in coordination with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
Both Childhelp and HSD receive referrals (primarily from PPD) for clients who have suffered victimization related to domestic or sexual violence, child abuse and neglect, human sex trafficking, and homicide. In conjunction with the partner agencies listed above, services include forensic interviewing of victims and witnesses, forensic medical examinations to secure biological or physical evidence, crisis intervention to secure safe housing, financial assistance, safety planning, long-term therapeutic services, assistance obtaining protecttive court orders, assistance navigating the criminal justice system, Victim’s Rights, and referral to other departments or agencies based on client needs.
HSD manages contracts which provide:
- Hotline services for persons experiencing Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking. This service provides immediate access to services for crime victims via a 24/7 hotline. Calls are screened and then referred to local services for immediate assistance.
- Hotline services targeting teens in crisis. Teen Lifeline is a 24/7 hotline that is marketed to teenagers. The service offers a texting option and peer counselors.
- Emergency shelter for victims of Domestic Violence. This service screens callers and can offer placement in an emergency shelter when the caller’s residence is unsafe.
- Case Management services at Starfish Place. Starfish Place is a supportive housing program led by the Housing Department assisting survivors of Human Sex Trafficking. HSD contracts with a provider of full-time case management services.
The PPD Family Investigations Bureau is currently undergoing a complete renovation of its 2nd floor which houses, the Domestic Violence, Adult Sexual Crimes, Missing Persons, Sex Offender Notification, and Sex Crimes Cold Case units. Furthermore, the floor was reconfigured to create a new Victim’s Center. This center utilizes the space to ensure the victims of domestic violence or sex assaults are treated compassionately and with dignity throughout the investigation. All areas are now connected with separate family waiting rooms, interview rooms, medical examination facilities and restrooms. This undertaking has been in collaboration with the City of Phoenix, the Phoenix Police Foundation and the Winged Hope Center. Phase one of this project is finishing up and phase two is in the process of beginning. Completion date is set for late Spring 2024.
Victim Advocate Roles and Responsibilities
HSD Victim Services Division’s Victim Advocates provide immediate crisis intervention for the victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human sex trafficking, families of homicide victims, and families of persons killed during an interaction with police. Services are tailored to the needs of the client, drawing from the list of resources previously mentioned.
Family Liaisons Roles and Responsibilities
Family Liaisons are Victim Advocates who have received additional training in Police Critical Incidents. Family Liaisons assist next of kin in navigating the legal and administrative investigations following the death of a community member resulting from a police interaction. Family Liaisons provide crisis intervention services to help meet the next of kin’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a critical incident.
Grants Awarded to HSD
The Victim Services Division provides services with supplemental funding through three grants.
- Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds which funds six full-time Victim Advocates, one Supervisory position, and one full-time Casework Aide. Staff training, office equipment and support of mobile advocacy efforts are also funded. The VOCA fund is experiencing a severe shortfall in available monies. For Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024, the VOCA grant was reduced by 60 percent due to structural defects in the VOCA funding model. The state of Arizona made up for the shortfall by providing ARPA funds to keep VOCA functioning at current levels, but only for one year. The VOCA forecast for FFY 2025 reflects a 60 percent reduction in funding.
- Arizona Office of the Attorney General grant funds used to purchase clothing, print information brochures, and stock items for immediate use by clients. This grant concluded on Dec. 31, 2023.
- Arizona Child and Family Advocacy Network (ACFAN) provided a one-time grant earmarked for the maintenance of staff and client mental health (self-care). A self-care room at the FAC was built and furnished. Staff members have maintained membership in ACFAN for many years. ACFAN provides training and support to Family and Child Advocacy Centers across Arizona.
Technology Improvements, Innovations and New Services
To enhance services at the FAC, various technology improvements are under consideration. HSD is exploring the purchase of video cameras and door alarms for loan or gifting to clients who cannot afford them. HSD has pending requests for funding to provide emergency shelter using hotels for short-term stays, and funding to provide therapeutic services based upon a qualified vendor’s list. Currently, HSD uses case management software (CMS) developed in-house to document casework.
To assist victims of crime, PPD is working to rollout SPIDRTech software which provides the victim with integrated and automatic updates on their case. This will expedite victims receiving relevant information about case status, arrests, and closures of their cases. The expected time frame to start is Spring 2024.
PPD Domestic Violence Unit also created a QR Code which provides easy access to resources which detectives can easily provide to victims, families and caretakers of vulnerable people.
Domestic Violence Prevention Efforts
Domestic Violence (DV) Awareness Month occurs each October. The Paint Phoenix Purple campaign and coordinated community events to help educate the public and bring awareness to domestic violence. In 2023, HSD Victim Services Division staff, in coordination with HSD Strategic Initiatives Program, presented at 16 public events, with one of these events for city employees during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. These included public events such as “Light the Night” held at City Square Lawn, Paint the Park at Encanto Park, and several events at Phoenix high schools. Spanish speaking Victim Advocates also participated in three radio interviews focused on DV Awareness and Prevention.
PPD Domestic Violence Detectives also participate in community events to help educate the public; the following provides an overview of some of the events from 2023:
- Spoke at Burton Barr Library for the Paint Phoenix Purple campaign. The detective presented information regarding how a case works in its entirety. From 911 receiving the call all the way through detectives sending a case to the Prosecutor's Office.
- Spoke to several radio stations and news stations regarding Angels on Patrol and continues to do so. This is to get exposure to the program and notify people in DV situations about resources available.
- Annual DV awareness month every October, where the City displays purple and demonstrates support for DV awareness.
- Met with stakeholders for a newly renovated DV shelter and discussed solutions and challenges involved in operating a shelter and how they could be a resource moving forward.
Teen Violence Prevention
Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month occurs each February. City staff works closely with youth serving organizations and high schools, to provide education on healthy relationships, identifying red flags, and available community resources. In 2023, HSD staff supported nine events for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month in February held at Maryvale High, Trevor Brown High, La Joya High, and Westview High schools. These events were full-day affairs held at the school.
HSD manages a contract with Teen LifeLine, an organization that provides direct outreach to Phoenix high school students and operates a hotline targeting teens in crisis.
PPD School Resource Officers, in collaboration with the Family Investigations Bureau, teach law-related education (LRE) classes based on data from the school and their individual needs. Different instructors present different lesson plans on how to recognize narcissistic behavior and red flags in a teen relationship. The age-appropriate lesson plans provide young adults with skills to report observed behaviors to staff and law enforcement.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays, Deputy City Manager Gina Montes, and the Police and Human Services departments.