Governor's Commission on Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence addresses concerns, welcomes community input By Lori Berkey, Contributing Writer 06/10/2005

Region - Members of the Governor's Commission on Sexual Abuse and Domestic Violence - a cross-section of advocates, elected officials and others committed to hashing out the best ways to deal with those public health problems on a statewide level - meet monthly to address related concerns. They deal with issues of justice, prevention, research and funding and more. But those in on the roundtable discussions aren't the only ones whose views count. State Rep. Karyn Polito, R-Shrewsbury, who sits on the commission's legislative committee, said anyone in the community is welcome to give their input to the lieutenant governor's office for consideration.
   "The commission is a public entity and it's here to serve the needs of the people in the commonwealth," Polito said, "and to the extent that an individual or another organization that's not identified here [on a listing of ones involved on the commission] has some suggestions or has ideas, they absolutely should come forward to us."
   Aside from the legislative committee that Polito is part of, the commission has seven additional committees that serve as working groups. The committees include child and adolescent; data analysis, research and evaluation; immigrant and refugee; justice and accountability; prevention and education; steering; and survivor services.
   Nearly a dozen organizations on the front lines of sexual abuse and domestic violence crises are involved with the commission's activities. Groups represented include the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance, MA Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Jane Doe Inc., the Department of Public Health and their specific RISE Program, the Office of the Attorney General, Rape Crisis Center of Central Massachusetts, the Department of Social Services, the Massachusetts Executive Office, the House of Representatives and the Senate.
   While many of these key players who see victims of sexual assault and domestic violence on their doorsteps daily are already reporting to the commission what's needed from their view, other players - like many schools and hospitals across the state - aren't yet as intimately involved with the commission as resource for change. But educational institutions, health care facilities, community-based service organizations, private practitioners and others do have the opportunity to interface with the commission. They can provide their input on funding needs and program needs and can suggest legislation that would help resources to get disseminated where needed. They can also use the commission as resource for finding other organizations that address needs.
   Knowing what's going on at the state level through the commission is very important for service providers, according to Jeff Chin, executive director of Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services.
   "From a treatment provider's perspective," he said, "I think that what's most relevant to us in a lot of ways is 'How does the funding get appropriated down to organizations such as ours and even private practice individuals who might have a specialty in this area?'"
   Chin said it's also important for service providers to be aware of regulations, such as around issues of confidentiality, that are being put into law so that their practice can be guided. If there's a resultant barrier to carrying out services effectively because of details in regulations that come into law, Chin said, the commission's legislative committee would be an avenue for providing input and working toward amending regulations to better suit clients' needs. Suggestions on best service delivery methods could also be made to other committees, such as the prevention and education or child and adolescent, he said.
   Janet Trippi, cochair of Against Domestic Violence In Shrewsbury Education Project (ADVISE), said her organization routinely refers domestic violence victims to places where they can receive help. But many of the shelters and other programs are often full at the time of an emergency, she said. She sees a way her group could interface with the commission.
   "We can simply ask for more funding and make people aware of it," she said.
   A "hot topic," presently on the table for discussion at the commission is a bill to amend or eliminate the statute of limitations on the crime of rape, sexual crimes against children, civil statute of limitations, sexual abuse of minors and sexual abuse.
   Other legislation being talked about includes Patrick's Law - regarding child custody issues when one parent murders another - and legislation around shaken-baby syndrome, emergency contraception and a bill of rights for victims of rape and sexual abuse.
   Budget allocations that grew out of commission work for the fiscal year 2006 include $1 million allocated for Pediatric Sexual Abuse Nurse Examiner (SANE), $1.7 million for Adult SANE, $2.6 million for rape crisis centers including $374,000 of increased funding for medical advocacy, $800,000 for domestic violence services for immigrants and refugees, and $158,000 for domestic violence services for gay men.
   Through input from citizens and service providers, more topics and budget issues can be addressed.
   Full commission meetings are open to the public for observance only, but according to Polito, sub-committee meetings that meet monthly are, by law, not open to the public.
   For more information about the commission visit the Web site at www.mass.gov/gcdv/about.htm.
Editor's note: This column is made possible through a partnership with Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services (SYFS) and Against Domestic Violence In Shrewsbury Education Project (ADVISE). Special acknowledgements go to Chris Biron, MA, LMHC, clinical director at SYFS, and Janet Trippi, cochair of ADVISE, for sharing their expertise and for their assistance in coordinating input from other community resources.