Board Member Training Resource & Crisis Center of Galveston County Revised January 2012

Objectives Explain the mission, history, and philosophy of the agency Describe the programs and services offered to clients Review the dynamics of family violence, sexual assault and child abuse Conduct an abbreviated review of RCC employee handbook Describe RCC funding sources Overview the RCC By Laws and board member responsibilities Overview RCC committees Look at the board’s relationship to staff

MISSION STATEMENT “To promote the safety, well being and best interests of victims of family violence, sexual assault and child abuse, and to advocate for the prevention of such crimes.”

History and Background The Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, Inc. originated in 1979 as a program of the YWCA, known as the Women’s Crisis Center of Galveston County. The original mission of the organization was to provide services to victims of family violence. A building was made available by the Houston- Galveston Diocese in 1981 and a Director was hired to run the agency. In 1985 the agency received its 501(c) (3) exemption status and became a separate entity. Services were expanded to include both shelter and non-residential services to family violence victims. When the only program in Galveston County for sexual assault ended in 1987, RCC began to provide direct services to victims of rape, incest and other sexual assault crimes.

The staff and overall budget was increased on a year-by-year basis as new programs were begun and older programs were expanded. Judge Susan Baker, a Family District Judge, saw a need for the establishment of a CASA program in 1994 to assist with resolving the cases of abused and neglected children in the foster care system. She approached the RCC Board of Directors with the idea and in 1995 the Voices for Children CASA Program was formed, and volunteers were assigned their first cases before the year was out. Recognizing that grants and donations alone were not enough to operate the multiple programs, the agency opened its first resale store in League City in With the success of this store and the abundance of donated clothing and other items from a generous public, a second store was opened in Texas City in By April of 1995 the agency was able to open its third store in Galveston and in 1997 expanded to sell donated furniture items. Allocated funds from the resale stores are the largest single fundraiser of the agency.

An administrative office was purchased in the Spring of 2001 and the offices were moved to the new location at 2202 Avenue L in Galveston. An additional structure was purchased which, after renovation, became our shelter in We changed our name officially in October 2006 to Resource and Crisis Center of Galveston County, Inc. In 2008, Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston and RCC suffered significant damage in the shelter. Nearly a year after the hurricane in 2009, the shelter was reopened and able to provide for women fleeing domestic violence. Unfortunately, the damage to the administrative office was far worse than imagined and in 2010 RCC was moved to a rental property at 1802 Broadway, Suite 122 in Galveston until decisions about the property can be finalized. RCC continues to offer quality services to those who come to us for help without regard to age, sex, race, ethnic background, religion or sexual preference. There has never been a charge for any services provided to clients by the agency. The board and staff continually look for new ways to improve service delivery and to reach out to those populations that may be underserved for a variety of reasons.

Philosophy RCC prides itself on being good stewards of donations and other funds that are received by the agency and to make sure that all expenditures are prudent and in line with the mission statement. Any person who joins with RCC in reaching out to battered and neglected people, whether in the role of board, staff, donor or volunteer, can be assured that RCC will continue to offer the caliber of service that merits this support.

Understanding Victim Services Program Basics & Statistics

Staff Bonnie Martin, Executive Director Peggy Creed, Director of Victim Services Angelica Hanley, Director of Fund Development Samantha Coats, Community Education/Volunteer Coordinator Tina Tucker, Accounting Assistant CASA Shamika Alexander, CASA Program Director Megan Box, CASA Case Manager Terra Henderson, CASA Case Manager Non Residential Client Services Rose Melton, Client Services Coordinator Bridgette Roberts, Crisis Intervention Specialist Griselda Olveda, Victim Advocate Legal Services Ian Kuecker, Managing Attorney Susie Marquez, Legal Advocate Residential Services Mary Ramsell, Residential Services Coordinator Erica Bozarth, Victim Advocate Beth Spenser, Victim Advocate Deborah Allen, Victim Advocate Laurie Culbreth, Victim Advocate Marina Gutierrez, Victim Advocate Laura Cardenas, Child Advocate Diedra Davis, Housing Case Manager Resale Shops Vicki Petty, Galveston Store Manager Kay Barbour, League City/Texas City Store Manager

2008 Statistics In Galveston County 2,703 reports of family violence 64 reports of sexual assault *Texas Department of Public Safety 2008 Crime in Texas Report

2009 Statistics In Galveston County 2,466 reports of family violence 151 reports of sexual assault So how does RCC combat these shocking statistics? *Texas Department of Public Safety 2009 Crime in Texas Report

In the 2010 calendar year, the Resource and Crisis Center provided services to approximately 2000 women, men and children impacted by family violence in the Galveston County community. Additional services included: 183 women and children received emergency shelter 266 victims applied for protective orders 147 victims were accompanied to court 265 were assisted in filing Crime Victims Compensation 1998 were assisted with creating a personal safety plan.

24 Hour Safe Shelter Eligibility Victim of family violence and is trying to flee; Over 18 unless accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, is legally emancipated or is a minor mother; Minor mother who is the sole financial support of the children (no longer than 15 days). Services 24-hour crisis hotline 24-hour-a-day shelter Temporary shelter for abused men Peer counseling services Child and family advocacy Housing advocacy Case management Support groups Health education Clothing/Furniture Information and referral Spanish speaking services

Hotline operators are available to assist those in crisis situations by providing emergency assistance, safety planning, needed resources, and comfort. 24 Hour Toll Free Hotlines (SAFE)

Client Services Crisis Intervention - Crisis service to assist the client emotionally and providing the needed information to assist them out of the initial crisis. Crime Victims Compensation Assistance - Assisting the client with Crime Victims Compensation and follow- up. Support Groups - Groups that are led by RCC staff for the purposes of sharing, support and information relevant to family violence and sexual assault. Educational Groups/Classes – training provided to the clients on topics that are relevant to the RCC mission. Examples of this would be budgeting, resume writing, interviewing, etc. Medical Accompaniment – Advocacy provided at the hospital for survivors of family violence or sexual assault. Safety Planning - Discussion with the client about safety practices and individualized planning with the client to meet their safety needs. Resource Referrals – Giving the client information about resources available in the community. Court Accompaniment - Attending court hearings to support the survivor. Shelter Aftercare Program – Assisting clients in the transition from the shelter environment to independent and abuse free living.

Legal Advocacy Assistance in … obtaining protective orders court preparation writing warning letters police accompaniment referrals for other legal matters and collaborations with the attorney’s and victim services personnel at the District Attorney’s Office.

Age Demographics Clients Served 2010

Race Demographics Clients Served 2010

Gender Demographics 2010

Location Demographics Clients Served 2010

Understanding CASA Program Basics and Statistics

2009 Statistics 2,926 Reports of alleged child abuse or neglect 653 Confirmed victims of child abuse or neglect 120 Children were removed from their homes 2 Children died as a direct result of abuse or neglect *Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Data Book 2009

Voices for Children – Galveston County Volunteers are the HEART of the CASA program! (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Volunteers provide support by: Being the “eyes and the ears” for the judge of the children’s court Advocating for abused & neglected children Being a CONSISTENT support in the child’s life

Training for CASA A trained CASA volunteer investigates the child's circumstances, provides fact- based information and makes recommendations to the court while becoming a source of support for the child. Ultimately, the role of the CASA is to decrease the amount of disruption in a child's life and to help ensure that the child has a safe and permanent home. CASA Volunteers are Thoroughly Trained in: Child Abuse & Neglect Social Services Permanency Planning Family Preservation Cultural Diversity Interviewing Skills Courtroom Procedure & Testimony

Because it matters! To Give a Child a CASA is… … to give them a voice. And to give them a voice, is to give them hope. And, to give them hope, is to give them the world !

Voices for Children – Galveston County SPEAKING UP FOR A CHILD A CASA volunteer must be 21 years of age. The primary qualifications are: Ability to make a responsible one year commitment Desire to make a difference in a child’s life Completion of a criminal history, children's protective services background check, and pre-training interview 30 hours of detailed training in the evenings over a 2 week period

Volunteer Outreach

Volunteers are utilized to be of assistance to both staff and clients. Direct service volunteers must complete an application and pass a criminal background check. Training is dependant on the volunteer position selected. Opportunities include: Thrift Stores Court Accompaniment/ Medical Accompaniment Special Events Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Crisis Hotline Maintenance Administration Legal Assistance

Other Easy Ways People Can Help… Donate old cell phones Donate old printer cartridges Donate any new basic need items Check our web-site on a regular basis for needs Current Needs: ~ Toilet Paper, Shampoo, Conditioner, Tooth Paste/Brushes, Mouth Wash, Body Wash, Razors, Shaving Cream, Deodorant

Domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse know no boundaries. Understanding the dynamics of violence

Domestic Violence

Violence within the family Violence happens in all races, ages, neighborhoods and socio-economic levels. Violence within the family effects the lives of all the members of the family but also, has reaching effects in the community.

Yes! There is domestic violence in your neighborhood! In the United States, a woman is beaten every 15 seconds. 63% of those convicted of murder between the ages of 11years and 20 years of age, are serving time for killing their mother’s abuser. Women between the ages of 15 years and 44 years of age are at high risk of death due to domestic violence.

Did you know? Men are often the victim of domestic violence but seldom report or seek treatment. 33% of all male batterers who receive counseling are respected professionals and community leaders 50% of all homeless women and children are due to domestic violence Pregnant women are more likely to die as a result of domestic violence than any other cause 20% of ALL homicides are committed within families or within intimate relationships 1 of 3 female homicide victims is killed by an intimate partner 28% of violent crimes against females are committed by husbands or boyfriends

Who does the battering? 90% of serious spouse abuse is perpetrated by men against women HOWEVER Nearly 850,000 men are victims of abuse each year

Men as victims Many men are reluctant to disclose abuse from a wife, girlfriend, or family member because of the stigmas that could be directed toward them. Slowly those stigmas are changing as the number of victims grow.

Characteristics of those being battered Low self-esteem Believing the myths of domestic violence Traditional views of family unity Accepts blame for the abuse Suffers from heavy guilt and fear Suffers from severe reactions to stress Uses sex to establish intimacy Believes that no one will help them

The Cycle of Violence Realize that if the victims stays in a violent relationship and do not seek help, the abuse will escalate. These things don’t happen just once and they will progressively get worse.

Stage One – Tension Building Abuse gets angry Breakdown in communication Victims tries to comfort abuser Tension grows Victim tries to avoid conflict Tension becomes too severe Minor battering incident

Stage Two – Acute Battering Incident Any type of abuse that occurs (physical, emotional, sexual) which may last minutes to hours. This is the shortest phase however, it is the most intense and destructive.

Stage Three – Honeymoon Phase Abuser may apologize Abuser may promise never to abuse again Abuser may blame victim for abuse Abuser may deny what happened Abuser may minimize the events Gifts may be given at this time

Stage Four – Calm Abuser acts like everything is fine and nothing has ever happened No abuse taking place Promises made during the honeymoon phase may be kept Victim hopes the abuse is over This phase grows shorter and shorter with each occurrence, then back to phase one.

Why do victims stay? Fearful of what might happen if they leave Lack of outside support Single parenting Financial Hardship Attachment to the “good times”

Why do batterers stay? Its good to be King/Queen! The violence is working The victim should leave if they are unhappy No one knows about the abuse Community doesn’t condemn violence

Why do people batter? 1. Gender objectification 2. Need to feel empowered 3. Externalization of personal issues

WARNING SIGNS!! Extreme Jealousy Possessiveness Bad Temper Unpredictability Verbally Abusive Cruel to elders, children, or animals

What causes someone to become a batterer? It is not genetic Behavior reinforced over time Observed in family and society Repeated because it works Feeling that actions are justified

Relationship to Drugs and Alcohol THERE IS NO CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN USING AND VIOLENCE!! Drugs and alcohol do generally happen before the abuse nearly half of all incidents BUT People who do drugs and alcohol generally have less impulse control without being under the influence Many people are able to drink or use drugs and not abuse others. Should the abuser use violence under the influence, the abuser already has a predisposition to violence.

Common Myths Family Violence is rare FALSE Millions are effected by domestic violence every year

Common Myths Family violence is confined to lower economic areas FALSE It happens everywhere, regardless of money, race, or culture.

Common Myths Religious beliefs or practices will prevent battering FALSE It happens in every religious tradition

Common Myths It will get better FALSE It gets worse unless treatment is sought to stop the violence

Common Myths If a person really wants to leave, they can FALSE There are risks to leaving, 65% of domestic violence victims are killed when or after they leave their abuser.

Sexual Assault

What is Sexual Assault?  Sexual assault is a violent crime in which the assailant uses sex to inflict violence and humiliation on the victim, or to exert power and control over the victim. It can include rape, incest, sexual harassment, child molestation, marital rape, exposure or pornography. (National Center for Victims of Crime).

Sexual Harassment includes any request for sexual favors, advances and other verbal/non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature. There are two types: Quid pro Quo ( “this for that”) person in power makes decision effecting another. Hostile Environment What is Sexual Harassment?

Law “assumes that a person does not consent to sexual conduct if he or she is forced, threatened, or is unconscious, drugged, a minor, developmentally disabled, chronically mentally ill, or believe they are undergoing a medical procedure” (National Center for Victims of Crime). So what about consent…

1.9 million adult Texans have been sexually assaulted (Busch, Bell, DiNitto & Neff 2003). 25,941 Texan adults are sexually assaulted annually (Tjaden & Thoennes 2006). 18% of sexual assaults in Texas involved a weapon/threat (Busch, Bell, DiNitto & Neff 2003). 60% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police 15 of 16 rapists will never spend a day in jail 80% are under age 30 Statistics in Texas

Statistics inform us of good information to educate others and shed light on the reality about sexual assault. However, statistics also point out alarming concerns such as the amount of assaults that go unreported. In 2005 less than 39% of sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement (Shannan M. Catalano 2005). So what do statistics tell us?

Rape is non-violent Only young women are raped Stay away from dangerous places and you will not be raped Rapes are not planned Most offenders are strangers Myth of the “promiscuous girl” – Girls who dress provocative are more likely to be victimized. The statistics show that women who walk with their head down, more self-conscious are far more likely to be victimized. Sexual Assault Myths

Seek medical treatment immediately Do not shower or bathe Do not throw away any clothes that were worn at the time of the assault Do not brush or comb their hair Try to minimize use of the restroom Do not brush their teeth or gargle Do not put on makeup Do not clean or straighten up the crime scene Try to avoid eating or drink anything What to do if you or someone you know is assaulted

Common physical effects are: Pain Injuries Headaches Nausea Common emotional effects are: Denial Depression Withdrawal Guilt Loss of appetite Substance abuse Effects of Sexual Assault **Please note that just because someone does not behave in a way that we feel is “typical”, it does not mean that the assault did not occur. The variation in responses to trauma are similar to the variation in responses to grief. No two people are going to respond in the same way.

Be a good listener and don’t judge Stress that it was not their fault Encourage them to seek resources and services in the community Remind them that they are not alone Do research and be understanding How to help a survivor

Child Abuse

Painting a Real Picture Almost 5 children die everyday as a result of child abuse. 75% are under the age of 4. A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.

There’s no abuse in my family, so this doesn’t affect me, right? About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of violence. The estimated annual cost resulting from child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2007 is $104 billion

Emotional Abuse Withholding of love, affection or validation of self worth. Steady and consistent barrage of criticism and or creation of a negative emotional atmosphere for a child. Abusive expectations, constant chaos, humiliation, denying the child’s experience, dominating or verbal assaults Emotional abuse is very hard to prove and accompanies all forms of abuse or neglect.

Physical Abuse Non-accidental infliction of physical harm to a child. The most common abuser in physical abuse cases is the mother. This does include spanking and discipline when the child is left with visible injuries such as bruises, welts, belt marks, loop marks, etc.

Effects of Physical Child Abuse Unexplained burns, cuts, bruises, or welts. Bite marks. Does not trust Fearful of physical contact Startles easily, cowers, cringes Aggressiveness or withdrawn Exaggerated politeness Profound sadness Difficulties in school Difficulty concentrating Psychosomatic illnesses

Sexual Abuse Any sexually oriented act with a child. This includes fondling, voyeurism, inter- course, oral sex, penetration with and object, obscene photography, exposure to sexual acts or pornography.

STATISTICS 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet. Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults occur to children ages 17 and under. An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today Approximately 90% of the time there is no physical evidence. Sexual abuse rarely has a witness and is rarely a one time incident. Average age of onset of a sexually abusive relationship is 6-8 years old.

Neglect Failing to provide a child with necessary food, clothing or shelter. Knowingly allowing a child to remain in a dangerous situation. This includes domestic violence situations, abuse of drugs and alcohol and inappropriate supervision. Failing to make reasonable efforts to adequately supervise children.

Signs of Neglect Unsuitable clothing for weather Appearance is dirty or unbathed Extreme hunger, hoarding Apparent lack of supervision Advanced knowledge of drugs/alcohol Filthy living conditions Many neglected children feel unworthy to interact with peers, may isolate themselves and may encounter peer rejection Lying and avoiding admitting their situation More children die from neglect than from any other type of abuse

Employee Handbook Information

Recent Revisions Since the end of 2009, the RCC employee handbook has been modified several times to reflect a Board and Executive Director collaboration. The last revision was made in May 2011 after recommendations by HHSC to follow suggested practices. *For more information about specific handbook policies, please refer to the employee handbook.

Types of Staff and Benefits

Holidays RCC provides nine (9) paid holidays and two (2) paid floating holidays for full-time employees. A schedule of the nine paid holidays will be published to employees at the beginning of each year. An employee must have been employed for at least six (6) months before taking a paid floating holiday.

Worker’s Compensation RCC is a subscriber to the Worker’s Compensation Program. Both full-time and part-time employees are covered under Worker’s Compensation. Should an on-the-job injury occur, it should be reported to the Program Director immediately. In turn, the Program Director will inform RCC for claims processing. On-the-job injuries may require a drug screen from an accredited medical service, to be determined by the Program Director and/or the Executive Director. (See Policy 8.10 “Policy on Drug & Alcohol Free Workplace” for details.)

Personnel Records RCC maintains personnel records for applicants, employees and past employees in order to document employment- related decisions, and comply with government record- keeping and reporting requirements. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing record- keeping for all personnel information and will specify what information should be collected and how it should be stored and secured.

B OARD OF D IRECTORS Responsibilities per the employee handbook The RCC Board has an obligation to ensure that its actions, and those of its agents and management employees, are free from harassing conduct, including sexual harassment, and to take immediate and appropriate corrective actions in the instances in which the agency has knowledge of such harassment. The RCC Board is also obligated to take timely and appropriate corrective action in those instances where the agency, its agents or management employees, know or should have known of harassment of any employee or applicant for employment by any non-supervisory employee or by any non-employee either under the agency’s control or with respect to whom the agency is legally responsible.

Confidentiality Policy Statement Ethical behavior and communication are expected of all employees. Staffers will ensure confidentiality and privacy in regard to history, records and discussions about the people we serve. The very fact that an individual is served by RCC must be kept private and confidential. Disclosure can be made only under special conditions for reasons relating to law enforcement and fulfillment of our responsibilities. This means staff shall not disclose any information about a person, including the fact he or she is or is not served by our organization, to anyone outside of this organization unless authorized by the Executive Director.

Ethical Conduct Guidelines Policy Statement No employee shall use or authorize the use of the authority or influence of his/her office to secure anything of value for himself/herself, which is of such character as to manifest a substantial and improper influence upon him/her with respect to his/her duties. Failure to follow these policies can result in written warnings, probation and/or termination.

RCC FUNDING SOURCES

FUNDING RCCGC is funded from three major sources; grants from public and private sources, donations/fundraising, and three resale stores. RCCGC writes and presents grants to agencies and private individuals and foundations to fund operations as well as specific aspects or programs of the organization.

Funding Analysis RCCGC continually analyzes the needs of the community it serves and reviews the programs and services it delivers to ensure it is meeting the needs of the community as best as it can. Counseling, legal assistance, housing, and training are just a few of the areas that are reviewed. Both the needs as well as the location, geographically, of the individuals being served are reviewed as well as the delivery of the services. The Board of Directors works with the Director to review future potential strategic direction for the organization and the ability of the organization to fund the needs.

Current Major Grant Funders Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Office of the Attorney General (OAG) Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) United Way – Galveston United Way – Mainland Moody Methodist Foundation Yaga’s Children’s Fund Mediation Board – Galveston County

Resale Shops Largest Non-grant Form of Revenue Galveston Resale Shop Information (409) rd Street, Galveston, TX League City Resale Shop Information (281) North Gulf Freeway, League City, TX Texas City Resale Shop Information (409) Palmer Highway (in the Kroger shopping center next to GNC) RCC Resale is also hosting estate sales. 100% commission benefits the Resource & Crisis Center of Galveston County.

Board Commitment 1. Become knowledgeable about issues surrounding the mission 2. Complete annual board training 3. Attend regular and special board meetings 4. Serve on at least one committee 5. Actively participate in fundraising and awareness activities 6. Exercise appropriate fiduciary responsibilities 7. Participate in hiring and evaluation of Executive Director 8. Participate in the formulation of agency policies 9. Become an advocate for the agency 10. Share your expertise with the agency

Managing Vs. Governing How those roles can get confused. 1. Boards sometimes are legally required to act on managerial issues such as acceptance of gifts, signature authorizations, and approving and signing lease and contracts. 2. Some board responsibilities like fund raising, public policy, recruiting and evaluating the Executive Director seem vaguely managerial. 3. Newer or thinly staffed organizations often depend on trustees to be hands-on. 4. In times of stress or change, especially during a change in executive directors, staff and volunteers look to the board for leadership. 5. Management activities seem more tangible and give immediate sense of accomplishment and gratification.

How to know if a situation requires a board policy or a managerial decision? Ask yourselves…. Will this decision help determine procedures, activities, programs or services that affect the non-profit as a whole? Do law or regulatory agencies require this decision? Is this an issue that the administrator has asked for our help on? Does the issue affect an individual staff member? Does it relate to the efficiency and quality of services provided by a specific department or program? Does it relate for an administrative area that is operational in nature or affect specific parts of, rather than the entire nonprofit? A “yes” answer to the first three questions indicate a policy-making decision and involves you a board member. A “yes” answer to the last three questions indicates a managerial decision that should be left to the Executive Director.

Board and Staff Relationship Staff and Board Members work cooperatively through committees in which many of the Program Directors will participate. Through the use of the Program Services Committee, programs are given the opportunity to express program needs to the board in order to help the Board understand the needs of the specific programs. The Executive Director supervises the activities of the programs and all staff follow the organizational hierarchy.

Thank you for the generous donation of your time and efforts, and for your ongoing support of our work.