ON THIS MONTH'S EDITION OF CONNECT NEW YORK, WE ARE EXPLORING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THE FORM IT TAKES, HOW IT CAN BE PREVENTED AND SERVICE IS AVAILABLE FOR SURVIVORS.

ALL THAT AND MORE COMING UP NEXT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO CONNECT-NEW YORK, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO - HOST OF WCNY'S THE CAPITOL PRESSROOM, A DAILY PUBLIC RADIO SHOW, BROADCASTING FROM THE STATE CAPITOL.

ON THIS MONTH EPISODE, WE ARE DISCUSSING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WITH A FOCUS ON HOW IT CAN BE PREVENTED AND THE SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SURVIVORS.

LATER IN THE PROGRAM, WE'LL SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER FORMS OF MASCULINITY AND LEARN ABOUT THE ROLE LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN PLAY IN A HOLISTIC RESPONSE IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

NOW WE ARE GOING TO CHAT WITH OUR PANELIST STAKEHOLDERS JOINED BY KELLI OWENS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MEAGHAN DE CHATEAUVIEUX, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE WILLOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER OF GREATER ROCHESTER, AND HOLLY LEHMAN, DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL SERVICES AT VERA HOUSE IN SYRACUSE.

JOINING US REMOTELY IS PAIGE FISK, SUPERVISING SOCIAL WORKER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS FOR SAFE HORIZON IN NEW YORK CITY.

AND PAIGE, I WANT TO START WITH YOU BECAUSE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CAN OCCUR LARGELY OUT OF SIGHT IN A LOT OF CASES.

SO WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT FORMS THAT IT CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, AWAY FROM THE PUBLIC EYE?

>> YES, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

SOME FORMS OF ABUSE ARE MORE OBVIOUS TO THE PUBLIC EYE THAN OTHERS.

ABUSE CAN LOOK DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE.

IT AFFECTS PEOPLE ACROSS SOCIOECONOMIC, RACE AND GENDER LINES.

WHAT CONNECTS THEM IS DYNAMICS OF POWER CONTROL THAT THE PERSON CAUSING HARM SEEKS TO MAINTAIN.

SO AMONG THE TYPES, THERE ARE EMOTIONAL ABUSE, PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, FINANCIAL, ALSO PHYSICAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND EVEN IDENTITY-BASED; FOR EXAMPLE, USING ONE'S POWER AND PRIVILEGE, FOR EXAMPLE, THREATENING TO REMOVE SPONSORSHIP FOR A PARTNER WHO IS AN IMMIGRANT.

LIKE I WAS SAYING EARLIER, SOME OF THESE ARE A LITTLE LESS OBVIOUS AND SOME ARE MORE OBVIOUS, LIKE PHYSICAL.

>> HOLLI, SOMEONE ON THE GROUND FLOOR, GRASSROOTS, SEEING THIS FIRSTHAND, HOW DO THESE CASES PRESENT THEMSELVES?

IS THERE A COMMON WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE MIGHT PRESENT ITSELF WITH THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SEE AND DO PEOPLE RESPOND DIFFERENTLY?

>> YEAH, I THINK PEOPLE DO RESPOND DIFFERENTLY BASED ON THEIR LIKE LIFE EXPERIENCE, BASED ON WHAT WAY THEY'RE KIND OF COMING THROUGH THE DOOR.

AND I FIND THAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS VERY MUCH ABOUT THE PATTERN OF THE USE OF POWER AND CONTROL AND SO IT IS ALSO THAT OFTEN TAKES A LOT OF TIME FOR A SURVIVOR TO REALIZE IS GOING ON.

IT STARTS IN SMALL WAYS AND GRADUALLY INCROOS INCREASES, THE METHODS OF POWER AND CONTROL AND SO SOMETIMES WHEN FOLKS ARE WALKING INTO OUR DOORS, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WEIRD THING IS HAPPENING.

I'M NOT TOTALLY SURE WHAT THIS IS.

IT DOESN'T FEEL GOOD BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS REALLY QUALIFIES AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND THEN AS WE DO GET A CHANCE TO KIND OF SIT WITH THEM AND SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER, WE UNPACK WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACTUALLY IS.

SO PART OF THE FRONT END DOES ALSO LOOK LIKE PROVIDING EDUCATION ABOUT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT FEELS LIKE SO THAT SURVIVORS CAN START TO REALIZE LIKE OH THIS IS ACTUALLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME.

AND THAT PROCESS CAN BE PRETTY DESTABILIZING FOR FOLKS IF THEY HAVE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEING A SURVIVOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BEFORE.

>> AND HOLLY, DO YOU THINK OF THIS AS A SPECTRUM OR IS THERE A CLEAR LINE BETWEEN WHAT CONSTITUTES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND NOT?

>> I THINK IT'S COMPLICATED IN THE SENSE THAT I DON'T GET TO BE TO BE THE PERSON WHO DECIDES WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND WHAT IS NOT.

THERE IS A GENERAL DEFINITION WE LIKE TO BASE THINGS OFF OF, BUT WE TRY OUR BEST TO BE AS SURVIVOR CENTERED AS POSSIBLE.

I'M NOT TRYING TO CONVINCE ANYBODY THAT WHAT THEY EXPERIENCED IS DOMESTIC OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE OF ANY KIND.

AND THOUGH THERE ARE SOME PRETTY GENERAL DEFINITIONS THAT WE UTILIZE AND SOMETIMES WHEN PEOPLE AREN'T QUITE COMFORTABLE CALLING IT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, I WILL SAY OH THAT SEEMS LIKE A VIOLATION OF OUR BOUNDARIES OR SOMEBODY MISUSED THEIR POWER AND CONTROL IN SH WOULDING WITH YOU.

AND SO I THINK THERE IS A SPECTRUM AND THE MORE THE COVERT METHS ON OF POWER AND CONTROL DO EVENTUALLY, WE KNOW, TURN INTO A CYCLE OF ABUSE THAT TENDS TO GET MORE LIKELY TO PRODUCE PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE AT THE END OF THE CYCLE.

SO WE ARE WORKING WITH FOLKS WHO ARE AT ALL KINDS OF PLACES OF THE SPECTRUM.

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST OH MY PARTNER SAYS X, Y OR Z AND HUMILIATES ME IN FRONT OF MY FRIENDS OR SOMETIMES IT IS MY PARTNER DOESN'T LET ME KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION IN OUR FAMILY AT ALL AND I JUST HAVE TO BLINDLY TRUST THEM.

AND SO, BUT OTHER TIMES IT IS THIS HUGE MAJOR THING HAPPENED AND I WAS PHYSICALLY INJURED.

I THINK THIS IS A PLACE WHERE I NEED TO INTERVENE AND CHANGE THINGS.

SO WE SEE ALL SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM, NOT TO SAY THAT ANYTHING IS WORSE OR BETTER.

BUT IT IS DEFINITELY DIFFERENT SORTS OF PLACES IN THE JOURNEY OR ON THE SPECTRUM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

>> KELLI, YOU ARE COMING FROM THE STATE PERSPECTIVE AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, WORDS MATTER, DEFINITIONS MATTER.

SO IS THERE A MEANINGFUL DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT YOU ARE OR DEALING WITH OR IS IT KIND OF LIKE PORNOGRAPHY.

I KNOW IT WHEN I SEE IT?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THIS IS A BIT OF A CONUNDRUM, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THERE IS KIND OF THIS LAW ENFORCEMENT VIEW OF WHAT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS.

BUT THOSE OF US WHO ARE DOING THE WORK EVERY DAY ON THE GROUND, I USED TO.

I DON'T ANYMORE.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE IS-- NO ONE GOES INTO A RELATIONSHIP EXPECTING IT TO TURN TO A POWER AND CONTROL SITUATION, RIGHT?

SO IT IS A GRADUAL INCREASE OF POWER AND CONTROL OVER SOMEONE.

SO OUR JOB AT OPDV AND THE JOB OF THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY IS TO REALLY GET TO THAT PIECE BEFORE IT ESCALATES TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO CALL THE POLICE.

OUR JOB AND WHAT WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN IS FOR SOMEBODY TO GET TO US BEFORE WE ARE AT THAT PLACE WHERE THERE HAS TO BE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTION AND THE COURTS NEED TO BE INVOLVED.

SO MUCH OF WHAT WE CONCENTRATE ON AS A SOCIETY IS THE TOP OF THE SPECTRUM, IF YOU WILL.

I LIKE TO THINK, WE OFTEN USE AN ICEBERG.

WE ARE OFTEN ALL TALKING ABOUT THAT TOP END AND TRYING TO TREAT THAT TOP END OF IT THAT WE FORGET ALL OF THE STUFF GOING ON DOWN HERE.

THE TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED ABUSE, THE FINANCIAL ABUSE, THE ACADEMIC ABUSE, SPIRITUAL ABUSE.

ALL THOSE THINGS THAT ARE CREATING THAT POWER AND CONTROL THAT ESCALATES TO A POINT OF WHICH WE HAVE TO HAVE A CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTERVENTION WHICH IS WHERE WE FOCUS MOST OF OUR TIME AND ENERGY.

I THINK FOLKS AT THE TABLE WOULD MAYBE AGREE WE SHOULDN'T BE FOCUSING ALL OF OUR ATTENTION AT THAT POINT.

THAT POINT SHOULD WORK VERY WELL FOR VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS AND WE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THAT AS SEAMLESS AND AS SAFE FOR SURVIVORS.

BUT A LOT OF THAT CONVERSATION SHOULD BE HAPPENING MUCH EARLIER.

>> DID YOU WANT TO... >> THIS SPEAKS TO THE EVOLUTION AND MOVEMENT OF WHERE WE ARE GOING IN THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WORLD AND RESPONSE FOR SURVIVORS.

BACK IN THE DAY IN THE 70s WHEN THIS ALL STARTED, IT WAS FINDING SHELTERS.

FINDING ESCAPE FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDED THAT DESPERATELY IN THAT MOMENT BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BE AT HOME ANYMORE.

IT WASN'T SAFE FOR THEM AND NEEDED SOMEWHERE TO GO.

THAT CRISIS RESPONSE IS WHERE THE GENESIS OF THIS MOVEMENT CAME FROM THAT CRISIS RESPONSE.

WHAT DO WE DO FOR THAT PERSON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHEN THEY AND THEIR CHILD NEED TO LEAVE THEIR HOME.

BUT NOW WE ARE SEEING SO MANY MORE SURVIVORS COMING FORWARD AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN THEIR JOURNEY WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IS THIS OKAY?

DO I FEEL SAFE?

SOMETHING IS WEIRD HERE ALL THE WAY TO WHAT KELLI IS TALKING ABOUT WITH THE VERY HIGH RISK FOLKS WHO HAVE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT.

BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LISTEN TO SURVIVORS OVER THE YEARS AND COME UP WITH WAYS TO RESPOND TO THEIR NEEDS THROUGHOUT THEIR JOURNEY.

SO WHETHER IT'S JUST THIS QUESTION OF AM I SAFE?

AM I OKAY?

IS THIS NORMAL TO OH MY GOSH, I NEED 911 RIGHT NOW.

I'M IN DANGER AND ANYWHERE IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO, WE HAVE MORE HOUSING SUPPORTS, MORE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS, MORE THERAPEUTIC RESPONSES AND INTERVENTIONS AND MORE PREVENTION EFFORTS TO REALLY GET TO PEOPLE AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR JOURNEY AND SO SURVIVORS KNOW THAT THERE IS A NETWORK HERE FOR THEM AND WHEN THEY COME FORWARD, WE ARE READY TO RESPOND.

>> WE MENTION PREVENTION EFFORTS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW THAT YOU THINK ARE MAKING A MEANINGFUL DIFFERENCE?

>> WE HAVE PREVENTION IS KIND OF A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT BUCKETS.

THERE IS PRIMARY PREVENTION WHERE WE ARE TALKING WITH, YOU KNOW, OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, WORKING WITH YOUNG KIDS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HANDS ARE NOT FOR HITTING IN THE CLASSROOMS.

HOW TO BE A GOOD FRIEND.

ANTI-BULLYING.

WE ARE IN EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN OUR COUNTY TRYING TO WORK WITH TEENAGERS ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS BECAUSE IT STARTS SO YOUNG.

I MEAN IT STARTS IN KINDERGARTEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

THE RED FLAGS OF POWER AND CONTROL START WITH, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY TOY, NOT YOURS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE VERY ROOTS OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS THAT TURN INTO ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS WHEN YOU GET OLDER AND IT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, 12, 13 YEARS OLD THAT YOU START DATING AND GETTING INTO THESE RELATIONSHIPS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE HEALTHY.

HOW DO KIDS EVEN KNOW?

TALKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND THEN YOU GET INTO COLLEGE AND WE HAVE PROGRAMS WHERE WE ARE PROVIDING WORK SLOPS TO-- WORKSHOPS TO FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY SO THROUGH HUMAN RESOURCES, AND LARGE CORPORATIONS WILL GO IN AND TALK TO THE STAFF.

WE'LL TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT WHAT THEIR HOME LIFE IS LIKE, WHAT RELATIONSHIPS LOOK LIKE AND THEN REALLY WORKING WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE WHOLE LIFE CYCLE OF HOW TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP AND WHAT THAT MEANS WITH YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS AND YOUR INTEREST INTIMATE PARTNER.

>> I WOULD ADD, YOU KNOW, AS WE ALL BECOME MORE INVOLVED WITH TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED ABUSE AND THE WAY IT IS PRESENTING IS HAPPENING SO MUCH EARLIER IN KIDS AND THEIR ATTACHMENT TO WHO THEY ARE ONLINE AND THAT IS REAL FOR THEM THIS IN IN A WAY THAT FOLKS OVER-- I DON'T KNOW, I'M OLD.

SO FOLKS OVER 20 DON'T IDENTIFY, RIGHT?

IF YOU ARE-- IF YOUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT ON TECHNOLOGY OR A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE, THE ABILITY TO MANIPULATE IS COMING UP ACROSS THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO RELATIONSHIPS.

NOT ONLY ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS BUT ALMOST ALL RELATIONSHIPS IS COMING OUT AND WHEN THAT TURNS BAD AND BECOMES POWER AND CONTROL, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE AS A MOVEMENT ARE GRAPPLING WITH AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW ARE WE PREPARING FOLKS-- HOW ARE WE PREPARING FOR WAS IS ABOUT TO COME TO US BECAUSE THERE ARE ALL THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT DEMOGRAPHIC AND WE HAVE BUILT SHELTERS.

BUT IF YOU ARE NOT SAFE ON YOUR PHONE AND SOMEBODY CAN TRACK YOU NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, THE SHELTER SYSTEM ISN'T GOING TO BE THE ANSWER.

SO HOW ARE WE READJUSTING OUR SERVICES?

>> WELL, AS WE ARE CONSIDERING WHAT CAN LEAD TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND BY EXTENSION HOW TO PREVENT IT, I WANT TO CONSIDER THE WAY UNHEALTHY FORMS OF MASCULINITY OR TOXIC MASCULINITY CAN CONTRIBUTE TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN BY MEN AND OUR PRODUCER HAS A STORY ON A PARTNERSHIP SPEARHEADED BY A FORMER PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER HOPING TO INSTILL HEALTHY IDEAS ABOUT MASCULINITY.

HERE'S THAT EFFORT.

>> I OFTEN ASK THE QUESTION, BEEN ASKING THERE QUESTION FOR MANY YEARS.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A MAN.

AND THEN WE GET TOUGH, STRONG, THE NARRATIVE OF MASCULINITY AND I ASK BOYS AND MEN, DOES THAT DEFINE YOU?

DOES THAT DEFINE YOU AS A PERSON?

AND IMMEDIATELY THEY SAY NO.

AND THEN I GO, OKAY, WHAT IS MISSING.

WHAT IS MISSING FROM WHAT TRULY DEFINES WHO YOU ARE?

I'M LOVING.

I'M CARING, I'M SENSITIVE.

I'M FUNNY.

THE ONLY REASON WE TALK ABOUT MASCULINITY VERY OFTEN IS IN HOW IT HARMS WOMEN'S LIVES.

SO WE END UP USING TERMS LIKE TOXIC MASCULINITY WHICH IS NOT A HELPFUL TERM BUT THE ONLY FORM OF MASCULINITIES-- MASCULINITY THAT WE TALK ABOUT.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS WE TALK ABOUT TOXIC WASTE.

YOU SEPARATE TOXIC WASTE FROM GARBAGE.

SO THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS GENERATION OF BOYS VERY OFTEN REJECT THE CONSERVATIONS AROUND MEN'S VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, AROUND THIS ISSUE OF MASCULINITY BECAUSE ALL WE HAVE BEEN TELLING THEM IS WHO THEY ARE AS BOYS IS TOXIC.

WE SHOULD GET RID OF THAT.

WE HAVEN'T GIVEN THEM SOMETHING TO WALK TOWARDS.

I'VE USED THE TERM ASPIRATIONAL MASCULINITY BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I WANT FOR THEM AS BOYS.

NOT WHAT I WANT THEM TO GET RID OF OR ON BEHALF OF WOMEN AND GIRS.

I WANT THE BOYS TO HAVE LOVING, CARING EGALITARIAN RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE HONEST AND THE FIRST RELATIONSHIP WITH IS THEMSELVES.

TEACH OUR BOYS AND ROYCE OUR BOYS TO BE AWE THEN ISSUING, WHOLE AND EVOLVING.

AWE.

I WANT THEM TO BE IN AWE OF THEMSELVES, NOT THAT THEIR TOXIC.

IN AWE OF YOURSELF AS A BOY.

BEE AUTHENTIC.

BE YOUR WHOLE SELF.

LOVING, CARING AND EMOTIONAL AND VULNERABLE JUST AS MUCH AS YOU CAN BE TOUGH AND STRONG AND AT LET YOU CAN AND ALL OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE ASSOCIATE WITH BEING BOYS.

THE ASPIRE IN NEW YORK CONCEPT GREW OUT OF THE WORK THAT I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO DO IN HIGHER ED, IN COMMUNITIESES AND BUSINESSES AROUND THE WORKPLACE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT.

I WAS DOING WORK WITH AN AGENCY IN MARYLAND AND WE ARE DOING TRAUMA INFORMED CLASSROOM WORK IN THE SCHOOLS AND THEN I WAS DOING WORK WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR IN WORKPLACE SAWRMT OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND WORKING WITH SOME OF THE FOUR AND TWO YEAR ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN THE AREA AND WE ARE TRYING TO REACH THIS SOCIAL ECOSYSTEM OF SCHOOLS 12 K-12 AND HIGHER ED, WORKPLACE AND COMMUNITIES LIKE THE YMCA.

>> OUR PARTNER WITH THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND WITH DON MCPHERSON AND AT SPIRE MODEL FOCUSES ON THE YMCA'S COMPONENT OF BRINGING A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ASPECT TO THE INITIATIVE.

WHAT WE ARE DOING THUS FAR IS I'M WORKING WITH HANK AND THE REST OF THE BOARD AND THE YMCA ACROSS THE STATE TO IDENTIFY WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO BEGIN THE TRAINING.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO START IN AREAS OF THE STATE THAT ARE BOTH GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE AND ALSO IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE LARGER YMCA AND THEN OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE ARE SMALLER.

WE WANT TO HAVE THIS BE SORT OF A PILOT PROGRAM TO SHOW WHAT A TRAINING MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN AN URBAN SETTING YMCA AND WHAT A TRAINING MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN A MORE RURAL SETTING AND HOW DO WE ENGAGE THE RIGHT POPULATION IN THAT.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SIX OR SEVEN YMCA TO BEGIN IN THIS PILOT STAGE FOR 2025.

AND THEN AFTER THAT, YMCAS WILL REALLY ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED.

>> CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT AT THE YMCA IS SO IMPORTANT AND A LOT OF WHAT KYLE SHARED WITH ME IN TERMS OF THIS PILOT PROGRAM AND THE PROGRAM GOING FORWARD HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHARACTER IN YOUNG MEN AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S PART OF OUR MISSION BUT IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT WE IMPLEMENT ON A DAILY BASIS.

WHEN I READ THROUGH DON'S MATERIAL, AND FOR THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE, I FELT LIKE MY WHEELS WERE TURNING.

HOW CAN WE DO THIS AT OUR Y.

WHICH OF MY STAFF WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IT?

HOW MANY OF THE MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUNG MEN, WOULD BE INTERESTED IN IT?

AND WHAT CAN WE END UP CHANGING IN TERMS OF THE WAY THEY THINK, THE WAY THEY FEEL, THE WAY THEY EMPATHIZE.

>> VERY OFTEN WE ARE TRYING TO DO PREVENTION WORK.

AND WHEN YOU DO PREVENTION WORK, YOU ARE TRYING TO PREVENT THAT THING FROM HAPPENING BUT WHEN YOU DO PROMOTION WORK, WE ARE PROMOTING EXCELLENCE.

WE ARE PROPOATING-- PROMOTING ASPIRATIONAL MASCULINITY.

I CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION AT THE YMCA OR ON THE COLLEGE CAMPUS OR RECOGNIZING THAT THE PEOPLE AT THE YMCA AREN'T JUST PARTICIPANTS IN A COMMUNITY PROGRAM.

YOU CANS THEIR COMMUNITY BUT THEY'RE ALSO PATIENCE, RIGHT?

THEY'RE BROTHERS, SISTERS, THEY'RE YOUTH SPORT COACHES, MEMBERS OF THEIR FAITH COMMUNITY.

SO WE GO INTO A WORKPLACE, THAT'S WHO WE ARE TALKING TO.

WHAT I WANT AND WHAT I HOPE HAPPENS IS THAT YOU ARE GOING TO HEAR THE TERM ASPIRATIONAL MASCULINITY MORE THAN THE WORD TOXIC MASCULINITY.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO START USING THAT TERM IN A VERY POSITIVE WAY ABOUT AGAIN ENGAGING BOYS KNOWING THAT WE ARE NOT TRYING TO INDICT BOYS OR TELL THEM THAT THEY'RE BAD.

WE WANT TO PULL THEM INTO THE CONVERSATION TO HELP THEM.

>> RIGHT AFTER THE READ THE BOOK, I WAS LOOKING THROUGH A DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR THE NEXT DAY.

ON THE FIRST PAGE, I ACTUALLY WROTE IT DOWN WHAT IT SAID.

IT SAID SOMETIMES WE ARE CLOSER TO THE TRUTH IN OUR VULNERABILITY THAN OUR IN SAFE CERTAINTIES.

THAT'S A QUOTE BY RACHAEL EVANS.

I SAID OH, WHEN WE ARE VULNERABLE IS MORE WHAT WE WANT TO BE THAN HOW WE ARE IN CERTAIN CIRCLES WHERE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO PERCEIVE US TO BE.

AND THAT WAS WHAT I GAINED FROM THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK.

IF THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES FROM THE TRAINING THAT I CAN HELP OUR STAFF WITH, I'M ALL FOR IT.

>> YOU ARE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE EFFORT THAT DON IS SPEAR SPEARHEADING WITH THE STATE AND THE YMCA.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT AND WHAT DO YOU THINK IS 9, I GUESS THE POTENTIAL FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE STARTED WORKING WITH DON A COUPLE YEARS AGO AFTER I HAD A VISIT AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

AND THEY CONNECTED US WITH DON.

AND YOU KNOW, REALLY THIS EFFORT IS TO ENGAGE MEN AND BOYS IN A WAY THAT THE MOVEMENT MAY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING, RIGHT?

IT IS STARTING NOT WITH VIOLENCE AS THE WAY WE WANT TO LOOK AT THIS BUT HOW CAN WE ENGAGE MEN IN A WAY THAT FEELS AS THOUGH THERE IS SOMETHING IN IT FOR THEM AND THAT WE ALL NEED TO BE OUR WHOLE AND AUTHENTIC SELF AS DON SAID AND ALLOW MEN TO DO THAT.

ALLOW MEN TO FEEL OKAY ABOUT EXPRESSING THEIR FEELINGS.

AND AS A SOCIETY, WE DON'T ALLOW MEN TO DO THAT SOMETIMES, ALL OF US, WOMEN, MEN, AS SOCIETY WE THINK MEN SHOULD BE STOIC, NEED TO BE THE PROVIDER.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY COME TO THIS PLACE TO AND THEN WE EXPECT THEM TO BE EMOTIONAL AND AUTHENTIC AND HAVE THOSE REAL TOUGH CONVERSATIONS THAT WE WANT TO HAVE AND I THINK THAT'S A DIFFERENT PLACE THAN THE MOVEMENT HAS STARTED FROM BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE BEEN IN IT A LONG TIME.

BEEN IN BOTH THIS WORLD AND THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH WORLD AND WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHAT THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE HAVING WITH ONE ANOTHER HAVEN'T BEEN WORKING.

SO THIS SWITCH IN THE WAY THAT WE KIND OF ENGAGE IS MEANINGFUL.

AND THE REASON WE ARE WORKING WITH THE YMCA IS BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT THOSE-- THEY'RE KIND OF A-- THEY CAN BE A CATALYST AND A COMMUNITY CENTER.

AND HOW CAN WE KIND OF ENGAGE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE IN THIS DISCUSSION ABOUT ASPIRATIONAL MASCULINITY AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WE ARE NOT STARTING WITH THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY.

WE ARE NOT STARTING WITH THE D.V.

AGENCIES.

WE ARE STARTING IN THE COMMUNITIER WITH WE CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION-- AND I HAVE BEEN IN ROOMS WITH DON.

WE HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.

AND IT WAS ALL MEN IN THE ROOM EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THREE OR FOUR WOMEN.

AND I HAD AN EPIPHANY AT THAT MEETING BECAUSE I HAD TO REALIZE-- BECAUSE THERE WERE THINGS THAT WERE BEING SAID AND I WANTED TO RAISE MY HAND AND I WANTED TO-- YOU KNOW, DO WHAT I USUALLY DO.

AND I HAD TO STEP BACK AND SAY WAIT.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS CONVERSATION ISN'T ABOUT ME.

I HAVE TO LET PEOPLE HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED AND I NEED TO LISTEN.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT APPROACH.

>> WELL, PAIGE, UNDERLYING THIS EFFORT IS THE REALITY THAT MEN ARE RESPONSIBLE, PRIMARILY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND IT'S AGAIN WOMEN.

IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT YOU ARE SERVING AND DOES IT SEEM LIKE SOME OF THIS STEMS FROM JUST BAD IDEAS ABOUT MASS CLIBTS AND HOW TO BE IN-- MASCULINITY AND HOW TO BE IN A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP.

>> YES, I DEFINITELY THINK FOR A VERY LONG TIME, FOREVER, REALLY THAT MEN HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT THEY HAVE TO BE A PROVIDER, MASCULINE AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS THAT BEING STOIC.

I THINK THAT RIGID GENDER EXPECTATIONS FOR ALL COMMUNITIES CAUSE A LOT OF HARM AND THIS HAS ME THINKING ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY IS PUSHED TO THE MARGINS AND NOT REALLY INCLUDED IN THE CONVERSATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HOW IT ENDS UP IMPACTING THEM AT SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATES THAN PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THOSE INSTANCES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, ARE THOSE PARTNER ON PARTNER CRIMES?

ARE THEY ARE PEOPLE COMMITTING THE VIOLENCE?

WHAT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING THERE?

>> YES, IT IS PARTNER ON PARTNER A LOT OF TIMES.

EARLIER I WAS TALKING ABOUT IDENTITY-BASED USE OF POWER AND PRIVILEGE OVER A PARTNER.

SO WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING WITH LGBTQIA+ SURVIVORS, A LOT OF TIMES THEIR IDENTITY IS USED AGAINST THEM BY THEIR PARTNER.

FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MAY THREATEN TO OUT THEM IN THE COMMUNITY AND THAT CAN BE UNSAFE FOR THEM.

SO IT'S A BIT DIFFERENT OF A DYNAMIC THAN WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JUST ABOUT THE DUAL WOMEN-MEN CISGENDER DYNAMICS.

>> GIVEN THE TRADITIONAL BINARY, DO YOU FEEL THAT THE PROVIDERS THAT ARE OUT THERE ARE EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE NEEDS OF LGBTQ COMMUNITY WHEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PRESENTS ITSELF?

>> I THINK THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE TIME WE ARE, AS PROVIDERS, WORKING FROM A SURVIVOR-CENTERED LENS AND THAT ALLOWS US TO VIEW THE PERSON AS A PERSON FIRST.

AND I THINK THAT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO LEARN, ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN THE COMMUNITY OR HAVE NOT DONE EXTENSIVE TRAINING ON WORKING WITH THAT COMMUNITY.

SO I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO GROW.

>> OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS , OPDV INVESTED IN AN LGBTQ ENDORSEMENT PROJECT WHERE WE WORKED WITH PROVIDERS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO BE PART OF THIS COHORT TO REALLY LEARN ABOUT HOW WE CAN BE MORE INFORMED AND MORE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.

AND WE'VE GOT SOME GUIDELINES OUT AND WE HAVE, I THINK YOU GUYS WERE ONE OF THEM.

AND REALLY HOW DOUSE THAT-- HOW DOES THAT REPRESENTATION TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY, ANYWHERE FROM YOUR BOARD TO HOW SOMEBODY WALKS INTO SHELTER OR WALKS IN FOR YOUR NON-RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.

SO THERE REALLY IS AN EFFORT TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE BE MORE WELCOMING TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY IT WAS SOMETHING WE STRUGGLED WITH FOR A LONG TIME WITHIN THE MOVEMENT.

AND I THIS I WE HAVE ALL RECOGNIZED WE NEED TO MOVE AND DO BETTER AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THAT SO FAR?

>> OUR TEAM HAS ABOUT THREE OR FOUR TRAININGS A YEAR ON PROVIDING SERVICES TO LGBTQ SURVIVORS.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE MOVEMENT AND WE CHANGED OUR NAME ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO FROM ALTERNATIVES FOR BATTERIED WOMEN TO WILLOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE AND OPEN TO EVERYONE AND IN TERMS OF OUR PHYSICAL STRUCTURE, WE HAD A SHELTER THAT HAD THREE BATHROOMS, THREE STALLS FOR WOMEN, ONE FOR MEN IN CASE THE OCCASIONAL MALE CAPE.

WE MOVED AND OPENED UP A SPACE THAT HAS INDIVIDUAL RESTROOMS FOR EVERYONE SO IT'S NON-GENDER SPECIFIC, OPEN TO ANYONE WHO COMES IN OUR DOORS SHOULD FEEL WELCOME, SHOULD FEEL THAT DIGNITY AND FEEL THEY HAVE A PLACE THAT HELPS THEM FEEL SAFE AND THAT OUR TEAM IS RESPONSIVE TO THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

SO WHAT PAIGE WAS SAYING ABOUT BEING SURVIVOR CENTERED IS WHERE WE NEED TO COME FROM AND FROM THAT POINT, WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY MORE FOLKS FROM ALL GENDERS COME THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS, COME TO OUR DOORS, CALL OUR HOT LINE, PARTICULARLY OUR COURT PROGRAM.

SO WE HAVE ADVOCATES WHO ARE ON SITE AT THE HALL OF JUSTICE AND THAT PROGRAM HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN MEN OF NON-BINARY FOLKS FROM FOLKS RECEIVING ORDERS OF PROTECTION, CUSTODY SUPPORT, SUPPORT WITH THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO IS INTERACTING WITH SURVIVORS, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO NOT JUST HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE PEOPLE, BUT TO USE LANGUAGE THAT IS MORE SENSITIVE TO THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE RIGHT NOW.

>> I THINK IT'S SOCIETALLY RIGHT THE TRANSITION THAT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT HERE IS THE VUPTD USED VIEWPOINT USED TO BE THAT WOMEN WERE THE ONLY VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

ALL OF THESE SERVICES WERE REALLY STRUCTURED AROUND SUPPORTING WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND SO SO L WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBERS REFLECT THAT IS MOST OFTEN HAPPENING BETWEEN HIM AND WOMEN AND ALSO THE REALITY IS THERE IS SOME NUANCE HERE IN THE FACT THAT IF ALL OF THOSE SERVICES ARE STRUCTURED AROUND WOMEN AND CHILDREN, THAT DOES STILL CREATE INCREASED BARRIERS FOR ANYBODY WHO IS NOT IN ONE OF THOSE CATEGORIES, RIGHT, TO GET SERVICES OR TO FEEL SAFE GETTING THE SERVICES THAT THEY LIKE NEED OR DESERVE OR SHOULD ABSOLUTELY HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND SO I THINK EVEN BEING ABLE TO CLARIFY THE MESSAGING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY THAT VERA HOUSE SERVES PEOPLE OF ALL GENDERS, RIGHT, THAT WE DO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HOUSE IN OUR SHELTER FOLKS WHO ARE FOLKS AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING OR TRANS AND THAT IN ITSELF REMOVES EVEN ONE MORE BARRIER FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE SERVICES THAT THEY MAY NEED IN SUCH A DIRE CIRCUMSTANCE BECAUSE THE LANGUAGE MAY SEEM SIMPLE BUT THE MORE WE CAN USE THE WORD FOLKS INSTEAD OF YOU GUYS, THE MORE WE CAN SAY Y'ALL.

>> I'M NOT SAYING Y'ALL.

>> I GREW UP IN INDIANA SO THEY MIGHT THINK THEY'RE IN THE SOUTH.

IT MAY SEEM SIMPLE AND IT MAY SEEM KIND OF SILLY OR CORNY BUT THE REALITY IS THE MORE WE CAN QUESTION OR KIND OF LIKE DISMANTLE OUR OWN BIASES THAT SOCIETY HAS PRESENTED OR GIVEN TO US, THE MORE WE ARE ABLE TO FREE OURSELVES TO SHOW UP FOR PEOPLE IN THE WAY THEY NEED US TO SHOW UP RATHER THAN THE WAY WE THINK WE NEED TO SHOW UP.

>> SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR US AS AN AGENCY IS TO PARTNER WITH THE RIGHT AGENCIES AROUND US.

WORKING CLOSELY WITH TRILLIUM HEALTH AND OTHER PROVIDERS IN ROCHESTER THAT ARE REALLY CONNECTED TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY SO WE ARE EMBEDDED IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SHOWING UP FOR PEOPLE IN A WAY THAT FEELS AUTHENTIC AND NOT WE ARE GOING TO WAVE A RAINBOW FLAG AND SHOW UP FOR YOU BUT PROVE IT.

>> SO WE JUST RELEASED FLEXIBLE FUNDS AND ASKED PROVIDERS TO LOOK AT THEIR COMMUNITIES AND FIGURE OUT WHO SHOULD THEY BE SERVING WITH THESE FUNDS.

SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE OUTREACH THAT YOU NEED TO DO TO REALLY GET INTO THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE REPRESENTATIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

SO IT'S FORCING FOLKS TO REALLY ANALYZE WHO THEY'RE TRYING TO SERVE AND WHY THEY'RE TRYING TO SERVE FOLKS.

I WILL SAY THIS, BECAUSE I JUST HAVE TO.

I DON'T WANT TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT, ESPECIALLY WHERE WE ARE NOW, THAT IT IS A GENDERED ISSUE, AND IT IS THE FACT THAT WOMEN DO EXPERIENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THAT'S ROOTED IN THE INTERSECTION OF OPPRESSION.

IT'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, ROOTED IN THE INTERSECTION OF RACE AND I DON'T-- I KNOW-- I DON'T WANT TO SOUND LIKE I'M SAYING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO MEN BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY DOES.

BUT I DON'T THINK WE CAN LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP OF WOMEN AND OPPRESSION OF WOMEN IS ROOTED IN THE WORK: I JUST THINK SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO BE REMINDED ABOUT THE HISTORY OF OPPRESSION OF WOMEN, OPPRESSION WITH BLACK WOMEN, OPPRESSION OF LATINO WOMEN IS REALLY KIND OF INGRAINED IN WHAT WE DO: >> GIVEN HOW MEGHAN BROUGHT UP THE HOLISTIC NATURE OF THE SERVICES AND HOW YOU WANT TO TRY TO, YOU KNOW, COVER FROM THIS EVERY ANGLE, I WANT TO TURN TO AN INTERVIEW WE RECORDED LAST WEEK WITH ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF ROBERT ROBERT WHO IS PART-- ROBERT MACE MACIOL AND WE BEGAN OUR INTERVIEW BY TALKING ABOUT THE IMPETUS OF THIS ONEIDA COUNTY COALITION WHICH CAME TOGETHER IN 2021.

>> IN ONEIDA COUNTY, LIKE EVERY OTHER COMMUNITY ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE HAD TRAGIC RESULTS FROM DOMESTIC DISPUTES.

MANY OF THEM AND I HAVE CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT MORE IN THE PAST YEARS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY MANY OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED OR AT LEAST THERE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER INTERVENTION ON VARIOUS CASES BY DIFFERENT ENTITIES, NOT POINTING FINGERS AT ANYONE SPECIFICALLY BUT I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A DIFFERENT LOOK AT THINGS.

AND THERE WAS A VERY TRAGIC DOMESTIC DISPUTE IN THIS COMMUNITY SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THE FAMILY OF THE VICTIM MADE IT A GOAL OF THEIRS TO DO ALL THEY CAN TO ENSURE THAT, YOU KNOW, NO ONE ELSE LOSES THEIR LIFE TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASE.

SO A NOT FOR PROFIT WAS STARTED BY THIS FAMILY AND EVERY YEAR THEY RAISE FUNDS TO TRY TO WORK ON VARIOUS TYPES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISSUES THAT MAY COME ABOUT.

BUT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I THINK THAT A COMMUNITY CAN DO OR A COUNTY CAN DO, COUNTY WIDE LEVEL IS TO HAVE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VIOLENCE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT TEAM.

A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT GET TOGETHER TO LOOK AT THESE.

AND WE CERTAINLY CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT THE TEAM DOES MORE SPECIFICALLY, BUT THIS FAMILY, I WAS JUST MENTIONING, THEIR LOVED ONE, IN HER HONOR, THEY GAVE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO US AND TO A LOCAL PROVIDER IN OUR CASE THE YMCA, TO BEGIN A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT TEAM IN ONEIDA COUNTY THAT WAS THE START-UP FOR THIS TRAININGS THAT WAS REQUIRED TO DO THE DVHR TEAM AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR TEAM.

ONCE WE GOT GOING, SHORTLY THEREAFTER COVID CAME INTO PLAY AND WE RAN INTO HURDLES WITH THAT.

BUT OUR TEAM GETS STRONGER EACH TIME WE MEET AND WITH OUR MISSION, OUR MISSION AND OUR TEAM IS THE SAME.

IT'S BASICALLY TO ENSURE WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND TO ENSURE EVERY SERVICE THAT IS OUT THERE IS BEING GIVEN TO THE VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

AND AT THE SAME TIME OUR TEAM IS DOING ALL WE CAN TO ENSURE THAT THE OFFENDERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FROM A TO Z.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN HOW THAT INITIAL INTERACTION WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS PART OF THE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST?

>> SURE.

TYPICALLY WHEN A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RESPONDS TO A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS DONE IS A DOMESTIC INCIDENT REPORT.

WE REFER TO THEM IN OUR WORLD AS D.I.R.

THAT IS DONE AND DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCE THERE MAY OR MAY NOT BE AN ARREST.

THERE MAY BE SERVICES PROVIDED TO THE VICTIM.

BUT SINCE WE ESTABLISHED OUR DVHRT TEAM AND WE FOLLOWED THE GENIE GUIDE MODEL AND PART OF THAT MODEL IS THAT WE DO A SECOND FORM ON SCENE, IN ADDITION TO THE DOMESTIC INCIDENT REPORT AND IT'S CALLED A DALE.

AND IT'S BASICALLY A THREAT ASSESSMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THERE IS A SERIES OF QUESTIONS THAT ARE ASKED.

THERE IS ONLY A HANDFUL OF QUESTIONS.

SO IT IS NOT AN EXTRA BURDEN AS FAR AS PAPERWORK GOES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT THERE ARE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD QUESTIONS WITH A YES OR NO ANSWER.

AND IF THE DALE SCORES A 7 OR HIGHER, THAT DOMESTIC INCIDENT IS THEN REFERRED TO OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT TEAM.

OUR TEAM TYPICALLY MEETS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.

NOW GRANTED THE TEAM CAN MEET AT ANY TIME IF THERE WAS A SERIOUS CASE THAT CAME UP.

BUT OUR TEAM MEETS-- AND OUR TEAM CONSISTS NOT ONLY LAW ENFORCEMENT, OUR SERVICE PROVIDER WHICH IN OUR CASE IS THE YMCA, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, PAROLE, PROBATION, MENTAL HEALTH, HEALTH, WE CAN BRING OTHER PEOPLE ON BOARD IN SPECIFIC QUAYS CASED IF NEED BE AND AGAIN EVERYONE IS PUTTING ALL OF THEIR RESOURCES TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THESE HIGH RISK DOMESTIC CALLS ARE BEING WATCHED CLOSELY.

WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE DOING UNANNOUNCED VISITS.

THERE MAY BE CONTACT VIA PHONE WITH THE VICTIM.

THERE IS A SERIES OF THINGS, DEPENDING ON THE CASE, DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE , AGAIN, TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT THE VICTIM AND AT THE SAME TIME TO HOLD THE OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE AND THAT MAY INCLUDE , YOU KNOW, FOR THE VICTIM, FINDING HOUSING FOR THE VICTIM, SAFE HOUSING FOR THE VICTIM A LOT OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING DURING A DOMESTIC ISSUE DOMESTIC INCIDENT, THE VICTIM NEEDS TO FIND A PLACE OF SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS MADE FOR THEIR CHILDREN ALL THINGS THE TEAMWORKS WITH COLLABORATIVELY AND COOPERATIVELY TOGETHER.

WHEN I STARTED 35 YEARS AGO WE WOULD GO TO A DOMESTIC CALL.

THE WAY I WAS TRAINED THEN, IF THE VICTIM REFUSED TO SIGN A DEPOSITION, THEN WE WOULD WALK AWAY THANK GOD THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.

THERE ARE MANDATED ARREST PROCEDURES DEPENDING ON WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IN THE INCIDENT WHERE, YOU KNOW THE OFFENDER IS MANDATED BY LAW TO BE ARRESTED.

THE VICTIM CANNOT SAY I DON'T WANT HIM OR HER ARRESTED.

IF THEY'RE THE THE AGGRESSOR AND IT FETS INTO THE APPROPRIATE CATEGORY, THEY'RE GOING TO BE ARRESTED.

OVER TIME, THE DOMESTIC INCIDENT REPORT HAS CHANGED I HAVE SPOKEN IN SEVERAL PUBLIC VENUES.

I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS WORD BECAUSE AS THE SHERIFF, I GET A LOT OF MANDATES PUT ON ME BY THE STATE THAT I DON'T ALWAYS AGREE WITH BUT I THINK IT SHOULD BE A MANDATE THAT EVERY COUNTY HAVE ITS OWN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HIGH RISK ASSESSMENT TEAM WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE ONE HERE MUCH WE HAVE BEEN AROUND A HANDFUL OF YEARS AND HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO TO GET PERFECTION.

THERE ARE MODEL HRT TEAMS AROUND THE STATE THAT DO AMAZING WORK BUT SADLY THERE IS ONLY A HANDFUL OF US.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE EVERY COUNTY.

>> FINALLY WE HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT POLICE OFFICERS PLAY IN RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS AND HELPING CONNECT SURVIVORS WITH SERVICES LIKE YOU ARE DOING IN ONEIDA COUNTY BUT THE SAD FACT IS NATIONALLY AT LEAST, LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS ALSO MAKE UP A DISPROPORTIONATE PERCENT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OFFENDERS.

I'M CURIOUS IF THAT IS SOMETHING YOU THINK ABOUT AND IF YOU ARE THINK ABOUT IT, DO YOU PUT THINGS IN PLACE SO YOUR DEPUTIES ARE NOT A STATISTIC.

>> EVERY POLICE CHIEF, EVERY SHERIFF, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO HOLD OUR PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WE HAVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN PLACE THAT HAVE TO BE FOLLOWED.

THERE ARE PROTOCOLS WHEN A MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS INVOLVED THEMSELVES IN A DOMESTIC DISPUTE AND WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS AGAIN TO THE VICTIMS OF THE DOMESTICS OR IF THEY'RE NOT A VICTIM, WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS TO THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER TO ENSURE THAT THEY'RE GETTING THE SERVICES THEY NEED BECAUSE OUR GOAL HERE IS TO LEAD BY ETCH.

WE HAVE TO ENSURE WHETHER THEY'RE WORKING FOR ME OR WHETHER THEY'RE SOMEONE NOT IN LAW ENFORCEMENT F. THEY'RE AN OFFENDER OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

WE HAVE SERVICES THROUGH OUR AGENCY, WHETHER IT'S A PEER SUPPORT GROUP, SERVICE PROVIDERS AND EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, MULTIPLE LAYER ONES WHERE EMPLOYERS CAN REACH OUT FOR HELP BECAUSE AGAIN, WE ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.

NO MEMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS.

SO WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING WRONG, LIKE I SAID, THEY HAVE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO HELP EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THAT SITUATION.

AND LIKE I SAID, WE NEED TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE IN THIS CAREER.

>> WE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING WITH ONEIDA COUNTY SHERIFF ROB MACIOL.

SHERIFF, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING THE TIME AND THANKS FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO MEGHAN, A BIG TAKEAWAY AT LEAST FOR ME IS THE IDEA OF HOLISTIC OR WELL ROUNDED RESPONSE WHEN THERE IS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENT OR WHEN A SUSPECTED.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT IS LIKE IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS IN MONROE COUNTY.

>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER PARTNERS IN THE LEGAL WORLD FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

AND LATELY WE HAVE BEEN EMBARKING ON THIS JOURNEY TO FORMALIZE AND INSTITUTIONALIZE THESE RELATIONSHIPS.

IT'S NOT JUST ME CALLING SOMEONE AT THE DA'S OFFICE THAT I HAPPEN TO KNOW.

IT'S THE DA AND WILLOW ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN THIS PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT SURVIVORS WHO ARE COMING FORWARD WITH SOME KIND OF CRIMINAL CASE OR SITUATION.

SO WE, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO NOW RECEIVED SOME FUNDING THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT SO THE ARPA DOLLARS FROM THE COUNTY TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN SOME NATIONAL EXPERTS ON THE FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER MODEL AND THEY HELPED US WALK THROUGH WHAT OUR COMMUNITY HAD GOING FOR IT.

IT HAS LOTS GOING FOR IT AND WHAT OUR NEEDS WERE AND THEY REALLY DROVE THIS EFFORT COLLABORATIVELY WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, HUNDREDS OF PARTER INS IN THE COMMUNITY-- PARTNERS WERE IN THE COMMUNITY TO LAUNCH THE FAMILY JUSTICE MODEL IN MONROE COUNTY MUCH AND WHAT THAT IS A COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE WHERE YOU HAVE THE SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE TABLE.

HAVE YOU ADVOCATES AT THE TABLE.

HAVE YOU LEGAL SUPPORTS LIKE LEGAL AID.

YOU HAVE VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS.

YOU HAVE THE DA'S OFFICE IF NEEDED.

YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT WHETHER IT'S THE TOWN OR THE SHERIFF OR THE CITY, WHATEVER JURISDICTION THE INCIDENT LOOK PLACE AND WILL YOU HAVE THEM AT THE TABLE AS WELL.

SO WHEN A SURVIVOR COMES FORWARD AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, I HAD THIS INCIDENT; THIS EXPERIENCE AND I NEED SUPPORT.

WE CAN BE THERE ALL CO-LOCATED IN ONE SPACE TO BE ABLE TO MEET THEIR NEEDS SO THEY WILL COME FORWARD AND SAY I NEED AN ORDER OF PROTECTION.

I NEED HOUSING AND I NEED THERAPY AND WE CAN SAY YEP.

WE ARE HERE BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

WHAT'S NEXT.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED.

AND BEING ABLE TO ANSWER THAT CALL IN THAT WAY IS INCREDIBLE FOR NOT JUST THE SURVIVOR BUT ALSO FOR THE PARTNERS.

THE SIS-- THE SYSTEM IS ABLE TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE AND SERVE MORE PEOPLE IN THE COLLABORATIVE WAY THAN BEFORE AND FOR THE SURVIVOR IT'S LIFE SAVING, NOT JUST LIFE CHANGING BECAUSE WE ASK PEOPLE TO TRAVEL FROM HERE IS TO THE COURTS, TO THE LAWYER'S OFFICE TO THE, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE, TO D.H.S., TO HOUSING SUPPORTS AND THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL BY CAR, BY BUS, THREE KIDS IN TOW, MULTIPLE PLACES UP TO 12 SOMETIMES TO GET THEIR NEEDS MET AND THAT'S INCONVENIENT FOR MOST OF US.

FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WHO MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THE PERPETRATOR AT LARGE, THAT CAN BE QUITE LITERALLY LIKE LIFE OR DEATH.

IT'S VERY THREATENING AND DANGEROUS FOR THEM TRAVELING AROUND TRYING TO GET THEIR NEEDS MET.

WHEN THEY COME TO US, WE ARE RIGHT THERE IN THE SAME ROOM PHYSICALLY ON SITE AND CAN PROVIDE WHATEVER THEY NEED IN THAT MOMENT.

IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AND PART OF THAT JOURNEY, TOO, IS BEING ABLE TO SAY, BEING ABLE TO SAY YES TO THE HOUSING AND YES TO THE SUPPORTS AND YES TO THE THERAPIES BUT THAT REREQUIRES RESOURCES.

THE ARPA FUNDING HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE AND WE HAVE FLEXIBLE FUNDS FROM OPDV THAT WE CAN UTILIZE FOR WHATEVER THE SURVIVOR MIGHT BE.

WHETHER IT'S CAREY PAIR, "A SECURITY DEPOSIT ON THEIR NEXT APARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE OFTEN TIMES MADE HOMELESS BY AT ABUSE.

WE HAVE THE DOLLARS WE CAN JUST HAND TO SOMEBODY AND SAY HERE YOU GO.

HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO GET TO YOUR NEXT STEP TOWARDS SAFETY AND FREEDOM.

>> PAIGE, WHAT IS THE NETWORK OF YOUR SHELTERS WHEN IT COMES TO COORDINATED CARE LOOK LIKE?

AND IS THAT SOMETHING WHERE YOU HAVE PARTNERS WHO ARE READY TO PROVIDE THAT WRAP AROUND SET OF SERVICES?

>> YES, AND IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO PROVIDE HOLISTIC COMPREHENSIVE CARE TO SURVIVORS.

AND SO WITHIN THE SHELTERS THEMSELVES, WE DO OFFER A VARIETY OF SERVICES.

WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SAFE HORIZONS IS QUITE A LARGE AGENCY, SO WE HAVE NOT JUST THE SHELTER THAT PROVIDES THE SAFE HAVEN FOR THE SURVIVORS AND THEIR CHILDREN BUT WE ALSO WORK WITH THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAW PROJECT, PROVIDING FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION, INFORMATION, CONSULTATION TO SURVIVORS.

WE ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE COURT SYSTEM.

WE HAVE ADVOCATES AT OUR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM KNOWN AS CVAP.

AND WE TRY TO HELP SURVIVORS WITH THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE, TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN ENSURE THAT WE FOCUS ON CHOICE, AUTONOMY AND BEING SURVIVOR CENTERED, BECAUSE SURVIVORS REALLY ARE NOT A MONOLITH.

EVERYBODY IS DIFFERENT.

EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT NEEDS.

BUT THE MORE WE PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND WE HAVE MORE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, WE CAN REACH THE MOST AMOUNT OF SURVIVORS.

>> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE IS SOMETHING THE STATE IS VERY FOCUSED ON IN SUPPORTING.

THIS YEAR THE GOVERNOR RELEASED ABOUT $35 MILLION THAT WOULD HELP COMMUNITIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HIGH LEVELS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FROM COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE, HIGH RISK TEAMS, HIGH ACCOUNT PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE KNOW IT IS PROVEN THROUGH THE GEIGER CENTER, WHICH ROB MACIOL MENTIONED IF COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN A COORDINATED WAY NOT JUST FROM A HIGH RISK TEAM BUT YOU LEARN FROM THE HIGH RISK TEAM AND TAKE OUT TO THE COMMUNITY FOR PREVENTION AND SERVICES, THAT'S REALLY WHERE YOU START TO REDUCE INCIDENTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOMICIDE.

SO IT'S A PROVEN METHOD.

I THINK WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THROUGH INFORMAL RELATIONSHIPS FOR MANY YEARS.

I WAS ON A COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAM 25 YEARS AGO AND IF SOMETHING FELL APART, IF THERE WAS A HIGH PROFILE CASE AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY GOT MAD AT THE PROVIDER, THINGS FELL APART.

WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS MEGHAN SAYS, INSTITUTIONALIZE THE RELATIONSHIPS SO IT'S NOT SO PERSONALITY DRIVEN AND IT'S DRIVEN BY AWE COMMITMENT BY THE COMMUNITY TO RESPOND IN A COORDINATED WAY.

WE ARE DOING SOME REALLY GOOD INVESTMENT ON THAT.

WE ARE DOING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REGIONAL COUNCILS.

THAT'S WAS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AS WE GO ACROSS THE STATE, ABOUT HOW DO WE DO THAT TOGETHER AND LETTING THE COMMUNITIES DERIVE WHAT THE RESPONSE SHOULD BE BECAUSE IT'S OFTEN NOT A CRIMINAL JUSTICE RESPONSE.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO BUILD THAT OUT?

WHO SHOULD BE AT THE TABLE BEYOND THE DA.

SHOULD CPS BE AT THE TABLE, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION BE AT THE ABLE?

BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE PLACES WHERE THE INTERSECTIONS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN EARLIER.

>> AND I THINK ANOTHER PIECE IS THE MORE THAT WE CAN MIRROR HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS IN OUR INTERACTIONS AMONG THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE SERVING OUR SURVIVORS, RIGHT, THE MORE WE CAN HAVE TRUST, THE MORE THAT WE CAN INTERACT IN WAYS THAT ARE RECIPROCAL AND LIKE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING, THE BETTER MODELING THAT IS FOR SURVIVORS, TOO, RIGHT, BECAUSE JUST AS MANY AS I CAN ASK SOMEBODY TO SHOW UP AND DO X, Y OR Z IN THERAPY AND WE CAN, FROM THE STATE SAY DO X, Y OR Z, THE THING THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN IS THE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING AND THE GIVE AND TAKE AND US TRYING TO ACTUALLY PUT THE BOOTS ON THE GROUND TO MAKE IT LOOK THE WAY THAT WE, LIKE WE HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES INTO IT ULTIMATELY SO I THINK IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING THAT THE STATE IS DOING AND NOW WE ALL JUST HAVE TO SHOW UP AND LIKE PUT OURSELVES.

>> LEAVING EGOS ASIDE AND LEAVE THE OLD STUFF ASIDE AND SAY HOW ARE WE GOING TO BE SURVIVOR CENTERED CULTURALLY INFORMED RESPONSE TO THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE.

>> A LOT OF THAT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY FUNDING AND AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE ARE GOING HAVE REPUBLICAN CONTROL OF THE CONGRESS AND THE WHITE HOUSE.

I'M WONDERING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE AT THE STATE LEVEL, ARE YOU PARTICIPATING ANTICIPATING THAT WILL CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF VICTIM FUNDS AVAILABLE OUT OF WASHINGTON D.C. OR HOW VICTIM FUNDS ARE DISTRIBUTED?

IS THAT SOMETHING YOU ARE BRACING FOR AND THAT THE STATE MIGHT HAVE TO RESPOND TO?

>> SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR A LONG TIME.

MEGHAN AND I WERE ON A TASK FORCE IN 2019 THAT TALKED ABOUT THAT, TOO BECAUSE WE HAVE SEEN VICTIM FUNDS DECREASE FOR LOTS OF REASONS.

BUT I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS DOES A NEW MODEL OF FUNDING FOR DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE LOOK LIKE.

THAT WAS PRE-TUESDAY.

NOW I THINK WE ARE EVEN MORE FOCUSED ON WHAT DO WE NEED TO LOOK AT.

WHERE ARE THE POSSIBLE VULNERABILITIES AND HOW IS THE STATE GOING TO RESPOND TO THAT?

SO THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED ON US TO REALLY LOOK AT THAT.

WE SUBMIT SOME PAPERS TO HER OFFICE LAST WEEK TO SAY OKAY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO.

WE ARE REALLY TAKING A HARD LOOK AT THAT BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO TAKE CREATIVE THINKING ON PART OF THE FIELD AS WELL.

WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THIS WAS A SYSTEM THAT WAS SET UP AS A COTTAGE INDUSTRY FOR WOMEN.

WOMEN STARTED THIS FOR ONE ANOTHER.

THE FUNDING WAS PUT TOGETHER HERE, HERE AND HERE OPPOSED TO THINK OF THINKING OF IT AS A SIS SYSTEM FOR SURVIVORS.

WE HAVE BUILT ROBUST POCKETS THROUGHOUT STATE BUT HAVE WE ADDRESSED IT AS A SYSTEM?

I THINK THAT'S OUR CHALLENGE BOTH AT THE STATE AND WITHIN THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE MOVE FOAFERRED KNOWING-- FORWARD KNOWING WHAT MAY BE COMING AT US?

>> STICKING WITH THE IDEA OF FUNDING, HOLLY TALKED EARLIER ABOUT THE IDEA THAT THE SYSTEM IS STRUCTURED AROUND SERVING CHILDREN AND WOMEN PRIMARILY AND WHAT WE SEE IN, SAY THE SHELTER SYSTEM IS THAT IF YOU ARE A SINGLE ADULT LOOKING FOR SERVICES AS A SURVIVOR, THE PROVIDER IS REIMBURSED AT A LOWER RATE THAN IF THEY WERE TO SERVICE THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS THEN DETRIMENTAL TO SINGLE ADULTS LOOKING FOR SERVICES AND SHOULD THERE BE SOMETHING TO CHANGE THAT REIMBURSEMENT RATE?

>> IT'S NOT DETRIMENTAL TO THE ADULT LOOKING FOR SERVICES.

WHAT IT IS, IS IT IS DETRIMENTAL TO OUR AGENCY BUDGETS.

SO EVERY SERVICE PROVIDER WILL BRING IN AND WELCOME INDIVIDUAL ADULTS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE WILL PLACE THEM IN A BEDROOM THAT IS MEANT FOR FOUR AND SO THE WAY THE REIMBURSEMENT MODEL WORKS IS THAT WE ARE THEN FUNDED FOR THE ONE INDIVIDUAL IN THAT ROOM WHILE THE THREE BEDS STAY OPEN AND SO IT'S ACTUALLY A REVENUE ISSUE FOR THE NON-PROFIT PROVIDERS OF THESE SERVICES.

BUT IT WOULD NOT IMPACT THE PERSON COMING FORWARD.

THEY JUST HAVE A LARGER ROOM.

SO MANY NON-PROFITS, I THINK SAFE HORIZON IS ONE OF THEM, THEY DO HAVE SPACES THAT ARE SET ASIDE FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THEIR PRIVATE ROOMS AND IT'S MEANT FOR ONE BED.

WHERE IT REALLY IS THE FUNDING MODEL IS REALLY BASED ON HOW MANY BODIES AND BEDS.

HOW MANY BEDS CAN YOU FILL PER NIGHT?

AND THAT IS ANTIQUATED I.

WAS SET UP IN A WAY THAT YOU KNOW, WE DID WHAT WE HAD TO BACK IF THE DAY TO MAKE IT WORK BUT NOW KNOWING WAS WE KNOW ABOUT INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND THE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE HAVE AND WHAT SURVIVORS ARE COMING FORWARD AND ASKING US TO DO, THE VERY SHELTER MODEL ITSELF, I DON'T THINK IS THE ANSWER ANYMORE.

WE ARE DESPERATE FOR BEDS.

WE NEED EMERGENCY BEDS EVERYWHERE, BUT HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO THEN MOVE PEOPLE INTO MORE PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LET'S GET FOLKS RIGHT OUT OF THE DANGEROUS SITUATION AND INTO THEIR NEXT LIFE, NOT THIS SHELTER, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T NEED TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW TO LIVE AND SURVIVE IN A SHELTER.

IT IS REALLY THE MODEL OF MOVING TO DIRECT HOUSING FIRST IS REALLY WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING.

>> AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE SITTING AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN THESE CONVERSATIONS FOR A WHILE AND THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY IS NOT A MONOLITH ITSELF SO THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION TO BE HAD ABOUT HOW DO WE MOVE TO ANOTHER MODEL WITHOUT HARMING THE CURRENT MODEL AND THOSE DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN GOING ON.

I THINK GIVEN WHERE WE ARE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WE MAY HAVE TO HAVE THOSE DISCUSSIONS IN A MUCH MORE RAPID WAY AND THOUGHTFUL WAY OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE I DO THINK WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW WE FUND DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE SERVICES.

WE WERE DOING IT BEFORE AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A MORE RAPID KIND OF THOUGHT PROCESS.

>> AND TO KIND OF CLOSE THE LOOP ON ALL OF THAT, TOO, AND TO BRING YOUR DIRECT WORK INTO IT.

WE HAD A STUDY A FEW YEARS AGO IN ROCHESTER THAT SHOWED THE NUMBER ONE INDICATOR OF LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE SELF EFFICIENCY FOR SURVIVORS OF ABUSE FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN WAS NOT JOB SKILLS, APARTMENT SUPPORT, ANY OF THAT.

IT WAS WHETHER OR NOT WE DID AN ADEQUATE JOB OF HELPING THEM ADDRESS THE UNDERLYING TRAUMA.

THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IS CRITICAL IN THESE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND THE HOUSING NEEDS AND ALL OF THOSE PIECES.

IT'S ALL WOVEN SO TIGHTLY TOGETHER, THE HOLISTIC RESPONSE IS SO NEEDED.

>> WE HAVE TO WRAP UP IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES BUT BEFORE WE DO, HOLLY, I'M CURIOUS, THE STAFF THAT ARE ACTUALLY.

>> ACTING WITH SURVIVORS HAVE TO BE SOME OF THE MOST EMPATHETIC AND HEROIC PEOPLE BUT THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THEY CAN DO AND FOR HOW LONG THEY CAN DO IT.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO SUPPORT THAT STAFF?

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FUNDING.

SO FUFNEDDING IS ONE OF THE BIG THINGS, RYE, FUNDING.

THE MORE SUSTAINABLE OUR PROGRAM IS OVER THE LONG-TERM, THE BETTER WE CAN 3 COMPENSATE STAFF FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.

AND THE MORE STAFF ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES WITH WHATEVER SELF CARE OR RESILIENCE BUILDING PLAN THEY NEED, I THINK THAT THE OTHER THING IS TRULY ABOUT ARAKING WORKPLACES THAT ALLOW THEM TO SHOW UP AS THEMSELVES AT WORK WITH BOUNDARIES OBVIOUSLY BUT THE MORE WE CAN SUPPORT THE WHOLE PROVIDER RATHER THAN JUST THIS VERY SMALL PIECE OF THEM AS A PERSON, THE MORE FOLKS ARE ABLE TO SHOW UP AT WORK AND LIKE BE VERY HONEST AND STRAIGHTFORWARD ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED AND THEN THE MORE RELATIONSHIP WE CAN BUILD WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR WORKPLACES, THE BETTER WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER, TOO, WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND I THINK THAT IT'S NOT TRADITIONALLY WHAT WE GET TAUGHT ABOUT HOW WORKPLACES ARE SUPPOSED TO LOOK OR WORK AND IN THE WORK THAT WE ARE DOING WITH SUCH HEAVY TRAUMA AND SUCH CRISIS, IT IS INTEGRAL TO BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE TO SHOW UP AND REFILL OUR CUPS AND EVEN GROW OUR CUPS TO BE BIGGER SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE POURING OUT OF THEM BECAUSE THAT IS A SILLY SAYING, RIGHT, BUT IT IS TRUE.

AND I THINK THAT OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND HOW WE STRUCTURE SYSTEMS TO HELP TAKE CARE OF INDIVIDUALS, TOO, WHETHER THAT'S EAP PROGRAMS OR WHETHER THAT IS MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS CAN HAVE THE P.T.O.

TO TAKE SOME MENTAL HEALTH DAYS AFTER A REALLY, REALLY HARD CASE FINISHES OR, THERE ARE AN ABUNDANCE OF WAYS.

BUT I THINK IT'S A SYSTEMIC THING THAT ALSO HAS TO BE RELATIONSHIP MOTIVATED.

>> YEAH, THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A LOT MORE THAT WE COULD EXPLORE HERE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE TODAY.

MY THANKS TO OUR PANELISTS INCLUDING KELLI OWENS OF THE NEW YORK STATE OFFICE FOR THE PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, MEAGHAN DE CHATEAUVIEUX OF THE WILLOW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER, HOLLY LEHMAN OF VERA HOUSE AND PAIGE FISK OF SAFE HORIZON.

IF YOU HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR DON'T FEEL SAFE IN YOUR HOME, YOU CAN GET HELP BY CALLING 1-800-942- 6906 OR TEXT.

IF WOULD YOU LIKE TO REVISIT THIS EPISODE OR DIG INTO THE CONNECT NEW YORK ARCHIVES, CHECK OUT WCNY.ORBING SLRK CONNECTNY AND FOR MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE INCLUDING ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS WITH KELLI OWENS, CHECK OUT THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM WHEREVER YOU DOWNLOAD PODCASTS ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE TEAM AT WCNY, I'M DAVID LOMBARDO.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪