Category: Uncategorized

FLAFCC presents its new brochure (2019-):

Download Brochure – NEW 2019 FLACC Trifold Brochure

Page 1: Outside

Page 2: Inside

by Shena Kitt, InVEST Program Coordinator and Cynthia Rubenstein, MS, LMHC, CCR Specialist Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Navigating criminal justice, legal and social services systems can be a daunting task for survivors of intimate partner violence. However, certified domestic violence centers, social service providers, and legal, criminal justice, and other allied community partners can assist survivors in finding safety and justice through the implementation of proactive strategies that hold perpetrators accountable for their violence. A coordinated community response, such as the Intimate Partner Violence Services Team (InVEST), emphasizes perpetrator responsibility through enhanced criminal justice response and increased support services available to survivors.

InVEST began in Jacksonville, Florida, as a partnership between the local certified domestic violence center, Hubbard House, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and the City of Jacksonville. Between 2006 and 2009, the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Office of the Attorney General identified 11 Florida counties with the highest rates of domestic violence homicide to provide funding for the expansion of InVEST in those communities. Since that time, InVEST partnerships have implemented batterer accountability measures and provided enhanced advocacy for more than 3,000 survivors per year who are identified as a high risk of being murdered by their intimate partner. Since the program’s inception, there have not been any homicides of InVEST participants. This is particularly notable since InVEST participants enter the program based on their experience of evidence-based, high-risk behaviors perpetrated against them by their partner or ex-partner.

Despite programs such as InVEST, domestic violence homicides continue to occur in alarming numbers in Florida. The Annual Uniform Crime Report (UCR) statistics released in May 2018 by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) reflected a 9.5 percent decrease in domestic violence murders in 2017 from the previous year. However, domestic violence manslaughter deaths increased by 28.6 percent during the same time period. There were a total of 180 domestic violence-related homicides in Florida in 2017.1

It is essential that communities engaged in the work to end domestic violence are familiar with batterer behaviors that have been identified as high-risk indicators for the escalation of violence and lethality. Examples of these indicators include:2

• Perpetrator has a prior history of domestic violence
• Perpetrator controls all/most of their partner’s daily activities
• Perpetrator exhibits extreme and/or violent jealousy toward their partner
• Perpetrator attempts to strangle their partner
• Perpetrator is stalking, making threats, destroying partner’s property
• Perpetrator owns a firearm or has access to weapons

1 http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/UCR/2017/CIFAnnual17.aspx
2 Campbell, J. C., Webster, D., Koziol-McLain, J., Block, C., Campbell, D., Curry, M. A., Laughon, K. (2003). Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results From a Multisite Case-Control Study. American Journal of Public Health, 93(7), 1089 1097.

• Perpetrator has sexually assaulted their partner or forced sex in the past
• Perpetrator is living in a home with their partner’s children who have a biological parent other than the perpetrator

Survivors are often the most aware of the danger the perpetrator presents to their safety. They experience the threats and violence first hand and understand the perpetrator’s capacity for escalation. Survivors who express that their partner will kill them need to be believed and validated. The fear of ongoing violence and death often contributes to why survivors stay in an abusive relationship.

A perpetrator’s violence does not simply end when the survivor leaves the relationship but is instead likely to escalate. 3 Leaving or preparing to leave the relationship can be the most dangerous time for a survivor of intimate partner violence. A survivor may only leave when she believes the circumstances are safe to do so or because she believes she will be killed if she stays. Additionally, survivors often stay to protect their children since abusive partners are frequently granted joint custody of children in common when the couple separates. When this occurs, children may be at an increased risk of harm since they spend time with the perpetrator without the survivor there to protect them.

Florida’s 42 certified domestic violence centers provide free and confidential services to survivors of domestic violence, including supportive counseling, advocacy, emergency shelter, access to a 24-hour crisis hotline, safety planning, information, and referrals. The Florida Domestic Violence Hotline connects survivors, their friends, family members, and community partners to the certified domestic violence centers in their area. The Florida Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-500-1119 (TDD 1-800-622-4202/ Florida Relay 711). In addition, attorneys are available on the Florida Legal Hotline to answer survivor’s legal questions regarding injunctions for protection, divorce, custody, housing, immigration, and other legal matters at no cost. The Legal Hotline may be reached through prompt three on the statewide hotline. Interpreter services are available for survivors with limited English proficiency on both hotlines.

Please visit www.fcadv.org or contact info_fcadv@fcadv.org for additional information on high-risk indicators, or to request training for your organization.

3 United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Crime Victimization Survey, 2015.

SPONSORSHIP / EXHIBITOR LEVELS
FLAFCC 14th Annual Conference
September 26-28, 2018
Platinum Level: $5,000.00

• 2-day Conference registration for 4 representatives of the company/organization
• 4 Reserved seats at plenaries
• Information display table
• Sponsor provides and disseminates swag at one plenary
• Recognition as Host of the Charity Event with 2-3 mins. talking time
• Listed as a Sponsor on conference materials and FLAFCC website

Gold Level: $2,500.00

• 2-day Conference registration for 3 representatives of the company/organization
• 3 Reserved seats at plenaries
• Information display table
• Sponsor breakfast with logo displayed on onsite signage
• Sponsor provides and disseminates swag at one plenary
• Listed as a Sponsor on conference materials and FLAFCC website

Silver Level: $1,500.00

• 2-day Conference registration for 2 representatives of the company/organization
• 2 Reserved seats at plenaries
• Information display table
• Co-branded Sponsor: coffee breaks with logo displayed on onsite signage
• Listed as a Sponsor on conference materials and FLAFCC website

Bronze Level: $1,000.00

• 2-day Conference registration for 1 representative of the company/organization
• Listed as a Sponsor on conference materials and FLAFCC website
• Listed as one of the hosts of the luncheon
• Information display table

Partner Level: $500.00

• 2-day Conference registration for 1 representative of the company/organization
• Listed as one of the hosts of a coffee break
• Listed as a Sponsor on conference materials and FLAFCC website

Contact Maria Gonzalez: mgonzalez@ybkglaw.com| 954-809-3311
Exhibitors: (does not include conference registration)
Level 1: $400.00

• Information display table
• Listed as an Exhibiter Recognition on conference materials and FLAFCC website
• Meals for 1 representative of the company/organization for the 2-day conference

Level 2: $500.00

• Information display table
• Listed as an Exhibiter on conference materials and FLAFCC website
• Meals for 1 representative of the company/organization for the 3-day conference (includes preconference

Advertisers: (does not include conference registration)

• Full page ad in conference materials $250.00
• Half page ad in conference materials – $200.00

Contact Maria Gonzalez: mgonzalez@ybkglaw.com| 954-809-3311

Thank you to our 2018 Conference Sponsors:

Fayr

Florida Academy of Collaborative Professionals

Byrd & Byrd

Robert Merlin, P.A.

KarlanResolutions, LLC

Wagstaff Law Office, P.A.

Family Law Section of the Florida Bar

Center for Divorce Education

Matthew Lundy Law

Soberlink

SLI Global Solutions

Family Law Software

Unhooked Books

 
SPONSORSHIP / EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION FORM
FLAFCC – 2018 Sponsorship Registration form – pdf
 

FLAFCC wishes to sincerely thank those sponsors, exhibitors and registrants who either donated their 2017 conference contributions to FLAFCC or to Hurricane Relief:

Florida Bar Family Law Section Donated $2,500 to FLAFCC

Sheldon Finman, Judge Hugh Starnes, Deborah Silver, Craig Fabrikant, Lisette Beraja and Diane Webb Donated registration fees to hurricane relief ($2,000 to the Red Cross)

2017

1. Hugh E. Starnes Community Service Award: Lori L. Frazier, LMHC
2. Volunteer Award: Maria E. Garcia

2016

1. Hugh E. Starnes Community Service Award:  Maria C. Gonzalez, Esq.

2015

1. Hugh E. Starnes Community Service Award:  Hon. Michelle Morley
2. President’s Award: Rose Patterson
3. Volunteer Award: Allison Hockman and Efrat Almog

2014

1. Hugh E. Starnes Community Service Award:  Linda Fieldstone, M.Ed
2. President’s Award: Myrna R. Neims, PhD and Helen Gyllstrom, CPA, CDFA
3. Volunteer Award: Deborah O. Day, Psy.D, Deborah Coe Silver, Psy.D, and Angela Milisitz

2013

1. Formerly the “Service to Community Award” Now Becomes the “Hugh E. Starnes Community Service Award: Hugh E. Starnes 
2. President’s Award: Robert J. Merlin, Esq. and Jack Moring, Esq. 
3. Volunteer Award: Deborah O. Day, Psy.D., Maegan Pagan, Evelyn Pagan and Emily Carey

2012

1. Service to Community Award: Magistrate Susan Maulucci 
2. President’s Award: Deborah Coe Silver, Psy.D. 
3. Volunteer Award: Debra Weaver, Ph.D.

2011

1. Service to Community Award: Terrence G. Biddulph, Senior Vice President, Sabadell United Bank 
2. President’s Award: Ruth Angaran, LCSW and Darryll R. Bauchert, Sr., MBA, CFP®, CDFATM 
3. Volunteer Award: Vanessa Archer, Ph.D. and Ruthie Brunner, Ph.D.

2010

1. Service to Community Award: Rose Patterson 
2. President’s Award: Debra K. Carter, Ph.D. 
3. Volunteer Award: Angela J. Milisitz

2009

1. Service to Community Award: Intechgrate Systems and Total Concept, Inc. 
2. President’s Award: The Honorable Ray McNeal 
3. Volunteer Award: Sue Tomberlin

2008

1. Service to Community Award: Sharon Press, Director of the Dispute Resolution Center 
2. President’s Award: Retired Judge Raymond McNeal, Past President of FLAFCC 
3. Volunteer Award: Sue Tomberlin, Lisa Daniel

2007

1. Service to Community Award: Kent R. Spuhler, Exec. Director of Florida Legal Services Corp. 
2. President’s Award: Myrna Meims, Ph.D. 
3. Volunteer Award: Susan Berg, Sue Tomberlin 

2005

1. Service to Community Award: Honorable Judith Kreeger 
2. President’s Award: Sharon Press, Esq. 
3. Volunteer Award: Nina Zollo, Esq.

2004

1. Service to Community Award: Steve Sessums, Esq. 
2. President’s Award: Debra Day, Psy.D. 
3. Volunteer Award: Lawrence Datz, Esq.

2003

1. President’s Award: Gregory Firestone, Ph.D.; JoAnne Holt, CPA 
2. Volunteer Award: Nancy Fields, Family Court Coordinator; Sloane Veshinsky, LMFT

2002

1. Service to Community Award: Honorable Ray McNeal; Kathy Kuehnle, Ph.D. 
2. President’s Award: Honorable Hugh Starnes 
3. Volunteer Award: Joseph Hood, Esq.; Lea Ann Gates; Anne Fitch, OCSA

2001

1. Service to Community Award: Justice Barbara Pariente 
2. President’s Award: Linda Fieldstone, M.Ed. 
3. Volunteer Award: Michael Dignam, Esq.; Danny Kreeger

URGENT NEWS: 2017 FLAFCC/OSCA Conference CANCELLED!!!!

Yesterday morning (9/14) the FLAFCC Board made the decision to cancel the 2017 conference which was scheduled for Monday, September 25 through Wednesday, September 27. This was a very difficult choice to make considering all the effort that has gone into the planning of the conference. It is clear that everyone has been impacted to some degree by Hurricane Irma. We know that our members and OSCA staff have obligations not only to their families but to the families we serve and our communities; energies are probably best spent close to home. It may be weeks before some of us have power and water, the courts will be pushing to catch up after a week or more of shut down, and many of us have offices to fix and practices to restart. We believe this decision is in everyone’s best interests but apologize for any inconvenience this decision causes you.
If you made hotel reservations please call the hotel as soon as possible and cancel. You are responsible for cancelling your own reservation. We are unable to cancel for you. The hotel number is 407-859-1500. We recommend that you call rather than attempt to cancel online.
As soon as we have clear dates and a confirmed location we will notify you regarding the 2018 FLAFCC/OSCA conference. 
If you already registered, are a speaker, sponsor or vendor you will soon, or have already received information regarding your refund options. If you have questions you should contact the following person:

• Sponsors contact Connie Byrd (Connie@lawbyrd.com
• Vendors contact Wilhelmina Tribble (wtribble@lowetribble.com)
• Speakers contact Jill Sanders (jillsandersphd@msn.com)
• FLAFCC attendees contact Deb Weaver (dweaver.phd@gmail.com)
• OSCA attendees contact Ann Luchini (luchinia@flcourts.org)