"...The Barwick-Ruschak Act, effective Oct. 1, 2008, is the latest law to empower dating-violence victims. In the past, those cases were not treated as domestic-violence cases. The law was named after University of Central Florida students Tiffany Barwick and Michael Ruschak, who in 2007 were fatally gunned down by Barwick's estranged boyfriend, Andrew Allred, in Oviedo.
The law extends to victims of dating violence the same type of protection victims of domestic violence have. Those include referral to a local domestic-violence center; the ability to file a criminal complaint with the state attorney; a police report of the alleged dating-violence incident regardless of whether or not an arrest is made; and assurance that the perpetrator will be held in custody until a first appearance in court.
Those protections previously applied only to married couples or unmarried couples who had children in common.
In order to receive those protections, however, a romantic dating relationship must have been established between a victim and the alleged perpetrator for at least six months. ...
A new law, effective this year, requires Florida school districts to include dating violence in health education curriculums and makes resources available to students who are victims of dating violence."
See full article --
To apply to join, or to send comments and suggestions, contact Marc Dubin, Esq., Chair, at mdubin@pobox.com or at 305 896 3000.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Invitation to apply to join the Underserved Populations Committee
Please consider participating in a new project designed to enhance services to underserved populations confronting domestic violence and sexual assault, a project based in Miami-Dade, Florida – the Underserved Populations Committee of DVSAC (the Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Council).
DVSAC’s website is located at http://www.dvsacmiami.org/, and the Underserved Population Committee’s Blog is located at http://underservedpopulationscommitteeblog.blogspot.com/.
According to the DVSAC website:
“The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Council of Greater Miami (DVSAC) is the result of a community-based effort that began in 2001. This process produced the Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Report Assessment of Gaps in Services, which was published on December 15, 2003. The primary recommendation of the DV Report was creation of a multidisciplinary community-based Council to provide an ongoing forum for discussion, collaboration, and resolution to systemic issues….”
The Underserved Population Committee (UPC) was recently created to give voice to survivors and organizations serving survivors whose needs have often been marginalized, and is an effort to identify and enhance services to these communities. I have the honor and privilege to serve as Chair of the Underserved Populations Committee and as Co-Chair of DVSAC.
At our recent inaugural meeting, we identified a variety of underserved communities – we welcome suggestions about this, including how best to describe them, websites of interest, individuals to invite, and organizations to invite.
While membership to the DVSAC is limited to those working in Miami-Dade County, I am opening up membership in the UPC Committee nationwide. Monthly meetings will be held, and can be attended by conference call. See http://underservedpopulationscommitteeblog.blogspot.com/p/committee-meetings.html
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 3rd, from 10 am - 12 noon. See http://underservedpopulationscommitteeblog.blogspot.com/p/committee-meetings.html If you plan to participate, please let me know, and please fill out and return the membership form. See http://underservedpopulationscommitteeblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/application-to-join-upc-committee.html
The conference call information is as follows: 800-204-5502 Pin 938460#
We want to have members of the underserved populations join the Committee, as well as those providing services to them, and those with expertise in issues affecting them. So far, we have identified the following underserved populations (feel free to suggest others, and to share your thoughts on how best to describe or identify them):
1. Women of color
2. Survivors with Limited English Proficiency
3. Members of the farmworker community
4. Members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning community
5. Spouses and partners of military personnel
6. Spouses and partners of members of law enforcement
7. Undocumented individuals from foreign countries and members of Indigenous Populations
8. Children in households experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault
9. Women with disabilities
10. Women from countries with a cultural bias toward male dominance
11. The elderly
12. Women in insular communities
13. Women who are economically disadvantaged
14. Native Americans
I want to tap into your expertise and experience. Please let me know if you are interested in joining, or in helping us in any way. Guest speakers and suggestions would be particularly welcome, as would brochures and technical assistance.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you.
Marc
Marc Dubin, Esq.
Co-Chair, DVSAC of Greater Miami
Chair, Underserved Populations Response Committee, DVSAC
305-896-3000 (mobile)
fax: 877-731-3030
To apply to join, contact Marc Dubin, Esq., Chair, at mdubin@pobox.com or at 305 896 3000.
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