TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICY ADVOCACY: Lessons learned at the state and local levels

1. TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICY ADVOCACY: Lessons learned at the state and local levels California Department of Public Health VAW and TDV Prevention Forum July 13, 2010

2. Presenters • Marjorie Gilberg, Executive Director, Break the Cycle • Kendra Harris, Policy Program Manager, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence • Annie Lyles, Program Manager, Prevention Institute • Lisa Fujie Parks, Prevention Program Manager, California Partnership to End Domestic Violence

3. Session overview • Participants will: • Gain insights about how to engage local and state policymakers and advocate for policies to prevent teen dating violence (TDV). • Explore current TDV prevention policy issues, such as school curriculum, parental notification and opt-out provisions. • Learn about opportunities to be involved in TDV prevention policy advocacy.

4. Key theme • Prevention advocates play a critical role in developing, advocating for, and implementing effective TDV prevention policies!

5. California Partnership to End Domestic VIolence • The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence promotes the collective voice of a diverse coalition of organizations and individuals, working to eliminate all forms of domestic violence. • As an advocate for social change, we advance our mission by shaping public policy, increasing community awareness, and strengthening our members’ capacity to work toward our common goal of advancing the safety and healing of victims, survivors and their families.

6. Break the cycle • Break the Cycle believes everyone has the right to safe and healthy relationships. • We are the leading, national nonprofit organization addressing teen dating violence. • We work every day towards our mission to engage, educate and empower youth to build lives and communities free from domestic violence.

7. Prevention institute • Prevention Institute was founded in 1997 to serve as a focal point for primary prevention practice—promoting policies, organizational practices, and collaborative efforts that improve health and quality of life. • As a national non-profit organization, the Institute is committed to preventing illness and injury, to fostering health and social equity, and to building momentum for community prevention as an integral component of a quality health system.

8. What is Teen Dating violence Prevention Policy? and Why is it Important?

9. What is public policy?

10. In what ways can public policies help to prevent TDV?

11. TDV Prevention Policy • Public policies shape social and economic conditions that influence TDV, including: • Resources: e.g., public investment into youth, family and community development and TDV prevention initiatives. • Education: e.g., curriculum, teacher training, etc. • Youth and family support systems: e.g., professional training requirements for social workers, therapists, etc. • Media and marketing: e.g., regulation of media content (print, television, radio, internet, etc.). • Public policies can help to influence schools and other youth and family-serving organizations to better support respectful and equitable nonviolent relationships.

12. State tdv prevention policy advocaCY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM CALIFORNIA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY

15. sb 1300 (correa) and its legislative trajectory • Initiated by Senator Correa (one of his staff) • CPEDV Public Policy & Research Committee vote: oppose unless amended • BTC involvement • Other key advocates: Planned Parenthood, Peace Over Violence and CALCASA

16. senate education committee • Registered support: 6 organizations. • Registered opposition: none. • Requested amendments: none taken. • Vote: 6 aye, 1 no, 2 abstain/no vote. • Analysis: committee • During this time, CPEDV PPRC memberswere carefully considering the bill and determining what position to take.

17. senate Appropriations committee • Analysis: Concerns about the 14-day parental notification requirements included. • Requested amendments: none taken. • Vote: 7 aye, 3 no, 1 abstain/no vote. • CPEDV members provided information to CPEDV, which we provided to the Committee Consultant. • CPEDV, BTC and POV submitted a joint opposition letter to committee members. • CPEDV staff and member agencies made phone calls to Committee members raising concerns about the burdensome 14-day parental notification requirements.

18. Senate floor vote • Registered support: 13 organizations. • Registered opposition: CPEDV, BTC, POV. • Requested amendments: Requirement for parental notification 14 days prior to each TDV prevention education session was removed.  • Vote: 22 aye, 8 no, 8 abstain/no vote.

19. Assembly education committee • Registered support: 7 organizations. • Registered opposition: 22 organizations + 7 organizations “support if amended” • Analysis: All of CPEDV/BTC/POV’s concerns included. • Amendments:All (5) requested amendments were accepted  except removal of the parental notification/opt out provisions. 

20. Assembly education committee • Testimony at committee hearing • Vote: 2 aye, 2 no, 5 abstain/no vote FAIL • During this time, CPEDV members provided information to CPEDV, which we provided to the Committee Consultant in person, over the phone and in writing. • CPEDV, BTC and POV submitted a joint opposition letter to committee members. • CPEDV staff met with committee members’ staff several times to discuss requested amendments. • CPEDV staff and member agencies submitted letters with requested amendments.

21. Small Group Discussion • Select ONE of the following SB 1300 “hot topics” : • Topic #1: Parental Notification • Topic #2: Opt-out • Discuss the topic at your table. Decide where your table stands on the issue and why. • Select a spokesperson to present your position (“support” or “oppose”) and rationale.

22. Large group discussion • Support? • Oppose? • Additional information needed? • Implications for future legislation?

23. Local tdv prevention policy advocaCY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM the unity project

24. Looking ahead

25. participate in cpedv’s advocacy • Join CPEDV! • Contact JoAnna Davis, Membership Specialist: Joanna@cpedv.org • Participate in our Public Policy & Research Committees (PPRC) Kendra@cpedv.org • Participate in our Annual Legislative Action Day (March)Kendra@cpedv.org • Participate in budget and legislative advocacy: • Follow up on CPEDV Action Alerts (visit www.cpedv.org) • Forward our request for support to your local partners • Support our budget advocacy postcard campaign (visit www.cpedv.org) • Advocate for prevention: • Join our Prevention Announcements List: (visit: http://tiny.cc/cpedvprevention) • Participate in TDV Awareness and Prevention Month Advocacy in (Feb) lisa@cpedv.org • Put your prevention work on our California Prevention Map lisa@cpedv.org

26. Thank you!