Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin and Linda Henderson School of Public Health-Bloomington

1. Building a Community Domestic Violence Task Force: Perspectives and Lessons Learned from Two Rural Communities Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin and Linda Henderson School of Public Health-Bloomington Mayor Shawna Girgis, City of Bedford Lawrence County DV Task Force Cathy Wyatt and Dave Newgent Owen County DV Task Force Indiana Rural Health Association Conference August 2013

2. Developing Community Partnerships • Partnerships and Collaboration important to addressing issues: • The CDC defines community engagement as “the process of working collaboratively with and through groups of people affiliated by geographic proximity, special interest, or similar situations to address issues affecting the well-being of those people.”

3. Profile: Lawrence County • Rural south central Indiana • 46,000 population • 31,205 per capital income • 23.1% children in Poverty • 40.4% unmarried births • 85.7% HS Grad rate • Population: 46,078 • Median Age: 42 years • Race: 97.6% White • Household Type: 35.7% Married without children • Education: 82.2% HS diploma or higher • Income: $43,471 median income • Poverty Rate: 15.4% • Births to Teens (‘09): 77 • Unemployment (5/13): 10.6 • http://www.stats.indiana.edu/profiles/profiles.asp?scope_choice=a&county_changer=18093&button1=Get+Profile&id=2&page_path=Area+Profiles&path_id=11&panel_number=1

4. Lawrence Co DVTF Overview In May 2010, local officials in a rural Indiana county notified the ISDH and IU-B that their community had experienced a significant increase in domestic violence (DV) and DV-related homicides. Lead to an “Epi-Aid” Investigation conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

5. Key Findings from the CDC “Epi-Aid” Investigation • During a two year period domestic calls 2,023 were made to law enforcement. Of that • Bedford Police Department - 880 calls • “Domestic” calls accounted for 46% of all BPD calls • Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office - 611 calls • Mitchell Police Department - 532 calls • Nearly 700 domestic violence victims sought services from the local domestic violence service provider

6. Contributing Factors The CDC identified contributing factors to DV in Lawrence County. • Cultural and social norms • Conservative southern culture – women “subservient to their men” • Family norms promoting violence – “a family expectation to fight back” • Family matter – “not to be discussed with anyone outside the family” • Economic downturn • Lost about 2,000 jobs • System challenges • Reduced social services and limited communication

7. Mayor’s Perspective

8. Progress in Lawrence County List of accomplishments to date: • Pilot of Interpersonal Violence and bullying • prevention program in both school corporations • Soon to pilot a Parenting component to the • school curriculum • Increased community awareness • Improved communication among community leaders

9. Lawrence County: List of Challenges • Funding to implement programs and Initiatives. • Continuing to improve enhance communication across sectors • Keeping participating members of coalition engaged and enthused

10. Lawrence County: Future Goals • Continue to use the CDC Epi Aid Study as a tool to address issue of Domestic and Interpersonal Violence

11. Strengths of Lawrence Co. Domestic Violence Coalition • Judge and Mayor lead coalition – lends credibility to issue • Every sector has a representative participating • Health Care • Education • Law Enforcement • Schools • CDC Epi Aid Study recommendations have been utilized as a “tool”.

12. Profile: Owen County • Population: 21,380 • Median Age: 43 years • Race: 97.9% White • Household Type: 36.4% Married without children • Education: 81.7% HS diploma or higher • Income: $43,471 median income • Poverty Rate: 15.3% • Births to Teens (‘09): 40 • Unemployment (5/13): 9.4

13. Owen County Overview In June 2012, Dave Newgent moderated the Lawrence County presentation at IRHA conference. This led to a “Feasibility Meeting” of local leaders in Owen County in August 2012. Initial call out meeting – 21 community leaders in Owen County met to discuss domestic violence concerns

14. Progress in Owen County • List of accomplishments to date Developed a solid core group of participating agencies Elected influential officers including Judge Lori Thatcher Quillen, chairperson Obtained tax exempt status Applied grants from Owen Co. Community Foundation Participated in first community event – June 8th, 2013 Website www.owentaskforce.com

15. Owen County: List of Challenges Interagency communication and cooperation Community education on Domestic Violence in the Rural Environment Keep participating agencies engaged

16. Owen County List of Future Goals • Have outside resources present at meetings • Improve presence in the community through participation in community events, radio, newspaper ads and earned media

17. Strengths of Owen Co. Domestic Violence Coalition • Owen Co. Circuit Court judge chairs coalition • Attendance as been good • List serve has 34 members • Mission Statement: To address domestic violence through a collaborative, multi-service effort to raise awareness, provide education, and family advocacy, and victim support.

18. Objectives in Developing the Community Partnership • Strong Collaboration among community stakeholders essential. • CDC Report on Lawrence County • Weak Collaboration among key sectors in the community a major challenge to addressing Domestic Violence. • Community Tasks Force or Coalitions are critical element in rural communities where the lack of financial and other resources abound

19. Lessons LearnedLawrence CountyOwen County

20. Next Steps • IU SPH received grant to provide “seed money” to look at establishing a Rural Center on Domestic and Interpersonal Violence • IU SPH continues to work closely with Lawrence and Owen Counties towards addressing CDC recommendations

21. Contact Information • Linda Henderson lihender@indiana.edu • Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin csherwoo@indiana.edu • Major Shawna Girgis sgirgis@in.bedford.gov • David Newgent d_newgent@yahoo.com • Cathy Wyatt cawyatt@indiana.edu