1. Agency Updates
Rusch reported that Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center initiated a partnership with
the Sun Prairie Police Department's new embedded social worker and continues to
partner with the Fitchburg Police Department's embedded social worker.
Brown reported the District Attorney's Office has a caseload of approximately 6,900,
which is 700 fewer than last year. The average number of cases in recent years was
closer to 4,000 to 5,000. There has been an increase in violent and severe cases, which
precipitates increased service provision to those victims. There are sensitive crimes trials
every week. The hiring process is underway for an Administrative Legal Assistant and will
begin soon for a Case Manager in the Victim Witness Unit. Members of the Victim
Witness Unit recently completed reading "What Happened to You?" by Oprah Winfrey
and Dr. Bruce Perry -- a work that focuses on the impact of trauma. New employee
training was recently completed. Work continues with the Corporal Punishment Initiative,
with staff being trained how to address the impact of violent parenting on children and
provided information on the Deferred Prosecution Program for parents who have
administered corporal punishment to their children
Schlotz reported the Forensic Nurse Examiner unit at UnityPoint Health - Meriter
would like to partner with Safe Harbor on trainings in Sun Prairie and Fitchburg.
Gittens Escudero reported UNIDOS is recruiting for a Legal Advocate and Victim
Services Advocate.
Barry reported Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) continues work
regarding Domestic Violence Awareness Month and invited Commission members to
attend events. DAIS' Text Line will launch on Sept. 29. A news conference with County
Executive Joe Parisi is being planned to announce the 24-hour, seven-days-a week Text
Line. The Case Management team is now fully staffed. The final touches are being put on
the Court Watch Data Collection for the past year and the volunteers will continue on for
another year. The report for the past year should be available in early 2023. There is a
wait list for the shelter. Recruiting has begun for a full-time Volunteer Coordinator and for
a Youth Violence Prevention Advocate. With the Town of Madison to be annexed into the
City of Madison, DAIS representatives met recently with the Madison Police Department's
North District ahead of the change. A video will be produced for officers that explains the
confidentiality restraints under which domestic violence programs exist.
Le Monds reported Astra Iheukumere continues to serve as Interim Director for Dane
County Human Services. County Executive Parisi recently visited many divisions to seek
feedback ahead the 2023 budget process. An internal work group has been formed to
improve language access services. Youth Justice is working on projects with restorative
justice that seek to incorporate victim interactions and voice more. A Youth Justice
Coordinator has been hired to help social workers provide resource support for
system-involved individuals. Youth Justice also hired three part-time Youth Workers and
plans to hire three more to serve as mentors with lived experience who will provide
support to court-involved individuals. Child Protective Services is hiring Case Managers in
addition to Social Workers to broaden its ability to support families. Youth Justice
workers are back in schools, which are greatly lacking in resources.
Gray-Dorn reported Adult Protective Services (APS) I/DD Victim Advocate Cortney
Doescher-Hino remains on leave. Gray-Dorn reported the following statistics covering the
period of Jan. 1 to Sept. 19: 2,494 contacts to the APS Helpline (2,658 over same period
in 2021); 1,495 consults on Helpline (1,583 in 2021); 66 Adult at Risk Intakes (46 in
2021); 187 EAN Intakes (215 in 2021). Consults & intakes seem to be more complex in
nature so numbers do not reflect the full picture of cases/intensity of the work. One
investigator is on maternity leave. One LTE has been hired and APS is seeking an
