IHS program lauded for anti-domestic abuse efforts


WASHINGTON – New research suggests that a program funded by two federal agencies, and implemented by leading domestic violence organizations, has shown dramatic success in improving the health system’s response to domestic violence in Indian country.

Over the course of the program, known as the Domestic Violence Project, a much larger number of women began receiving interventions focused on improving domestic violence.

Health officials said that when implementation began in 2002, just four percent of women at IHS facilities were screened by doctors and nurses for domestic violence. By 2009, when the program ended, 48 percent of women who sought services at these facilities were being screened.

The program was funded by the Administration for Children and Families of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and IHS. It involved more than 100 Indian, tribal and urban health care facilities as well as domestic violence advocacy programs across the nation.

It was conceptualized and managed by the Family Violence Prevention Fund in partnership with faculty from Sacred Circle and Mending the Sacred Hoop Technical Assistance Project. Indian health centers in 18 of the 35 states with federally recognized tribes participated, and the project included work with the Cherokee, Choctaw and Navajo tribes, among others.

A new report, called “Building Domestic Violence Health Care Responses” and authored by FVPF, highlights the program’s progress and offers a series of recommendations to continue the results.

It’s an area where positive results are desperately needed, as many studies have found that rates of domestic violence are overwhelmingly higher for Native American women than for women of any other race or ethnicity.

“In Indian country, health care providers are often the first responders to domestic violence, and the health care setting offers a critical opportunity for early identification and primary prevention of abuse,” said Anna Marjavi, FVPF program manager and co-author of the “Promising Practices” report.

“This report is designed to share all of our lessons learned from this innovative project. We call on all Indian health and community advocacy programs to use this tool to strengthen their communities’ responses to violence.”

One major finding of the report was that, over the course of the program, annual routine assessment for intimate partner and domestic violence of Native women increased 12-fold. Researchers said that’s because the program offered an effective response to violence, identified best practices to raise awareness, improved clinical responses, and strengthened community partnerships to help victims of domestic and sexual violence.

“The Indian Health Service is proud to have been a part of this groundbreaking project,” said Yvette Roubideaux, director of the Indian Health Service, in a statement.

“As a practicing physician in Arizona, I saw first-hand the effects of domestic violence on my patients, their families and communities. I have real hope that more health care providers and tribal communities will learn from the promising practices identified in this report.”

“The Administration for Children and Families funded this work in conjunction with IHS because it is so important that we find solutions to domestic violence in Native communities,” added Bryan Samuels, commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

“This project offers real hope for Native women facing violence, that their health providers will recognize the abuse and know how to help them and their children.”

In addition to increasing rates of assessment, the IHS/ACF Domestic Violence Project did the following, according to the report:


•Trained staff members from more than 100 Indian, tribal and urban health care facilities, and domestic violence advocacy programs on domestic violence health system change.
•Developed community-wide domestic violence response teams that include staff from health care, judicial, law enforcement, community programs and tribal councils.

•Developed patient education materials including two posters targeting men and boys with prevention messages specific to domestic violence.

•Tailored the Electronic Health Record to integrate domestic violence routine assessment and implementation of screening reminders.

•Raised public awareness and promoted social norm change through community walks, billboard campaigns, candlelight vigils, radio/TV shows, public service announcements, and staff participation in health fairs, rodeos and powwows.

•Helped victims of domestic violence and sexual assault get the help they need to support their healing from the abuse and promote their health and wellness.

“We need to build on the successes of the IHS/ACF Domestic Violence Project and fund more programs to continue this remarkable progress,” said FVPF President Esta Soler.

“Tribal communities will benefit if we replicate the promising practices and materials we’ve developed, continue to integrate domestic violence and sexual assault into trainings that improve the health care responses to violence, and strengthen the tribal response to sexual assault. We also must expand our work to engage men as role models, address the impact of violence on children, and do more to teach the next generation that violence is never the answer.

Indian Country Today- July 22, 2010

THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF RICHMOND, CA. DISPLAYS SEEDS OF RACISM TO GUIDIVILLE BAND OF POMO

SUPPORT SELF DETERMINATION AND SOVEREIGNTY OF THE GUIDIVILLE BAND OF POMO

RICHMOND CALIFORNIA- Members of the Richmond City Council are displaying seeds of both racism and prejudice to the Guidiville Band of Pomo with regards to their self-determination to open a Hotel Casino resort on the Guideville Band of Pomo reservation at Pt. Molate in Richmond, CA.

Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and fellow Council members Jeff Ritterman and Thomas Butt wish to place a so-called advisory measure on whether a casino should be part of development plans for the Guidiville Band of Pomo Hotel Casino Resort at Pt. Molate. If approved it by the Richmond City Council, it would become a ballot measure for the voters of Richmond on November 2,2011.

The City Government is in clear volation of sticking it's nose into the internal affairs of the Guidiville Band of Pomo with regards to its policies of self- determination, self-autonomy and soverneignity under Federal treaty laws.

In November, 2010, the Mayors Office supported the United Nations Declaration on the Indigenous People.

Under articles 3 it states: " Indigenous people have the right to self-determination. By virtue
of the right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."

Under artlicle 26 it states: " Indigenous people have the right to own, use, develop and control the lands, territories and resources they posses by reason of traditional ownership or other traditional occupation or use, as well of those which they HAVE ACQUIRED."

TEACHING THE VALUES OF PEACE deems this as racist action and conduct against the advancement of Native Peoples ,and a clear violation of their national and international Human and Civil Rights.



Richmond may give voters say on Point Molate casino



An advisory measure on whether a casino should be part of development plans on Richmond's waterfront could go before voters Nov. 2.

The City Council is scheduled to consider Tuesday night whether to place a measure on the ballot. It would be advisory only, meaning the city would not be legally bound by it.
Supporters and opponents have floated polls that seem to suggest public opinion is almost evenly divided, Councilman Tom Butt said.

"When something is that close, it's good for the City Council to know where the Richmond electorate is on this before they make a decision," said Butt, who is proposing Tuesday's agenda item.
Upstream Investments and the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians want to build a $1.2 billion casino-hotel resort with as many as 4,000 slot machines, 1,100 hotel rooms, a conference center, restaurants, shops, tribal headquarters, open space and a shoreline trail.

The city extended its land development agreement with Upstream to April 2011 to allow continued negotiations. Meanwhile Guidiville is seeking approval from the Secretary of the Interior to place the land in trust and needs a state gaming compact, both required to open the casino.
Jim Levine of Upstream and Guidiville spokesman Michael Derry could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

A public vote appears to have support from a council majority. Butt's agenda item is co-sponsored by Mayor Gayle McLaughlin and Vice Mayor Jeff
Ritterman.

Councilwoman Maria Viramontes has also proposed a public vote. She could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but wrote in a letter earlier this month: "The consideration of expanding urban gaming into the Richmond community has created controversy and legitimate concern within and around the Richmond community. ... It would seem appropriate for an alternative as significant as 'urban gaming' that the Richmond City Council should place an advisory measure before the people of Richmond to obtain their serious reflection on the matter."

City leaders said they have the right to consider alternatives to a project with a casino. A 2006 settlement agreement among the city, developers and Citizens for the East Shore Parks over the Point Molate land development agreement gave the city discretion to choose an alternative project.

Last year, Butt sought clarity from the Attorney General's Office, which helped negotiate the settlement, and received a letter that reads in part: "any interpretations of the 2004 LDA that would restrict the city's ability to consider alternative uses of the site, or alternatives that would not involve lease or transfer to Upstream, ... must be rejected."

The Richmond City Council is scheduled to consider placing an advisory measure on the Nov. 2 ballot on whether a casino should be part of Point Molate's future. The council meets at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Community Services Building, 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond.


Contra Costa Times-July 15, 2010

IST ANNUAL RICHMOND, CA. POW-WOW

RICHMOND,CA.- Hundreds of people attended the 1st Annual Richmond Pow-Wow at the Richmond Marina this past June 26th, 2010. The theme of this years Richmond Pow-Wow was entitled "Honoring Our Native Community".

Mike Raccoon Eyes Kinney, Native Advocate and Dave Romero, Air Personality from KKUP, were carrying the some of the Flags for Opening Ceremony.