1. CALL TO ORDER/ AGENDA CHANGES

Commission President Andrea Shorter called the meeting to order at 4:15 pm. All Commissioners were present except Commissioner Nancy Kirshner-Rodriguez who was excused.

Commission Secretary Herschell Larrick noted that “Old Business” was lacking a number on the current meeting agenda, and he suggested changing it to item number 5 and re-ordering all numbered items after that point.

Action: To approve the agenda.                                                                m/s/c (Zwart/Mesloh/Unanimous)

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES       

No changes to the minutes.

Action: To approve draft minutes from September 28, 2016.                  m/s/c (Mesloh/Ryerson/Unanimous)

3. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT                                                                   DISCUSSION    4:14 – 4:28 pm

Dr. Emily Murase highlighted several items in her report, including the 40th Anniversary/CEDAW Human Rights Awards Breakfast, new efforts to expand lactation accommodation, Domestic Violence Awareness Month kick-off, continuing work with Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, and the Planned Parenthood Centennial hosted by the Department of Public Health and the Mayor at City Hall.

Dr. Murase introduced Elise Hansell who has joined the Department as a Grants Associate for the federally-funded High Lethality Domestic Violence Response Project.

President Shorter thanked Department staff and the Friends of the Commission for their work on the 40th Anniversary Breakfast. She acknowledged receipt of commendations for the 40th anniversary of the Commission from Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom, Assemblymember David Chiu, Mayor Edwin M. Lee, Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu, and Board of Supervisors President London Breed. Commissioner Julie Soo suggested that special outreach be conducted to former Supervisors such as Barbara Kaufman.

4. CONSENT AGENDA

Action: To approve the Consent Agenda. m/s/c (Soo/Zwart/Unanimous)

1. Resolution Recognizing the La Casa de las Madres 40th Anniversary.

President Shorter summarized the resolution: “In 1976, a dynamic group of Bay Area women established La Casa de las Madres, "The Home for Mothers," in memory of a woman brutally murdered by her partner in front of her 14-year old daughter. At that time, it was California’s first, and the nation’s second, shelter dedicated to women and their children escaping domestic violence. In 1980, the Commission made its very first program grant to La Casa de las Madres and the Commission's support for the program has grown from the initial investment of $75,000 to now close to $560,000 as part of the Commission's Violence Against Women Prevention & Intervention Grants Program.

For the past forty years, La Casa de las Madres has continued to offer a continuum of community-based support services for survivors of domestic violence, including intervention and prevention services, 24-hour crisis line, 24-hour shelter in-take services, case management, individual counseling, and support groups; and in addition to the shelter support services, the agency offers independent living skills and family-based interventions to break the intergenerational cycle of violence. 

The San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women, on the occasion of the agency's 40th Anniversary, commends La Casa de las Madres for decades of extraordinary service to domestic violence survivors and their families throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.”

Public Comment:

1. Beverly Upton, Executive Director of the Domestic Violence Consortium, joined the Commission in congratulating La Casa de las Madres.

2. Resolution Recognizing Rally Visitation Services 25th Anniversary

President Shorter summarized the resolution: “Rally Family Visitation Services of Saint Francis Memorial was launched in 1991 by the San Francisco Unified Family Court and adopted by Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in 1997 to ensure children a safe, healthy environment for parental transfers and supervised visitation services.

The San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women recognizes the 25th Anniversary of Rally Family Visitation Services of Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, and commends their work in helping provide visitation services for families and children throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.”

Commissioner Soo, a board member of St. Francis Memorial Hospital which houses the Rally Visitation Services, explained that the opportunity to visit with children is very motivating to probationers. The Rally program provides a safe and secure way for parents to visit with their children. She noted that services are also available in Visitacion Valley.

No Public Comment

3. Resolution Recognizing Laura Busch

President Shorter summarized the resolution: “Laura Busch, joined the Office of Mayor Edwin M. Lee as a Fiscal and Policy Analyst in November 2015 and handled, among other departments, the budget of the Department on the Status of Women.

In her work with the Department, Ms. Busch carefully advised Department staff on the justifications necessary to advance their goals. For example, in the case of the proposal of the Mayor's Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking to provide 24-hour response for commercially sexually exploited children, her efforts led to Mayor Lee's decision to fully fund this vital program.

The San Francisco Commission on the Status of Women expresses its deepest appreciation to Laura Busch for her dedicated attention and strong advocacy on behalf of vulnerable women and their families, and wishes her every success as she continues to shape the fiscal environment for critical public services to benefit the residents of the City and County of San Francisco and beyond.”

Laura Busch thanked the Commission for honoring her and said that she appreciated working with the Department and especially with Fiscal Policy Analyst Natalie Alvarez. She spoke about her belief in the importance of the Department’s mission, and she appreciated the opportunity to participate in the work.

Dr. Murase expressed her appreciation for Ms. Busch's work and dedication. Without her skillful assistance, the Department would not have secured full funding for the 24-hours response to commercially sexually exploited children, nor the Grants Associate position.

No Public Comment.

5. OLD BUSINESS (Amended Item number)

1. Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Human Trafficking's 2016 Human Trafficking Report in San Francisco

Women's Policy Director Minouche Kandel presented the 2016 report.

Discussion focused on resources available federally, such as at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and victim restitution.

No Public Comment

Action: To approve the 2016 Human Trafficking Report in San Francisco.

                                                                                                                     m/s/c (Zwart/Soo/Unanimous)

 

 

6. NEW BUSINESS (Amended Item number)

1. Huckleberry Youth Programs

Mollie Brown, Director of Programs & Community Development for Huckleberry Youth Programs, presented on the Round the Clock Response to Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) program. She explained that Huckleberry Youth Programs has been around for nearly 50 years. When Stand Against Global Exploitation closed, Huckleberry Youth Programs stepped up and contracted with the City to serve 20 CSEC youth.

Carly Devlin, Intervention Services Coordinator for Huckleberry Youth Programs, provided details about the Huckleberry Advocacy and Response Team (HART). The Commission discussed the HART program and in the demographic data presented.

Dr. Murase noted that the move towards de-criminalizing youth is a sea change in how the system has treated youth who are caught up in human trafficking.

7. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT (Amended Item number)

This item is to allow members of the public to address the Commission on matters that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission and that do not appear on the agenda, as well as to suggest new agenda items for future meetings.

No Public Comment.

8. ADJOURNMENT (Amended Item number)

Action: To adjourn the meeting.                                                                m/s/c (Soo/Mesloh/Unanimous)

Commissioner Soo asked that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Agar Jaicks. She also wanted to acknowledge Hillary Clinton’s birthday.

President Shorter asked that the meeting be adjourned in memory of Wayne Friday who was active on the Police Commission and in the LGBT Community.

President Shorter adjourned the meeting at 5:50 pm.