|
|
N.C. Council for WomenandDomestic Violence Commission |
| Staff Programs CFW Board Members DV Commission Members |
Mission/History
This agency staffs the Domestic Violence Commission, and
advises the governor, the North Carolina legislature and the state
departments on the special needs of women in North Carolina by:
v
Identifying and
assessing needs
v
Collecting and
distributing information about the status of women
v
Acting as a
resource for local Councils/Commissions for Women
v
Collaborating
with other groups and individuals working on behalf of women
v
Identifying and
assessing statewide needs, including domestic violence
v Assuring that necessary services, policies, and programs are provided to those in need and strengthening existing programs
HISTORY OF THE AGENCY
The North Carolina Council for Women & Domestic Violence Commission is an advocacy agency that is housed in the state's Department of Administration. The agency was established by Executive Order in 1963 by Governor Terry Sanford in order to create an agency that would "advise the Governor, state agencies, and the legislature on issues of concern to women." Over the ensuing years, certain issues have taken on more or less importance depending on many factors including the political climate, the economy, and social trends. In spite of these factors, the issues of most conern have remained remarkably the same. By and large, they have surrounded issues of pay equity, representation and access to opportunities within the workplace and in education, and violence against women. Also over the ensuing years, the agency has been designated to administer state and federal funds and to develop program standards. In 1998, Governor Hunt created the Domestic Violence Task Force which was turned into a permanent Commission in 1999. In 2001, Governor Easley and members of the General Assembly consolidated these two agencies.
1963 1964 1965 1972 1973 1974 1975 1977 1978 1979 1980 1982 1983 1984 1985 1988 1989 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
History of the N.C. Council for Women
*April, N.C. Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs leaders meet with Gov. Terry Sanford to request creation of a council for women.
*October, Executive order established the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women.
*Presentation to the governor of The Many Lives of N.C. Women
*November, Governor's Commission on the Status of Women disbanded.
*N.C. Commission on the Education and Employment of Women established by General Assembly.
*Publication of North Carolina Women and the Law.
*First funding -- $18,130 -- for commission staff.
*December, first executive director appointed.
*January, Commission met for the first time under an executive director, and established goals.
*First office established. General Assembly appropriated an additional $25,508 for two more permanent staff. Grant for six-months to hire two more staff.
*August, Betty Barber spoke to a convention of the Association of County Commissioners urging formation of local councils.
*County councils formed in eight counties. Mayor's Commission on Status of Women established in Greensboro.
*Commission renamed the N.C. Council on the Status of Women and moved to present location.
*March, Publication of The Status of Women in North Carolina.
*September, CETA grant awarded to council to establish 11 regional offices.
*Coordinator of services for victims of sexual assault position established by the General
Assembly.
*The first Sexual Assault Task Force established.
*The first Task Force on Battered Women appointed.
*Leadership Development Program initiated.
*Council begins assisting displaced homemakers.
*Governor's Task Force on Domestic Violence formed.
*Banquet honoring minority women.
*$179,500 appropriated to council for domestic violence programs.
*17 domestic violence agencies are funded.
*SBI rape evidence kits provided to hospitals and clinics.
*Protocols for services to victims published.
*$181,933 appropriated to council for rape crisis programs. 14 agencies are funded.
*First annual awards honoring Distinguished Women of North Carolina. Honoring women who have attained outstanding levels of personal achievement and whose contribution have made a significant impact upon the lives of our citizens in the categories Art, Business, Education, Government, Physical fitness/Recreation, Profession, Volunteerism.
*Council creates and publishes a simulation business game for women, "The Tar Heel Lumber Company.
*First "Salute to Women in the Military" banquet held designed to honor female active-
duty and veteran military personnel.
*First N.C. Women's Legislative Agenda is organized. Issues identified: Economic Discrimination, Violence Against Women, Problem Pregnancy, Economic needs of divorced and single parent families, elderly women's needs, inaccessible and inadequate child care, job training and education.
*Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Advisory Committee forms.
*43 SA programs serve 3,888 new primary victims of sexual assault.
*62 DV programs across the state serve 16,698 new primary victims.
*Council renamed N.C. Council for Women
*Regional advisory planning boards form.
*Marriage license fees increased by $20, with the increase going to the council to fund services for domestic violence victims.
*Women's History Resource Manual published.
*50 sexual assault programs across the state serve 5,309 new primary victims.
*First state funding for displaced homemaker pilot project. 15 programs across the state funded.
*64 domestic violence programs serve 26,116 new primary victims across the state.
*51 sexual assault programs serve 5,679 new primary victims.
*The council receives a recurring appropriation of $375,000 for the displaced homemaker programs.
*General Assembly moves all domestic violence funds to a Domestic Violence Center Fund and
grants the N.C. Coalition Against domestic Violence a maximum of $10,000.
*66 domestic violence programs serve 31,199 new primary victims.
*54 sexual assault programs serve 4,752 new primary victims.
*Fund-raising Ideas booklet published listing successful fund-raising ideas for programs.
*Oral History Transcripts recordings of Distinguished Women Award recipients.
*Council fields more than 3,000 referral calls from individuals seeking legal assistance, shelter from an abusive spouse, information about child care and housing, and advice on sexual harassment.
*How to establish and operate a Local Council for Women published.
*Status of Women in N.C., Fact Sheet published.
*Plan of Action for N.C. Women and Families documents discussion of goals, objectives and strategies for addressing the 12 Platform for Action issues in N.C..
*Women on Boards and Commissions in N.C. publication listing the women serving on state boards and commissions and explaining the role of such entities and emphasizes the importance of gender equity on these types of decision-making bodies.
*N.C. Women's Organizations Directory published.
*Breast Cancer Awareness month kickoff event.
*Board Training Manual published.
*73 DV programs across the state serve 31,532 new primary victims.
*57 SA programs serve 5,824 new primary victims.
*The General Assembly establishes the Fund for Displaced Homemakers.
*36 functioning Councils for Women across the state.
*61 programs receive rape prevention and education funding.
*More than 81,000 individuals assisted through agency work.
*57 SA programs serve 5,642 new primary victims.
*76 DV programs serve 36,544 new primary victims.
*More than 89,450 individuals assisted through agency work.
*Women's Health Manual published.
*N.C. CFW Coming Together for a Brighter Future, women's conference held.
*The Status of Women in N.C. 2000 published.
*Women of the Century, Commemorative Program of the Distinguished Women of N.C. Awards Banquet published.
*Celebrating A Century of Women: A Women's History Book, published.
*New primary victims of DV total 41,214. New secondary victims total 29,822
*New primary victims of SA total 5,964. New secondary victims total 4,159.
*N.C. Council for Women and the Domestic Violence Commission are combined.
*NCCFW/DV Commission begins strategic planning work.
*N.C. Equity agency dissolves. N.C. Women United acquires the 501(c)(3) and begins planning for a statewide Women's Agenda Project. Issues identified: Access to Health Care, Adolescent Pregnancy, Aging, Child Care, Civil Rights, Clean Elections, Domestic Violence, Economic Self-sufficiency, Educational Opportunity, Housing, Mental Health, Pay Equity and Living Wage, Sexual Assault.
History of the Domestic Violence Commission
Oct 1998 Governor Hunt appoints members to the Governor's Task Force on Domestic Violence and asks that they focus on making recommendations in the following 3 areas: strengthening N.C. laws to better respond to victim safety and offender accountability; developing a public awareness campaign; and assuring that shelters are available in every county in the state.
Jan 1999 The final report from the Task Force is delivered to the Governor. The report contains 44 recommendations regarding how to improve the state's response to domestic violence. [Report can be found at www.doa.state.nc.us/cfw/cfw.htm] The top recommendation is that a permanent state agency be established to implement the recommendations and to provide a central organizing body that coordinates and develops policy and practice recommendations.
Feb 1999 Governor Hunt signs an Executive Order creating the Domestic Violence Commission and placing it in the Department of Administration. The Order delineates the Commission's responsibilities and directs them to prioritize certain recommendations found within the final report. The Order creates the positions of executive director and secretary.
July 1999 The General Assembly passes legislation that mirrors the Executive Order making the Domestic Violence Commission permanent. A package of bills, entitled the "Safe Families Act" that contain many of the legislative priorities outlined in the Task Force report, passes the General Assembly.
Dec 1999 The 39 members of the Domestic Violence Commission are appointed.
Feb 2000 The first meeting of the Domestic Violence Commission is held. Six committees, reflecting the priorities outlined in the legislation, are formed. They are: Abuser Treatment Programs - Best Practices; Workplace Policies; Victim Services; Professional Education; Pro Arrest and Law Enforcement Response; and Public Awareness.
Aug 2000 The Domestic Violence Commission receives a grant to support a staff position whose primary focus is to train allied professionals on responding to domestic violence. The position trains law enforcement, school resource officers, juvenile justice court counselors, health care practitioners, and others.
Mar 2001 Governor Easley proposes to consolidate the Domestic Violence Commission with the Council for Women and to place the current director of the Domestic Violence Commission into the currently vacant position of executive director for the Council for Women.
Dec 2001 The Domestic Violence Commission and the Council for Women combine operations. The agency's shared history begins.
Return
to the agency's main page