February 2015 www.wcmontco.org WomenewsWomenews Women's Center of Montgomery County

The following is an article submitted to Womenews by Board Member Marguerite Nocchi, Esquire:

Remembering Ana Ortiz, a walk in the garden of grace

I was rushing down the stairs at Temple Law School and late for class, as usual. It was the Fall of my last year at law school and I was preoccupied to say the least. I had a two year old at home, he had not slept in what seemed like two years….. I was getting ready to graduate and I felt out of touch with my goal of becoming a lawyer. Everyone had clerked or was interning, I was wiping toddler spittle from my hair and praying not to get called on in class.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a fl yer about a position with the nonprofi t organization, Women Against Abuse (WAA). They needed an advocate in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s private criminal complaint unit. I quickly jotted the number down and shoved it into my one of my bags and called the next day from home. Before I knew it I was working at the unit which was located across the street from the Police Roundhouse.

The offi ce was one huge room fi lled with soon to be retired Philadelphia police offi cers and detectives. It was like a scene from the old sitcom, “Barney Miller”. The detectives were armed with very old typewriters, and they processed countless complaints from the citizens of Philadelphia regarding neighborhood disputes, barking dogs, and noisy teenagers. They also had more serious complaints, and they fi led them as well.

I was assigned a little alcove at the very end of the vast room. My job was to screen the petitioners who wanted to fi le protection from abuse petitions. If they were eligible for a temporary PFA, I would help them fi ll-out the petitions (much like the legal advocate volunteers we have at the courthouse today). I would then send them to the fi lthy Roundhouse across the street for Night Court so they could present their petitions to the presiding judge.

One day in late December, a vibrant woman named Ana Ortiz came to my desk; she was escorted by a family member. Her eyes fi lled with tears as she explained to me how her abuser had hurt her and stalked her many times. During the last incident, he had followed her to a grocery store and assaulted her in the parking lot. She was afraid to leave her house and had become a recluse. I assisted Ana with her petition and instructed her to proceed to the Roundhouse that evening. Ana was granted the temporary order, and she would then proceed to a fi nal hearing a few days later on Friday.

As luck would have it, I had been invited by the legal staff at WAA to attend the fi nal PFA hearings that Friday. I sat proudly in the courtroom as Ana received her fi nal PFA. It was the fi rst time I was able to see a victim through the entire process from petition to temporary to fi nal PFA. We hugged in the hallway, and she told me she was going to return to Puerto Rico to help her grandmother for a while, but fi rst she would give notice at the school where she was an aide to the second and fourth grade students.

Ana never was able to return to Puerto Rico. Instead, her abuser waited for her and shot her while she was still in her car outside of the Hunter Elementary School in North Philadelphia. Students, parents and teachers all witnessed the murder of Ana Ortiz. For many of these young people, the trauma continued long after that cold January came to an end. For her family, it was a nightmare they all feared for many months in advance.

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As the school year came to an end that June, Principal Quinn invited many guests to attend a memorial service for Ana. The students had planted fl owers and vegetables on a lot that had been full of trash and debris. In addition, on the rear wall of the garden the students had painted a mural of colorful fl owers and rainbows. The children from Ana’s second grade class held hands and recited a poem:

Ana with the shining face, Ana with the twinkling eyes, You fell from this grace Ana, we loved you so God has you in his arms, But we will never forget Your wonderful charms, Ana

I was so saddened by Ana’s death. It seemed so unfair to me that she had done everything she was supposed to do and yet she was killed by her abuser. Ana’s memory for me over the years has turned from tragedy to hope, from darkness to light. I have chosen to concentrate on the very essence of her name—which means grace in Spanish. I have dared to imagine the many lives she saved by her act of bravery, by standing up and showing others, including many young men and women, not to accept violence as a way of life.

The words of Principal Quinn have resounded for me, “Sometimes there are problems, but you cannot give up. You have to keep going, maintain hope, follow your dreams, and know you can do something….a message the children can take beyond these garden walls.” It is in this message that Ana lives on in the heart and soul of every domestic violence volunteer, advocate, and counselor. Thank you Ana Ortiz.

Board of Directors Meeting Announcement

The next meeting of the Women’s Center of Montgomery County Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, March 19th at 7:00 pm at our Colmar location at 2506 N. Broad Street in the Walton Meeting Room.

The April meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on Thursday, April 16th at 7:00 pm in Elkins Park.

Board meetings are open to current members of the Center.

Also, as a reminder, current members can also join most of our Board committees. If you have an interest on serving on our stand- ing committees – Finance, Special Events, Planning, Governance or Development – please contact our President Sandy Capps c/o the Elkins Park offi ce.

WCMC Interns Shea Kozak, and Abby Wright with Kelly Miller from Child First Services, at Healthy Relationships workshops on February 11, 2015

2 Save the Date! THE WOMEN’S CENTER OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY TOASTS YOUR GOOD HEALTH!

We invite you to join us for our Spring Champagne Brunch which will be held at the Meadowlands Country Club on April 19, 2015.

This year’s theme features a panel of exciting experts from the world of health and fi tness: Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW News Radio Medical Editor, Dr. Rosalind Kaplan, Director, Temple Health Women’s Care, Dr. Janet Lang, Lang Chiropractic & Wellness Spa, Vikki Amon, N ationally Certifi ed Personal Trainer at Fit 4 You.

We will be saluting David L. and Rhonda R. Cohen with special honors for their outstanding leadership and philanthropy to our region.

We are privileged to have Larry Kane once again as our program moderator.

We will be including wonderful raffl es and an exciting live auction as well as our traditional silent auction.

Join us for our Silent Auction and Brunch Meadowlands Country Club Blue Bell, PA

Sunday, April 19, 2015 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Take A Stand Against Domestic and Gun Violence Tuesday, March 17th 8:00 pm

The Women’s Center of Montgomery County has been invited by our friends at the AAUW Lansdale Branch to speak as part of a panel discussion on gun violence, particularly as it relates to domestic violence. Women’s Center staff Maria Macaluso and Donna Byrne will be joined by Shira Goodman, Executive Director of Cease Fire PA, each speaking about the impact of gun violence in our community.

The meeting will be held at the North Penn School District Educational Services Center located at 401 East Hancock Street, Lansdale. The 45-minute panel presentation will begin at 8:00 pm, followed by questions from the audience.

3 The Lethality Assessment Program in Pennsylvania 2012 Implementation to the Present

The Lethality Assessment Program (LAP) is a nationally recognized, evidence-based program with dem- onstrated success in strengthening partnerships between law enforcement and domestic violence providers, connecting victims of domestic violence with life-saving services and thereby reducing domestic violence fatalities.

LAP was initially developed by a team of researchers working with the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence, and is now being implemented throughout the US. The fundamental goals of LAP are to reduce the occurrence of domestic violence related fatalities and enhance the safety of victims and their children, law enforcement and communities.

Extensive research has identifi ed several factors indicating heightened risk of homicide by an intimate part- ner. That research led to the development of the Lethality Assessment, a screening tool used to identify the level of danger a victim has of being killed by her/his intimate partner.

LAP is a partnership between law enforcement offi cer and domestic violence advocates that assesses victims for risk of being killed – then connecting them with services.

LAP trains offi cers responding to a domestic violence call to ask brief screening questions to identify lethality risk factors. Offi cers at the scene immediately connect high risk victims with the local domestic violence hotline. The hotline worker creates a safety plan with the victim and urges them to come to the program for services.

The PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence began implementing LAP in Pennsylvania in 2012 with 12 pilot programs. The Women’s Center of Montgomery County was one of those 12 original pilot programs. Since 2012, LAP has grown to include 31 counties, 36 domestic violence programs and 101 law enforce- ment agencies.

For the Women’s Center of Montgomery County, the expansion of this program has been an integral part of our law enforcement outreach. Since 2012, we have increased the number of participating police departments from 2 to 8 police departments who have completed the training and made the commitment to use LAP. An additional three police departments have informally committed to the project in 2015.

In the three years since the Women’s Center implemented LAP we have received 412 lethality screens. We believe this project has great potential for reducing the risk of domestic violence related fatalities in our community.

Women’s Center of Montgomery County 2012-2014

10/1/12 to 12/31/12 40 Lethality Screens processed 1/1/13 – 12/31/13 168 Lethality Screens processed 1/1/14 to 12/31/14 204 Lethality Screens processed

4 Skill-Building Workshop for WCMC Direct Service Volunteers, Staff & Interns

The Women’s Center is continuing our series of workshops for our active volunteers, interns and staff. The next one will be on Saturday, March 21, 10am to 4pm.

The scheduled speakers are --  Housing & Shelter in Montgomery County -- Kristen Fisher (Your Way Home)

 Bullying & Workplace Safety -- Trooper Morgan Crummy (PA State Police)

 Custody & Divorce Matters -- Marguerite Nocchi, Esquire (Member of WCMC Board)

 PFA Process in the Courthouse -- «CJ» Claritza Jaramillo (Court Administrator, Norristown Court of Common Pleas)

Registration will start at 9:30, the program will start promptly at 10am. Registration is limited to volunteers, interns, and staff who have been part of the Women’s Center during the past two years.

Note the different location: Hilton Garden Inn 530 W. Pennsylvania Ave Fort Washington

The workshop is free to all who register, including boxed lunches. The registration form will be sent out in February with the op- tions for the lunches. Pre-registration is required.

Due to space and cost limitations, this training is only volunteers and interns who have been active in direct services within the past two years

5 K9 TURKS AND THE COURTHOUSE COMFORT DOG PROGRAM AT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE

On October 16th, 2014, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Offi ce proudly welcomed Courthouse Comfort Dog K9 Turks, a two year old Yellow (“Red Headed”) Labrador Retriever, to serve victims and witnesses in the Montgomery County Courthouse and the law enforcement community. District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman announced the Montgomery County Courthouse Comfort Dog program follow- ing an extensive collaboration with Canine Partners for Life, a nationally recognized agency in Chester County that carefully trains and places service and therapy dogs. In 2012, DA Ferman visited Centre County District Attorney Stacy Parks Miller, and met “Princess”, a Courthouse Comfort Dog. “Princess” supported child victims and other witnesses in order to help them handle the trauma and stress of testifying and appearing in Court. DA Ferman recognized the invaluable nature of that assistance and was determined to provide Montgomery County with a similar aid to help with the discomfort individuals often endure in their pursuit of justice. “Crime is a traumatic event for victims. As diffi cult as the incidents themselves can be, giving statements about what happened and navigating the criminal justice system forces a victim to re-live that challenging trauma. A comfort dog can offer a soothing infl uence to make it easier for a victim to handle the stress of the court system. Turks will be a resource to help our victims manage the emotional toll the court system can take on them”, said DA Ferman. As part of the Montgomery County Courthouse Comfort Dog Program, staff members have been specially trained as han- dlers and have volunteered to care for Turks both on and off duty. Kiersten McDonald, Turks primary handler and investigator for the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Offi ce, will watch over Turks both at home and at the Courthouse. Turks graduated from Canine for Life’s two-year program and is trained to provide companionship for many individuals by reducing their level of stress and assist those reliving painful events. Turks will also be available to other county departments and local police departments.

Throughout the fi rst months in which Turks has been a part of the Montgomery County Courthouse, she has helped a number of individuals. McDonald and Turks have traveled to the Mission Kids Child Advo- cacy Center of Montgomery County to provide support. Describing Turk’s impact on one young victim, “You could visibly see her [the victim’s] entire body exhale. The child was described by the team as being anxious and jumpy, but when the interviewer came out to meet her, she was sitting on the fl oor with Turks, and immediately made eye contact” explained McDonald. DA Ferman has provided the Courthouse with a unique and helpful therapeutic resource for par- ticipants within the often-challenging and diffi cult criminal justice process. DA Ferman explains, “There is strong evidence of the short-term effects of canines on stress and tensions in humans. Turks will be a resource to help manage the emotional toll the court system can take on them and will help support victims in their healing”.

Follow Montgomery County District Attorneys Offi ce on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Montgomery-County-District-Attorneys-Offi ce/96910904678 Follow K9 Turks on Twitter at www.twitter.com/K9Turks Find K9 Turks on Facebook at www.facebook.com/K9Turks To learn more about Canine Partners for Life, visit http://K94life.org Approved for release: Risa Vetri Ferman 6 Second Annual “Julianne’s Journey” 2015

Julianne’s Journey is a 5K run/walk held in memoriam of Julianne Leigh Siller who tragically lost her life in May of 2013.A 17-year-old senior at Spring-Ford High School, Julianne was three weeks away from graduation and looking forward to attending Penn State Altoona. Easily a friend to everyone she met, Julianne will always be greatly loved and missed by all who knew her. Julianne’s Journey benefi ts the students of Spring-Ford High School. With 2015 marking this event’s 2nd year, all proceeds directly fund the Julianne Siller Scholarship Fund. Our goal is to provide a constant source of funding, for Spring-Ford seniors, to be used for college or vocational training.

Date: Sunday March 29, 2015

7:30am - Registration begins 9:00am - 1k Kids Fun Run begins 9:30am - Julianne’s Journey 5k Run / 3k Walk begins

Location: Spring-Ford Area Senior High School, 350 S. Lewis Road, Royersford, PA 19468 Register for the event at www.juliannesjourney.com

Women’s Center of Montgomery County Pottstown Offi ce Events to Mark Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

On February 11th, staff member Pauline McGibbon and interns Shea Kozak and Abby Wright gave two pre- sentations to audiences of approximately one hundred 14-21 year olds. The topic was “Life Skills: Knowing the Difference Between Healthy and Unhealthy Relationships.” The presentation was made at the request of Child First Services, which operates small group residences, supervised independent living residences, treatment and foster care for children referred by the child welfare system. Another presentation to 50 at- risk youth is scheduled.

On February 25th, at the request of the Pottstown area YWCA, Pauline also participated in an assembly at Pottstown High School on Teen Dating Violence, which was attended by more than 500 students. A panel discussion followed the presentation. The students were shown media clips and texted questions to the panel, which also included a detective from the Pottstown Police Department. Afterwards, interns Lauren Solazzo and Shea Kozak remained on site to answer any questions or concerns that students had as a result of the assembly.

7 Your Mother's Closet

YOUR MOTHER’S CLOSET THRIFT SHOP at the Women’s Center of Montgomery County is seeking volunteers to work a shift: Monday through Saturday 10:00am - 3:00 pm 3:00pm - 6:00 pm

703 West Avenue, Jenkintown, PA 19046 Activities include:

x Sales Clerk 215-885-0620 x Sorting donations x Pricing donation Monday - Saturday, x Displays x And more! 10:00 am to 3:00 pm 703 West Avenue Proceeds benefit the Jenkintown, PA Domestic Violence Program www.wcmontco.org/thrift-shop.html of the Contact Maria or Donna Women’s Center of to volunteer: 215-635-7340 Montgomery County

Women's Center DATED MATERIAL of Montgomery County Women's Center of Montgomery County Elkins Park Offi ce 8080 Old York Road, Suite 200 215-635-7344 Elkins Park, PA 19027 FAX: 215-635-7347 Thrift Shop: 215-885-0620 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Norristown Offi ce

610-279-1548

FAX: 610-279-7740

Pottstown Offi ce

610-970-7363

FAX: 610-970-0705

Bryn Mawr Offi ce

610-525-1427

FAX: 610-525-1429

Colmar Offi ce

215-996-0721

FAX: 215-996-0725

www.wcmontco.org 1-800-773- 2424

Womenews Newsletter Copyright WCMC 2015. Produced by the staff and volunteers of the Women's Center of Montgomery County.