Jane Doe Inc. 2003 Annual Report

YEAR IN REVIEW
January 1, 2003 – December 31, 2003

This past year has been an enormously challenging one for Jane Doe Inc. As the Coalition experienced an internal reorganization and our membership organizations faced deep state budget cuts, we examined in depth what our membership, allies and survivors want and need in a coalition. These challenges served as catalysts for improvement and new initiatives as Jane Doe Inc. refocused its vision; developed stronger leadership; created more comprehensive services to support our membership; expanded its network of partnerships; and in many other ways strengthened its capacity to continue to address issues of sexual and domestic violence. With these recent victories, Jane Doe Inc. is confident that our voice for change will continue to promote awareness, action, and responsible policies as we move into the next year.

I. STRENGTHENING JANE DOE INC.’S CAPACITY TO RESPOND – Together with input from our membership and assistance from the Monitor Group, Jane Doe Inc. evaluated and reprioritized our major objectives. We built new partnerships and developed updated additional public relations materials. We also focused on critical internal fiscal and organizational matters that will allow Jane Doe Inc. to meet its obligations and achieve its mission:

* Work with the JDI Membership and the Monitor Group: Jane Doe Inc. and its membership participated in a fully-engaged and facilitated process designed to identify and crystallize Jane Doe Inc.’s work priorities. This 6-month effort produced a 60-page evaluation document, complete with a needs assessment, organizational analysis, and detailed recommendations. This evaluation served as starting point for many of our new initiatives.

* Sexual Assault Advisory Board, Caucuses, and Working Groups: Jane Doe Inc. continued to support and provide assistance to its membership through a number of membership-empowering forums including: the Sexual Assault Advisory Board; the Women of Color Caucus; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies (LGBTA) Caucus; the Shelter and Safe Home Working Group; the Housing Working Group; the Educator and Training Working Group; and the Transition to Independent Living Working Group.

*The Boston Red Sox Player’s Wives Club: The Boston Red Sox Player’s Wives Club – represented by Mrs. Kathryn Nixon and Mrs. Karen Varitek – has chosen to partner with Jane Doe Inc. during the 2004 season to promote public awareness and to support fundraising efforts. In keeping with our mission to expand our base of collaborators and diversify our messaging vehicles, Jane Doe Inc. is pleased to welcome the Boston Red Sox Player’s Wives Club to its team!

* New Brochure: Jane Doe Inc. designed a new agency brochure descriptive of the organization’s mission and detailing its multi-faceted efforts to: support its membership, raise awareness, promote responsive public policy, and encourage collaborations. The brochure incorporates Jane Doe Inc.’s branding and messaging – Voices for Change – and reflects the impact of sexual assault and domestic violence on individuals regardless of their race, religion, gender/gender identity, age, sexuality, nationality and/or socio-economic status.

* New Website: Jane Doe Inc. launched a newly designed and content enhanced web site at www.janedoe.org. New features include: an expanded public policy section, a calendar of Jane Doe Inc. and its members’ events, links to all member websites, and additional resources.

* Reorganization: In an effort to enhance efficacy, promote internal collaboration, and facilitate communication, Jane Doe Inc. underwent a careful restructuring analysis. Our new organizational structure is less hierarchical with its functional foundation premised on clearly defined roles and responsibilities, teamwork, and staff cohesion.

* Fiscal Operations: Jane Doe Inc. devoted significant time and resources to developing and implementing internal fiscal controls. Federal and state contract management protocols, weekly cash-flow statements, and the timely payment of vendors are a few specific highlights of this critical work. Jane Doe Inc.’s efforts to strengthen the fiscal management of the organization have resulted in its emergence as a financially viable and stable organization. Working closely with the Board of Director’s Treasurer and Finance Committee, Jane Doe Inc. completed its FY03 audit and received an unqualified audit.

II. ENHANCING MEMBERSHIP RESOURCES – Jane Doe Inc.’s membership consists of more than sixty community-based domestic violence and sexual assault programs operating throughout Massachusetts. In keeping with the recommendations gleaned from the Monitor Group research, Jane Doe Inc. sought to meet the needs of the membership through one-on-one assistance as well as overall capacity building.

• Jane Doe Inc. Training Institute: Jane Doe Inc.’s Training Institute was born and implemented as part of an on-going effort to provide opportunities for learning and training on issues identified by our membership. Between January and December 2003, JDI offered four trainings/workshops. In September, Jane Doe Inc. distributed a newly designed Training Institute Catalogue, containing details about seven upcoming workshops focused on a wide-range of topics from media advocacy to confidentiality and privacy to disability issues. The January to June 2004 session of the Training Institute offers ten new workshops and will be complemented by two statewide symposiums.

• Sexual Assault Training Curriculum: Working in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, Jane Doe Inc. designed the New Counselor Sexual Assault Standardized Curriculum. Jane Doe Inc. disseminated the curriculum and trainers’ manuals to its membership and hosted regional training sessions.

• Health Care Initiatives: Jane Doe Inc. developed a HIV & Sexual Assault Training Day Curriculum for regional trainings, updated its regional brochures, and created a statewide HIV & Sexual Assault services and informational brochure. We also developed and distributed more than 700 Health Cares About Domestic Violence packets to every community health center, hospital emergency and social work departments, college campus health centers, and Jane Doe Inc. membership throughout the state. In addition, we began a new effort to support and highlight the four Jane Doe Inc. member organizations that work with women involved in prostitution/sex work and substance abuse.

• New Members: Committed to expanding its network of members, Jane Doe Inc. was pleased to welcome two organizations into its membership: International Institute of Boston and the Center for Violence Prevention and Recovery at Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center.

• Project GAINS: During this inaugural year of this project, Jane Doe Inc. traveled throughout the state meeting with its membership to assess the accessibility of their services for people with disabilities. Jane Doe Inc. has provided technical support to a number of its members who are already focused on accessibility issues. We’ve also established new relationships with providers and advocates for people with disabilities.

• Bed Update, Statistical System and Technology Support to Membership: Under contract with the Department of Social Services, Jane Doe Inc. continued to manage and oversee the statewide bed update system – a system designed to provide daily accurate information about bed space availability to the network of domestic violence programs throughout the state. Jane Doe Inc. also provided its membership with technical support at monthly trainings and regional meetings.

III. LEADING PUBLIC POLICY/LEGISLATURE INITIATIVES – For victims of sexual and domestic abuse, the public policy work of the Coalition is essential, particularly in these challenging times facing the Commonwealth and especially for those who rely on state assistance for basic human services. We work with state government and elected officials to influence and shape public policy on both the legislative and regulatory fronts. With state budget cuts threatening domestic violence and sexual assault programs throughout the state, Jane Doe Inc. worked tirelessly to protect the interests of our membership through assiduous, effective advocacy.

• Save Massachusetts Rape Crisis Centers Campaign: In response to the devastating funding cuts to rape crisis centers in the state’s Fiscal Year 2004 budget, Jane Doe Inc. launched the Save Massachusetts Rape Crisis Centers Campaign. The campaign was designed to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault, to advocate for the restoration of funding in the Fiscal Year 2004 supplemental budget, and to raise monies to be distributed to the 19 rape crisis centers throughout the state. In addition to generating critical public awareness, the campaign also raised more than $40,000 – all of which was given to support rape crisis centers.

• Budget Advocacy: Jane Doe Inc., with the assistance of ML Strategies and in coordination with the membership, successfully lobbied for level funding for domestic violence programs in the state’s Fiscal Year 2004 budget. The rape crisis centers originally faced a 75% cut in funding. Jane Doe Inc., however, was ultimately able to secure partial restoration, resulting in an annualized 22% funding cut. Throughout the budget cycle, Jane Doe Inc. developed and implemented a coordinated budget advocacy strategy providing both guidance – including sample letters, talking points, and other advocacy tools – and technical support to its membership.

• Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence: Jane Doe Inc. played a vital leadership role in advocating for the creation of the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence in May 2003. Jane Doe Inc. staff was appointed co-chair of the Commission’s Steering Committee and is co-chairing three of seven Commission Committees: Prevention and Education, Research and Evaluation, and the Legislative Committee.

• Legislative Advocacy: During the past year, Jane Doe Inc. testified at numerous legislative hearings, submitted written testimony, and collaborated with the Legislature and other stakeholders to advance a responsive legislative agenda. Jane Doe Inc.’s legislative advocacy included work on the Victim’s Bill of Rights, DNA testing for all convicted felons and other public health and public safety proposals.

• Public Policy Initiatives: Jane Doe strengthened our relationships and continued to work with a diverse array of partners and friends on a wide-range of public policy initiatives. Collaborators include law enforcement (police, probation, and parole departments), state agencies, courts, District Attorneys, health care providers, educators, faith leaders, elected officials, business leaders, civil legal services and other community leaders. Examples of public policy collaborations include: the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence; Massachusetts Coalition of Sex Offender Management; Coalition of Boston Teaching Hospitals.

• Data-Survey Report & Analysis: Jane Doe Inc. developed, conducted, and analyzed a service-delivery data survey for 2001 to 2003, which was used as an effective budget advocacy tool and distributed to the membership, the Administration, the Legislature, state officials, and other stakeholders.

IV. RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE – Despite tremendous progress in terms of public awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, many myths and misconceptions remain deeply embedded in our society’s values and influence the policies and practices created to address these crimes. Through the media, conferences and events, our website and other printed materials, and public service campaigns, Jane Doe Inc. tackles these difficult issues. We use statistics and research to demonstrate the prevalence of these crimes. We amplify the voices of survivors to underscore the impact on people’s lives. We seek out new partnerships to help us reach a wider audience with our message of zero tolerance and publicize available resources and services.

• Sexual Assault Awareness Month: To celebrate and mark national Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, Jane Doe Inc. hosted a number of events including: the Governor’s press conference announcing the creation of the Governor’s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence; a fundraising event held on behalf of Jane Doe Inc. by a new supporter and friend – Curves for Women in Norwood; an Opinion Editorial in the Boston Globe; and numerous public awareness and fundraising events held by various Jane Doe Inc. members.

• Domestic Violence Awareness Month: A few highlights from Jane Doe Inc.’s Domestic Violence Awareness campaign in October include: a collaboration with artist Kathy Bitteti revolving around her exhibit Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?; an interfaith memorial service held in the Boston Common with the Silent Witness Project (a project of Peace at Home) in memory of domestic violence homicide victims; a New England regional public awareness campaign; the unveiling of a new semi-postal stamp whose proceeds will benefit domestic violence intervention and prevention efforts; and an Opinion Editorial appearing in the Boston Herald.

• Immigrant and Refugee Conference: In June 2003, Jane Doe Inc. hosted its third annual Immigrant and Refugee Conference. Held at Northeastern with over 300 attendees, the conference included keynotes from Rep. Marie St. Fluer and Ms. Gail Pendleton and numerous breakout workshops and networking opportunities for participants.

• Men’s Initiative for Jane Doe Inc. (MIJD): The MIJD actively collaborated with Jane Doe Inc. and its membership in their efforts to engage and recruit men as advocates. The MIJDI has worked with local groups of men from congregations and campuses to create a safe and inviting space for men to find out how they can be allies in this work. MIJDI provided technical support, arranged for speakers and participated in numerous forums in communities throughout the Commonwealth. MIJD hosted and participated in numerous public awareness and education initiatives including a poetry reading at Emmanuel College in October, held as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

• Press Relations: In addition to published Opinion Editorials in the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald, Jane Doe Inc. both generated and responded to numerous press inquiries on a wide range of issues from funding cuts to rape crisis centers and other legislative matters to domestic violence homicides and inappropriate comments made by a local sports commentator. In addition, Jane Doe Inc. provided its membership with press technical support by drafting and disseminating talking points, sample letters to the Editor, and working with individual programs as they responded to local inquiries.