PROJECT RESPECT - MARIPOSA COUNTY - CALIFORNIA DELTA PREVENTION PLAN 2007 2013

 CALIFORNIA DELTA PREVENTION PLAN

Mariposa County 2007-2013

PREFACE

In December 2006, eleven members of the Mariposa County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (DVCC) responded to this Individual Prevention Capacity Questionnaire (IPCQ) question: If your state had unlimited funding to support programs and activities related to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), how would you allocate that funding?  21.8% indicated programs to increase public awareness of IPV and 23% indicated programs to prevent the first-time perpetration of IPV.  Later, under the leadership of the DVCC, the Prevention Subcommittee approved the steps in the assessment process and has been informed of the trends emerging from the data collection. This document is the result of eighteen months of process planning, data collection and interviews, analysis, goal setting and plan development. 

The California DELTA Project has reduced expectations for final and complete Domestic Violence Primary Prevention Plans from participating grantees.  Nevertheless, the Mariposa County DVCC has decided to proceed with a modified version of the original “Getting to Outcomes” Plan. 

There were lengthy discussions concerning the use of the terms Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) or Domestic Violence (DV) in this community.  At the present time, it is the decision of the Mariposa County DVCC to use the term Relational Violence to include child abuse, domestic violence, dating violence and elder abuse.  Although bullying is not included in this definition, research indicates that bullying can be both a symptom of violence occurring at home and a precursor of violent behavior in relationships later in life (See “The Link Between Bullying and Domestic Violence” in Appendix A).  As a small community, we feel it behooves us to work collaboratively on all of these issues, so as to maximize resources and avoid duplication of prevention efforts.  Additionally, a review of local and national research indicates that both risk and protective factors for all of these issues often are the same.

 Vision Statement   (Return to  top of page)

The Mariposa County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council (MCDVCC) is a community-based team that shares a vision of Mariposa County as the safest place to live in California, where residents embrace alternatives to violence.  We respond to the unique needs of Mariposa County through education, support, and accountability. 

Needs and Resources Assessment

COMMUNITY PROFILE    (Return to  top of page)

Mariposa County   

Mariposa County is a small rural county located in the foothills and Sierra of Central California.  Nearly half of the 1,451 square miles of the County is owned by Yosemite National Park, two national forests, and the U.S. Department of Land Management.  Much of the county is mountainous with winding, narrow roads.  There is great scenic beauty.  Open range land dominates the lower elevations, giving way to forested areas and mountain peaks as one travels into the high Sierra.

Demographics   (Return to  top of page)

Population

The U.S. Census 2006 estimates the population of Mariposa County to be 18,401.  This population is evenly divided between males (50.9%) and females (49.1%).  There are approximately twelve people per square mile, as compared to the state average of 217 per square mile.  The town of Mariposa, county seat, has the largest population density with about 1,700 people. Four other areas of the county have more wide spread populations, and each has its own distinct cultural norms.  Those communities are El Portal-Yosemite (pop. 1556), Lake Don Pedro (pop. 2043), Catheys Valley (pop. 1370) and Coulterville-Greeley Hill (pop. 2355).

The U.S. Census 2006 for Mariposa County reports the following:  81.9% White persons non-Hispanic, 10.0% Hispanic, 3.6% American Indian and the remaining percentages shared by Asian, Black, and people who report more than one race.  English is the primary language with only 5.2% reporting a language other than English spoken at home.  According to the 2000 census, 21.9% of the population over age five is disabled. 

Income, Unemployment and Poverty  (Return to  top of page)

In 2004 Mariposa’s median household income was $37,355, compared to California’s household median income of $49,894.  Service jobs, including tourism and retail, provide 42.4% of the jobs in Mariposa County.  Much of the employment is seasonal in nature.  Unemployment rates vary from 4.1% to 14% depending on the reporting agency and the time of year.  U.S. Census 2004 reports 11.0% of the population of Mariposa County is below the federal poverty level.  The state average was 13.8%.  Children Now 2007 reported 17% of the children in Mariposa County living in poverty, compared with the state percentage of 19%.

In 2006-2007, the Mariposa County Unified School District served 2,271 students at seven elementary, one middle school, one comprehensive high school, one continuation high school, and two alternative high schools.

According to the 2000 US Census of the population 25 years and over, 3.7% have less than a 9^th grade education.  11.2% did not earn a high school diploma.  Therefore, approximately 15% of adults in Mariposa County have either dropped out of high school or never attended, 26% have obtained their high school diploma or GED, 38% indicate having attended some college and 20% have a bachelor, graduate or professional degree.  There are no universities or colleges located in the county.  However, Merced Community College offers adult education classes at the comprehensive high school located in the town of Mariposa.

Conditions   (Return to  top of page)

There are four small, distinct population centers (Coulterville-Greeley Hill, Catheys Valley, La Grange/Lake Don Pedro, and El Portal/Yosemite National Park) in the 1,461 square miles of the county. There is no formal communication uniting them.  There is no radio, no TV station, a lack of cell phone connectivity, and only one weekly newspaper.  The local markets and post offices are the “hubs of communication” for each community.  There is limited public transportation. Since private transportation is difficult, some say that “they need to get money together to come to appointments” outside their local area.  Because homes are isolated, there is a lack of supportive neighborhoods. 

Health and human services are limited in areas outside the town of Mariposa.  For years there has been an effort to coordinate the delivery of services such as health, counseling, employment, etc.  However, there has been limited success with this effort, resulting in a continuing need for better coordination.

The influx of newcomers arriving to serve the new UC Merced and retirees from the Bay Area/Southland has impacted the county.  The values and expectations of newer residents about services and norms of behavior are clashing with the more traditional, independent, anti-interventionist values of the core population. 

Mariposa has a history as “The Gateway to Yosemite.”  As such, the community has an investment in projecting a positive image to tourists.  As a result, there is an underreporting of incidences of crime, abuse, drug/alcohol problems, gangs, etc.  As a new resident who volunteers on the Mt. Crisis "Hot Line" said, "I read the Sheriff's Report in the local paper for years before we retired up here.  We thought it was the safest county in the state.  Wow, were we surprised!"

Mariposa depends on the tourist industry.  Seasonal, low paying employment with irregular work schedules, as well as periodic closures of the road into Yosemite National Park have added to stress and poverty. 

Gun and knife ownership are the norm, as hunting is both a recreational choice and survival tactic.  "The increased availability of weapons, such as firearms and knives, common in rural households, also increases both the risks and lethality of domestic attacks..." (Safe Start Grant Proposal, 2005)

Drug and alcohol use is prevalent. There are community and local norms favorable to their use, and parental attitudes are permissive.  (Friday Night Live Partnership 2004)   In 2002, Mariposa County was higher than all other California counties in percentage of drug and alcohol arrests, with 118.9 arrests per 1000, which is 28.4% vs. 12.2% statewide. (CASA grant)  In fact, there is such an issue with this that the County Board of Supervisors recently passed an ordinance (Social Host Accountability) that would fine parents who allowed, knowingly or unknowingly, parties to occur for teens at their homes.

In Mariposa’s small communities it is often difficult to keep things private.  Crimes often go unreported because of the fear of retribution. The unfortunate result is that, in their own minds, children assume that everyone knows of abuse they are suffering, but no one cares to do anything about it. To illustrate:  A child has cigarette burns on his arm when he visits his neighbor, who notices the burns and asks about them.  The neighbor, fearing the temper of the child’s parent, does not report the suspicion of abuse. 

Assets and Resources   (Return to  top of page)

• Project Respect (anti-bully environmental messages and curriculum in schools and community)

• ADAPT (Juvenile Delinquency Prevention program to prevent teen use of alcohol and drugs)

• Safe at Home yearly event (providing families with resources and information)

• First Five funds projects (serving families of children, ages 0-5)

• California Endowment Grant to support Mariposa Safe Families

• Various school-based programs (Prop. 49 After School Programs, Parenting Programs, Friday Night Live)

• School and community counseling programs

• Parks and Recreation after school sports and summer camp programs

• Service organizations provide Sober Grad Night, Disabilities Awareness programs, and family activities.

• California Endowment Peer Advantage anti-bullying project in high schools

• Health Department’s Visiting Nurses Program, SMART START

• Women-Infant-Child (WIC) Program

• Friendly Visitors’ Program, serving seniors

• Mariposa Safe Families Community Link resource and referral

• MMASH (Mariposa Mothers Against School Hazing and Bullying)

• Lushmeadows Playground Program, Acorn Preschool, Kiwanis Preschool, Almost Like Home, Catheys Valley Preschool, Greeley Hill Preschool, Lake Don Pedro Preschool

Understanding Relational Violence in Our Community   (Return to  top of page)

Information about relational violence comes from two general sources.  One is quantitative data or statistical reports and the other is qualitative date or community knowledge.  A sophisticated data management system to track the incidence of relational violence does not exist in Mariposa County.  While various agencies collect data, it is not coordinated so that trends can be analyzed.  The following are pieces of the information available.  To get the full scope of the relational violence problem in this community, data other than DV data should be collected and examined.  

Quantitative Data: Health, Alcohol, Child Abuse and Relational Violence   (Return to  top of page)

Children Now 2007 reports the following Mariposa statistics:

• 20% (as compared to 16% statewide) of children are diagnosed with asthma

• 78% (as compared to 89% statewide) of children have regular access to a doctor

• 61% (as compared to 80% statewide) of children visited a dentist last year

• 83% (as compared to 71% statewide) of children never exercise

• The number of children in foster care has increased from 30 children in 2002 to 53 children in 2004, to a rate of 14/1000.

According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Dept 2006, 157 domestic violence reports were taken.  It is estimated that in about half of these children were present during the incident. Safe Start 2005 reports 144 DV-related calls to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department, of which 19 involved weapons and 15 involved fists/feet, resulting in 29 arrests. 

Annually, for the past several years, according to the Center for Social Services Research, Mountain Crisis Services (MCS) has provided resources to approximately 250 victims of domestic violence and their children which include: shelter, counseling, legal advocacy, case management and assistance in meeting basic needs. 

From 1998 through 2005 Mariposa Child Welfare Services received an average of 373 reports per year of child abuse or neglect, according to The Center for Social Services Research.  Mariposa County ranks 8^th among the 58 California counties for most reports of child abuse or neglect per 1000 children; it has twice the number of reports per 1000 children than the state average.  Of the 2005 reports, actual abuse or neglect was confirmed over 52% of the time compared to 11.3% of the time statewide.  The rate of substantiated cases of abuse and neglect for Mariposa County has steadily increased from 15.7% in 1998 to the current 52%. 

In 2004, the California Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (CDADP) reported that Mariposa County ranked a high 35^th out of the 58 counties in adult arrests for alcohol violations, an even higher 45^th in motor vehicle accidents where alcohol was involved, 47^th in alcohol/drug treatment admissions, and 52^nd in deaths due to alcohol and drug use.  Note: a low rank (e.g., 4th of 58) indicates that the county rate is low relative to other counties in the state and thus, that the population has a low relative level of substance abuse risk for that indicator.  According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department, during 2005, there were 326 reports filed in which juveniles were identified as the suspects and/or responsible parties.  Of those, 153, or 47%, involved alcohol and/or drug related offenses.  Note: those 326 reports out of the 4802 youth in our county may indicate that roughly 1/20 youth have interactions with the juvenile justice system.

In 2006 the Mariposa County Sheriffs’ Department took 8,277 incident reports; and out of these 2,029 ended in crime reports.  Domestic violence cases averaged 13 per month compared to 12 per month in the preceding year. There were 8 burglaries reported per month compared to 12 per month in 2005. Theft reports averaged of 19 per month, down from 22 per month in 2005. Crimes against children remained at the average of 2 cases per month.  Assault and battery reports decreased to 13 per month compared to 20 per month in 2005.  The Sheriff's Report for Mariposa County, 2006, lists 25 substantiated sex crimes.  This includes both adults and teenagers.  Nationally, it is estimated that although 1 in 4 women report experiencing domestic violence and sexual assault in their lifetime, roughly 5-10% of these crimes are ever reported to the police and even fewer (roughly 1 in 10) are ever substantiated for a variety of reasons.

The Spring 2007 California Healthy Kids Survey for students in Grade 5 finds that:

•   21 % have ever used alcohol and on 50% feel that alcohol use is very bad for a person’s health.
  
  
• 38% report being bullied (that is a drop from 43% in 2005) and 59% report feeling safe at school all of the time. (This is up from 52% in 2005, after the first year of “Project Respect” implementation).

The Spring 2007 California Healthy Kids Survey for students in Grades 7-12 finds that:

• 31% of 7^th graders, 46% of 9^th graders and 69% of 11^th graders have used alcohol and other drugs at least once in their life.  Of those, 12% of 7^th graders, 22% of 9^th graders and 44% of 11^th graders have used in the last 30 days.  51% of the 11^th graders have been drunk, and 29% admit to binge drinking in the last 30 days.  These percentages are higher than the California averages at each grade level.

• Only 18% of 7^th graders, 37% of 9^th graders and 38% of 11^th graders feel very safe at school.  These percentages are higher than the California averages at each grade level.

• 34 % of 7^th graders, 28% of 9^th graders, and 25% of 11^th graders claim to have been harassed at school.  33% of 7^th graders, 12% of 9^th graders and 8% of 11^th graders are afraid of being beaten up.  12% of 7^th graders, 12% of 9^th graders and 20% of 11^th graders admit to having carried a gun, knife or club to school.  These percentages are all higher than the California averages.

The 2005 Mariposa County Anti-Bullying Project Needs Assessment reported that 41% of students in Grades 4-8 had been bullied within the past year.  Sixty-five percent report having witnessed someone being bullied during that time frame.

Another telling indicator of relational violence in our county is that, according to the California Attorney General’s Office Crime and Violence Prevention Center, elder abuse crime reports in Mariposa County have almost doubled between the years of  2000 to 2006 (from 52 reports to 92). This follows a trend statewide of increasing numbers of reported cases of elder abuse.

This next section on community knowledge is based on focus group discussions and interviews, as well as DVCC planning group meetings.

Qualitative Data: Community Knowledge of Risk Factors   (Return to  top of page)

During February and March 2007, six focus group discussions were held with the following: Elder Abuse Planning Conference Committee, Mariposa Safe Families Board, Behavioral Health staff, Shared Leadership Committee, Mariposa County High School students, Mariposa County Unified School District counselors.  Participants answered four questions dealing with risk factors. These are reported in their own words in  Appendix E.

To summarize:

The answers to the first question, “Do you think that relational violence is a problem in Mariposa County?” were overwhelmingly, “Yes.” 

To the question “Who do you think is most affected by relational violence?” People felt that children are most affected.

In their answers to the question “Which risk factors are especially prevalent in Mariposa County?” Respondents listed alcoholism and meth/drug use, unemployment, elderly population, isolation, fear of reporting crimes, community norms concerning relational violence

When asked, “Do you think certain areas of the county are more at risk of relational violence, and if so, why,” the general response was that the underserved areas, namely Coulterville-Greeley Hill and Lake Don Pedro were more at risk. Reasons given for this answer include:  isolation, lack of the county services which are located in the town of Mariposa, no cars, and “the rural areas are where you can get away with anything.”

In 2004, Mountain Crisis Services conducted a strategic planning process in which they identified risk and protective factors for domestic violence in the community.  This process involved agency staff, board members and clients.  The top risk factors identified included:  substance abuse and mental illness, history and experiences of clients (past domestic violence, past child abuse, or in other words the intergenerational cycle of abuse), the culture of Mariposa County (including social norms and the “good old boys network” phenomena), lack of transportation and social isolation (due to geography and choice).

In 2007, a group composed of North County community leaders identified distrust of county agencies and a sense of cynicism about agency interest in providing consistent services to this area.   There is a history of services initiated for a short time and abandoned because of lack of community participation. 

Qualitative Data: Community Knowledge of Protective Factors   (Return to  top of page)

The protective factors identified by the DVCC in January 2008 all included the relationships that occur as a result of being in a small rural community.  For instance, people within the community watched over each other (although they sometimes turn an eye to domestic violence or child abuse, in general people felt this was a helpful community norm).  Additionally, they felt like the fact that law enforcement or teachers know the community and families, and can respond to needs as such, was a protective factor.  Additionally, the discussion of all the community’s existing agencies, projects and prevention programs was discussed with the context of protective factors.

Since all focus group identified the greatest area of need for prevention was the north sections of the county, an examination of protective factors that exist in these areas is important.  The North County supervisor, Greeley Hill Elementary principal, and several North County informants identified existing protective factors available to families in the North County.  However, getting the information about these services to the families most in need has been a problem.  These protective factors include: 

• Community Connections, a seniors group, distributes food to the needy and serves Wednesday Hot Meals on Wheels.
  The Northside Communities Coalition provides summer fun activities.
• The Women’s Club operates a Thrift Store.
• The Mariposa County Unified School District provides high quality schools, clear standards and rules, SARB, Project Respect, and counseling programs.
• First Five preschools operate in the Greeley Hill and Lake Don Pedro areas.
• The Proposition 49 After School Program operates during the school year at Greeley Hill Elementary School.
• The Public Health Department provides immunization clinics once a month in Coulterville and Greeley Hill. 
• Jessie B. Fremont Hospital recently opened a full time, satellite clinic in Greeley Hill.
• There are active community clubs and faith-based organizations in the area.

How to Strengthen the Capacity
of the Relational Violence Primary Prevention System

The preponderance of community knowledge on strengthening capacity relayed through the six Spring 2007 focus groups points to the need for education on relational violence.  Decreasing social norms that promote general tolerance of relational violence by modeling of respectful behaviors, parenting classes, counseling, communication of information about available services, peer support groups, and safe, open places for intergenerational activities to occur were strategies mentioned.  (See Appendix E for specific comments) 

Throughout this needs assessment, the paucity and inconsistency of reliable information about the contributing factors and incidence of relational violence was obvious.  The evaluation of effectiveness of any future preventive strategies depends on accurate, timely collection and sharing of data by all agencies working in these areas.

Conclusions   (Return to  top of page)

In summary, the assessment documents these findings:

• There is a long-standing and generally understood need for primary prevention strategies to reduce the risk factors for relational violence and take advantage of existing protective factors and resources located in Mariposa County.  The Project Respect program recently implemented in the schools is a good start to changing social norms that tolerate relational violence, but this program needs to be imbedded in the wider community to a greater extent (community level; universal population).
• The initial focus of prevention efforts should be in the North County, due to increased risk factors including the physical and social isolation, lack of transportation to services, and high incidence of substance abuse and relational violence (individual level; selected population).
• There is a need to assemble demographic data and statistics that are the reporting responsibility of individual Mariposa agencies.  Compiling this data and making it available online would help to verify needs for services and form a basis for evaluation of prevention efforts.  In addition, building a repository of grant proposals written by the different agencies would increase the knowledge of effective strategies that address common problems and reduce duplication of effort.  Having this information readily available would help others prepare grant proposals and reports and, in effect, build the community’s capacity to implement prevention efforts (systems capacity; universal population).

Identified Goals

The first goal addresses the universal population, all of Mariposa County: 

• To decrease social norms that promote the general tolerance of relational violence.

The second, a community level goal, addresses prevention system capacity:

• To increase resources and assets available to help prevent relational violence through broader partnerships.

The third goal addresses the selected population, the residents of North County:

• To create a primary prevention mechanism that engages North County residents in accessing resources, information and services that decrease rates of relational violence for them and their children. 

The fourth is a prevention system capacity goal: 

• To increase the community’s capacity to implement prevention efforts through improved data collection, data sharing and resource sharing.

Prevention Plan - Narrative   (Return to  top of page)

The primary prevention plan envisioned for Mariposa County has two interrelated key goals and two supporting goals, represented in the four logic models attached. They are the result of the planning process and activities undertaken by the Mariposa County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, the Mariposa County School District, the Project Respect Committee, Mariposa County Safe Families, Mt. Crisis Services and members of the North County Task Force. Under Project Respect, the school district launched a major effort to reduce the incidences of bullying behavior. The effort was based on research indicating that this behavior is a precursor to intimate partner violence as well as a reflection of community tolerance of relational violence. Another effort has been to develop a Family Resource Center in the North County. All of these efforts have a common vision:  a community which no longer tolerates relational violence. It is time to change the social norms of Mariposa County.

The following is a narrative which includes the more significant details of the logic models for the universal and selected populations, and the prevention system capacity goals. The four major goals with activities, expected outcomes, anticipated impacts and evaluations give direction to the community for the next several years.

GOAL 1: The universal population, the citizens of Mariposa County, is addressed in the first goal. It is to change the social norms that promote the general acceptance of relational violence.   (Return to  top of page)

• Goal 1 activities

To date, the activities to accomplish this goal have focused on the school district. For the past two years Project Respect has been implemented in the schools, using banners, school newsletter announcements, Second Step and Steps to Respect curriculum, and staff training. The results to date have been fairly successful. The activities will be to continue to deliver the Steps to Respect and Second Step curriculum, protocol development and ongoing training for administrators, teachers and classified employees. There will be a continuing effort to involve parents and the community via public awareness campaigns and presentations. The curriculum will be delivered in the Family Enrichment Center as part of the activities for families with young children or for parents referred by school personnel. (See Mariposa County Project Respect Program Evaluation 2008.)

• Goal 1 expected outcomes

Expected outcomes are increased student knowledge of skills to deal with bullying and increased student motivation to utilize Steps to Respect skills. It is anticipated that school staff will have increased intervention skills and implement prevention strategies and activities in their classrooms. The community will have increased recognition of bullying behaviors, have access to resources for intervention and most importantly, there will be an increase in positive outcomes for bullies and victims. These outcomes will show a 50% improvement from the 2008 data using pre-post tests, surveys, and other data.

• Goal 1 expected impacts

The expected impacts are decreased of incidence of bullying and improved outcomes for victims of bullying, decreased community acceptance of bullying behaviors and increased awareness of cause and effect.

Success in achieving the goal and the expected impacts will be evaluated using a variety of tools such as pre-posts tests, surveys, Healthy Kids data, Aeries data, Family Enrichment Center activity logs, and interviews with school staff whose job it is to deal with bullying and its results -- counselors, principals, vice principals.

GOAL 2: Prevention system capacity at the community level is addressed in the second goal. It is to increase resources and assets available to help prevent relational violence through broader partnerships.   (Return to  top of page)

• Goal 2 activities
  

Goal 2 activities rely on the input provided and resources represented by the DVCC. This and other councils/advisory groups will be used to brainstorm initial collaboration possibilities. Relationships with current and potential resources will be established and nurtured. New partnerships for service provision will be forged. Successful efforts will be promoted to encourage new partnerships and funding for implementing collaborative efforts will be developed. A collaborative effort in providing coordinated services in the Family Enrichment Center settings is anticipated.

• Goal 2 Expected outcomes:

By January 2009 responsive and core services that honor stakeholders and insure accessibility through appropriate delivery strategies will be in place. There will be documents listing the partners and agencies providing services in the North County Family Enrichment Center with at least two successful grants funding the prevention efforts.

• Goal 2 Expected impacts:
  

By 2010 (1) multi-agency collaboration for the funding and implementation of prevention programs will be in place backed up by a network that detects and responds to relational violence quickly and (2) a viable and replicable Family Enrichment Center, which provides activities and services to reduce the isolation and address other risk factors, will be established in the North County. 

The evaluation process will measure the number of prevention activities and core services in place in the Center, the number of collaborating agencies, the number of MOUs created, and the number of funded grants. The tools to be used are activity logs, meeting minutes, agency reports and grant award letters.

GOAL 3: The third goal addresses the selected population: the residents of North County. It is to create a primary prevention mechanism that engages North County residents in accessing resources, information and services to prevent and decrease rates of relational violence for them and their children.   (Return to  top of page)

• Goal 3 activities

The activities to accomplish this goal are being undertaken by the DVCC, Mariposa Safe Families, Mountain Crisis Services, the Shared Leadership parent group and the North County Family Enrichment Center Task Force. Many of these activities are the same as the ones listed in goal two. Building the collaborative effort to support the creation of the Family Enrichment Center is key to realizing the vision of a community that no longer tolerates relational violence.

The activities specific to the creation of the FEC are selecting and training of staff, determining target population(s) and identifying appropriate messages, determining strategies and timelines, and planning, promoting and implementing outreach and engagement activities.