The front of one of the domestic violence fliers. On the back are phone numbers for help from various local and state agencies.

The Miami Beach Commission on the Status of Women’s Domestic Violence Subcommittee convened Tuesday to discuss how the group could piggyback its efforts on some of the health education programs the city offers its employees.

The commission is focused on setting up a table at one of the monthly health events the city of Miami Beach holds — specifically during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Members coordinated efforts to pass out fliers and staff an informational table in a few locations around the city. Also on hand for some general planning: Myra Diaz Buttacavoli, the city of Miami Beach’s director of Human Resources and Risk Management Department, and Sarah Lenett, the analyst for the Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Oversight Board Victim Services.

Lenett was enthusiastic about the city’s efforts. “There are a lot of domestic violence homicides going on right now,” she said. She referenced the recent death of a Miami-Dade county worker. “[The rate] is not going down. A lot of coworkers and friends [of victims] know about it, and they don’t know what to do about it. We have to say to people, ‘If you know about this, here’s what to do.’”

A little over a week ago, Marrissa Lightbourne, a retired Miami Dade College records clerk, was beaten to death. Her boyfriend was soon charged with her murder. Lightbourne was killed a day before the body of Metrobus driver Monica Smart was discovered. Smart’s boyfriend was charged in that murder.

“In the past two years there were six” county workers killed in suspected domestic abuse incidents, Lenett said. “They don’t go [to counseling] unless they’re ordered to,” as a part of mandated counseling for other issues, for example. “There are people who are victims and just don’t know who to turn to.” Lenett offered the experience based observation that no matter who the potential victim is, many will not accept help for reasons of maintaining their privacy, but if the fliers are handed out while people are in line they might “put it in their handbags,” and use it later or to help a friend.

Subcommittee members offered up many more options for disseminating the information about what to do in domestic violence situations, including playing public service announcements on video screens, passing out informational computer disks and holding lectures, many of which failed to garner support due to lack of funds — the committees’ coffers contain no funds.

Subcommittee chair Yda Percal started off Tuesday’s discussions with the note that some recent outreach the committee had sought to do in schools had not been as successful as they hoped. The group’s new initiative: taking advantage of an already captive audience in those residents looking for a free flu shot or mammogram on their lunch break.

“Every month we have an event through our wellness program,” Buttacavoli said. The events, sponsored and funded by Humana and other companies, are geared toward hooking up city employees with information and services on their lunch breaks. “One month, services will be [based] on cancer, another on stress, another on weight, coronary disease.” For example, Buttacavoli explained, the event focusing on cancer parks a van outside government buildings where employees can pick up information outside and even enter to get a free minimal mammogram. For another event the vans are equipped to measure the bone density of a person’s feet, possibly detecting osteoporosis.

A raffle for prizes or a Home Depot gift certificate helps drive traffic to the events, she said.

Lenett offered to secure some life-size standup silhouettes of victims to use as a visual aid. Some subcommittee members said they had seen them at other educational events, notably at a National Council of Jewish Women event, and thought they made a huge emotional impact.

Organizers will also provide a box where people can donate their old cell phones to the cause, which can then be distributed for emergency purposes to those who fear for their lives from an abuser.

The Miami Beach Commission on the Status of Women’s Domestic Violence Subcommittee is scheduled to set up informational tables at the city’s health events on Oct. 14 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Miami Beach Police Headquarters, located at 1100 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, and at Terminal Island (off the MacArthur Causeway) from 1:30 to 3 p.m. On Oct. 15 information will be available outside of Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Comments? E-mail angie@miamisunpost.com.

Domestic/Sexual Violence Help Numbers

North Dade Victims Center: 305-758-2546

South Dade Victims Center: 305-247-4249

The Lodge/VRI: 305-693-1170

Rape Treatment Center: 305-585-5185

Switchboard of Miami: 305-358-4357

State Attorney’s Office: Victim Assistance Network (VAN): 1-800-398-2808 or 305-273-4357

Source: Miami-Dade County Department of Human Services, 305-514-6000

 

City Government Embraces New State Leave Act The city of Miami Beach is working to comply fully with a statewide law granting leave to victims of domestic abuse. Signed into law in June, the State of Florida Domestic Violence Leave Act now protects employees of companies with 50 or more people on the payroll from losing their jobs due to taking time off to seek medical attention, seek legal or law enforcement help and attend counseling. Employers must provide at least three days off per year to victims of domestic violence — all while keeping the details of their situation confidential. While pay is still up to employers, in accordance with the new state law, workers who have been employed with the company for at least three months cannot be penalized for attendance, as long as they notify their boss of the situation before taking leave, unless that stipulation is waived by their employer. The city is now working to integrate the logistics of Domestic Violence Leave for its employees, according to City of Miami Beach Director of Human Resources and Risk Management Department Myra Diaz Buttacavoli. “[Miami-Dade] County has had Domestic Violence leave that mirrors the benefits of family leave,” said Miami-Dade County Domestic Violence Oversight Board Victim Services Analyst Sarah Lenett, urging Buttacavoli to help address children in the city’s policy handling. “The county also addresses the children — the children who witness it. Sometimes after the act of domestic violence the child needs counseling, now someone can take off work to take them to counseling.” The state of Florida Domestic Violence Leave law took effect July 1. — Angie Hargot

Comments? E-mail letters@miamisunpost.com.