Just 
ASK 
Strategic 
Plan 


Overview 
of 
collaboration 


The 
Just 
ASK, 
Autonomy 
and 
Safety 
of 
Kansas, 
collaborative 
is 
comprised 
of 
three 
partner 
organizations. 
The 
Kansas 
Association 
of 
Centers 
for 
Independent 
Living 
(KACIL) 
is 
a 
statewide, 
membership 
based 
organization 
for 
centers 
for 
independent 
living 
(CILs)
. 
The 
Kansas 
Coalition 
Against 
Sexual 
and 
Domestic 
Violence 
(KCSDV) 
is 
statewide, 
membership 
based 
coalition 
of 
all 
the 
sexual 
assault 
and 
domestic 
violence 
(SA/DV) 
programs 
in 
Kansas. 
The 
Kansas 
Department 
of 
Health 
and 
Environment 
(KDHE) 
is 
a 
state 
agency 
with 
a 
variety 
of 
programs 
addressing 
disability, 
health, 
safety 
and 
injury 
prevention. 
These 
organizations 
have 
a 
long 
history 
of 
working 
together 
to 
end 
violence 
against 
women 
with 
disabilities 
in 
Kansas. 
In 
2006 
the 
group 
was 
awarded 
an 
Education, 
Training 
and 
Enhanced 
Services 
to 
End 
Violence 
Against 
and 
Abuse 
of 
Women 
with 
Disabilities 
Grant 
from 
the 
Office 
on 
Violence 
Against 
Women. 
The 
grant 
includes 
both 
planning 
and 
implementation 
phases 
that 
are 
expected 
to 
result 
in 
sustainable 
and 
accessible 
services 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
through 
local 
collaborations 
and 
systems 
change. 
The 
planning 
phase, 
which 
included 
Just 
ASK 
receiving 
intensive 
technical 
assistance 
from 
the 
Vera 
Institute 
of 
Justice, 
involved 
four 
processes, 
each 
resulting 
in 
a 
document: 
a 
collaboration 
charter, 
needs 
assessment 
plan, 
a 
needs 
assessment 
report, 
and 
a 
strategic 
plan 
for 
implementation 
with 
local 
programs. 


Just 
ASK 
is 
charged 
with 
a 
mission 
to 
increase 
access 
points 
for 
women 
with 
disabilities 
who 
are 
survivors 
of 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
To 
that 
end, 
each 
organization 
has 
a 
full 
time 
staff 
person 
serving 
as 
Co-
Director 
of 
the 
project. 
The 
supervisors 
of 
those 
staff 
also 
serve 
on 
the 
Just 
ASK 
Collaborative. 
Through 
the 
joint 
leadership 
of 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE, 
CILs 
and 
SA/DV 
programs 
will 
be 
connected 
around 
common 
definitions, 
common 
values 
and 
assumptions. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
support 
targeted, 
local 
collaborations 
and 
promote 
safety 
and 
autonomy 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
through 
systems 
change 
at 
both 
CILs 
and 
SA/DV 
programs. 



Although 
a 
state-wide 
project, 
the 
focus 
was 
narrowed 
by 
choosing 
two 
local 
sites 
through 
a 
competitive 
process 
to 
participate 
in 
the 
grant. 
The 
focus 
was 
further 
narrowed 
through 
the 
needs 
assessment 
and 
strategic 
planning 
processes 
by 
identifying 
and 
targeting 
critical 
areas 
of 
service 
need 
in 
the 
local 
sites 
that 
are 
amenable 
to 
sustainability 
through 
systems 
change. 
During 
the 
implementation 
phase, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
provide 
proactive 
technical 
assistance 
to 
local 
sites 
to 
replicate 
the 
collaboration 
charter 
and 
strategic 
plan 
processes, 
and 
then 
assist 
local 
projects 
with 
activities 
that 
will 
result 
in 
improved 
systems 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
The 
Just 
ASK 
collaboration 
also 
will 
be 
working 
on 
systems 
change 
within 
their 
organizations 
that 
will 
result 
in 
increased 
access 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 


Overview 
of 
planning 
phase 


Just 
ASK 
spent 
considerable 
time 
formalizing 
the 
structure 
of 
the 
collaborative. 
A 
collaboration 
charter 
was 
created 
to 
detail 
the 
group 
goals, 
methods 
of 
communication 
and 
mission. 
Central 
to 
this 
process 
was 
common 
vision 
for 
a 
society 
where 
women 
with 
disabilities 
who 
are 
survivors 
of 
sexual 
assault 
and/or 
domestic 
violence 
are 
fully 
supported 
in 
their 
rights 
to 
safety 
and 
autonomy. 
The 
vision 
of 
Just 
ASK 
includes 
barrier-free 
access 
to 
SA/DV 
and 
CIL 
services, 
where 
SA/DV 
advocates 
and 
CIL 
staff 
are 
supported 
in 
their 
efforts 
to 
provide 
accessible 
and 
responsive 
services, 
and 
where 
policies 
and 
practices 
reflect 
a 
comprehensive 
understanding 
of 
sexual 
assault, 
domestic 
violence 
and 
disability 
issues. 


All 
three 
partners 
of 
Just 
ASK 
are 
statewide 
organizations. 
In 
order 
to 
narrow 
the 
focus 
and 
select 
target 
communities, 
Just 
ASK 
issued 
a 
Request 
for 
Application 
(RFA.
) 
All 
member 
programs 
of 
KACIL 
and 
KCSDV 
received 
the 
RFA. 
Target 
sites 
were 
asked 
to 
demonstrate 
their 
organizational 
commitment, 
submit 
joint 
application 
including 
both 
the 
SA/DV 
program 
and 
the 
CIL 
and 
demonstrate 
their 
capacity 
to 
undertake 
the 
project. 
Salina 
and 
Wichita 
emerged 
as 
the 
strongest 
applicants. 



The 
Salina 
collaborative 
includes 
the 
Domestic 
Violence 
Association 
of 
Central 
Kansas 
(DVACK) 
and 


Independent 
Connection 
(IC/OCCK 
*)
. 
DVACK 
is 
a 
dual 
sexual 
assault/domestic 
violence 
program. 
Independent 
Connection 
is 
located 
within 
OCCK, 
a 
service 
provider 
for 
people 
with 
developmental 
disabilities. 
Both 
the 
CIL 
and 
the 
SA/DV 
program 
in 
Salina 
have 
an 
extensive 
rural 
area 
including 
satellite 
offices 
in 
Concordia 
to 
enhance 
services 
and 
do 
outreach 
into 
the 
rural 
areas. 


The 
Wichita 
collaborative 
includes 
a 
domestic 
violence 
program 
Catholic 
Charities 
Harbor 
House 
(CCHH)
Independent 
Living 
Resource 
Center, 
(ILRC) 
and 
the 
Wichita 
Area 
Sexual 
Assault 
Center 
(WASAC.
Wichita 
is 
Kansas’ 
largest 
urban 
community. 
CCHH 
is 
part 
of 
a 
larger 
agency, 
Catholic 
Charities, 
a 
broad, 
faith-based 
social 
justice 
organization. 
ILRC 
has 
a 
large 
consumer 
base 
of 
people 
with 
physical 
disabilities, 
although 
as 
CIL, 
they 
serve 
people 
with 
any 
disability. 
WASAC 
is 
one 
of 
the 
few 
organizations 
in 
Kansas 
whose 
sole 
focus 
is 
responding 
to 
sexual 
assault. 


Just 
ASK 
also 
spent 
considerable 
time 
planning 
a 
community 
needs 
assessment 
process 
with 
very 
specific 
goals. 
The 
goals 
included: 


• 
Identifying 
gaps 
and 
barriers 
to 
services 
experienced 
by 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
when 
they 
seek 
advocacy 
services 
from 
local 
SA/DV 
or 
disability 
advocates. 
• 
Identifying 
the 
current 
strengths 
and 
assets 
of 
local 
SA/DV 
programs 
and 
local 
CILs 
currently 
providing 
advocacy 
services 
to 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
• 
Identifying 
barriers 
within 
SA/DV 
programs 
and 
CILs 
that 
discourage 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
from 
disclosing 
violence 
or 
discussing 
a 
disability. 
• 
Identifying 
the 
elements 
that 
contribute 
to 
effective 
co-advocacy 
between 
local 
SA/DV 
programs 
and 
local 
CILs. 
* 


OCCK 
is 
the 
name 
of 
the 
organization, 
not 
an 
acronym. 



• 
Identifying 
support 
or 
assistance 
that 
is 
needed 
by 
each 
target 
site 
to 
continue 
their 
collaborations 
and 
sustain 
change 
beyond 
this 
project. 
Careful 
attention 
to 
guiding 
principles 
during 
planning 
and 
implementation 
were 
important 
to 
the 
success 
of 
the 
plan. 
The 
guiding 
principles 
for 
the 
development 
of 
the 
needs 
assessment 
were 
concerns 
for 
safety, 
respect, 
and 
accessibility. 
Thus, 
multiple 
strategies 
were 
enlisted 
to 
obtain 
honest 
responses 
while 
acknowledging 
that 
participants 
would 
be 
diverse 
in 
their 
immediate 
needs, 
comfort 
level, 
and 
experiences. 
Just 
ASK 
took 
into 
consideration 
the 
need 
to 
balance 
an 
individual’s 
safety 
and 
their 
right 
to 
make 
personal 
choices 
that 
may 
involve 
risk. 
This 
consideration 
led 
to 
the 
creation 
of 
additional 
tools 
that 
enhanced 
the 
safety 
of 
a 
participant 
while 
also 
supporting 
her 
individual 
choice 
about 
participation. 
As 
a 
result 
of 
this 
careful 
planning 
and 
equally 
careful 
implementation, 
participants 
felt 
safer, 
there 
was 
a 
high 
rate 
of 
participation 
by 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
and 
staff, 
and 
the 
information 
gained 
was 
extraordinarily 
rich. 


The 
needs 
assessment 
was 
implemented 
in 
each 
target 
site 
community 
over 
two 
and 
a 
half 
months. 
Just 
ASK 
sought 
input 
from 
boards 
of 
directors 
of 
each 
partner 
agency, 
Executive 
Directors, 
staff 
and 
advocates 
and, 
most 
importantly, 
from 
people 
with 
disabilities 
and 
survivors. 
A 
variety 
of 
tools 
were 
used 
including 
surveys, 
personal 
interviews 
and 
focus 
groups. 
The 
findings 
were 
strikingly 
similar 
in 
both 
communities, 
despite 
the 
differences 
in 
populations, 
resources 
and 
service 
areas. 


Summary 
of 
Needs 
Assessment 
Findings 


Just 
ASK 
compiled 
the 
raw 
data 
from 
the 
needs 
assessment 
into 
major 
themes 
which 
include 
both 
supports 
and 
gaps 
in 
service 
provision 
and 
advocacy 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 


The 
themes 
highlighting 
supports 
are: 



Organizational 
capacity 
– 
CILs 
and 
SA/DV 
organizations 
have 
solid 
histories 
and 
experience 
with 
collaboration 
and 
partnership 
in 
their 
community. 
Organizational 
commitment 
– 
A 
high 
level 
of 
organizational 
commitment 
was 
evident 
at 
every 
level 
of 
each 
organization. 
Survivor-Centered, 
Person-Centered, 
empowerment 
based 
advocacy 
– 
SA/DV 
programs, 
CILs 
and 
staff/advocates 
at 
all 
organizations 
operate 
from 
a 
philosophical 
base 
that 
all 
people 
have 
the 
right 
to 
make 
choices 
about 
their 
own 
lives. 
Trust 
and 
relationship 
building 
– 
the 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
and 
staff/advocates 
all 
expressed 
the 
importance 
of 
trust 
and 
relationship 
in 
the 
interactions 
between 
survivors 
and 
advocates. 
Site-specific 
supports—In 
Wichita, 
the 
unique 
support 
theme 
that 
emerged 
is 
the 
expertise 
available 
from 
the 
three 
separate 
agencies 
involved 
– 
the 
CIL, 
a 
sexual 
assault 
organization, 
and 
a 
domestic 
violence 
shelter/program. 
In 
Salina, 
the 
history 
of 
successful 
and 
on-going 
cooperation 
between 
the 
CIL 
and 
the 
SA/DV 
program 
emerged 
as 
a 
unique 
support 
for 
their 
collaboration. 


The 
themes 
highlighting 
barriers 
are: 


Attitudinal 
barriers 
and 
stigma 
persist 
against 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
Stigma 
and 
myths 
about 
both 
disability 
and 
violence 
greatly 
impact 
an 
individual’s 
experience 
with 
systems 
and 
their 
decisions 
about 
help 
seeking 
and 
disclosure. 


Communication 
barriers 
exacerbate 
isolation, 
limit 
the 
efficacy 
of 
advocacy 
and 
can 
create 
safety 
risks. 


Access 
to 
language 
interpretation, 
particularly 
ASL, 
is 
extremely 
limited. 
Additional 
communication 
needs 
also 
exist 
such 
as 
a 
need 
for 
more 
accessible 
language. 
CILs 
and 
SA/DV 
programs 
also 
requested 
better 
language 
when 
communicating 
about 
disability 
(such 
as 
using 
person-first 
language) 
or 
trauma 
(ways 
to 
talk 
about 
violence.



Both 
communities 
have 
inadequate 
infrastructure 
and 
resources. 
Larger 
systems 
within 
the 
community 
also 
need 
more 
information 
and 
improved 
policies 
to 
respond 
to 
violence 
against 
women 
with 
disabilities. 
The 
needs 
assessment 
identified 
a 
wide 
range 
of 
needs 
for 
community 
infrastructure 
that 
is 
safe, 
affordable 
and 
accessible 
such 
as 
increased 
housing 
stock, 
transportation, 
health 
and 
sexuality 
education, 
mental 
health 
services 
and 
addiction 
recovery 
services 
and 
other 
services 
for 
individuals 
with 
active 
addictions. 


CILs 
and 
SA/DV 
programs 
have 
insufficient 
policies 
to 
respond 
to 
violence 
against 
women 
with 
disabilities. 


Organizations 
reported 
that 
a 
general 
overview 
of 
policies 
would 
help 
to 
ensure 
that 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
are 
present 
throughout. 
Examples 
of 
policy 
needs 
that 
were 
specifically 
identified 
include 
policies 
around 
mandatory 
reporting 
of 
adult 
abuse, 
affirmative 
offers 
of 
accommodations, 
and 
policies 
for 
staff 
who 
may 
have 
safety 
or 
accommodation 
needs. 


Broader 
points 
of 
access 
are 
needed 
to 
CIL 
and 
SA/DV 
services. 
Points 
of 
access 
account 
for 
any 
mechanism 
to 
connect 
a 
survivor/person 
with 
a 
disability 
with 
a 
CIL 
or 
SA/DV 
programs. 
Isolation 
(due 
to 
a 
perpetrator, 
communication 
barriers 
or 
stigma) 
of 
survivors/people 
with 
disabilities 
was 
identified 
as 
a 
significant 
barrier 
to 
services 
and 
advocacy. 
Architectural 
barriers 
or 
structural 
issues 
exist 
such 
as 
badly 
designed 
entrance 
ramps 
or 
doors 
that 
are 
extremely 
heavy 
to 
push 
open. 
Points 
of 
access 
are 
also 
limited 
by 
organizational 
ideas 
that 
may 
narrow 
how 
“disability”
, 
“sexual 
violence” 
or 
“domestic 
violence” 
are 
defined, 
resulting 
in 
fewer 
referrals 
between 
a 
CIL 
and 
SA/DV 
programs. 


Policies 
and 
services 
must 
be 
examined 
for 
specific 
safety 
risks 
to 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
Clear 
identification 
of 
mandatory 
reporting 
protocols, 
as 
well 
as 
identification 
of 
which 
staff 
are/are 
not 
mandatory 
reporters, 
could 
enhance 
the 
safety 
of 
a 
survivor 
when 
disclosing 
violence 
to 
a 
CIL 
staff 
person. 
CILs 
also 
reported 
a 
need 
for 
policies 
to 
address 
victim 
safety 
when 
both 
an 
offender 
and 
a 
victim 
are 
receiving 
CIL 
services. 
SA/DV 
programs 
reported 
needing 
additional 
tools 
and 
resources 
for 
responding 
to 
survivors 
with 
an 
addiction 
or 
mental 
health 
disability. 
Survivors 
and 
people 
with 
disabilities 
reported 
being 
fearful 
of 
disclosing 
violence 
or 



discussing 
their 
disability 
due 
to 
concerns 
about 
loss 
of 
their 
autonomy, 
the 
involvement 
of 
additional 
systems 
or 
the 
potential 
loss 
of 
parenting 
rights. 
Both 
CILs 
and 
SA/DV 
programs 
identified 
a 
need 
for 
protocols 
for 
language 
interpretation 
that 
account 
for 
victim 
safety 
and 
are 
responsive 
to 
the 
immediate 
needs 
of 
crisis 
intervention. 


The 
criminal 
justice 
system 
presents 
safety 
risks 
and 
is 
often 
inaccessible 
when 
responding 
to 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
The 
need 
for 
additional 
work 
with 
the 
criminal 
justice 
system 
was 
identified 
by 
all 
levels 
(boards, 
leadership, 
staff/advocates 
and 
survivors 
with 
disabilities) 
during 
the 
needs 
assessment. 
A 
positive, 
disability-
informed, 
victim-centered 
response 
from 
the 
CJS 
can 
greatly 
impact 
the 
community 
as 
a 
whole. 
Issues 
identified 
in 
the 
needs 
assessment 
include 
language 
access 
issues 
(both 
for 
the 
Deaf 
community 
and 
for 
people 
with 
cognitive 
disabilities)
, 
and 
the 
presence 
of 
stigma 
towards 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
Many 
needs 
assessment 
participants 
also 
reported 
that 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
were 
perceived 
as 
less 
credible 
victims/witnesses. 


Strategic 
Planning 
Process 


Just 
ASK 
held 
a 
two 
day 
strategic 
planning 
retreat 
in 
late 
July. 
Planning 
for 
both 
statewide 
work 
and 
work 
with 
the 
target 
sites 
was 
established, 
and 
Just 
ASK 
selected 
broad 
initiatives 
for 
work 
with 
target 
sites. 
Just 
ASK’s 
process 
examined 
the 
identified 
needs 
and 
possible 
initiatives, 
then 
grouped 
goals 
into 
short-term 
and 
long-term 
initiatives 
through 
a 
framework 
of 
guiding 
principles. 
Further, 
since 
the 
time 
frame 
for 
implementation 
will 
be 
limited, 
realistic 
timelines 
and 
expectations 
were 
a 
key 
factor 
in 
determining 
whether 
a 
goal 
was 
immediate 
or 
long-range. 
Specific 
action 
steps 
and 
priorities 
will 
be 
established 
cooperatively 
with 
the 
local 
collaboratives. 


Two 
central 
questions 
shaped 
the 
selection 
of 
goals 
and 
action 
steps: 
“Is 
it 
respectful, 
safe 
and 
accessible?
and 
“Is 
it 
feasible, 
sustainable 
and 
practical?
” 
Potential 
steps 
also 
had 
to 
reflect 
the 
values 
that 
Just 
ASK 
detailed 
in 
the 
collaboration 
charter. 
Additional 
guidelines 
are: 



The 
voices 
of 
survivors 
and 
people 
with 
disabilities 
must 
be 
present 
throughout 
the 
process 
and 
must 
be 
reflected 
in 
the 
work. 
Just 
ASK 
greatly 
valued 
the 
presence 
of 
survivors 
and 
people 
with 
disabilities 
in 
the 
needs 
assessment. 
The 
same 
presence 
is 
also 
needed 
in 
the 
planning 
and 
implementation 
of 
solutions. 
The 
ultimate 
purpose 
of 
this 
process 
is 
to 
positively 
impact 
the 
experiences 
of 
individuals 
engaging 
with 
service 
providers 
and 
advocates. 
People 
with 
disabilities 
and 
survivors 
are 
in 
the 
best 
position 
to 
assess 
strategies 
and 
identify 
potential 
unintended 
consequences. 
This 
is 
only 
possible 
with 
true 
participation 
from 
individuals 
and 
care 
must 
be 
given 
to 
avoid 
tokenism. 


Cultural 
competency 
is 
key 
to 
an 
inclusive 
process 
and 
to 
effective 
services. 
Individual 
survivors 
will 
bring 
myriad 
of 
cultural 
experiences 
with 
them 
dependent 
on 
their 
age, 
race, 
disability 
status, 
sexual 
orientation, 
native 
language 
and 
many 
other 
factors. 
Marginalized 
groups 
often 
have 
distinct 
cultural 
landmarks, 
dynamics 
and 
references. 
Finally, 
each 
partner 
organization 
has 
its 
own 
history, 
culture 
and 
frame 
of 
reference. 
Cultural 
competency 
must 
be 
accounted 
for 
in 
this 
process. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
attend 
to 
cultural 
competency 
as 
necessary 
component 
of 
respectful 
services 
and 
in 
the 
provision 
of 
technical 
assistance. 


The 
process 
must 
be 
relevant 
and 
manageable 
for 
all 
organizations 
involved. 
Target 
sites 
must 
feel 
that 
the 
initiatives 
are 
feasible 
and 
useful 
to 
them. 
This 
will 
require 
a 
flexible 
process, 
one 
that 
is 
adaptable 
to 
change 
in 
staff, 
leadership 
or 
community 
dynamics. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
engage 
in 
conversation 
with 
target 
sites 
to 
ensure 
there 
is 
a 
balance 
of 
focus 
and 
expectations 
with 
the 
chosen 
initiatives. 


Each 
of 
these 
principles 
requires 
a 
strategic 
plan 
that 
is 
well 
informed 
by 
the 
local 
communities. 
Just 
ASK 
is 
planning 
two 
meetings 
in 
January 
and 
February 
with 
each 
target 
site 
to 
establish 
a 
local 
action 
plan. 
These 
action 
plans 
will 
detail 
the 
specific 
steps 
chosen 
by 
each 
community 
to 
respond 
to 
the 
needs 
assessment 
report. 



Goal# 
1 
Foster 
Collaboration 
and 
Co-Advocacy 
Strategies 
Among 
Target 
Sites 


The 
needs 
assessment 
revealed 
a 
lack 
of 
formal 
and 
structured 
collaborations 
between 
CILs 
and 
SA/DV 
programs. 
Needs 
assessment 
participants 
at 
every 
level 
identified 
gaps 
between 
organizations. 
Boards 
and 
Executive 
Directors 
identified 
a 
need 
for 
partnerships 
in 
creating 
community 
responses 
to 
violence 
against 
women 
with 
disabilities. 
Staff 
and 
advocates 
reported 
a 
lack 
of 
connection 
between 
movements. 
This 
manifested 
in 
communication 
barriers, 
safety 
risks 
and 
lowered 
levels 
of 
accessibility 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
Survivors 
and 
people 
with 
disabilities 
spoke 
of 
service 
providers 
with 
limited 
ability 
to 
respond 
to 
the 
complex 
and 
interlocking 
issues 
in 
their 
lives. 
Though 
many 
participants 
spoke 
of 
attempts 
to 
bridge 
these 
gaps 
at 
an 
individual 
level, 
sustainable 
changes 
in 
a 
system 
require 
a 
commitment 
from 
an 
organization 
as 
a 
whole. 
All 
of 
these 
reports 
speak 
to 
the 
need 
for 
closer 
organizational 
relationships; 
policies, 
protocols 
and 
services 
that 
reflect 
safety 
and 
accessibility; 
and 
formal 
collaboration 
agreements 
to 
institutionalize 
these 
changes. 


Just 
ASK 
Initiatives 


Just 
ASK 
will 
provide 
intensive 
technical 
assistance 
to 
assist 
target 
sites 
around 
fostering 
collaboration. 
The 
technical 
assistance 
will 
focus 
on 
the 
development 
of 
collaboration 
charters 
and 
action 
plans 
for 
each 
target 
site. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
facilitate 
monthly 
meetings 
with 
each 
site 
and 
provide 
a 
structure 
for 
the 
development 
of 
the 
documents. 


The 
agendas 
for 
these 
meetings 
have 
been 
developed 
using 
the 
Fieldstone 
Alliance 
model 
of 
a 
collaboration 
charter. 
This 
process 
leads 
a 
collaboration 
through 
a 
thoughtful 
examination 
of 
roles, 
dynamics 
and 
potential 
conflicts 
between 
the 
partnering 
organizations. 
The 
end 
result 
of 
this 
process 
is 
a 
charter 
with 
written 
agreements 
on 
confidentiality, 
definitions, 
values, 
conflict 
resolution 
and 
decision-making. 
There 
is 
also 
a 
written 
history 
for 
the 
group 
documenting 
the 
original 
purpose 
and 
intent 
of 
the 
collaborative. 



Just 
ASK’s 
first 
step 
in 
the 
development 
of 
collaboration 
charters 
will 
be 
to 
host 
a 
joint 
leadership 
meeting 
for 
partners 
at 
both 
target 
sites. 
This 
will 
be 
a 
full-day 
meeting 
to 
orient 
target 
sites 
to 
collaboration 
and 
provide 
each 
site 
an 
opportunity 
to 
network 
with 
one 
another. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
facilitate 
a 
large 
group 
discussion 
on 
key 
definitions. 
“Developing 
Your 
Vision” 
worksheet 
and 
materials 
from 
The 
Collaboration 
Handbook 
(Winer 
Ray, 
2005.
) 
will 
be 
used 
to 
provide 
guidance 
to 
each 
local 
site 
as 
they 
develop 
collaboration 
vision 
statements. 
Each 
site 
will 
also 
begin 
developing 
a 
mission 
statement 
for 
the 
collaborative 
using 
“Articulating 
Your 
Mission” 
from 
Crafting 
Effective 
Vision 
and 
Mission 
Statements 
(Angelica, 
2004) 
as 
well 
as 
materials 
from 
The 
Nimble 
Collaborative 
(Ray, 
2003.
) 


Following 
the 
joint 
leadership 
meeting, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
meet 
with 
each 
target 
site 
monthly 
in 
their 
community 
to 
complete 
the 
charter. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
facilitate 
each 
meeting 
using 
tools, 
activities 
and 
methods 
from 
variety 
of 
sources 
including 
activities 
from 
the 
Vera 
Institute 
of 
Justice, 
Fieldstone 
Alliance 
materials 
and 
information 
from 
www.accessingsafety.org 
. 


October’s 
meeting 
will 
focus 
on 
development 
of 
the 
Values 
and 
Assumptions 
section 
as 
well 
as 
drafting 
an 
agreement 
on 
confidentiality 
for 
the 
group. 
Just 
ASK 
Co-Directors 
will 
use 
large 
group 
facilitation 
and 
brainstorming 
to 
move 
the 
group 
towards 
consensus. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
provide 
a 
history 
of 
statewide 
efforts 
and 
challenges 
as 
well. 


The 
target 
site 
meetings 
in 
November 
will 
address 
roles 
and 
contributions. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
facilitate 
discussion 
on 
how 
resources 
and 
information 
will 
be 
shared 
by 
the 
local 
partners. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
facilitate 
the 
development 
of 
local 
target 
site 
decision-making 
protocol 
and 
share 
decision 
making 
models 
as 
found 
from 
www.accessingsafety.org 
and 
share 
Just 
ASK’s 
experience 
with 
gradient 
agreement. 



Formalizing 
a 
communication 
plan 
and 
conflict 
resolution 
model 
will 
be 
the 
focus 
of 
December’s 
target 
site 
meeting. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
support 
the 
process 
by 
using 
a 
“Levels 
of 
Communication” 
exercise 
from 
Organizational 
Communication 
(Vartabedian, 
1985) 
as 
well 
as 
materials 
from 
The 
Collaboration 
Handbook 
(Winer 
and 
Ray, 
1994.
) 
Conversations 
around 
conflict 
resolution 
will 
also 
draw 
from 
the 
Collaboration 
Handbook 
and 
materials 
from 
the 
Accessing 
Safety 
website. 
Additionally, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
utilize 
the 
“Box 
Puzzle” 
exercise 
from 
Communication 
Theory 
(Williamson, 
1984) 
and 
materials 
from 
Susan 
Rinehart 
on 
managing 
conflict 
creatively 
(Ohio 
State 
University.
) 


Local 
target 
sites 
have 
committed 
to 
meetings 
in 
January 
2009 
and 
February 
2009 
to 
develop 
individual 
collaboration 
action 
plans 
with 
technical 
assistance 
from 
Just 
ASK. 
The 
menu 
of 
initiatives 
as 
examined 
in 
Goals 
two 
through 
five 
was 
identified 
through 
the 
Needs 
Assessment 
process 
generally, 
in 
addition 
to 
those 
initiatives 
identified 
as 
site-specific. 


Each 
monthly 
collaboration 
meeting 
will 
include 
time 
for 
cross 
training, 
information 
sharing 
and 
networking. 
Collaboration 
meetings 
are 
scheduled 
for 
three 
hours. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
offer 
one 
hour 
of 
training 
for 
any 
staff 
of 
the 
partnering 
agencies. 
The 
trainings 
will 
be 
facilitated 
by 
Just 
ASK 
staff 
or 
staff 
from 
one 
of 
the 
partnering 
agencies 
and 
will 
be 
offered 
twice: 
in 
the 
hour 
before 
the 
collaboration 
meeting 
and 
in 
the 
hour 
following. 
This 
will 
maximize 
the 
ability 
of 
staff 
to 
participate 
without 
jeopardizing 
staffing 
levels 
during 
the 
training. 
The 
purpose 
of 
these 
trainings 
is 
threefold. 
First, 
staff/advocates 
and 
agency 
leadership 
all 
requested 
additional 
information 
on 
violence 
against 
women 
with 
disabilities. 
This 
was 
a 
primary 
motivator 
for 
both 
sites 
in 
applying 
to 
be 
part 
of 
the 
Just 
ASK 
project. 
Secondly, 
trainings 
that 
are 
open 
to 
any 
staff 
will 
involve 
individuals 
beyond 
those 
working 
directly 
on 
the 
collaborative 
and 
will 
increase 
the 
capacity 
of 
the 
organization 
as 
a 
whole. 
This 
will 
provide 
level 
of 
familiarity 
between 
organizations 
and 
provide 
context 
to 
staff 
for 
upcoming 
policy 
changes. 
It 
will 
also 
prevent 
the 
issues 
of 
violence 
and 
disability 
from 
being 
isolated 
to 
one 
or 
two 
knowledgeable 
staff. 
The 
third 
purpose 
of 
these 
trainings 
is 
to 
meet 
an 
immediate 
need 
of 
the 
target 
sites 
and 
ensure 
that 
the 
partners 
see 
a 
tangible 
benefit 
throughout 
the 
process. 
Collaboration 
development 
and 
systems 
change 
is 
lengthy 
work. 
Brief 
trainings, 
carefully 



sequenced, 
can 
compliment 
the 
pace 
of 
collaboration 
development. 
Topics 
will 
be 
decided 
in 
discussion 
with 
target 
sites 
and 
will 
likely 
include 
planning 
for 
safe 
and 
accessible 
meetings, 
person 
first 
language 
and 
decision-
making 
processes 
for 
survivors. 


Local 
Target 
Site 
Initiatives 


Target 
sites 
have 
committed 
to 
monthly 
meetings 
from 
September 
through 
December 
intended 
for 
the 
development 
of 
local 
collaboration 
charters. 
Each 
partnering 
agency 
has 
selected 
several 
staff 
to 
comprise 
a 
team 
for 
the 
collaborative. 
This 
core 
group, 
including 
agency 
leadership, 
has 
scheduled 
monthly 
meetings 
and 
agreed 
to 
the 
proposed 
agenda. 
Additionally, 
each 
group 
will 
work 
together 
to 
develop 
the 
collaboration 
charter 
that 
is 
responsive 
to 
local 
site 
dynamics. 


Each 
target 
site 
partner 
agency 
will 
be 
asked 
to 
provide 
a 
brief 
history 
of 
their 
organization 
and 
the 
efforts 
thus 
far 
to 
address 
violence 
and 
disability 
in 
their 
communities. 
Formal 
vision 
and 
mission 
statements, 
as 
well 
as 
individual 
goals 
for 
working 
together 
as 
a 
collaborative, 
will 
be 
developed 
by 
each 
site. 


Local 
sites 
will 
establish 
roles 
within 
the 
collaborative 
and 
participate 
in 
a 
discussion 
intended 
to 
address 
those 
roles 
and 
possible 
gaps 
once 
Just 
ASK’s 
intensive 
technical 
assistance 
is 
reduced. 
Each 
site 
will 
establish 
decision 
making 
protocol 
that 
is 
responsive 
to 
a 
broad 
range 
of 
possibilities, 
such 
as 
model 
policy 
review 
or 
applying 
jointly 
for 
grants. 


Sites 
will 
develop 
a 
communication 
plan 
that 
will 
specifically 
address 
challenges 
and 
strategies 
for 
co-advocacy. 
Sites 
will 
be 
able 
to 
review 
Just 
ASK’s 
Communication 
Plan, 
but 
will 
be 
expected 
to 
develop 
one 
that 
is 
unique 
to 
individual 
communities. 



In 
order 
to 
allow 
adequate 
staff 
coverage 
at 
each 
organization 
and 
to 
increase 
cross-training 
opportunities, 
training 
provided 
during 
each 
monthly 
site 
meeting 
will 
be 
offered 
both 
before 
and 
after 
the 
core 
collaborative 
meeting. 
Target 
sites 
will 
be 
expected 
to 
encourage 
all 
staff 
of 
their 
organizations 
to 
attend 
trainings 
that 
are 
provided. 


Target 
sites 
have 
committed 
to 
monthly 
meetings 
during 
January 
and 
February, 
2009 
to 
develop 
local 
action 
plans 
that 
draw 
from 
areas 
identified 
through 
the 
Needs 
Assessment 
process. 
Due 
to 
a 
large 
number 
of 
both 
generally 
and 
locally 
identified 
initiatives, 
sites 
will 
engage 
in 
a 
narrowing 
process 
as 
they 
develop 
action 
plans 
for 
local 
communities. 
Information 
and 
technical 
assistance 
provided 
during 
previous 
site 
meetings 
will 
be 
critical 
to 
local 
target 
sites 
as 
they 
engage 
in 
sequencing 
and 
prioritizing 
site-specific 
initiatives. 



ActionStepsResponsibilityTimeline1.JustASKwillprovideTAtofostercollaborationandco-advocacyamongtargetsitesSept08Oct08Nov08Dec08Jan09Feb09March09April09May09June09July09Aug09Sept09A.Providetechnicalassistancetoeachtargetsiteastheydevelopcollaborationcharter.
DevelopcoreworkgroupateachtargetsitethatincludesstaffandleadershipfromeachpartnerorganizationJustASKCo-
DirectorsxHoldday-longorientationmeetingwithbothtargetsites.
Meetingwillincludenetworkingopportunities,
informationonsafeandaccessiblemeetingplanning.
Beginworkontargetsitecharters:
definitions,vision&missionJustASKFullCollaborativewillfacilitateTargetsitescoregroupwillparticipatexFacilitatemeetingsateachtargetsitewithJustASKC-
DirectorswillfacilitatexActionStepsResponsibilityTimeline1.JustASKwillprovideTAtofostercollaborationandco-advocacyamongtargetsitesSept08Oct08Nov08Dec08Jan09Feb09March09April09May09June09July09Aug09Sept09A.Providetechnicalassistancetoeachtargetsiteastheydevelopcollaborationcharter.
DevelopcoreworkgroupateachtargetsitethatincludesstaffandleadershipfromeachpartnerorganizationJustASKCo-
DirectorsxHoldday-longorientationmeetingwithbothtargetsites.
Meetingwillincludenetworkingopportunities,
informationonsafeandaccessiblemeetingplanning.
Beginworkontargetsitecharters:
definitions,vision&missionJustASKFullCollaborativewillfacilitateTargetsitescoregroupwillparticipatexFacilitatemeetingsateachtargetsitewithJustASKC-
Directorswillfacilitatex

core 
group 
to 
continue 
charter 
development: 
Values 
& 
Assumptions, 
Confidentiality 
Facilitate 
meetings 
at 
each 
target 
site 
with 
core 
group 
to 
continue 
charter 
development: 
Roles, 
Contributions 
and 
Decision-Making 
Protocol 
Just 
ASK 
Co-
Directors 
will 
facilitate 
x 
Facilitate 
meetings 
at 
each 
target 
site 
with 
core 
group 
to 
continue 
charter 
development: 
Communication 
plan 
and 
Conflict 
Resolution 
Model 
Just 
ASK 
Co-
Directors 
will 
facilitate 
x 
B. 
Support 
capacity 
building 
of 
target 
sites 
by 
facilitating 
information 
sharing 
and 
cross-training 
opportunities 
for 
all 
staff 
at 
partner 
organizations 
Determine 
a 
schedule 
of 
topics 
& 
facilitators 
to 
lead 
one-hour 
long 
information 
sharing 
sessions. 
These 
will 
be 
held 
the 
hour 
prior 
to 
the 
core 
group 
meeting 
Target 
sites 
select 
topics 
and 
facilitators 
and 
set 
a 
schedule 
with 
input 
from 
Just 
ASK 
Co-Directors 
x 



and 
repeated 
the 
hour 
following 
to 
maximize 
opportunities 
for 
staff 
to 
attend. 
Facilitate 
and 
assist 
with 
information-
sharing 
and 
cross-training. 
Just 
ASK 
Co-
Directors. 
Target 
sites 
will 
also 
present 
on 
topics, 
as 
appropriate 
x 
x 
x 


Goal# 
2 
Improve 
access 
and 
create 
welcoming 
environments 
in 
SA/DV 
programs. 


A 
multitude 
of 
needs 
identified 
in 
the 
report 
translate 
into 
access 
issues. 
Just 
ASK 
prioritized 
points 
of 
access 
because 
it 
is 
a 
first 
and 
necessary 
step 
for 
SA/DV 
programs 
in 
improving 
experiences 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
Examining 
points 
of 
access 
and 
the 
organizational 
environment 
will 
strengthen 
capacity 
to 
provide 
accessible 
services. 
This 
must 
be 
done 
prior 
to 
any 
outreach 
efforts 
or 
public 
awareness 
campaigns. 
Stronger 
collaborations 
with 
CILs 
will 
enhance 
SA/DV 
programs’ 
ability 
to 
identify 
and 
articulate 
issues 
surrounding 
accessibility. 
Established 
collaborations 
with 
written 
confidentiality 
agreements 
will 
also 
provide 
safe 
environment 
for 
SA/DV 
programs 
to 
candidly 
examine 
strengths 
and 
gaps. 


Points 
of 
access 
account 
for 
all 
the 
ways 
an 
individual 
contacts 
and 
engages 
with 
an 
organization. 
Most 
SA/DV 
programs 
rely 
heavily 
on 
telephone 
hotlines 
for 
initial 
contact 
with 
survivors. 
Referrals 
from 
major 
systems 
such 
as 
hospital 
emergency 
rooms 
or 
law 
enforcement 
also 
make 
up 
a 
significant 
portion 
of 
access 
points. 
Telephone 
contact 
will 
not 
work 
for 
all 
individuals, 
particularly 
Deaf 
survivors 
or 
people 
with 
limited 
or 
slurred 
speech. 
survivor 
with 
a 
disability 
may 
or 
may 
not 
engage 
hospital 
or 
CJS 
systems. 
Even 
if 
they 
do, 
they 
may 
be 
diverted 
away 
from 
mainstream 
advocacy 
services 
and 
towards 
disability-specific 
organizations. 



Access 
issues 
also 
exist 
once 
a 
survivor 
with 
a 
disability 
does 
contact 
an 
advocacy 
organization. 
Attitudinal 
barriers 
within 
an 
organization 
impact 
the 
experience 
of 
a 
survivor 
with 
a 
disability, 
as 
do 
the 
ease 
and 
framework 
for 
securing 
accommodations. 
Points 
of 
access 
also 
encompasses 
architectural 
barriers 
that 
may 
prevent 
or 
limit 
an 
individual’s 
engagement 
with 
an 
organization. 
Policies 
and 
protocols 
greatly 
impact 
the 
level 
of 
acceptance 
and 
trust 
an 
individual 
feels 
with 
an 
organization. 
The 
needs 
assessment 
report 
drew 
attention, 
in 
particular, 
to 
policies 
around 
survivors 
with 
mental 
health 
disabilities, 
addictions 
or 
developmental 
disabilities. 
Additional 
policies 
in 
need 
of 
review 
include 
language 
access 
policies 
and 
proactive 
offers 
of 
accommodations. 


Just 
ASK 
Initiatives 


Just 
ASK 
will 
provide 
intensive 
technical 
assistance 
to 
target 
sites 
around 
improving 
access 
and 
creating 
more 
welcoming 
environments 
through 
development 
of 
action 
plans. 
Target 
sites 
will 
create 
an 
action 
plan 
to 
identify 
the 
specific 
initiatives 
they 
wish 
to 
undertake. 
This 
action 
plan 
will 
be 
drafted 
in 
January 
and 
February, 
2009. 
Each 
target 
site 
will 
review 
a 
range 
of 
possible 
action 
steps 
and 
select 
the 
initiatives 
and 
sequencing 
that 
will 
best 
fit 
their 
organizations, 
collaboration 
and 
community. 


Once 
the 
initiatives 
have 
been 
selected 
and 
local 
plans 
have 
been 
developed, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
submit 
the 
action 
plans 
to 
OVW 
for 
approval. 
Based 
on 
the 
initiatives 
selected, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
work 
with 
the 
target 
sites 
to 
examine 
organizational 
policies, 
protocols, 
job 
descriptions, 
forms 
and 
documentation. 


A 
wide 
range 
of 
potential 
action 
steps 
exist 
to 
broaden 
points 
of 
access 
and 
improve 
the 
environment. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
facilitate 
the 
narrowing 
process 
at 
each 
site 
as 
local 
collaboratives 
navigate 
the 
menu 
of 
initiatives 
that 
were 
result 
of 
the 
Needs 
Assessment. 


Any 
action 
steps 
would 
focus 
on 
system 
change 
to 
impact 
the 
organization 
as 
a 
whole. 
Training 
and 
education 
to 
target 
an 
individual 
advocate’s 
level 
of 
knowledge 
would 
need 
to 
accompany 
many 
of 
these 
initiatives, 
however, 



the 
primary 
goal 
is 
a 
shift 
in 
organizational 
policy, 
procedures 
and 
function. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
provide 
technical 
assistance 
concerning 
changes 
to 
policies, 
protocols 
or 
documentation 
that 
are 
highly 
sustainable, 
particularly 
when 
the 
new 
policy 
includes 
an 
explanation 
of 
intent 
detailing 
the 
attention 
to 
accessibility. 
Any 
subsequent 
changes 
to 
policies 
would 
also 
need 
to 
account 
for 
accessibility 
and, 
as 
such, 
would 
provide 
for 
sustainability 
within 
the 
organization. 
Each 
collaboration 
charter, 
coupled 
with 
the 
action 
plan, 
creates 
a 
narrative 
for 
the 
partner 
organizations. 
They 
establish 
a 
written 
history 
of 
attention 
to 
accessibility 
and 
safety 
and 
build 
support 
for 
continued 
efforts 
beyond 
the 
Just 
ASK 
project. 


Target 
Site 
Initiatives 


Target 
sites 
will 
create 
an 
action 
plan 
to 
identify 
the 
specific 
initiatives 
they 
wish 
to 
undertake. 
Each 
site 
will 
review 
a 
range 
of 
possible 
action 
steps 
and 
choose 
the 
initiatives 
and 
sequencing 
that 
will 
best 
fit 
their 
organizations, 
collaboration 
and 
community. 


The 
collaboration 
charter, 
coupled 
with 
the 
action 
plan, 
creates 
a 
narrative 
for 
each 
local 
partner 
organization 
that 
is 
specific 
to 
their 
community. 
It 
establishes 
a 
written 
history 
of 
attention 
to 
accessibility 
and 
safety 
and 
builds 
support 
for 
continued 
efforts 
beyond 
the 
Just 
ASK 
project. 


As 
action 
plans 
are 
developed, 
sites 
may 
wish 
to 
identify 
all 
the 
points 
of 
access 
and 
referral 
points 
to 
SA/DV 
and 
CIL 
services 
for 
comparison, 
overlap 
and 
gaps. 
Sites 
may 
examine 
their 
documentation, 
such 
as 
hotline 
sheets 
or 
intake 
forms, 
to 
assess 
the 
level 
of 
accessibility 
and 
respect 
in 
the 
process. 
Sites 
may 
study 
each 
service 
area, 
such 
as 
support 
group 
or 
individual 
advocacy, 
to 
see 
how 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
are 
or 
are 
not 
reflected. 
Policies 
and 
procedures 
must 
be 
thoroughly 
examined 
to 
meet 
safety, 
accessibility 
and 
cultural 
competency. 
Two 
examples 
may 
include 
policies 
dictating 
the 
approval 
process 
for 
support 
group 
or 
shelter 
or 
protocols 
for 
securing 
an 
interpreter. 
Local 
assistive 
technology 
resources 
and 
expertise 
should 
be 
identified 
and 
those 
resources 
written 
into 
an 
accessibility 
plan 
for 
the 
SA/DV 
programs. 



Programs 
also 
may 
track 
an 
individual’s 
process 
from 
victimization 
through 
service 
delivery 
to 
identify 
potential 
accommodations 
in 
areas 
such 
as 
language 
use, 
structure 
or 
extended 
time 
frames. 
These 
accommodations 
can 
then 
be 
embedded 
in 
materials, 
forms 
and 
procedures 
so 
they 
are 
available 
to 
every 
survivor 
whether 
they 
have 
disclosed 
a 
disability 
or 
not. 
Sites 
may 
develop 
policies 
and 
protocols 
when 
working 
with 
survivors 
who 
have 
guardian. 
Such 
policies 
could 
greatly 
impact 
the 
level 
of 
autonomy 
and 
respect 
survivors 
feel 
when 
engaging 
with 
advocacy 
services. 
Policies 
that 
support 
the 
organization’s 
survivor-centered 
philosophy 
should 
be 
documented 
and 
expanded. 
Advocate 
job 
descriptions 
may 
be 
reviewed 
to 
identify 
structures 
or 
supports 
to 
individual 
advocacy 
and 
lengthy 
work 
with 
an 
individual 
to 
establish 
a 
trusting 
relationship. 
Specific 
steps 
and 
sequencing 
will 
vary 
by 
target 
site 
and 
will 
be 
detailed 
in 
each 
site’s 
action 
plan. 
Action 
plans 
will 
detail 
sustainability 
mechanisms 
for 
each 
initiative 
chosen. 


Goal# 
3 
Increase 
trauma 
informed 
nature 
and 
welcoming 
environments 
in 
CILs. 


CILs 
identified 
a 
need 
for 
improved 
policies, 
protocols 
and 
resources 
in 
responding 
to 
violence 
against 
women 
with 
disabilities. 
Though 
violence 
was 
recognized 
as 
a 
frequent 
issue 
for 
individuals, 
CILs 
felt 
ill-equipped 
for 
disclosures 
or 
assisting 
survivors 
in 
planning 
for 
safety. 
Trauma 
must 
be 
understood 
not 
only 
individually 
by 
staff 
but 
must 
impact 
organizational 
policies, 
structure, 
documentation 
and 
procedures. 


Just 
ASK 
Initiatives 


Just 
ASK 
identified 
this 
priority 
because 
disclosures 
and 
help-seeking 
behaviors 
present 
heightened 
risks 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
They 
may 
be 
exposed 
to 
escalating 
violence 
from 
a 
perpetrator 
or 
become 
caught 
in 
unexpected 
risks 
from 
systems. 
The 
consequences 
of 
disclosing 
violence 
are 
often 
unclear 
to 
individuals. 
These 
hidden 
risks 
may 
be 
particularly 
devastating 
for 
a 
survivor 
who 
is 
isolated, 
due 
to 
accessibility 
needs 
or 
perpetrator 



tactics, 
from 
other 
community 
services 
or 
connections. 
The 
established 
collaborations 
with 
SA/DV 
programs 
will 
create 
a 
safe 
environment 
for 
CILs 
to 
honestly 
examine 
and 
strategize 
around 
safety 
risks 
in 
their 
own 
systems. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
provide 
technical 
assistance 
to 
target 
sites 
as 
they 
select 
specific 
initiatives 
aimed 
at 
improving 
the 
trauma-informed 
nature 
and 
welcoming 
environments 
of 
CILs. 


Just 
ASK 
will 
assist 
in 
the 
examination 
and 
review 
of 
organizational 
policies 
and 
protocols 
as 
they 
impact 
accessibility 
and 
safety 
concerns. 
The 
needs 
assessment 
identified 
a 
need 
for 
general 
policy 
and 
protocol 
review 
to 
examine 
the 
level 
of 
responsiveness 
to 
violence 
and 
trauma. 
Attitudes 
can 
certainly 
be 
impacted 
by 
training 
but 
organizational 
attitudinal 
barriers 
are 
best 
addressed 
through 
comprehensive 
policies 
accounting 
for 
victim 
safety. 
Just 
Ask 
will 
provide 
ongoing 
technical 
assistance 
and 
support 
as 
local 
target 
sites 
examine 
existing 
policies 
and 
protocols, 
and, 
as 
new 
policies 
and 
protocols 
are 
considered, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
make 
available 
any 
model 
policies 
that 
are 
relevant 
to 
target 
site 
proposals. 


Target 
Site 
Initiatives 


Target 
sites 
have 
committed 
to 
developing 
an 
action 
plan 
which 
will 
identify 
the 
specific 
areas 
to 
address. 
The 
target 
sites 
will 
chose 
from 
a 
range 
of 
possible 
initiatives 
that 
will 
directly 
impact 
the 
system 
and 
structure 
of 
the 
organizations. 
Each 
site’s 
action 
plan 
will 
detail 
specific 
steps 
and 
sequencing 
as 
well 
as 
sustainability 
mechanisms 
for 
each 
initiative 
chosen. 


CILs 
at 
each 
target 
site 
will 
have 
the 
opportunity 
to 
address 
safety 
gaps 
within 
organizational 
policy 
that 
will 
provide 
staff 
options 
and 
tools 
in 
addition 
to 
training 
and 
education 
on 
violence. 
Documentation 
from 
the 
collaboration 
charter, 
action 
plan 
and 
the 
needs 
assessment 
report 
provide 
ongoing 
support 
for 
this 
work. 


In 
examining 
the 
issues 
of 
accessibility 
and 
safety 
as 
they 
relate 
to 
organizational 
policies 
and 
protocol, 
agencies 
might 
review 
language 
access 
policies 
to 
account 
for 
safety 
issues 
when 
utilizing 
interpreters. 
In 
addition, 



organizations 
could 
look 
at 
protocols 
for 
staff 
when 
responding 
to 
disclosures 
that 
would 
not 
only 
include 
increased 
information 
for 
the 
staff, 
but 
improved 
mechanisms 
for 
addressing 
immediate 
safety 
and 
referrals. 


CILs 
may 
examine 
and 
clarify 
responsibilities 
and 
protocols 
surrounding 
mandatory 
reporting 
to 
Adult 
Protective 
Services 
if 
they 
choose 
to 
respond 
to 
a 
risk 
highlighted 
in 
the 
needs 
assessment 
focus 
groups.
" 
Needs 
assessment 
participants 
identified 
additional 
safety 
risks 
such 
as 
conflicts 
when 
a 
CIL 
serves 
both 
a 
victim 
and 
the 
offender. 
Organizations 
will 
have 
the 
opportunity 
to 
explore, 
should 
they 
choose 
to 
do 
so, 
mechanisms 
to 
access 
for 
the 
primary 
aggressor, 
protocols 
for 
the 
survivor’s 
immediate 
safety 
and 
formulation 
of 
a 
plan 
for 
the 
survivor’s 
sustainable 
safety. 


Target 
sites 
will 
be 
able 
to 
address 
victim-blaming 
myths 
as 
they 
impact 
systems 
that 
support 
an 
individual’s 
autonomy, 
particularly 
a 
survivor’s 
choice 
to 
remain 
in 
a 
relationship 
with 
an 
abuser. 


Sites 
may 
also 
wish 
to 
address 
safety 
risks 
to 
staff. 
Policies 
supporting 
an 
employee 
who 
is 
battered 
or 
assaulted 
as 
well 
as 
protocols 
for 
a 
staff 
person 
working 
in 
the 
home 
of 
an 
individual 
who 
is 
experiencing 
violence 
were 
both 
identified 
as 
needs. 


In 
addition, 
CIL 
policies 
that 
reflect 
person-centered 
advocacy 
may 
be 
identified 
and 
expanded 
to 
further 
support 
the 
strong 
advocacy 
present 
at 
both 
CILs. 
Structuring 
of 
staff 
and 
job 
descriptions 
may 
be 
examined 
for 
ways 
to 
increase 
one-on-one 
work 
with 
individuals. 


Target 
sites 
may 
wish 
to 
look 
specifically 
at 
policies 
surrounding 
individuals 
with 
an 
active 
addiction 
or 
in 
addiction 
recovery 
for 
the 
complex 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
needs 
presented 



ActionStepsResponsibilityTimeline2.ProvidetechnicalassistancetotargetsitestoestablishandimplementactionplanstomeetGoal#2andGoal#3•2:ImproveaccessandcreatewelcomingenvironmentsinSA/DVprograms.
•3:IncreasetraumainformednatureandwelcomingenvironmentsinCILs.
Sept08Oct08Nov08Dec08Jan09Feb09March09April09May09June09July09Aug09Sept09A.ProvidetechnicalassistancetoeachtargetsiteastheydevelopactionplansShareneedsassessmentfindingswithtargetsitesJustASKCo-
DirectorsxAssisttargetsitesinestablishingacoreworkgrouptoincludeleadership,staffandsurvivors/
peoplewithdisabilitiesJustASKCo-
DirectorsxFacilitatemeetingstoselectinitiativesanddetermineappropriatesequenceJustASKCo-
DirectorswillfacilitatexxSubmitactionplanstoOVWforapprovalJustASKFullCollaborativexxB.ProvidetechnicalassistancetoTAprovisionwillbedeterminedbythespecificinitiativesJustASKCo-
DirectorsxxxxxxxActionStepsResponsibilityTimeline2.ProvidetechnicalassistancetotargetsitestoestablishandimplementactionplanstomeetGoal#2andGoal#3•2:ImproveaccessandcreatewelcomingenvironmentsinSA/DVprograms.
•3:IncreasetraumainformednatureandwelcomingenvironmentsinCILs.
Sept08Oct08Nov08Dec08Jan09Feb09March09April09May09June09July09Aug09Sept09A.ProvidetechnicalassistancetoeachtargetsiteastheydevelopactionplansShareneedsassessmentfindingswithtargetsitesJustASKCo-
DirectorsxAssisttargetsitesinestablishingacoreworkgrouptoincludeleadership,staffandsurvivors/
peoplewithdisabilitiesJustASKCo-
DirectorsxFacilitatemeetingstoselectinitiativesanddetermineappropriatesequenceJustASKCo-
DirectorswillfacilitatexxSubmitactionplanstoOVWforapprovalJustASKFullCollaborativexxB.ProvidetechnicalassistancetoTAprovisionwillbedeterminedbythespecificinitiativesJustASKCo-
Directorsxxxxxxx

each 
target 
site 
in 
implementing 
action 
plans 
selected. 
TA 
is 
likely 
to 
include 
review 
of 
policy, 
protocol, 
documentation 
forms, 
job 
descriptions 
etc. 


Goal# 
4 
Fully 
integrate 
the 
issue 
of 
violence 
against 
women 
with 
disabilities 
into 
existing 
projects 
within 
the 
Just 
ASK 
partner 
agencies. 


Just 
ASK 
has 
also 
established 
goals 
for 
continued 
improvement 
within 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE. 
This 
work 
does 
not 
directly 
involve 
target 
sites 
but 
will 
certainly 
inform 
and 
improve 
the 
technical 
assistance 
provided 
to 
local 
communities. 
One 
of 
the 
first 
initiatives 
for 
Just 
ASK 
itself 
is 
a 
more 
thorough 
understanding 
of 
other 
projects 
at 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE. 
The 
collaborative’s 
work 
together 
thus 
far 
has 
been 
extremely 
focused 
on 
the 
Just 
ASK 
project 
without 
exploring 
the 
breadth 
of 
other 
projects 
at 
each 
agency. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
share 
information 
on 
existing 
projects 
within 
each 
organization 
and 
evaluate 
areas 
for 
increased 
coordination. 


The 
needs 
assessment 
in 
Salina 
and 
Wichita 
identified 
multiple 
needs 
that 
fall 
outside 
the 
scope 
of 
the 
Just 
ASK 
project. 
Barriers 
within 
the 
criminal 
justice 
system, 
inadequate 
transportation 
systems 
and 
a 
lack 
of 
safe 
and 
accessible 
housing 
are 
common 
issues 
heard 
throughout 
the 
state. 
Though 
Just 
ASK 
cannot 
engage 
directly 
with 
these 
systems, 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE 
seek 
to 
fully 
integrate 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
throughout 
each 
agency. 
Coordinating 
with 
existing 
projects 
can 
increase 
the 
capacity 
of 
each 
organization 
when 
addressing 
allied 
systems 
with 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
issues. 


Just 
ASK 
will 
begin 
addressing 
Goal 
# 
4 
at 
the 
October 
collaboration 
meeting, 
and 
continue 
through 
the 
December 
meeting. 
Just 
ASK 
Managers 
will 
bring 
lists 
of 
current 
projects 
and 
initiatives 
to 
examine 
for 
overlap 
and 
gaps. 



The 
collaborative 
will 
develop 
a 
plan 
to 
coordinate 
with 
team 
leaders, 
project 
directors 
or 
other 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
or 
KDHE 
staff 
more 
fully 
to 
integrate 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
issues. 
This 
may 
include 
expanded 
materials 
on 
each 
agency’s 
website, 
reviewing 
tools 
in 
development 
by 
other 
teams 
for 
accessible 
language 
or 
ensuring 
that 
housing 
initiatives 
at 
each 
agency 
articulate 
the 
need 
for 
safe 
and 
accessible 
options. 


Just 
ASK’s 
greatest 
sphere 
of 
influence 
is 
within 
the 
partner 
agencies 
participating 
in 
the 
collaborative. 
Impacting 
all 
the 
various 
projects 
within 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE 
will 
ensure 
that 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
considerations 
do 
not 
exist 
solely 
within 
Just 
ASK. 
Increasing 
familiarity 
with 
the 
many 
other 
teams 
or 
projects 
within 
each 
agency 
is 
a 
necessary 
first 
step 
before 
policy 
review. 
The 
exploration 
of 
potential 
ventures 
will 
identify 
policies, 
tools 
and 
procedures 
in 
need 
of 
further 
review. 
This 
step 
will 
not 
only 
increase 
the 
capacity 
of 
each 
agency 
to 
work 
towards 
safety 
and 
accessibility, 
it 
will 
also 
enhance 
the 
capacity 
of 
Just 
ASK 
to 
make 
successful 
and 
well 
informed 
policy 
change. 


Goal# 
5 
Review 
policies 
and 
protocols 
of 
Just 
ASK 
partner 
agencies 
for 
more 
comprehensive 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
procedures. 


Just 
as 
target 
sites 
can 
be 
served 
by 
a 
broad 
policy 
review, 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE 
can 
all 
benefit 
from 
collaborative 
examination 
of 
policies 
and 
procedures. 
Again, 
this 
goal 
does 
not 
directly 
impact 
the 
target 
sites 
but 
is 
a 
parallel 
initiative 
to 
the 
work 
being 
done 
with 
local 
communities. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
review 
policies 
such 
as 
language 
access 
policies, 
hiring 
and 
recruitment 
procedures, 
safe 
and 
accessible 
meeting 
planning, 
evacuation 
plans 
and 
safety 
mechanisms 
for 
employees 
experiencing 
violence. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
seek 
technical 
assistance 
from 
the 
Vera 
Institute 
of 
Justice 
in 
identifying 
model 
policies 
and 
exploring 
potential 
strategies. 
The 
initial 
steps 
for 
this 
policy 
review 
work 
will 
begin 
at 
a 
full 
collaborative 
meeting 
in 
January. 
Just 
ASK 
managers 
will 
provide 
an 
overview 
of 
each 
agency’s 
protocol 
for 
policy 
recommendations 
such 
as 
expected 
timeframes 
or 
identification 
of 



other 
key 
staff 
needed 
to 
create 
policy 
change. 
This 
work 
is 
expected 
to 
continue 
through 
the 
remainder 
of 
the 
grant. 



ActionStepsResponsibilityTimeline3.Integrateviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilitiesissuesintoexistingprojects,policiesandprotocolswithinJustASKpartneragenciestomeetGoals#4and#5•4:FullyintegratetheissueofviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilitiesintoexistingprojectswithintheJustASKpartneragencies.
•5:ReviewpoliciesandprotocolsofJustASKpartneragenciesformorecomprehensivesafetyandaccessibilityprocedures.
Sept08Oct08Nov08Dec08Jan09Feb09March09April09May09June09July09Aug09Sept09A.ExamineKACIL,
KCSDVandKDHEprojectsforintegrationShareexistingprojectsandupcominginitiativesJustASKManagersxShareneedsassessmentfindingswithoterprojectsatKACIL,
KCSDVandKDHEJustASKFullCollaborativexProvideongoingsupport,expertiseandresourcestoalliedprojectsinintegratingsafetyandaccessibilityconsiderationsJustASKFullCollaborativexxB.ReviewpoliciesandprotocolsofKACIL,
KCSDVandKDHEforincreasedintegrationShareprocessforpolicyrevision,
otherstakeholders/decisionmakersetc.
JustASKManagersxxxxxxxReviewcurrentpoliciesandprotocolssuchaslanguageaccess,
JustASKFullCollaborativexxActionStepsResponsibilityTimeline3.Integrateviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilitiesissuesintoexistingprojects,policiesandprotocolswithinJustASKpartneragenciestomeetGoals#4and#5•4:FullyintegratetheissueofviolenceagainstwomenwithdisabilitiesintoexistingprojectswithintheJustASKpartneragencies.
•5:ReviewpoliciesandprotocolsofJustASKpartneragenciesformorecomprehensivesafetyandaccessibilityprocedures.
Sept08Oct08Nov08Dec08Jan09Feb09March09April09May09June09July09Aug09Sept09A.ExamineKACIL,
KCSDVandKDHEprojectsforintegrationShareexistingprojectsandupcominginitiativesJustASKManagersxShareneedsassessmentfindingswithoterprojectsatKACIL,
KCSDVandKDHEJustASKFullCollaborativexProvideongoingsupport,expertiseandresourcestoalliedprojectsinintegratingsafetyandaccessibilityconsiderationsJustASKFullCollaborativexxB.ReviewpoliciesandprotocolsofKACIL,
KCSDVandKDHEforincreasedintegrationShareprocessforpolicyrevision,
otherstakeholders/decisionmakersetc.
JustASKManagersxxxxxxxReviewcurrentpoliciesandprotocolssuchaslanguageaccess,
JustASKFullCollaborativexx

evacuation 
procedures, 
hiring 
procedures, 
workplace 
response 
to 
violence 
etc. 
Collect 
& 
review 
model 
policies 
and 
protocols 
Just 
ASK 
Co-
Directors 
x 
x 
x 
Recommend 
policy 
revisions 
Just 
ASK 
Full 
Collaborative 
C. 
Evaluate 
and 
ensure 
sustainability 
mechanisms 
for 
continued 
collaboration 
of 
Just 
ASK 
and 
at 
target 
sites 
Evaluate 
progress 
on 
strategic 
plan 
for 
Just 
ASK 
and 
action 
plans 
for 
target 
sites. 
Identify 
and 
strengthen 
supports 
(including 
TA 
visit 
from 
Vera) 
Just 
ASK 
Managers 
x 
x 
x 


Summary 
of 
Short 
Term 
Initiatives 


This 
strategic 
plan 
lays 
out 
Just 
ASK’s 
initiatives 
on 
multiple 
levels 
in 
response 
to 
issues 
identified 
in 
the 
needs 
assessment. 
Short 
term 
initiatives 
with 
the 
target 
sites 
will 
include 
intensive 
technical 
assistance 
from 
Just 
ASK. 
There 
will 
be 
a 
heavy 
focus 
on 
developing 
and 
documenting 
collaboration 
between 
the 
partner 
organizations. 
The 
remainder 
of 
the 
implementation 
period 
will 
focus 
on 
internal 
systems 
change 
for 
target 
sites 
with 
particular 
emphasis 
on 
review 
of 
policies 
and 
protocols. 



Short 
term 
initiatives 
for 
Just 
ASK 
will 
follow 
a 
similar 
track. 
In 
addition 
to 
the 
support 
for 
the 
target 
sites, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
undertake 
internal 
systems 
change. 
The 
Just 
ASK 
partners 
will 
survey 
their 
organizations 
and 
decide 
areas 
where 
greater 
integration 
is 
needed. 
The 
collaborative 
will 
also 
examine 
policies, 
protocols 
and 
practices 
at 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE 
that 
relate 
to 
safety 
and 
accessibility. 


The 
focus 
on 
collaboration 
development 
and 
policy 
review 
create 
change 
at 
an 
organizational 
level. 
These 
efforts 
are 
not 
isolated 
to 
one 
individual. 
Therefore, 
the 
collaboration 
charter 
and 
completed 
policy 
revisions 
should 
require 
little 
technical 
assistance 
to 
be 
sustained. 
Partner 
agencies 
will 
also 
have 
increased 
capacity 
and 
tools 
to 
continue 
local 
systems 
change 
work. 
An 
identified 
action 
plan, 
including 
long 
term 
goals, 
coupled 
with 
strong, 
productive 
collaboration 
will 
greatly 
enhance 
sustainability 
of 
the 
projects. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
request 
site 
visit 
from 
the 
Vera 
Institute 
of 
Justice 
in 
August 
of 
2009. 
The 
purpose 
of 
the 
visit 
will 
be 
to 
review 
progress 
on 
the 
initiatives 
and 
identify 
additional 
supports 
to 
sustainability 
for 
both 
target 
sites 
and 
for 
Just 
ASK. 


Long 
Term 
Initiatives 


Long 
term 
initiatives 
were 
selected 
to 
guide 
the 
work 
of 
Just 
ASK 
beyond 
Sept. 
30, 
2009. 
Each 
of 
these 
initiatives 
emerged 
in 
the 
needs 
assessment 
process 
as 
urgent 
issues 
and 
require 
efforts 
at 
the 
local 
and 
state 
level. 
These 
goals 
also 
speak 
directly 
to 
the 
collaboration 
between 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE. 
Any 
action 
to 
address 
these 
issues 
would 
require 
the 
involvement 
of 
all 
three 
partners. 
For 
those 
reasons, 
Just 
ASK 
has 
selected 
them 
as 
the 
on-going 
work 
of 
the 
collaborative. 


Goal# 
6 
Increase 
capacity 
and 
efficacy 
of 
outreach 
at 
target 
sites. 



Both 
target 
sites 
identified 
outreach 
services 
as 
a 
place 
for 
improvement. 
The 
implementation 
period 
will 
be 
heavily 
focused 
on 
increasing 
capacity 
to 
serve 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
and 
enhancing 
each 
organization’s 
comfort 
and 
cultural 
competency 
level. 
This 
work 
must 
occur 
before 
new 
outreach 
strategies 
are 
begun. 
Following 
implementation, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
encourage 
the 
local 
collaboratives 
to 
rely 
on 
each 
other’s 
expertise 
in 
designing 
new 
outreach 
efforts. 


Goal# 
7 
Foster 
and 
support 
target 
sites 
to 
become 
TA 
providers 
across 
the 
state 


Target 
sites 
will 
have 
gone 
through 
an 
intensive 
and 
unique 
process 
in 
their 
collaborations. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
support 
them 
throughout 
implementation 
by 
encouraging 
documentation 
of 
their 
process, 
challenges 
and 
discoveries. 
Their 
experiences 
will 
reveal 
new 
insights 
to 
methods 
of 
increasing 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
but 
also 
to 
collaboration 
efforts 
in 
Kansas. 
Provision 
of 
technical 
assistance 
to 
their 
peers 
will 
not 
be 
a 
new 
role 
for 
either 
CIL 
or 
SA/DV 
programs. 
However 
joint 
TA, 
like 
co-advocacy, 
will 
introduce 
new 
dynamics 
for 
target 
sites. 
Just 
ASK 
has 
developed 
a 
list 
of 
TA 
principles 
to 
guide 
work 
with 
target 
sites. 
Each 
site 
may 
wish 
to 
document 
their 
assumptions, 
methods 
and 
values 
for 
TA 
provision 
to 
their 
peers 
across 
the 
state. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
support 
target 
sites 
as 
TA 
providers 
by 
engaging 
with 
them 
on 
TA 
requests 
received 
by 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE. 
Further 
support 
will 
be 
given 
by 
creating 
state 
level 
opportunities 
for 
target 
sites 
such 
as 
joint 
presentations 
at 
the 
statewide 
CIL 
conference 
hosted 
by 
KACIL, 
the 
annual 
Crime 
Victim’s 
Rights 
Conference 
or 
KCSDV 
regional 
trainings. 


It 
is 
difficult 
to 
predict 
the 
impact 
such 
TA 
could 
have 
on 
member 
programs 
across 
the 
state. 
There 
will 
be 
profound 
impact 
on 
the 
target 
sites 
in 
working 
together 
to 
provide 
TA. 
Engaging 
in 
such 
a 
role 
jointly 
will 
build 
relationships 
and 
increase 
the 
momentum 
felt 
by 
the 
collaborative 
partners. 
Supporting 
target 
sites 
as 
TA 
providers 
also 
builds 
capacity 
within 
the 
state. 
Expertise 
in 
collaborations 
around 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
should 
be 
broader 
than 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE. 
Supporting 
local 
collaboratives 
as 
experts 
enhances 
the 
vision 
and 
mission 
of 
Just 
ASK 
and 
increases 
sustainability. 



Goal# 
8 
Examine 
guardianship 
issues 
as 
they 
relate 
to 
safety 
and 
autonomy 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 


Examples 
of 
perpetrators 
abusing 
individuals 
through 
guardianship 
systems 
were 
cited 
by 
multiple 
staff 
and 
advocates 
during 
the 
needs 
assessment. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
review 
statutes 
and 
regulations 
surrounding 
guardianship 
systems 
across 
the 
state 
and 
their 
impact 
on 
safety 
and 
autonomy 
for 
a 
survivor 
with 
a 
disability. 
Specific 
issues 
cited 
in 
focus 
groups 
include 
victim 
blaming 
by 
guardians 
or 
paternalistic 
attitudes 
that 
may 
jeopardize 
victim 
safety. 
Other 
individual’s 
reported 
guardianship 
systems 
limiting 
an 
individual’s 
access 
to 
sexual 
assault 
services 
or 
health 
and 
sexuality 
information. 
A 
key 
ally 
in 
this 
review 
will 
be 
IC/OCCK 
in 
Salina 
with 
their 
considerable 
experience 
in 
providing 
person-centered 
advocacy 
to 
people 
with 
developmental 
disabilities. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
seek 
continuing 
opportunities 
to 
jointly 
address 
guardianship 
systems. 


Goal# 
9 
Examine 
mandatory 
reporting 
statutes, 
policies 
and 
practices 
(to 
Adult 
Protection 
Services 
and 
Child 
Protection 
Services) 
as 
they 
relate 
to 
safety, 
accessibility 
and 
autonomy 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 


Mandatory 
reporting 
practices 
vary 
widely 
across 
the 
state. 
Reporting 
practices 
can 
have 
a 
profound 
impact 
on 
victim’s 
safety 
and 
the 
level 
of 
comfort 
and 
trust 
a 
victim 
has 
with 
an 
organization. 
Misinformation 
about 
disability 
may 
fuel 
unnecessary 
reports 
due 
to 
paternalistic 
attitudes 
about 
safety 
or 
assumptions 
about 
an 
individual’s 
capacity 
to 
parent. 
Systems 
and 
regulations 
surrounding 
mandatory 
reporting 
are 
complex. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
first 
assess 
the 
experiences 
of 
KACIL 
and 
KCSDV 
member 
programs. 
Drawing 
on 
experiences 
with 
target 
sites 
Just 
ASK 
will 
share 
best 
practice 
models 
that 
meet 
an 
organization’s 
or 
individual 
professional’s 
statutory 
obligation 
but 
also 
account 
for 
a 
survivor’s 
safety, 
accessibility 
and 
autonomy. 


Goal 
# 
1
0 



Work 
to 
impact 
mental 
health 
systems 
and 
improve 
the 
level 
of 
responsiveness 
to 
trauma 
and 
accessibility. 


The 
needs 
assessment 
report 
identified 
mental 
health 
systems 
as 
a 
critical 
need 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 
Communities 
reported 
significant 
barriers 
in 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
when 
accessing 
mental 
health 
services. 
Examples 
include 
a 
lack 
of 
services 
for 
people 
with 
developmental 
disabilities, 
victim-blaming 
attitudes, 
language 
access 
issues 
and 
therapeutic 
practices 
(such 
as 
couples 
counseling 
between 
a 
batterer 
and 
a 
battered 
woman) 
that 
can 
endanger 
victims. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
look 
for 
opportunities 
to 
jointly 
engage 
with 
mental 
health 
providers 
to 
enhance 
accessibility 
and 
responsiveness 
to 
trauma. 


Just 
ASK 
Long-range 
Timeline 


Action
Oct-Dec 


Responsibility
Jan-Aug 
09 


Sept-Dec 


Jan 
2010 
09 


09 


& 
beyond 


X 


X 


Goal 
#
6 


Just 
ASK 
Co-
Directors 
and 
Target 
Increase 
Capacity 
and 


Sites 
efficacy 
of 
outreach 
at 
target 
sites 


Just 
ASK 
Full 


X 


X 


Goal 
#
7 


Collaborative 
and 


Target 
Sites 
Foster 
and 
support 
target 
sites 
to 
become 
TA 
providers 
across 
the 
state 


Just 
ASK 
Full 


X 


X 


X 


Goal 
#
8 


Collaborative 



Examine 
guardianship 
issues 
as 
they 
relate 
to 
safety 
and 
autonomy 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
Goal 
# 
9 
Examine 
mandatory 
reporting 
statutes, 
policies 
& 
practices 
regarding 
APS 
& 
CPS 
as 
they 
relate 
to 
safety, 
accessibility 
and 
autonomy 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
Just 
ASK 
Full 
Collaborative 
X 
X 
Goal 
# 
10 
Work 
to 
impact 
mental 
health 
systems 
and 
improve 
the 
level 
of 
responsiveness 
to 
trauma 
and 
accessibility 
Just 
ASK 
Full 
Collaborative 
X 
X 
X 


Conclusion 


This 
strategic 
plan 
outlines 
concrete 
steps 
for 
Just 
ASK 
over 
the 
next 
five 
years. 
Through 
intensive 
technical 
assistance 
and 
formal 
collaboration 
agreements, 
Just 
ASK 
will 
assist 
target 
communities 
in 
responding 
to 
the 
needs 
assessment 
findings. 
Careful 
consideration 
has 
been 
given 
to 
the 
sequencing 
of 
events. 
The 
development 
of 
charters 
for 
target 
sites 
will 
enhance 
relationship 
development. 
It 
will 
also 


provide 
a 
measure 
of 
safety 
for 
organizations 
when 
discussing 
gaps 
in 
their 
systems. 
Just 
ASK 
will 
also 
be 
engaging 
in 
systems 
change 
work 
within 
KACIL, 
KCSDV 
and 
KDHE. 
Efforts, 
at 
statewide 
and 
local 
levels, 
will 
focus 
on 
policy 
change, 
protocol 
development 
and 
relationship 
building 
between 
organizations. 
The 
resulting 
change 
will 
address 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
in 
more 
sustainable 
ways 
since 
the 
systems, 
not 
individuals, 
are 
the 
focus. 
Just 
ASK 
is 
confident 
that 
this 
type 
of 
collaborative 
systems 
change 
work 
will 
result 
in 
increased 
safety 
and 
accessibility 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities.