Collaboration 
Charter 


This 
project 
is 
supported 
by 
Grant 
No. 
2008-FW-AX-K004 
“Education, 
Training, 
and 
Enhanced 
Services 
to 
End 
Violence 
Against 
and 
Abuse 
of 
Women 
with 
Disabilities 
Grant 
Program” 
awarded 
by 
the 
Office 
of 
Violence 
Against 
Women, 
U.S. 
Department 
of 
Justice. 


The 
opinions, 
findings, 
conclusions, 
and 
recommendations 
expressed 
in 
this 
publication 
are 
those 
of 
the 
authors 
and 
do 
not 
necessarily 
reflect 
the 
views 
of 
the 
Department 
of 
Justice, 
Office 
on 
Violence 
Against 
Women. 



Contents 


IntroductionandCollaborationHistory....................... 
3 
Mission........................................... 
.......3 
Vision........................................... 
........4 
Values 
and 
Assumptions. 
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MemberDescriptions...................................... 
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ContributionsandCommitments............................ 
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Communications 
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Decision-MakingProcess.................................. 
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ConfidentialityProtocol................................... 
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Planning 
and 
Development 
Timeline. 
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Glossary 
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Appendix 
A 
– 
Media 
Talking 
Points 
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36 


2 



Project 
SAFE 
(Safety 
and 
Accessibility 
for 
Everyone) 


Collaboration 
Charter 


Introduction 
and 
Collaboration 
History 


Project 
SAFE 
(Safety 
and 
Accessibility 
for 
Everyone) 
is 
a 
multi-disciplinary 
network 
of 
professionals 
working 
to 
build 
the 
capacity 
of 
professionals 
throughout 
Kentucky 
to 
provide 
safe, 
accessible 
and 
comprehensive 
person-centered 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
Project 
SAFE 
was 
established 
in 
2005 
when 
a 
small 
number 
of 
sexual 
assault 
advocates 
realized 
that 
victim 
service 
providers 
are 
frequently 
not 
prepared 
to 
respond 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
and 
likewise, 
disability-related 
service 
providers 
are 
often 
not 
trained 
to 
address 
issues 
of 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
In 
an 
effort 
to 
narrow 
this 
gap, 
Project 
SAFE 
began 
working 
with 
state-level 
technical 
assistance 
providers 
to 
raise 
awareness, 
improve 
accessibility, 
and 
train 
service 
providers 
and 
criminal 
justice 
professionals 
about 
sexual 
assault 
and 
domestic 
violence 
against 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 


Since 
entering 
into 
this 
Cooperative 
Agreement 
with 
the 
Office 
of 
Violence 
Against 
Women 
(OVW), 
Project 
SAFE 
has 
developed 
more 
distinct 
structure. 
“Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team” 
is 
the 
name 
selected 
to 
identify 
partners 
committed 
to 
the 
OVW 
Cooperative 
Agreement. 
The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
(hereinafter, 
“the 
Steering 
Team”) 
will 
carry 
out 
the 
requirements 
of 
the 
Cooperative 
Agreement; 
“Project 
SAFE 
Network” 
(hereinafter, 
“the 
Network”) 
will 
refer 
to 
the 
entire 
membership 
participating 
in 
activities 
outside 
the 
scope 
of 
this 
project. 


Cooperative 
Agreement 
funds 
have 
given 
Steering 
Team 
members 
the 
opportunity 
to 
refine 
our 
efforts 
by 
identifying 
our 
shared 
values 
and 
assumptions 
in 
our 
work; 
strengthening 
our 
collaboration 
relationships; 
examining 
our 
work 
processes 
and 
agreements; 
bolstering 
our 
efforts 
to 
promote 
safety 
and 
respect 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence; 
and 
creating 
the 
capacity 
for 
the 
systemic 
changes 
necessary 
to 
support 
these 
efforts. 
This 
collaboration 
charter 
represents 
the 
shared 
commitment 
of 
each 
of 
our 
partners. 
It 
reflects 
our 
collective 
expectations, 
responsibilities 
and 
goals 
as 
an 
inter-connected 
service 
system. 


Mission 


The 
Steering 
Team’s 
mission 
is 
to 
facilitate 
the 
provision 
of 
safe, 
accessible, 
comprehensive 
and 
responsive 
person-centered 
services 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
in 
Kentucky 
who 
have 
been 


3 



subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
This 
will 
be 
accomplished 
by: 


• 
Ensuring 
full 
accessibility 
in 
the 
delivery 
of 
services 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence, 
which 
will 
require 
the 
removal 
of 
attitudinal, 
programmatic 
and 
cultural 
barriers 
that 
discriminate 
on 
the 
basis 
of 
identity. 
• 
Developing 
a 
seamless, 
person-centered 
service 
delivery 
system 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
though 
cross-
training 
and 
technical 
assistance 
to 
regional 
service 
providers 
and 
criminal 
justice 
officials. 
• 
Creating 
a 
sustainable 
infrastructure 
supporting 
comprehensive 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
through 
close 
collaboration 
between 
regional 
victim 
service 
organizations, 
governmental 
agencies, 
the 
criminal 
justice 
system, 
and 
organizations 
serving 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
• 
Promoting 
systems 
change 
in 
the 
provision 
of 
services 
for 
persons 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
beyond 
the 
scope 
of 
the 
cooperative 
agreement 
by 
modifying 
existing 
policies, 
protocols 
and 
procedures. 
• 
Ensuring 
that 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
receive 
timely, 
appropriate 
and 
supportive 
response 
by 
disability 
service 
providers 
when 
disclosing 
sexual 
or 
domestic 
victimization 
by 
modeling 
accountability 
and 
responsibility 
in 
service 
provision. 
Vision 


Individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
will 
have 
access 
to 
safe, 
comprehensive 
and 
responsive 
person-centered 
services. 
Such 
services 
will 
be 
provided 
with 
respect 
and 
dignity, 
and 
will 
be 
available 
to 
all 
individuals 
in 
need, 
regardless 
of 
whether 
they 
initially 
access 
services 
through 
a 
disability 
program 
or 
through 
the 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
systems. 


Values 
and 
Assumptions 


As 
individuals 
and 
representatives 
of 
agencies, 
each 
Steering 
Team 
member 
brings 
to 
the 
collaborative 
different 
perspectives, 
expertise, 
histories, 
passions 
and 
experiences 
with 
respect 
to 
decision-making. 
However, 
because 
we 
share 
a 
unique 
set 
of 
values, 
we 
are 
also 
able 
to 
come 
together 
in 
our 
work 
to 
ensure 
that 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
have 
access 
to 
safe 
and 
person-centered 
services. 
These 
shared 
values 
will 
guide 
us 
in 
our 
work 
together. 


4 



Values 


Respect 


We 
recognize 
that 
collaboration 
among 
multiple 
partners 
and 
disciplines 
is 
a 
challenging 
endeavor. 
We 
agree 
to 
resolve 
any 
differences 
in 
a 
manner 
that 
is 
respectful 
of 
our 
unique 
approaches 
and 
values. 
All 
members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
have 
an 
equal 
and 
valuable 
voice. 
We 
feel 
that 
using 
inclusive, 
person-first 
language 
is 
key 
to 
ensuring 
universal 
respect 
in 
our 
project. 


Trust 


Members 
of 
our 
collaborative 
come 
from 
different 
backgrounds 
and 
represent 
different 
organizations, 
but 
we 
are 
grounded 
in 
our 
belief 
that 
trust 
is 
essential 
for 
collaboration 
success, 
systems 
change 
and 
social 
change. 
Although 
we 
will 
be 
engaging 
in 
a 
new 
set 
of 
work 
products 
for 
this 
cooperative 
agreement, 
most 
members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
have 
been 
working 
together 
for 
several 
years 
in 
an 
effort 
to 
raise 
awareness, 
improve 
accessibility, 
and 
train 
service 
providers 
and 
criminal 
justice 
professionals 
about 
sexual 
assault 
and 
domestic 
violence 
against 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
It 
is 
through 
this 
work 
that 
we 
have 
come 
to 
depend 
on 
each 
other 
and 
have 
developed 
a 
sound 
sense 
of 
trust 
in 
ourselves 
and 
in 
our 
group 
processes. 


Safety 


The 
touchstone 
of 
our 
work 
is 
our 
belief 
that 
safety 
includes 
freedom 
from 
abuse, 
neglect 
and 
exploitation. 
Individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
should 
be 
able 
to 
feel 
safe 
in 
their 
environments. 
We 
will 
foster 
this 
value 
in 
our 
collaborative, 
among 
our 
member 
organizations 
and 
with 
our 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners. 


Confidentiality 


We 
will 
work 
to 
ensure 
that 
our 
collaborative, 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners 
respect 
the 
privacy 
rights 
of 
individuals 
and 
agencies, 
and 
that 
we 
are 
knowledgeable 
of 
and 
adhere 
to 
confidentiality 
as 
it 
relates 
to 
multiple 
systems 
and 
to 
mandatory 
reporting 
requirements. 


Empowerment 


We 
will 
work 
with 
our 
own 
organizations 
and 
with 
our 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners 
to 
foster 
an 
atmosphere 
in 
which 
decisions 
made 
by 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
and 
their 
legal 
decision 
makers 
(if 
applicable) 
will 
be 
respected. 
We 
will 
empower 
our 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners 
to 
help 
create 
capacity 
for 
systemic 
changes 
necessary 
to 
ensure 
that 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
receive 
safe, 
accessible, 
comprehensive, 
person-centered 
services. 


5 



Systems 
Change 


Our 
collaborative 
believes 
that 
systems 
change 
is 
the 
mechanism 
that 
will 
assure 
long 
lasting 
and 
sustainable 
transformation 
beyond 
the 
scope 
of 
the 
cooperative 
agreement. 
We 
also 
realize 
that 
before 
we 
can 
foster 
capacity 
for 
systems 
change, 
change 
must 
first 
take 
place 
within 
our 
own 
organizations. 


Assumptions 


• 
Individuals 
with 
disabilities 
face 
attitudinal, 
programmatic 
and 
cultural 
barriers 
to 
service 
delivery. 
• 
Individuals 
with 
disabilities 
are 
more 
likely 
to 
be 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
than 
those 
without 
disabilities. 
• 
Disability-related 
service 
providers 
are 
often 
not 
prepared 
to 
address 
issues 
pertaining 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
• 
Victim 
service 
providers 
and 
criminal 
justice 
officials 
are 
frequently 
unaware 
of 
the 
broad 
range 
of 
disabilities 
or 
underestimate 
the 
extent 
to 
which 
disability 
issues 
interface 
with 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
They 
are 
often 
unprepared 
to 
respond 
to 
the 
unique 
needs 
of 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
Member 
Descriptions 


Each 
of 
the 
seven 
Steering 
Team 
member 
organizations 
brings 
to 
the 
project 
a 
unique 
set 
of 
strengths 
and 
resources 
that 
frame 
our 
approach 
to 
building 
capacity 
for 
safe, 
accessible 
and 
comprehensive 
person-centered 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 


Kentucky 
Association 
of 
Sexual 
Assault 
Programs, 
Inc. 
(KASAP) 


The 
Kentucky 
Association 
of 
Sexual 
Assault 
Programs, 
Inc. 
(KASAP) 
is 
the 
statewide 
coalition 
of 
the 
13 
rape 
crisis 
centers 
in 
the 
Commonwealth. 
KASAP’s 
mission 
is 
to 
speak 
with 
a 
unified 
voice 
against 
sexual 
victimization. 
KASAP 
provides 
technical 
assistance, 
facilitates 
collaboration, 
promotes 
public 
awareness 
and 
develops, 
promotes, 
and 
monitors 
public 
policy. 


Kentucky 
Domestic 
Violence 
Association 
(KDVA) 


The 
Kentucky 
Domestic 
Violence 
Association 
(KDVA) 
is 
the 
statewide 
coalition 
of 
Regional 
Domestic 
Violence 
Programs. 
Its 
mission 
is 
to 
ensure 
that 
the 
right 
to 
live 
free 
of 
any 
form 
of 
domestic 
abuse 
is 
valued, 
protected, 
and 
defended 
in 
the 
Commonwealth 
of 
Kentucky. 
It 


6 



provides 
statewide 
technical 
assistance 
and 
training 
and 
monitors 
member 
programs 
for 
compliance 
with 
relevant 
laws 
and 
regulations. 


Kentucky 
Department 
for 
Behavioral 
Health, 
Developmental 
and 
Intellectual 
Disabilities 


The 
Kentucky 
Department 
for 
Behavioral 
Health, 
Developmental 
and 
Intellectual 
Disabilities 
provides 
leadership, 
in 
partnership 
with 
others, 
to 
prevent 
disability, 
build 
resilience 
in 
individuals 
and 
their 
communities, 
and 
facilitate 
recovery 
for 
people 
whose 
lives 
have 
been 
affected 
by 
mental 
illness, 
mental 
retardation 
or 
other 
developmental 
disability, 
substance 
abuse 
or 
an 
acquired 
brain 
injury. 
The 
mission 
encompasses 
the 
following 
two 
principles: 
1) 
Self-
determination 
is 
an 
international 
concept 
for 
all 
people 
everywhere. 
Relationships 
and 
interdependence 
in 
our 
communities 
is 
essential. 
All 
people 
can 
be 
self-determined 
even 
those 
perceived 
to 
have 
the 
most 
severe 
disabilities, 
who 
may 
or 
may 
not 
communicate 
with 
traditional 
speech. 
The 
first 
step 
is 
building 
those 
connections 
and 
relationships; 
2) 
Self-Advocacy 
is 
"a 
lifelong 
personal 
pursuit 
of 
control 
over 
one's 
own 
circumstances. 
It 
is 
the 
act 
of 
advocating 
for 
what 
one 
wants, 
for 
how 
one 
desires 
to 
live, 
for 
how 
one 
wants 
to 
be 
treated, 
within 
one's 
family, 
community 
and 
services, 
and 
it 
does 
not 
end 
with 
one 
concession 
or 
one 
victory." 


Kentucky 
Protection 
and 
Advocacy 
(P&A) 


Kentucky 
Protection 
and 
Advocacy 
(P&A) 
is 
the 
federally-mandated 
protection 
and 
advocacy 
system 
for 
the 
Commonwealth 
of 
Kentucky. 
Created 
as 
an 
independent 
state 
agency 
in 
1976, 
its 
mission 
is 
to 
protect 
and 
promote 
the 
rights 
of 
Kentuckians 
with 
disabilities 
through 
legally-
based 
individual 
and 
systemic 
advocacy, 
and 
education. 
P&A’s 
staff 
includes 
non-attorney 
disability 
rights 
advocates 
and 
attorneys 
who 
work 
with 
individuals 
who 
have 
disabilities, 
regardless 
of 
nature 
or 
severity 
of 
diagnosis. 
All 
client-directed 
services 
are 
free 
of 
charge. 


Office 
of 
the 
Kentucky 
Americans 
with 
Disabilities 
Act 
(ADA) 
Coordinator/ADA 
Coordinator 


The 
Office 
of 
the 
Kentucky 
Coordinator 
Americans 
with 
Disabilities 
Act 
(ADA) 
oversees 
the 
state 
of 
Kentucky’s 
compliance 
with, 
and 
implementation 
of, 
the 
applicable 
state 
and 
federal 
law(s). 
The 
Office 
of 
the 
State 
ADA 
Coordinator 
functions 
to 
ensure 
nondiscrimination 
in 
state 
employment 
on 
the 
basis 
of 
disability, 
public 
access 
to 
state 
services, 
programs, 
and 
facilities 
and 
to 
foster 
public 
awareness 
of 
disability 
issues, 
such 
as 
accessibility 
information 
for 
contractors 
and 
architects. 


7 



Kentucky 
Office 
of 
the 
Attorney 
General 
(OAG) 


The 
Kentucky 
Office 
of 
the 
Attorney 
General 
(OAG) 
is 
the 
chief 
prosecutor 
and 
chief 
law 
enforcement 
agency 
for 
the 
Commonwealth 
of 
Kentucky, 
as 
well 
as 
the 
head 
of 
the 
Unified 
Prosecutorial 
System. 
Through 
its 
various 
divisions, 
the 
OAG 
provides 
prosecutorial 
and 
crime 
victim 
advocacy 
and 
assistance 
services 
at 
both 
the 
trial 
and 
appellate 
levels, 
and 
specialized 
law 
enforcement 
services 
through 
the 
Kentucky 
Department 
of 
Criminal 
Investigations. 
The 
OAG’s 
Office 
of 
Victims 
Advocacy 
works 
to 
ensure 
justice 
and 
healing 
for 
Commonwealth’s 
crime 
victims 
and 
to 
implement 
strategies 
to 
reduce 
the 
number 
of 
crime 
victims 
in 
the 
future. 
The 
OAG 
also 
provides 
training 
and 
technical 
assistance 
for 
prosecutors, 
crime 
victim 
advocates 
and 
other 
criminal 
justice 
and 
victim 
assistance 
professionals 
on 
a 
variety 
of 
subjects 
including 
violence 
against 
women 
and, 
more 
recently, 
disability-related 
topics. 


The 
Arc 
of 
Kentucky 


The 
Arc 
of 
Kentucky, 
Inc. 
is 
the 
largest 
statewide 
volunteer, 
community 
based 
organization 
of 
and 
for 
individuals 
with 
intellectual 
and 
developmental 
disabilities 
and 
their 
families. 
Its 
mission 


is 
to 
advocate 
for 
the 
rights 
and 
full 
participation 
of 
all 
children 
and 
adults 
with 
intellectual 
and 
developmental 
disabilities. 
Together 
with 
its 
network 
of 
members 
and 
affiliated 
chapters, 
it 
improves 
systems 
of 
supports 
and 
services, 
connects 
families, 
inspires 
communities, 
and 
influences 
public 
policy. 
The 
Arc 
of 
Kentucky 
also 
provides 
an 
array 
of 
services 
and 
support 
for 
individuals 
and 
families 
through 
advocacy, 
resources, 
partnerships, 
education 
outreach, 
referrals 
and 
help 
in 
getting 
needed 
services. 


Contributions 
and 
Commitments 


Organizational 
Contributions 
and 
Commitments 


Each 
agency 
brings 
to 
the 
collaborative 
a 
unique 
set 
of 
strengths 
and 
resources 
that 
frame 
our 
approach 
to 
ensuring 
that 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
have 
access 
to 
safe, 
accessible 
and 
comprehensive 
person-centered 
services. 


KASAP 


KASAP 
is 
the 
lead 
agency 
for 
the 
project 
and 
will 
provide 
general 
oversight 
and 
fiscal 
and 
programmatic 
reporting. 
As 
the 
only 
statewide 
organization 
in 
Kentucky 
representing 
rape 
crisis 
centers, 
KASAP 
will 
bring 
tremendous 
expertise 
about 
sexual 
assault 
and 
the 
ability 
to 
influence 
the 
operations 
of 
rape 
crisis 
centers 
throughout 
the 
Commonwealth. 


8 



KDVA 


Because 
KDVA 
represents 
the 
statewide 
leaders 
in 
the 
area 
of 
domestic 
violence, 
it 
will 
bring 
to 
the 
collaborative 
valuable 
expertise 
in 
victims 
services 
and 
statewide 
collaborations, 
and 
will 
grant 
the 
Steering 
Team 
access 
to 
a 
vast 
network 
of 
service 
providers. 


Kentucky 
Department 
for 
Behavioral 
Health, 
Developmental 
and 
Intellectual 
Disabilities 


The 
Kentucky 
Department 
for 
Behavioral 
Health, 
Developmental 
and 
Intellectual 
Disabilities 
will 
play 
a 
valuable 
role 
in 
the 
collaborative 
as 
it 
represents 
the 
state’s 
publicly-funded 
service 
system 
for 
individuals 
with 
mental 
illness, 
intellectual 
disabilities 
and 
other 
developmental 
disabilities, 
and 
substance 
abuse, 
and 
will 
serve 
as 
a 
primary 
liaison 
with 
the 
vast 
network 
of 
providers 
who 
work 
with 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
across 
the 
state. 


Kentucky 
Protection 
and 
Advocacy 
(P 
& 
A) 


P 
& 
A 
will 
serve 
as 
an 
essential 
element 
to 
the 
collaborative 
as 
it 
will 
bring 
its 
statewide 
authority 
to 
investigate 
situations 
of 
abuse 
against 
individuals 
with 
disabilities, 
vast 
expertise 
regarding 
advocacy 
to 
ensure 
the 
legal 
rights 
of 
individuals 
with 
disabilities, 
and 
extensive 
connections 
with 
individuals 
and 
agencies 
dedicated 
to 
the 
needs 
of 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 


Office 
of 
the 
Kentucky 
Americans 
with 
Disabilities 
Act 
(ADA) 
Coordinator/ADA 
Coordinator 


The 
ADA 
Coordinator 
will 
serve 
as 
a 
crucial 
member 
of 
Steering 
Team, 
as 
he 
is 
the 
statewide 
authority 
for 
all 
accessibility 
issues 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
in 
the 
state. 
He 
also 
has 
access 
to 
a 
vast 
network 
of 
experts 
in 
the 
field 
of 
accessibility 
construction 
and 
design. 


Kentucky 
Office 
of 
the 
Attorney 
General 
(OAG) 


Because 
the 
OAG 
is 
led 
by 
the 
state’s 
chief 
prosecutor, 
it 
is 
in 
a 
unique 
position 
to 
help 
the 
collaborative 
create 
systematic 
change 
within 
the 
prosecutorial 
system 
as 
a 
whole. 
The 
OAG’s 
direct 
access 
to 
prosecutors 
and 
prosecutor-based 
victim 
advocates 
will 
also 
make 
it 
a 
valued 
partner 
in 
the 
Steering 
Team. 


The 
Arc 
of 
Kentucky 


As 
the 
state’s 
lead 
disability 
advocacy 
organization, 
The 
Arc 
of 
Kentucky 
will 
provide 
the 
Steering 
Team 
access 
to 
a 
rich 
network 
of 
disability 
rights 
professionals 
and 
service 
providers, 
as 
well 
as 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
and 
their 
family 
members. 


9 



Individual 
Contributions 
and 
Commitments 


Shared 
Contributions 
and 
Commitments 


Individual 
members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
will 
work 
to 
ensure 
that 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
in 
Kentucky 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
have 
access 
to 
safe, 
comprehensive 
and 
person-centered 
services. 
In 
working 
toward 
this 
goal, 
Steering 
Team 
members 
are 
committed 
to: 


• 
attending 
each 
meeting 
• 
participating 
in 
discussions 
and 
development 
of 
materials 
conducted 
through 
Basecamp 
between 
meetings 
• 
bringing 
agency 
and 
system 
specific 
expertise 
and 
knowledge 
• 
bringing 
field 
and 
movement 
expertise 
and 
knowledge 
• 
reporting 
organizational 
activities 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team 
• 
reporting 
Steering 
Team 
activities 
to 
our 
respective 
partner 
organizations’ 
executive 
director 
or 
chief 
executive 
officer 
or 
his 
or 
her 
designee 
• 
serving 
as 
ambassadors 
to 
other 
organizations 
• 
using 
open 
and 
regular 
communication 
that 
features 
inclusive, 
person-first 
language 
that 
reflects 
our 
honor 
and 
respect 
for 
each 
other 
In 
addition 
to 
creating 
capacity 
for 
systems 
change 
in 
Kentucky’s 
communities, 
Steering 
Team 
members 
will 
also 
work 
within 
their 
agencies 
to 
promote 
safety 
and 
respect 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
To 
do 
this, 
each 
Steering 
Team 
member 
will: 


• 
examine 
his 
or 
her 
agency’s 
internal 
policies 
and 
protocols 
pertaining 
to 
the 
safety 
of 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
• 
assist 
with 
the 
development 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
strategy 
for 
promoting 
systems 
change 
within 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
member 
organizations 
• 
coordinate 
efforts 
to 
create 
capacity 
for 
sustainable 
systems 
change 
within 
his 
or 
her 
own 
agency 
Unique 
Contributions 
and 
Commitments 


In 
addition 
to 
the 
individual 
duties 
outlined 
above, 
each 
Steering 
Team 
member 
will 
bring 
their 
own 
expertise 
to 
the 
collaborative. 
In 
some 
cases, 
unique 
contributions 
and 
commitments 
take 
the 
form 
of 
a 
leadership 
position 
within 
the 
collaborative. 
Individuals 
in 
these 
Steering 
Team 
leadership 
positions 
include: 
Eileen 
Recktenwald, 
Andrea 
Fiero, 
Norb 
Ryan, 
MaryLee 


10 



Underwood 
and 
Sara 
Clayton. 
If 
any 
of 
these 
individuals 
can 
no 
longer 
fulfill 
his 
or 
her 
commitment 
to 
serving 
in 
a 
leadership 
role, 
he 
or 
she 
may 
request 
that 
a 
substitute 
or 
replacement 
be 
selected 
or 
the 
Steering 
Team 
may 
determine 
that 
a 
substitute 
or 
replacement 
should 
be 
selected. 


Eileen 
Recktenwald 
– 
Project 
Director 


Eileen 
Recktenwald, 
KASAP 
Executive 
Director, 
will 
serve 
as 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
Project 
Director 
and 
will 
be 
the 
primary 
contact 
for 
OVW 
on 
all 
financial 
matters. 
She 
will 
consult 
the 
Project 
Coordinator 
on 
all 
financial 
issues. 
In 
financial 
decisions 
involving 
more 
than 
$5,000, 
Ms. 
Recktenwald 
will 
also 
consult 
the 
full 
Steering 
Team. 
Ms. 
Recktenwald 
will 
attend 
Steering 
Team 
meetings 
upon 
request 
of 
the 
Project 
Coordinator. 
She 
will 
also 
review 
all 
Steering 
Team 
cooperative 
agreement 
deliverables 
before 
they 
are 
submitted 
to 
OVW. 


Ms. 
Recktenwald 
is 
uniquely 
positioned 
to 
serve 
as 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
fiscal 
agent, 
as 
she 
has 
worked 
in 
the 
victim’s 
service 
arena 
for 
over 
20 
years 
and 
has 
managed 
several 
federal 
cooperative 
agreements. 
Serving 
as 
the 
Project 
Director 
will 
ensure 
continuity 
in 
Steering 
Team 
leadership, 
as 
she 
supervises 
and 
has 
daily 
contact 
with 
Andrea 
Fiero, 
the 
Project 
Coordinator. 


Andrea 
Fiero 
– 
Project 
Coordinator 


Andrea 
Fiero, 
KASAP 
Project 
SAFE 
Coordinator, 
will 
serve 
as 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
Project 
Coordinator 
and 
will 
be 
the 
primary 
contact 
with 
OVW 
on 
all 
programmatic 
issues. 
The 
Steering 
Team 
has 
empowered 
Ms. 
Fiero 
to 
manage 
the 
day-to-day 
operations 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
and 
provide 
overall 
guidance 
for 
activities 
carried 
out 
under 
the 
cooperative 
agreement. 
In 
the 
collaborative, 
she 
will 
represent 
the 
interests 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
– 
not 
KASAP. 


Ms. 
Fiero 
will 
convene 
meetings, 
facilitate 
discussion 
during 
meetings 
and 
communicate 
internally 
with 
Steering 
Team 
members. 
She 
will 
be 
the 
lead 
writer 
for 
the 
project 
and 
will 
be 
responsible 
for 
all 
OVW 
program 
reporting 
and 
submission 
of 
cooperative 
agreement 
deliverables. 
She 
will 
also 
be 
responsible 
for 
assuring 
that 
the 
Steering 
Team 
completes 
program 
activities 
and 
deliverables 
within 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
Planning 
and 
Development 
Timeline 
(please 
see 
page 
18). 
With 
respect 
to 
the 
project’s 
communication, 
Ms. 
Fiero 
will 
serve 
as 
the 
communication 
“hub” 
between 
the 
Steering 
Team, 
the 
Project 
Director, 
pilot 
sites, 
Vera 
and 
OVW 
on 
programmatic 
issues. 


Ms. 
Fiero 
is 
uniquely 
qualified 
to 
serve 
as 
the 
collaborative’s 
Project 
Coordinator, 
as 
she 
has 
extensive 
experience 
in 
working 
with 
coalitions. 
She 
is 
a 
KASAP 
employee 
and 
because 
she 
reports 
to 
the 
Project 
Director, 
she 
will 
have 
close 
contact 
and 
frequent 
opportunities 
to 
communicate 
with 
the 
Project 
Director 
about 
financial 
matters 
or 
other 
issues 
pertaining 
to 
the 


11 



collaborative. 
Because 
Ms. 
Fiero 
has 
not 
previously 
worked 
with 
the 
Steering 
Team 
partners, 
she 
brings 
a 
fresh 
perspective 
to 
the 
collaborative. 


Norb 
Ryan 
– 
Primary 
Media 
Spokesperson 


Norb 
Ryan 
will 
serve 
as 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
primary 
media 
spokesperson. 
As 
the 
State 
ADA 
Coordinator, 
Mr. 
Ryan 
is 
uniquely 
qualified 
to 
be 
the 
voice 
of 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
and 
make 
a 
statement 
to 
the 
media 
on 
behalf 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team. 
He 
played 
a 
key 
role 
in 
the 
establishment 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network, 
and 
brings 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team 
his 
organizational 
memory. 
As 
a 
co-chair 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network, 
he 
is 
in 
a 
prime 
position 
to 
delineate 
the 
activities 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
and 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network 
when 
approached 
by 
the 
media. 


MaryLee 
Underwood 
– 
Alternate 
Media 
Spokesperson 


MaryLee 
Underwood 
will 
serve 
as 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
alternate 
spokesperson. 
Ms. 
Underwood 
has 
over 
15 
years 
of 
professional 
experience 
in 
victim 
services, 
and 
is 
uniquely 
qualified 
to 
speak 
with 
the 
media 
on 
behalf 
of 
individuals 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
Like 
Mr. 
Ryan, 
Ms. 
Underwood 
brings 
a 
historical 
perspective 
to 
the 
formation 
of 
Project 
SAFE. 


As 
an 
attorney, 
Ms. 
Underwood 
also 
has 
the 
capacity 
to 
provide 
legal 
information 
to 
the 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
stakeholders 
in 
the 
context 
of 
creating 
capacity 
for 
the 
systemic 
changes 
necessary 
to 
support 
safety 
and 
respect 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
However, 
information 
provided 
does 
not 
constitute 
legal 
advice. 
Agencies 
will 
be 
encouraged 
to 
seek 
legal 
advice, 
as 
appropriate. 


Sara 
Clayton 
– 
Secretary 


Sara 
Clayton, 
KDVA 
Training 
Institute 
Administrator, 
will 
serve 
as 
Secretary 
for 
the 
Steering 
Team. 
Ms. 
Clayton 
will 
record 
and 
distribute 
minutes 
of 
each 
meeting. 
She 
has 
served 
as 
a 
key 
member 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network 
since 
2006 
and 
will 
bring 
to 
the 
collaborative 
her 
extensive 
experience 
with 
working 
with 
state-level 
technical 
assistance 
providers 
to 
raise 
awareness, 
improve 
accessibility 
and 
train 
service 
providers 
about 
sexual 
assault 
and 
domestic 
violence 
against 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
Ms. 
Clayton 
also 
brings 
expertise 
with 
needs 
assessment 
through 
focus 
groups, 
including 
recent 
completion 
of 
the 
Human 
Research 
Curriculum 
provided 
by 
the 
CITI 
Collaborative 
Institutional 
Training 
Initiative 
in 
conjunction 
with 
the 
University 
of 
Kentucky 
Center 
for 
Research 
on 
Violence 
Against 
Women. 


12 



Patty 
Dempsey 


Patty 
Dempsey, 
The 
Arc 
of 
Kentucky’s 
Executive 
Director, 
will 
bring 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team 
her 
experience 
in 
development, 
advocacy, 
information 
and 
training 
on 
issues 
facing 
individuals 
with 
intellectual 
and 
developmental 
disabilities 
and 
their 
family 
members. 


Sara 
Gibson-West 


Sara 
Gibson-West, 
a 
Victim 
Advocate 
for 
the 
OAG, 
will 
serve 
a 
valuable 
role 
in 
the 
collaborative, 
as 
she 
provides 
direct 
advocacy 
support 
to 
crime 
victims 
in 
Kentucky 
on 
appellate 
cases 
and 
through 
the 
Office 
of 
Victims 
Advocacy 
Hotline. 
She 
also 
provides 
technical 
assistance 
to 
prosecutor-based 
advocates 
throughout 
the 
state. 


Lana 
Grandon 


Lana 
Grandon 
is 
the 
OAG’s 
Violence 
Against 
Women 
Prosecution 
Specialist 
and 
brings 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team 
her 
expertise 
in 
providing 
training 
and 
technical 
assistance 
to 
criminal 
justice 
professionals 
on 
violence 
against 
women 
related 
topics. 


Beth 
Metzger 


Beth 
Metzger, 
Disability 
Rights 
Advocate 
for 
P 
& 
A, 
has 
extensive 
professional 
work 
experience 
assisting 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
gain 
necessary 
advocacy 
skills 
through 
information 
and 
education. 
Ms. 
Metzger 
also 
brings 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team 
valuable 
experience 
handling 
domestic 
violence 
and 
other 
abuse 
cases 
for 
Kentucky’s 
protective 
services. 


Rae 
Williams 


Rae 
Williams, 
a 
member 
of 
the 
Kentucky 
Department 
for 
Behavioral 
Health, 
Developmental 
and 
Intellectual 
Disabilities’ 
Education 
and 
Resource 
Development 
Team, 
will 
bring 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team 
connections 
to 
numerous 
disability-related 
service 
providers, 
tremendous 
collaborations 
and 
training 
experience. 


Communication 
Plan 


The 
Steering 
Team 
believes 
that 
effective 
communication 
is 
the 
key 
to 
building 
and 
maintaining 
a 
successful 
collaboration. 
Members 
of 
our 
collaborative 
are 
committed 
to 
using 
open 
and 
regular 
communication 
that 
features 
inclusive, 
person-first 
language 
that 
reflects 
our 
honor 
and 
respect 
for 
each 
other. 
Communication 
within 
our 
collaboration, 
with 
our 
member 
organizations 


13 



and 
with 
our 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners 
will 
mirror 
our 
collaboration’s 
shared 
values: 
respect, 
trust, 
safety, 
confidentiality 
and 
empowerment. 


The 
Steering 
Team’s 
communications 
plan 
consists 
of 
three 
levels: 
(1) 
the 
Primary 
Level 
of 
Communication, 
(2) 
the 
Secondary 
Level 
of 
Communication, 
and 
(3) 
the 
Tertiary 
Level 
of 
Communication. 
The 
Steering 
Team’s 
Primary 
and 
Secondary 
Levels 
of 
Communication 
will 
be 
considered 
internal 
communications; 
the 
Tertiary 
Level 
of 
Communications 
will 
be 
considered 
external 
communications. 


Primary 
Level 
of 
Communication 
– 
Internal 
Communication 


Communication 
within 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
will 
be 
referred 
to 
as 
the 
Primary 
Level 
of 
Communication 
and 
will 
be 
considered 
internal 
communications. 


The 
Steering 
Team 
will 
hold 
in-person 
meetings 
for 
3 
hours 
every 
other 
Wednesday. 
When 
possible, 
these 
meetings 
will 
take 
place 
at 
KASAP. 
The 
frequency 
of 
these 
meetings 
will 
be 
reassessed 
after 
the 
collaboration 
charter 
and 
needs 
assessment 
have 
been 
approved. 
Meetings 
will 
begin 
promptly 
at 
9:00a.m. 
Eastern 
Time. 
Steering 
Team 
members 
may 
join 
a 
meeting 
via 
telephone 
if 
he 
or 
she 
cannot 
attend 
the 
meeting 
in 
person. 
The 
Steering 
Team 
will 
explore 
the 
use 
of 
video 
calling 
as 
an 
alternative 
to 
joining 
a 
meeting 
via 
telephone. 
Any 
Steering 
Team 
member 
who 
is 
unable 
to 
attend 
a 
Steering 
Team 
meeting 
shall 
not 
send 
a 
representative 
in 
his 
or 
her 
place. 


If 
an 
individual 
can 
no 
longer 
serve 
as 
a 
member 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team, 
the 
agency 
represented 
will 
assign 
another 
individual 
to 
serve 
in 
his 
or 
her 
place. 
If 
an 
individual 
is 
no 
longer 
able 
to 
serve 
in 
a 
specific 
leadership 
position, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
will 
determine 
who 
should 
fulfill 
the 
leadership 
position 
thereafter. 


The 
Project 
SAFE 
Coordinator 
is 
responsible 
for 
developing 
and 
distributing 
an 
agenda 
at 
least 
24 
hours 
before 
each 
meeting. 
Minutes 
of 
each 
meeting 
will 
be 
recorded 
by 
the 
Steering 
Team 
Secretary. 
A 
portion 
of 
each 
meeting 
will 
be 
dedicated 
to 
reviewing 
and 
approving 
minutes 
from 
the 
previous 
Steering 
Team 
meeting. 
Between 
meetings, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
will 
communicate 
electronically 
via 
Basecamp, 
an 
Internet-based 
project 
management 
tool 
that 
enables 
individuals 
in 
different 
locations 
to 
discuss 
ideas 
and 
manage 
projects. 


Communication 
between 
meetings 
via 
Basecamp 
should 
focus 
on 
scheduling 
meetings, 
suggesting 
ideas, 
and 
making 
edits 
to 
documents; 
communication 
via 
Basecamp 
between 
Steering 
Team 
meetings 
should 
not 
be 
used 
to 
make 
significant 
decisions 
about 
the 
project. 
Steering 
Team 
members 
will 
respond 
to 
all 
electronic 
communication 
in 
a 
timely 
manner. 
When 
making 
changes 
to 
documents, 
Steering 
Team 
members 
should 
use 
track 
changes 
and 
then 
post 


14 



their 
document 
on 
Basecamp. 
Doing 
so 
will 
allow 
other 
members 
to 
see 
what 
changes 
members 
have 
made. 
Steering 
Team 
members 
will 
have 
a 
set 
time 
to 
make 
changes 
to 
documents 
or 
weigh 
in 
on 
issues. 


Secondary 
Level 
of 
Communication 
– 
Internal 
Communication 


Communication 
with 
and 
among 
our 
collaboration’s 
member 
organizations 
will 
be 
referred 
to 
as 
the 
Secondary 
Level 
of 
Communication 
and 
will 
be 
considered 
internal 
communication. 


Members 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
will 
be 
responsible 
for 
reporting 
key 
activities 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
to 
their 
member 
organizations. 
Likewise, 
they 
should 
also 
report 
member 
organization 
activities 
back 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team. 
In 
this 
exchange 
of 
information, 
sensitive 
information 
about 
member 
organizations 
may 
become 
known. 
Such 
information 
may 
include 
member 
organization 
challenges 
with 
accessibility 
or 
buy-in; 
issues 
of 
personnel 
or 
organizational 
capacity; 
funding 
or 
financial 
information; 
or 
competing 
political 
interests 
or 
politically 
sensitive 
issues 
related 
to 
the 
partner 
organizations. 
Steering 
Team 
members 
and 
organizations 
will 
work 
to 
ensure 
that 
such 
information 
stays 
within 
the 
collaborative 
and 
the 
Steering 
Team 
member 
organizations. 
Sensitive 
information 
shared 
among 
the 
member 
organizations 
will 
also 
be 
done 
so 
on 
a 
“need 
to 
know” 
basis. 


Tertiary 
Level 
of 
Communication 
-External 
Communication 


Any 
communication 
outside 
the 
Steering 
Team 
or 
Steering 
Team 
member 
organization 
will 
be 
considered 
external 
communications 
and 
will 
be 
referred 
to 
as 
the 
Tertiary 
Level 
of 
Communication. 
The 
Tertiary 
Level 
of 
Communication 
will 
include 
communication 
with 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners. 
Communication 
will 
be 
conducted 
in 
the 
following 
manner: 


Communication 
with 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network 


Norb 
Ryan 
and 
MaryLee 
Underwood 
are 
the 
co-chairs 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network. 
As 
such, 
they 
will 
serve 
as 
liaisons 
between 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
and 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network. 
Mr. 
Ryan 
and 
Ms. 
Underwood 
will 
be 
responsible 
for 
providing 
Steering 
Team 
updates 
to 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network 
and 
reporting 
key 
activities 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network 
back 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team. 


Communicating 
with 
the 
Pilot 
Sites 
and 
Community 
Partners 


The 
Steering 
Team 
will 
be 
working 
closely 
with 
the 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners 
in 
this 
cooperative 
agreement 
to 
promote 
safety 
and 
respect 
for 
individual 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 


15 



been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
by 
providing 
technical 
assistance 
and 
support. 
We 
will 
empower 
the 
pilot 
sites 
to 
help 
build 
the 
capacity 
of 
professionals 
throughout 
Kentucky 
to 
provide 
safe, 
accessible 
and 
comprehensive 
person-centered 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 


The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
will 
provide 
technical 
assistance 
focusing 
on 
needs 
assessment, 
strategic 
planning, 
capacity 
building 
and 
accessibility 
as 
it 
relates 
to 
the 
provision 
of 
safe, 
accessible 
and 
comprehensive 
person-centered 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
The 
collaborative 
may 
provide 
technical 
assistance 
to 
pilot 
sites 
in 
the 
form 
of 
policy 
development. 
However, 
such 
assistance 
should 
not 
take 
the 
place 
of 
legal 
advice. 
Pilot 
sites 
should 
be 
directed 
to 
consult 
their 
own 
legal 
counsel. 


Although 
collaborative 
members 
have 
statewide 
legal 
and 
investigatory 
authority, 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team’s 
role 
in 
this 
project 
is 
not 
to 
monitor 
or 
attempt 
to 
find 
fault 
with 
programs 
or 
policies 
at 
our 
pilot 
sites 
or 
with 
our 
community 
partners. 
The 
collaborative 
will 
work 
with 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners 
to 
ensure 
that 
they 
have 
resources 
needed 
to 
build 
capacity 
for 
systems 
change. 
These 
resources 
may 
include 
the 
option 
of 
adaptive 
equipment, 
printing 
of 
accessible 
materials 
or 
assistance 
with 
securing 
additional 
funding. 
The 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners 
will 
be 
encouraged 
to 
share 
openly 
with 
Steering 
Team 
members 
any 
issues 
or 
problems 
they 
might 
have 
about 
serving 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
without 
fear 
of 
repercussions. 


The 
Project 
Coordinator 
will 
be 
the 
primary 
point 
of 
contact 
between 
the 
Steering 
Team, 
the 
staff 
at 
the 
project’s 
pilot 
sites 
and 
community 
partners. 
However, 
members 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
will 
also 
communicate 
with 
pilot 
site 
staff 
and 
community 
partners 
to 
ensure 
community 
buy-in 
at 
various 
levels. 
The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
will 
develop 
site-specific 
communication 
plans 
with 
the 
pilot 
sites 
that 
make 
explicit 
the 
expectations 
that 
both 
the 
Steering 
Team 
and 
the 
pilot 
sites 
commit 
to 
fulfilling. 
The 
Steering 
Team’s 
pilot 
sites 
will 
also 
appoint 
spokespeople 
who 
will 
work 
closely 
with 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
spokespeople 
on 
media-
related 
issues. 


Media 
Relations 


The 
Steering 
Team’s 
designated 
media 
spokesperson 
is 
Norb 
Ryan, 
the 
Kentucky 
State 
ADA 
Coordinator. 
MaryLee 
Underwood, 
KASAP 
Staff 
Attorney, 
will 
serve 
as 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
alternate 
media 
spokesperson. 
Mr. 
Ryan 
and 
Ms. 
Underwood 
were 
selected 
as 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
spokespeople 
because 
they 
bring 
extensive 
expertise 
in 
the 
disability 
and 
sexual 
violence 
arenas, 
respectively. 
They 
also 
played 
a 
significant 
role 
in 
the 
formation 
of 
Project 
SAFE 
and 
may 
speak 
to 
its 
history 
with 
the 
media. 


16 



The 
Steering 
Team 
has 
developed 
different 
protocols 
for 
proactive 
and 
reactive 
media 
relations. 


Proactive 
media 
relations 
include 
the 
development 
of 
talking 
points 
and 
press 
releases. 
These 
materials 
will 
focus 
on 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
mission, 
vision, 
goals, 
objectives 
and 
activities, 
and 
will 
be 
vetted 
by 
the 
entire 
Steering 
Team 
before 
they 
are 
released. 


Reactive 
media 
relations 
include 
Steering 
Team 
responses 
to 
information 
requests, 
including 
media 
inquiries. 
Such 
requests 
will 
be 
processed 
using 
the 
following 
criteria: 


When 
any 
member 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
or 
Project 
SAFE 
Network 
receives 
an 
information 
request 
from 
media 
and 
the 
request 
pertains 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team, 
the 
request 
will 
be 
referred 
to 
Norb 
Ryan. 
If 
Mr. 
Ryan 
is 
unavailable, 
the 
request 
will 
be 
passed 
to 
MaryLee 
Underwood. 


In 
responding 
to 
information 
requests, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
spokesperson 
will 
speak 
from 
or 
provide 
a 
copy 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
pre-approved 
talking 
points 
(please 
see 
page 
34). 
If 
the 
requestor 
would 
like 
additional 
information 
not 
addressed 
in 
the 
talking 
points, 
the 
spokesperson 
should 
consult 
the 
Steering 
Team 
about 
the 
most 
appropriate 
response. 


If 
the 
information 
request 
does 
not 
allow 
sufficient 
time 
to 
consult 
the 
Steering 
Team, 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
spokesperson 
may 
respond 
to 
the 
request 
without 
vetting 
the 
collaboration. 
He 
or 
she 
will 
make 
a 
good 
faith 
effort 
to 
respond 
to 
the 
issue 
at 
hand 
on 
behalf 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
and 
immediately 
report 
the 
information 
shared 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team. 
Information 
requests 
that 
are 
primarily 
related 
to 
a 
Steering 
Team 
member 
organization 
area 
of 
expertise 
will 
be 
referred 
to 
that 
partner 
organization. 


Decision-Making 
Process 


The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
is 
committed 
to 
a 
consensus 
model 
of 
decision-making 
and 
will 
work 
collaboratively 
to 
develop 
concepts 
and 
make 
decisions. 
On 
issues 
where 
there 
is 
initial 
disagreement, 
every 
effort 
will 
be 
made 
to 
find 
common 
ground 
and 
reach 
consensus. 
In 
areas 
where 
there 
is 
disagreement, 
the 
following 
steps 
will 
be 
taken: 


• 
address 
the 
issue 
on 
the 
table 
• 
begin 
a 
facilitated 
discussion 
with 
an 
open 
and 
honest 
debate 
• 
conduct 
a 
structured 
check-in 
• 
attempt 
to 
reach 
a 
consensus 
17 



• 
if 
consensus 
is 
not 
reached, 
return 
to 
steps 
2-5, 
table 
until 
next 
meeting, 
and/or 
determine 
if 
technical 
assistance 
is 
needed 
Decision-Making 
Authority 


Steering 
Team 
members 
are 
committed 
to 
a 
consensus 
model 
of 
decision-making 
in 
which 
decisions 
will 
be 
made 
through 
group 
discussion, 
wherein 
each 
member’s 
input 
will 
be 
considered 
equal 
to 
all 
others. 
However, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
has 
empowered 
some 
members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
to 
provide 
guidance 
in 
the 
following 
areas: 


Financial 
Decisions: 
Although 
the 
Project 
Director 
will 
consult 
the 
Project 
Coordinator 
on 
all 
financial 
matters 
and 
the 
full 
Steering 
Team 
on 
financial 
matters 
over 
$5,000, 
she 
will 
act 
as 
fiscal 
agent 
and 
will 
have 
final 
authority 
on 
all 
financial 
matters 
pertaining 
to 
the 
cooperative 
agreement. 


Programmatic 
Decisions: 
The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
is 
committed 
to 
a 
consensus 
model 
of 
decision-making. 
However, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
has 
empowered 
the 
Project 
Coordinator 
to 
provide 
direction 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team 
and 
pilot 
sites 
when 
making 
decisions 
about 
the 
development 
and 
implementation 
of 
program 
activities. 


Media 
Requests: 
The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
spokespersons 
will 
respond 
to 
media 
requests 
using 
a 
set 
of 
talking 
points 
approved 
by 
the 
Steering 
Team. 
However, 
if 
the 
requestor 
would 
like 
additional 
information 
not 
addressed 
in 
the 
talking 
points 
and 
if 
the 
information 
request 
does 
not 
allow 
sufficient 
time 
to 
consult 
the 
Steering 
Team, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
has 
authorized 
the 
spokesperson 
to 
respond 
to 
the 
request 
without 
vetting 
the 
collaboration. 
In 
such 
an 
instance, 
the 
spokesperson 
will 
make 
a 
good 
faith 
effort 
to 
respond 
to 
the 
issue 
at 
hand 
and 
immediately 
report 
the 
information 
shared 
to 
the 
Steering 
Team. 


Project 
SAFE 
Network: 
Although 
all 
members 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
are 
members 
of 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network, 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network 
has 
no 
decision-making 
authority 
with 
respect 
to 
the 
activities 
carried 
out 
by 
the 
Steering 
Team. 


Pilot 
Sites: 
The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
pilot 
sites 
will 
work 
closely 
with 
members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
to 
promote 
safety 
and 
respect 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subject 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
They 
will 
be 
empowered 
to 
help 
create 
capacity 
for 
the 
systemic 
changes 
necessary 
to 
support 
these 
services. 


18 



Conflict 
Resolution 
Process 


The 
Steering 
Team 
recognizes 
that 
collaboration 
among 
multiple 
partners 
and 
disciplines 
is 
a 
challenging 
endeavor. 
Members 
of 
our 
collaborative 
are 
committed 
to 
the 
resolution 
of 
any 
differences 
or 
conflicts 
that 
may 
arise 
throughout 
the 
course 
of 
the 
project. 
Steering 
Team 
members 
agree 
to 
resolve 
any 
differences 
in 
a 
manner 
that 
is 
respectful 
of 
our 
unique 
approaches 
and 
values. 
Conflict 
will 
be 
resolved 
using 
open 
and 
regular 
communication 
that 
features 
inclusive, 
person-first 
language 
that 
reflects 
our 
honor 
and 
respect 
for 
each 
other. 
As 
we 
resolve 
our 
differences, 
an 
honest 
attempt 
will 
be 
made 
not 
to 
allow 
the 
conflict 
to 
affect 
the 
collaboration. 


If 
conflict 
arises 
among 
members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team, 
collaborative 
members 
will 
engage 
in 
its 
Conflict 
Resolution 
process, 
which 
includes 
the 
following 
steps: 


• 
Set 
up 
a 
meeting 
• 
Clear 
the 
air 
• 
Define 
the 
problem, 
analyze, 
brainstorm, 
and 
evaluate 
• 
Reach 
agreement 
or 
agree 
to 
disagree 
The 
Conflict 
Resolution 
process 
will 
be 
repeated 
until 
group 
consensus 
is 
reached 
or 
the 
Steering 
Team 
decides 
to 
request 
technical 
assistance 
from 
the 
Vera 
Institute 
of 
Justice. 


If 
conflict 
exists 
between 
Steering 
Team 
members 
and 
the 
Project 
Coordinator, 
the 
concerned 
parties 
will 
consult 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
Project 
Director. 
Conflict 
between 
member 
organizations 
will 
be 
referred 
to 
the 
executive 
directors 
of 
those 
organizations. 
If 
the 
executive 
directors 
of 
those 
organizations 
cannot 
resolve 
the 
conflict, 
an 
outside 
mediator 
will 
be 
engaged 
to 
facilitate 
conflict 
resolution. 


Conflicts 
between 
the 
Steering 
Team 
and 
the 
pilot 
sites 
will 
be 
resolved 
through 
the 
Steering 
Team’s 
Conflict 
Resolution 
process. 
Pilot 
sites 
will 
be 
encouraged 
to 
develop 
their 
own 
conflict 
resolution 
processes 
that 
will 
be 
followed 
to 
resolve 
differences 
between 
pilot 
site 
agencies. 


Confidentiality 
Protocol 


The 
Steering 
Team 
will 
ensure 
that 
confidentiality 
serves 
as 
a 
guiding 
principle 
in 
promoting 
the 
safety 
and 
respect 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
Standards 
of 
confidentiality 
will 
mirror 
the 
partners’ 
shared 
values 
of 
respect 
and 
dignity, 
accountability 
and 
integrity. 


19 



Kentucky 
Open 
Meetings 
and 
Open 
Records 
Laws 


Kentucky 
law 
requires 
that 
public 
agencies 
allow 
access 
to 
meetings 
and 
public 
records 
(See 
KRS 
61.800 
– 
61.884). 
The 
Steering 
Team 
will 
comply 
with 
Open 
Meetings 
and 
Open 
Records 
laws 
by 
providing 
information 
regarding 
scheduled 
meetings 
online 
at 
www.kasap.org 
and 
making 
public 
records 
available 
upon 
written 
request 
to 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Coordinator. 
All 
commitments 
to 
confidentiality 
are 
constrained 
by 
Open 
Meetings 
and 
Open 
Records 
requirements. 
Representation 
by 
four 
collaborative 
agencies 
will 
constitute 
quorum 
for 
all 
Steering 
Team 
meetings. 
Since 
the 
Project 
Coordinator 
represents 
the 
Steering 
Team 
as 
a 
whole, 
her 
presence 
will 
not 
be 
counted 
when 
determining 
whether 
the 
collaborative 
has 
a 
quorum. 


Survivor 
Confidentiality 


The 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team 
does 
not 
provide 
direct 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
However, 
members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
may 
periodically 
share 
information 
pertaining 
to 
experiences 
with 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
Information 
directly 
related 
to 
any 
individual 
will 
be 
limited 
to 
the 
minimum 
necessary 
to 
achieve 
the 
purpose 
for 
which 
it 
is 
shared. 
In 
light 
of 
Kentucky’s 
Open 
Meetings 
and 
Open 
Records 
Laws, 
the 
names 
of 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence 
will 
not 
be 
shared 
during 
meetings. 


Confidentiality 
Standards 
– 
Collaborative 
Members 
and 
Member 
Organizations 


Members 
of 
the 
Steering 
Team 
understand 
that 
while 
working 
together, 
some 
information 
pertaining 
to 
the 
collaboration’s 
members, 
agencies 
or 
community 
partners 
may 
become 
known 
but 
should 
not 
be 
shared 
outside 
the 
collaborative. 
Minutes 
of 
Steering 
Team 
meetings 
are 
developed 
to 
document 
progress. 
However, 
members 
shall 
keep 
politically 
sensitive 
information 
completely 
confidential. 
Politically 
sensitive 
information 
may 
include: 


• 
challenges 
with 
accessibility 
or 
buy-in 
• 
issues 
of 
personnel 
or 
organizational 
capacity 
• 
funding 
or 
financial 
information 
• 
competing 
political 
interests 
or 
politically 
sensitive 
issues 
related 
to 
the 
partner 
organizations 
Confidentiality 
Standards 
– 
Pilot 
Sites 
and 
Community 
Partners 


Although 
collaborative 
members 
have 
statewide 
legal 
and 
investigatory 
authority, 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team’s 
role 
in 
this 
project 
is 
not 
to 
monitor 
or 
attempt 
to 
find 
fault 
with 
programs 
or 
policies 
at 
our 
pilot 
sites 
or 
with 
our 
community 
partners. 
As 
we 
work 
with 
the 
pilot 


20 



sites, 
sensitive 
information 
about 
sites 
(such 
as 
an 
ADA 
violation) 
might 
be 
revealed. 
In 
these 
instances, 
the 
Steering 
Team 
will 
continue 
to 
offer 
support 
and 
technical 
assistance 
to 
the 
greatest 
extent 
possible. 


Needs 
Assessment 
and 
Data 
Protection 


Each 
needs 
assessment 
participant 
will 
be 
fully 
informed 
by 
a 
written 
consent 
form 
or 
oral 
statement 
with 
the 
following 
information: 


• 
the 
purpose 
of 
the 
project 
• 
the 
benefits 
to 
be 
derived 
• 
risks 
to 
participants 
• 
explanation 
that 
participation 
is 
voluntary 
• 
description 
of 
the 
procedures 
to 
be 
carried 
out 
in 
which 
the 
participants 
are 
involved 
• 
statement 
that 
any 
language 
barrier 
has 
been 
taken 
into 
account 
• 
statement 
that 
researchers 
are 
not 
acting 
in 
the 
role 
of 
advocate 
Data 
collected 
from 
interviews, 
focus 
groups 
or 
surveys 
will 
contain 
no 
identifying 
information, 
nor 
will 
data 
be 
linked 
in 
any 
way 
back 
to 
the 
participant. 


Mandatory 
Reporting 


Kentucky 
law 
requires 
that 
abuse, 
neglect, 
and 
exploitation 
be 
reported 
when 
the 
victim 
is 
a 
child 
(under 
18), 
the 
spouse 
of 
the 
offender, 
or 
a 
vulnerable 
adult 
[Governing 
laws 
include 
KRS 
209, 
209A, 
620]. 
All 
commitments 
to 
confidentiality 
are 
constrained 
by 
mandatory 
reporting 
requirements. 
Those 
taking 
part 
in 
the 
needs 
assessment 
process 
will 
be 
informed 
of 
this 
requirement. 


21 



Planning 
and 
Development 
Timeline 


The 
Steering 
Team 
developed 
the 
following 
rough 
timeline 
for 
the 
planning 
and 
development 
phase: 


Activity 
Estimated 
Date 
of 
Submission 
to 
OVW 
Collaboration 
Charter 
July 
30, 
2009 
Narrowing 
the 
Focus 
Memo 
September 
15, 
2009 
Submit 
Needs 
Assessment 
Plan 
November 
30, 
2009 
Conducting 
the 
Needs 
Assessment 
January 
15, 
2009-March 
15, 
2010 
Submitting 
Needs 
Assessment 
Report 
Findings 
April 
30, 
2010 
Developing 
the 
Strategic 
Plan 
June 
15 
– 
August 
15, 
2010 
Submitting 
the 
Strategic 
Plan 
to 
OVW 
August 
15, 
2010 


Glossary 


This 
glossary 
was 
developed 
by 
the 
Steering 
Team 
to 
help 
us 
facilitate 
the 
provision 
of 
accessible 
and 
comprehensive 
person-centered 
services 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
in 
Kentucky 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
Because 
we 
will 
work 
closely 
with 
the 
Kentucky 
criminal 
justice 
system, 
many 
of 
our 
terms 
include 
both 
the 
statutory 
definition 
and 
a 
definition 
that 
reflects 
our 
collaboration’s 
identity 
and 
values. 
We 
will 
communicate 
these 
definitions 
to 
our 
community 
partners. 


Abuse: 
Actions 
with 
or 
without 
physical 
contact 
that 
cause 
harm. 
To 
harm 
or 
injure 
by 
maltreatment 
or 
neglect. 
Improper 
use 
of 
power 
or 
resources. 


Examples 
of 
Abuse: 


Economic 
Abuse 
-Making 
or 
attempting 
to 
make 
a 
person 
financially 
dependent, 
e.g., 
maintaining 
total 
control 
over 
financial 
resources, 
withholding 
access 
to 
money, 
forbidding 
attendance 
at 
school 
or 
employment. 


Emotional 
and 
Verbal 
Abuse 
-Undermining 
a 
person's 
sense 
of 
self-worth, 
e.g., 
constant 
criticism, 
belittling 
one's 
abilities, 
name 
calling, 
damaging 
a 
partner's 
relationship 
with 
the 
children. 
Withholding 
of 
affection. 


22 



Institutional 
Abuse 
-May 
include 
any 
form 
of 
abuse 
occurring 
within 
an 
institution 
when 
a 
provider, 
fellow 
consumer 
or 
framework 
structure 
limits 
the 
rights 
of 
an 
individual. 


Neglect 
-The 
deprivation 
of 
goods, 
services, 
and 
other 
forms 
of 
support 
that 
are 
necessary 
to 
maintain 
a 
person’s 
health 
and 
welfare. 
Individuals 
may 
be 
neglected 
by 
caretaker/givers 
or 
by 
themselves. 
See 
KRS 
206.020(16). 


Physical 
Abuse 
-Grabbing, 
pinching, 
shoving, 
slapping, 
hitting, 
hair 
pulling, 
biting, 
etc. 
Denying 
medical 
care 
or 
forcing 
alcohol 
and/drug 
use. 


Psychological 
Abuse 
-Causing 
fear 
by 
intimidation, 
threatening 
physical 
harm 
to 
self, 
partner 
or 
children, 
destruction 
of 
pets 
and 
property, 
mind 
games 
or 
forcing 
isolation 
from 
friends, 
family, 
school 
and/or 
work. 


Sexual 
Abuse 
-Is 
committed 
when 
a 
person 
forces, 
coerces, 
or 
manipulates 
another 
person 
into 
unwanted 
or 
harmful 
sexual 
activity. 


Systems 
Abuse 
-Policies 
and 
procedures 
that 
limit 
access 
to 
existing 
services 
and 
knowledge. 


Accessibility: 
Process 
or 
actions 
by 
an 
agency, 
group 
or 
program 
that 
allow 
for 
individuals 
to 
have 
full 
access/utilization, 
regardless 
of 
disability. 
This 
includes 
all 
areas 
covered 
by 
the 
Americans 
with 
Disabilities 
Act 
(ADA) 
as 
well 
as 
the 
mindset 
of 
the 
entities 
involved. 


Accommodations: 
Actions 
taken 
that 
ensure 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
are 
able 
to 
fully 
participate 
in 
activities, 
services, 
employment, 
and 
education. 
Project 
SAFE 
will 
utilize 
the 
ADA 
rule 
of 
what 
is 
considered 
as 
"reasonable 
accommodations." 


Addiction: 
Compulsive 
need 
for 
and 
use 
of 
a 
habit-forming 
substance 
(as 
heroin, 
nicotine, 
or 
alcohol) 
characterized 
by 
tolerance 
and 
by 
well-defined 
physiological 
symptoms 
upon 
withdrawal. 
Persistent 
compulsive 
use 
of 
a 
substance 
known 
by 
the 
user 
to 
be 
harmful; 
a 
psycho-
physical 
state 
caused 
by 
the 
interaction 
of 
a 
living 
organism 
with 
a 
drug, 
characterized 
by 
behavior 
modification 
and 
other 
reactions, 
usually 
because 
of 
an 
irrepressible 
impulse 
to 
consume 
a 
drug 
continuously 
or 
regularly, 
order 
to 
experience 
its 
psychic 
effects 
and 
sometimes 
to 
relieve 
the 
discomfort 
caused 
by 
the 
deprivation 
of 
it, 
i.e. 
the 
so-called 
syndrome. 


Adult: 
Typically 
refers 
to 
a 
person 
18 
years 
of 
age 
or 
older. 
For 
purposes 
of 
mandatory 
abuse 
reporting 
laws, 
adult 
is 
defined 
to 
include 
both: 


(a) 
a 
person 
who 
may 
be 
in 
need 
of 
protective 
services 
and 
is 
18 
years 
of 
age 
or 
older 
who, 
because 
of 
mental 
or 
physical 
dysfunctioning, 
is 
unable 
to 
manage 
his 
or 
her 
own 
resources, 
23 



carry 
out 
the 
activity 
of 
daily 
living, 
or 
protect 
himself 
or 
herself 
from 
neglect, 
exploitations, 
or 
a 
hazardous 
or 
abusive 
situation 
without 
assistance 
from 
others 
[Source: 
KRS 
209.020(4)]; 
and 


(b) 
a 
person 
without 
regard 
to 
age 
who 
is 
the 
victim 
of 
abuse 
or 
neglect 
inflicted 
by 
a 
spouse 
[Source: 
KRS 
209A.020(4)]. 
Advocacy: 
Championing 
the 
rights 
of 
individuals 
or 
communities 
through 
direct 
intervention 
or 
through 
empowerment 
(Source: 
Social 
Work 
Dictionary). 
Includes: 
(a) 
individual 
advocacy, 
which 
occurs 
by 
assisting 
an 
individual 
in 
accessing 
services 
such 
as 
housing 
or 
financial 
assistance; 
(b) 
systems 
advocacy, 
which 
occurs 
by 
changing 
policies 
to 
be 
more 
inclusive; 
(c) 
legal 
advocacy 
which 
can 
occur 
on 
individual 
or 
systems 
wide 
basis; 
and 
(d) 
legislative 
advocacy, 
which 
occurs 
by 
working 
towards 
changes 
in 
law.” 


Disability-Related 
Advocacy 
-Empowerment 
and 
representation 
that 
allows 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
to 
know 
and 
understand 
civil 
rights 
laws 
and 
access 
and 
maintain 
services 
(both 
disability-related 
and 
non 
disability-related) 
in 
order 
for 
the 
individuals 
to 
accomplish 
their 
life 
goals. 


Legal 
Advocacy 
– 
Empowerment 
of 
individuals 
to 
know 
and 
understand 
their 
legal 
rights, 
stop 
any 
ongoing 
rights 
violations, 
and 
attempt 
to 
prevent 
future 
violations. 


Advocate: 
A 
person 
who 
acts 
in 
support 
of 
or 
on 
behalf 
of 
an 
individual, 
in 
order 
to 
ensure 
that 
the 
individual’s 
interests 
are 
represented 
and/or 
rights 
are 
upheld. 
This 
term 
is 
used 
in 
this 
document 
to 
describe 
individuals 
who 
provide 
various 
advocacy 
services, 
some 
of 
which 
are 
regulated 
pursuant 
to 
specific 
authority: 


Certified 
Domestic 
Violence 
Advocate 
– 
An 
individual 
who 
otherwise 
meets 
the 
definition 
of 
a 
Victim 
Advocate 
as 
defined 
by 
KRS 
421.570 
and 
who 
has 
completed 
the 
40-hour 
certification 
training 
provided 
pursuant 
KRS 
194A.550 
by 
the 
Kentucky 
Domestic 
Violence 
Association 
(KDVA). 
Confidential 
communications 
between 
victims 
and 
Certified 
Domestic 
Violence 
Advocates 
are 
privileged. 
This 
certification 
is 
only 
valid 
while 
the 
advocate 
is 
employed 
by 
a 
Domestic 
Violence 
Program. 


Criminal 
Justice-Based 
Advocate 
– 
An 
individual 
who 
otherwise 
meets 
the 
definition 
of 
Victim 
Advocate 
as 
defined 
by 
KRS 
421.570 
who 
is 
employed 
by 
a 
prosecutorial, 
law 
enforcement 
or 
other 
governmental 
agency 
to 
assist 
victims 
of 
crime. 
The 
primary, 
but 
not 
necessarily 
exclusive, 
focus 
of 
this 
advocate 
is 
to 
assist 
the 
victim 
through 
the 
criminal 
justice 
process. 
The 
advocate 
must 
comply 
with 
the 
standards 
set 
forth 
in 
KRS 
421.570. 
Pursuant 
to 
KRE 
506 
communications 
with 
a 
victim 
advocate 
employed 
by 
a 
county 
or 
Commonwealth’s 
attorney 
are 
not 
privileged. 


24 



Disability 
Related 
Advocate 
– 
An 
individual 
who 
provides 
disability 
related 
advocacy 
who 
may 
be 
associated 
with 
service 
entities 
or 
agencies 
that 
work 
with 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 


Hospital 
Advocate 
– 
An 
individual 
affiliated 
with 
a 
Domestic 
Violence 
program 
or 
Rape 
Crisis 
Center 
who 
provides 
support 
and 
information 
to 
victims 
of 
physical 
or 
sexual 
abuse 
who 
have 
entered 
a 
hospital 
to 
seek 
treatment. 


Legal 
Advocate 
– 
An 
individual 
affiliated 
with 
a 
Domestic 
Violence 
or 
Rape 
Crisis 
program 
that 
provides 
support 
to 
victims 
as 
they 
go 
through 
the 
legal 
system. 
This 
individual 
does 
not 
give 
legal 
advice 
or 
act 
as 
an 
attorney 
in 
any 
way, 
but 
is 
simply 
there 
as 
someone 
who 
understands 
victimization 
and 
prevents 
victims 
from 
dealing 
with 
the 
court 
process 
alone. 


Rape 
Crisis 
Advocate 
– 
An 
individual 
who 
otherwise 
meets 
the 
definition 
of 
Victim 
Advocate 
as 
defined 
by 
KRS 
421.570 
and 
who 
is 
affiliated 
with 
a 
regional 
rape 
crisis 
program, 
which 
has 
provided 
the 
person 
40 
hour 
training 
related 
to 
rape 
and 
sexual 
abuse. 
Confidential 
communications 
between 
victims 
and 
Rape 
Crisis 
Advocates 
are 
privileged. 
May 
be 
staff 
or 
volunteer. 


Victim 
Advocate 
– 
An 
individual 
at 
least 
eighteen 
(18) 
years 
of 
age 
and 
of 
good 
moral 
character, 
who 
is 
employed 
by, 
or 
serves 
as 
a 
volunteer 
for, 
a 
public 
or 
private 
agency, 
organization, 
or 
official 
to 
counsel 
and 
assist 
crime 
victims 
(Source: 
KRS 
421.570). 


Americans 
with 
Disabilities 
Act 
(ADA) 
of 
1990: 
Federal 
law 
that 
prohibits 
discrimination 
against 
“qualified 
individuals 
with 
disabilities” 
on 
the 
basis 
of 
disability 
in 
employment 
(Title 
I), 
services/programs 
rendered 
to 
the 
public 
by 
state 
and 
local 
governments 
(Title 
II), 
services/programs 
by 
businesses 
that 
provide 
public 
services 
(Title 
III), 
in 
telecommunications 
(Title 
IV), 
and 
provides 
guidance 
to 
federal 
entities 
charged 
with 
enforcement 
of 
the 
Act 
(Title 
V). 
Disability 
is 
defined 
as 
a 
physical 
or 
mental 
impairment 
that 
substantially 
limits 
one 
or 
more 
major 
life 
activities, 
has 
a 
record 
of 
such 
impairment 
or 
is 
regarded 
as 
having 
such 
impairment. 
Major 
life 
activities 
may 
include 
but 
are 
not 
limited 
to: 
seeing, 
hearing, 
speaking, 
walking, 
breathing, 
performing 
manual 
tasks, 
learning, 
caring 
for 
oneself, 
working, 
eating, 
sleeping, 
standing, 
lifting, 
bending, 
reading, 
concentrating, 
thinking, 
and 
communicating. 
Major 
life 
activities 
also 
include 
but 
are 
not 
limited 
to 
the 
following 
major 
bodily 
functions: 
normal 
cell 
growth, 
respiration, 
brain 
activity, 
reproductive 
functions, 
circulation, 
immune 
system 
activity, 
endocrine 
system 
activity, 
digestive 
functions, 
neurological 
activity, 
and 
bowel 
and 
bladder 
functions. 


25 



Assistive 
Technology: 
Devices 
used 
that 
ensure 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
are 
able 
to 
fully 
participate 
in 
activities, 
services, 
employment, 
and 
education. 
This 
includes 
devices 
ranging 
from 
low-tech 
(i.e. 
pencil 
grips) 
to 
high-tech 
(i.e. 
specialized 
computer 
programs). 


Autonomy: 
An 
individual’s 
ability 
to 
make 
independent 
choices; 
self-reliance. 
A 
person 
learns 
to 
take 
responsibility 
for 
actions, 
face 
consequences 
of 
mistakes 
and 
failures 
and 
continue 
to 
try 
again 
accepting 
that 
making 
mistakes 
is 
alright. 
(Autonomy 
versus 
Shame 
and 
Doubt) 


Barrier: 
Physical 
object, 
action 
(or 
inaction), 
or 
lack 
of 
adaptive 
device 
that 
blocks, 
prevents, 
or 
hinders 
movement 
or 
access. 


Batterer’s 
Intervention: 
A 
deliberate 
and 
purposeful 
intervention 
designed 
to 
interrupt 
the 
cycle 
of 
violence. 
The 
classes 
are 
specific 
and 
structured 
and 
do 
not 
focus 
on 
saving 
relationships 
or 
managing 
anger, 
but 
on 
ending 
violence 
by 
challenging 
the 
batterer's 
core 
belief 
system 
of 
male 
privilege. 


Capacity 
Building: 
Activities 
to 
assist 
and 
support 
individuals 
and 
systems 
to 
successfully 
implement 
and 
sustain 
change. 


Caregiver: 
A 
person, 
typically 
over 
the 
age 
of 
18, 
who 
is 
responsible 
for 
the 
direct 
care, 
protection, 
and 
supervision 
tending 
to 
the 
needs 
of 
a 
person 
with 
disabilities. 
The 
person 
gives 
assistance 
to 
another 
person 
who 
is 
no 
longer 
able 
to 
perform 
personal 
or 
household 
task 
necessary 
in 
daily 
living. 


Children’s 
Advocacy 
Centers 
(CACs): 
An 
agency 
that 
advocates 
on 
behalf 
of 
children 
who 
have 
been 
abused 
that 
assists 
in 
the 
coordination 
of 
the 
investigation 
of 
child 
abuse 
by 
providing 
a 
location 
for 
forensic 
interviews 
and 
medical 
examinations, 
and 
by 
promoting 
the 
coordination 
of 
services 
for 
children 
alleged 
to 
have 
been 
abuse 
and 
that 
provides, 
directly 
or 
by 
formalized 
agreements, 
services 
that 
include, 
but 
are 
not 
limited 
to, 
forensic 
interviews, 
medical 
examinations, 
mental 
health 
and 
related 
support 
services, 
court 
advocacy, 
consultation, 
training, 
and 
staffing 
of 
multidisciplinary 
teams 
(Source: 
KRS 
620.020). 
In 
Kentucky, 
a 
CAC 
has 
been 
established 
in 
each 
Area 
Development 
District. 
Although 
addressing 
abuse 
against 
children 
is 
outside 
the 
scope 
of 
this 
cooperative 
agreement, 
our 
collaborative 
has 
chosen 
to 
include 
CACs 
in 
our 
glossary 
because 
these 
agencies 
are 
part 
of 
Kentucky’s 
core 
service 
delivery 
system 
for 
victims. 


Co-Occurring: 
The 
simultaneous 
occurrence 
of 
non-related 
disabilities. 
Term 
used 
to 
describe 
the 
comorbid 
condition 
of 
a 
person 
considered 
to 
be 
suffering 
from 
a 
mental 
illness 
, 
substance 
abuse 
and/or 
intellectual 
disability. 
There 
is 
considerable 
debate 
surrounding 
the 
appropriateness 
of 
dual 
diagnosis 
being 
used 
to 
describe 
a 
heterogeneous 
group 
of 
individuals 
with 
complex 


26 



needs 
and 
a 
varied 
range 
of 
problems. 
The 
concept 
can 
be 
used 
broadly, 
for 
example 
depression 
and 
alcoholism, 
or 
it 
can 
be 
restricted 
to 
specify 
severe 
mental 
illness 
(e.g. 
psychosis, 
schizophrenia) 
and 
substance 
misuse 
disorder 
(e.g. 
cannabis 
abuse). 
This 
term 
is 
also 
used 
to 
describe 
a 
co-occurring 
condition 
in 
which 
a 
person 
is 
simultaneously 
diagnosed 
with 
an 
Axis 
I 
and 
an 
Axis 
II 
psychiatric 
disorder. 
Replaces 
the 
term 
“dual 
diagnosis.” 


Collaboration: 
According 
to 
the 
Fieldstone 
Alliance, 
collaboration 
is 
"a 
mutually 
beneficial 
and 
well-defined 
relationship 
entered 
into 
by 
two 
or 
more 
organizations 
to 
achieve 
results 
they 
are 
more 
likely 
to 
achieve 
together 
than 
alone.” 
This 
relationship 
includes 
commitment 
to 
mutual 
relationships 
and 
goals; 
a 
jointly 
developed 
structure 
and 
shared 
responsibility; 
mutual 
authority 
and 
accountability 
for 
success; 
and 
sharing 
of 
resources 
and 
awards.i 


Community 
Mental 
Health 
Centers 
(CMHCs): 
Term 
used 
to 
refer 
to 
the 
fourteen 
(14) 
regional 
non-profit 
mental 
health/mental 
retardation 
boards 
that 
provide 
community-based 
mental 
health, 
developmental 
disabilities, 
intellectual 
disabilities, 
and 
substance 
abuse 
programs 
throughout 
the 
Commonwealth. 
Some 
rape 
crisis 
programs 
are 
housed 
within 
CMHCs. 


Consensus: 
General 
agreement 
among 
the 
members 
of 
a 
group 
or 
community, 
each 
party 
of 
which 
has 
an 
equal 
right 
and 
responsibility 
to 
decision-making 
and 
follow-up 
action.ii 


Consent 
for 
Sexual 
Activity: 
The 
act 
of 
agreeing 
to 
sexual 
activity. 
Consent 
cannot 
be 
induced 
by 
force, 
duress 
or 
deception; 
cannot 
be 
given 
by 
someone 
who 
is 
unable 
to 
make 
a 
reasonable 
judgment 
because 
of 
youth 
(under 
age 
16), 
mental 
ability 
or 
intoxication; 
and 
can 
be 
withdrawn 
at 
any 
time. 


Conservator: 
Please 
see 
Legal 
Guardianship. 


Confidentiality: 
The 
principle 
that 
every 
individual 
has 
the 
right 
to 
determine 
who 
knows 
his 
or 
her 
story. 
The 
ethical 
principle 
and 
legal 
right 
that 
a 
professional 
will 
hold 
all 
client 
information, 
not 
intended 
to 
be 
disclosed 
to 
third 
parties, 
in 
confidence 
unless 
the 
client 
gives 
consent 
permitting 
disclosure 
or 
unless 
disclosure 
is 
required 
by 
the 
law. 
As 
used 
in 
the 
Health 
Insurance 
Portability 
and 
Accountability 
Act 
of 
1996 
(HIPAA), 
the 
right 
of 
an 
individual 
to 
have 
personal 
identifiable 
information 
kept 
private. 


Cultural 
Competency: 
The 
ability 
of 
individuals 
to 
use 
academic, 
experiential 
and 
interpersonal 
skills 
to 
increase 
their 
understanding 
and 
appreciation 
of 
cultural 
differences 
and 
similarities 
within, 
among 
and 
between 
groups 
to 
enhance 
diverse 
care. 
This 
includes 
awareness 
of 
systemic 
bias 
and 
belief 
systems 
and 
how 
these 
impact 
and 
can 
work 
to 
oppress 
survivors 
with 
disabilities. 


27 



Cyberstalking: 
The 
use 
of 
the 
Internet 
or 
other 
electronic 
means 
to 
stalk 
or 
harass 
a 
person. 
This 
term 
is 
generally 
synonymous 
with 
online 
harassment 
or 
online 
abuse. 


Developmental 
Disability: 
According 
to 
the 
Developmental 
Disabilities 
and 
Bill 
of 
Rights 
Act, 
developmental 
disability 
is 
“a 
severe, 
chronic 
disability 
that: 
is 
attributable 
to 
a 
mental 
or 
physical 
impairment 
or 
combination 
of 
mental 
and 
physical 
impairments; 
is 
manifested 
before 
the 
person 
attains 
age 
twenty-two; 
is 
likely 
to 
continue 
indefinitely; 
and 
results 
in 
substantial 
functional 
limitations 
in 
three 
or 
more 
of 
the 
following 
areas 
of 
major 
life 
activities: 
(a) 
self 
care, 


(b) 
receptive 
and 
expressive 
language, 
(c) 
learning, 
(d) 
mobility, 
(e) 
self-direction, 
(f) 
capacity 
for 
independent 
living, 
or 
(g) 
economic 
self-sufficiency.” 
Disability: 
As 
defined 
by 
the 
ADA, 
a 
physical 
or 
mental 
impairment 
that 
substantially 
limits 
one 
or 
more 
major 
life 
activities. 
Pursuant 
to 
the 
ADA, 
“a 
qualified 
individual 
with 
a 
disability” 
also 
includes 
an 
individual 
with 
a 
history 
of 
or 
regarded 
as 
having 
a 
disability. 
Impairments 
may 
also 
be 
sensory, 
intellectual, 
or 
social 
in 
nature. 


Disclosure: 
The 
communication 
of 
facts 
and 
emotions 
regarding 
either 
event(s) 
that 
occurred 
to 
self 
or 
another 
individual, 
or 
disability. 


Discrimination: 
The 
act 
or 
practice 
of 
categorically 
judging 
rather 
than 
individually 
judging 
a 
group 
or 
idea.iii 


Domestic 
Violence 
and 
Abuse: 
Physical 
injury, 
serious 
physical 
injury, 
sexual 
abuse, 
assault, 
or 
the 
infliction 
of 
fear 
of 
imminent 
physical 
injury, 
serious 
physical 
injury, 
sexual 
abuse, 
or 
assault 
between 
family 
members 
or 
members 
of 
an 
unmarried 
couple.” 
[KRS 
403.720(1)] 
KDVA 
defines 
domestic 
violence 
more 
broadly 
as 
“a 
pattern 
of 
coercive 
behaviors 
used 
in 
an 
intimate 
relationship 
to 
gain 
and 
maintain 
power 
and 
control 
over 
an 
intimate 
partner.” 


Domestic 
Violence 
Order 
(DVO): 
Please 
see 
Protective 
Order. 


Domestic 
Violence 
Program: 
One 
of 
15 
non-profit 
organizations 
designated 
by 
the 
Cabinet 
for 
Health 
and 
Family 
Services 
to 
serve 
as 
the 
primary 
service 
provider 
and 
regional 
planning 
authority 
for 
domestic 
violence 
shelter, 
crisis 
and 
advocacy 
services 
in 
the 
area 
development 
district 
in 
which 
it 
is 
located. 
In 
addition 
to 
providing 
a 
safe, 
secure 
environment 
for 
victims/survivors 
and 
their 
children, 
programs 
also 
offer 
a 
variety 
of 
support 
services 
to 
residents 
and 
non-residents 
including: 
Legal/Court 
advocacy, 
Case 
management, 
Safety 
planning, 
Support 
groups, 
Individual 
counseling, 
Housing 
assistance, 
Job 
search 
and 
Children's 
groups. 
Programs 
also 
work 
with 
clients 
on 
resume 
writing, 
improving 
basic 
job 
skills, 
parenting, 
budgeting, 
and 
drug 
and 
alcohol 
issues. 
The 
programs 
are 
also 
committed 
to 
preventing 
future 
domestic 
violence 
through 
public 
awareness 
and 
community 
education 
efforts. 
Domestic 
violence 
programs 
work 


28 



with 
schools, 
local 
professionals, 
and 
community 
groups 
to 
increase 
understanding 
of 
domestic 
violence 
issues. 
Governing 
laws: 
KRS 
209.160 
and 
922 
KAR 
5:040. 


Dual 
Diagnosis: 
Please 
see 
Co-Occurring. 


Dual 
Program: 
A 
Domestic 
Violence 
Program, 
a 
Rape 
Crisis 
Program 
and/or 
a 
Children’s 
Advocacy 
Center 
housed 
within 
the 
same 
agency/organization. 
Each 
program 
provides 
its 
own 
set 
of 
services 
and 
is 
governed 
by 
its 
own 
set 
of 
regulations. 


Emergency 
Protective 
Order 
(EPO): 
Please 
see 
Protective 
Order. 


Empowerment: 
A 
social 
process 
that 
is 
comprehensive 
and 
driven 
by 
individual 
issues, 
defined 
as 
important 
by 
a 
person, 
which 
promotes 
capacity 
for 
implementing 
aspects 
(power) 
in 
the 
individual’s 
life, 
community 
and 
his 
or 
her 
society. 


Full 
Guardian: 
Court 
appointed 
individual/agency 
who 
makes 
decisions 
over 
all 
areas 
of 
an 
individual's 
life, 
including 
finances, 
domicile, 
healthcare, 
etc. 
Please 
also 
see 
Legal 
Guardianship. 


Forensic 
Interview: 
An 
interview 
method 
by 
which 
a 
neutral, 
trained 
professional 
(a 
forensic 
interviewer, 
detective, 
child 
protective 
services 
worker, 
etc.) 
gathers 
factual 
information 
from 
a 
child/adolescent 
or 
vulnerable 
adult 
victim 
through 
a 
conversation 
that 
utilizes 
linguistically 
appropriate 
language 
and 
takes 
into 
account 
the 
victim’s 
emotional 
needs 
and 
developmental 
level. 
The 
goal 
is 
to 
gather 
as 
many 
facts 
as 
possible 
about 
the 
allegation 
of 
abuse 
in 
an 
unbiased, 
non-threatening, 
non-leading 
manner 
that 
causes 
no 
further 
trauma 
to 
the 
child/adolescent 
or 
vulnerable 
adult 
victim. 
This 
method 
recognizes 
the 
fact 
that 
disclosure 
is 
a 
process, 
not 
necessarily 
a 
single 
event. 


Guardian: 
One 
who 
legally 
has 
the 
responsibility 
for 
the 
care 
and 
management 
of 
a 
person, 
estate, 
or 
both, 
of 
a 
child 
or 
an 
adult 
for 
whom 
a 
guardian 
has 
been 
established 
by 
a 
court. 
Please 
also 
see 
Legal 
Guardianship. 


Housing 
Types: 


Boarding 
Home 
-Regulated 
abode 
(by 
regulation 
can 
be 
a 
home, 
institution 
or 
other 
place 
of 
lodging) 
which 
provides 
room 
and 
board 
for 
a 
fee. 


Domestic 
Violence 
Shelter 
– 
Temporary 
housing 
providing 
immediate 
safety 
to 
victims 
of 
domestic 
violence 
and 
children 
at 
an 
undisclosed 
location 
for 
what 
is 
usually 
a 
period 
of 
30 
– 
90 
days. 
(some 
shelter 
programs 
choose 
to 
be 
a 
public 
location). 


29 



Family 
Care 
Home 
-Licensed 
private 
home 
that 
provides 
supervision 
and 
personal 
care 
services 
to 
individuals 
who 
need 
some 
help 
with 
self-care, 
but 
who 
do 
not 
require 
constant 
medical 
care 
or 
skilled 
nursing 
services. 


Group 
Home 
-Small, 
licensed 
facility 
(no 
more 
than 
8 
beds) 
that 
provides 
residential 
and 
supportive 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
intellectual 
disabilities 
and/or 
developmental 
disabilities. 


Independent 
Housing 
-House 
or 
apartment 
within 
the 
community 
in 
which 
an 
individual 
resides 
by 
self 
or 
with 
family 
members/friends; 
personal 
assistance/home 
health 
workers 
may 
or 
may 
not 
provide 
services 
within 
home 
setting. 


Intermediate 
Care 
Facility 
for 
Individuals 
with 
Mental 
Retardation 
(ICF-MR) 
-

Licensed 
facilities 
for 
individuals 
who 
have 
developmental 
disabilities 
and 
need 
a 
nursing 
facility 
level 
of 
care. 


Personal 
Care 
Home 
-Licensed 
facility 
that 
provides 
individuals 
with 
supervision 
and 
basic 
health, 
residential 
(meals 
and 
laundry), 
and 
recreational 
services. 
Individuals 
must 
be 
at 
least 
sixteen 
(16) 
years 
old 
and 
be 
able 
to 
perform 
most 
of 
their 
activities 
of 
daily 
living. 


Nursing 
Facility 
-Facilities 
for 
individuals 
who 
require 
24-hour 
in-patient 
high-intensity 
nursing 
supervision/care. 


Supports 
for 
Community 
Living 
(SCL) 
Staffed 
Residence 
-Home 
within 
the 
community 
staffed 
by 
an 
agency 
and 
funded 
through 
the 
Supports 
for 
Community 
Living 
Medicaid 
waiver. 
Waiver 
recipients 
must 
have 
either 
an 
intellectual 
disability 
and 
developmental 
disability 
or 
a 
developmental 
disability. 


Transitional 
Housing 
-Residency 
program 
that 
includes 
some 
support 
services 
and 
is 
designed 
as 
a 
bridge 
to 
self-sufficiency 
and 
permanent 
housing. 


Inclusion: 
Recognition 
of 
all 
persons 
being 
“one” 
in 
society 
and 
acceptance 
of 
the 
civic 
responsibility 
of 
support 
systems 
to 
ensure 
that 
all 
persons 
receive 
the 
supports 
they 
need. 


Individual 
or 
Person 
with 
a 
Disability: 
The 
terms 
“individual” 
and 
“person 
with 
a 
disability” 
are 
used 
instead 
of 
depersonalizing 
terms 
such 
as 
“client,” 
“consumer” 
or 
“patient.” 


30 



Informed 
Consent: 
An 
individual’s 
agreement 
to 
participate 
in 
and/or 
allow 
something 
to 
happen, 
based 
on 
accurate 
and 
full 
disclosure 
of 
the 
information 
needed 
to 
make 
a 
decision; 
i.e. 
knowledge 
and 
understanding 
of 
risks, 
alternatives, 
consequences. 


Institutionalization: 
The 
act 
of 
placing 
someone 
in 
the 
care 
of 
an 
institution, 
care 
facility, 
or 
other 
agency 
that 
will 
be 
responsible 
for 
full 
care 
of 
a 
person. 
Historically, 
many 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
were 
institutionalized 
against 
their 
will 
and/or 
have 
been 
threatened 
with 
being 
placed 
in 
a 
more 
restrictive 
environment. 


Intellectual 
Disability: 
Known 
in 
Kentucky 
law 
as 
“mental 
retardation.” 
According 
to 
907 
KAR 
1:145, 
is 
“significantly 
sub-average 
intellectual 
functioning” 
which 
is 
usually 
typified 
by 
a 
score 
of 
70 
or 
lower 
in 
intellectual 
quotient 
testing 
and 
“concurrent 
deficits 
or 
impairments 
in 
present 
adaptive 
functioning 
in 
at 
least 
two 
of 
the 
following 
areas: 
communication, 
self-care, 
home 
living, 
social 
or 
interpersonal 
skills, 
use 
of 
community 
resources, 
self-direction, 
functional 
academic 
skills, 
work, 
leisure, 
or 
health 
and 
safety 
that 
occurs 
before 
the 
age 
of 
18.” 


Legal 
Guardianship: 
Refers 
to 
the 
outcome 
of 
the 
civil 
court 
process 
set 
forth 
in 
KRS 
387 
in 
which 
an 
adult 
with 
a 
disability 
is 
determined 
to 
meet 
the 
legal 
definition 
of 
“disabled” 
and 
the 
court 
designates 
another 
party 
to 
make 
legal 
decisions 
that 
would 
protect 
and 
assist 
the 
individual. 


Conservator 
-Court 
appointed 
individual/agency 
who 
manages 
an 
adult's 
financial 
assets. 


Full 
Guardian 
-Court 
appointed 
individual/agency 
who 
makes 
decisions 
over 
all 
areas 
of 
an 
adult's 
life, 
including 
finances, 
domicile, 
healthcare, 
etc. 


Limited 
Guardian 
-Court 
appointed 
individual/agency 
who 
makes 
decisions 
in 
areas 
specified 
by 
the 
court. 


Mandatory 
Reporting: 
Requires 
that 
abuse, 
neglect, 
and 
exploitation 
be 
reported 
when 
the 
victim 
is 
a 
child 
(under 
18), 
the 
spouse 
of 
the 
offender, 
or 
a 
vulnerable 
adult. 
Governing 
laws 
include 
KRS 
209, 
209A, 
620. 


Mental 
Illness: 
A 
psychological 
or 
behavioral 
pattern 
that 
occurs 
in 
an 
individual 
and 
is 
thought 
to 
cause 
distress 
or 
disability 
that 
is 
not 
expected 
as 
part 
of 
normal 
development 
or 
culture. 


Orthotic 
Equipment: 
Devices 
used 
to 
support, 
align, 
maintain 
or 
aid 
an 
individual’s 
strength 
and/or 
mobility. 


31 



Perpetrator: 
An 
individual 
who 
commits 
criminal 
behavior, 
specifically 
abuse 
or 
assault. 
This 
person 
may 
also 
be 
referred 
to 
as 
an 
assailant, 
abuser, 
defendant, 
primary 
aggressor 
or 
batterer. 


Person 
Centered 
Services: 
Recognition 
of 
an 
individual’s 
preferences 
and 
needs 
during 
all 
components 
of 
service 
planning 
giving 
individuals 
the 
power 
to 
use 
resources 
in 
ways 
that 
make 
sense 
in 
their 
lives. 
Planning 
recognizes 
a 
person’s 
interests, 
strengths, 
and 
talents 
while 
targeting 
assistance 
to 
achieve 
specific 
results 
in 
a 
person’s 
life, 
increasing 
choice 
and 
control 
rather 
than 
fitting 
the 
individual 
into 
a 
program. 


Post-traumatic 
Stress 
Disorder 
(PTSD): 
An 
anxiety 
disorder 
that 
can 
develop 
after 
exposure 
to 
a 
terrifying 
event 
or 
ordeal 
in 
which 
grave 
physical 
harm 
occurred 
or 
was 
threatened. 
Traumatic 
events 
that 
may 
trigger 
PTSD 
include 
violent 
personal 
assaults, 
natural 
or 
human-caused 
disasters, 
accidents 
or 
military 
combat 
(Source: 
National 
Institute 
of 
Mental 
Health 
web 
site). 
Criteria 
for 
diagnosis 
are 
set 
forth 
in 
the 
Diagnostic 
and 
Statistical 
Manual 
(DSM), 
Fourth 
Edition. 


Power 
of 
Attorney: 
An 
instrument 
authorizing 
another 
to 
act 
as 
one’s 
agent 
or 
attorney. 
A 
Power 
of 
Attorney 
is 
executed 
by 
a 
competent 
individual 
to 
allow 
another 
person 
to 
make 
decisions 
in 
specified 
areas 
on 
his 
or 
her 
behalf. 
The 
individual 
retains 
the 
right 
to 
make 
his 
or 
her 
own 
decisions 
and 
may 
rescind 
at 
any 
time. 
A 
“durable 
power 
of 
attorney” 
is 
an 
instrument 
written 
so 
that 
it 
continues 
if 
the 
individual 
becomes 
unable 
to 
make 
decisions. 


Privilege: 
An 
exception 
to 
the 
general 
rule 
that 
an 
individual 
has 
a 
duty 
to 
testify 
regarding 
relevant 
matters 
in 
a 
legal 
proceeding. 
Where 
privilege 
exists, 
“a 
client 
has 
a 
privilege 
to 
refuse 
to 
disclose 
and 
prevent 
any 
other 
person 
from 
disclosing 
confidential 
communications…” 
(Source: 
KRE 
503 
and 
others). 
Privileges 
recognized 
under 
Kentucky 
Rules 
of 
Evidence 
(KRE) 
are: 
attorney-client 
(KRE 
503), 
husband-wife 
(KRE 
504), 
religious 
(KRE 
505), 
counselor-client, 
including 
a 
sexual 
assault 
counselor 
and 
certain 
victim 
advocates 
(KRE 
506), 
and 
Psychotherapist-patient 
(KRE 
507). 


Project 
SAFE 
Network: 
All 
agencies 
involved 
with 
Project 
SAFE, 
including 
those 
which 
are 
beyond 
the 
scope 
of 
the 
cooperative 
agreement 
with 
the 
Office 
on 
Violence 
Against 
Women. 


Project 
SAFE 
Steering 
Team: 
Members 
of 
Project 
SAFE 
who 
are 
participating 
in 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
project 
funded 
under 
a 
cooperative 
agreement 
with 
OVW. 
The 
Steering 
Team 
will 
meet 
all 
cooperative 
agreement 
requirements 
and 
provide 
general 
leadership 
to 
the 
Project 
SAFE 
Network. 


Protective 
Order: 
A 
protective 
order 
is 
a 
civil 
court 
order 
that 
directs 
one 
party 
(the 
“respondent”) 
to 
have 
"no 
contact" 
or 
"no 
violent 
contact" 
with 
the 
other 
party 
(the 
“petitioner”) 


32 



and/or 
his 
or 
her 
children. 
An 
Emergency 
Protective 
Orders 
(EPO) 
can 
be 
issued 
by 
a 
court 
based 
solely 
on 
the 
petition 
of 
one 
party, 
i.e. 
the 
victim 
of 
abuse, 
and 
is 
typically 
effective 
for 
14 
days. 
At 
the 
end 
of 
14 
days, 
a 
hearing 
is 
held 
where 
both 
parties 
have 
the 
opportunity 
to 
be 
heard 
and 
a 
Domestic 
Violence 
Orders 
(DVO) 
can 
be 
issued. 
The 
judge 
then 
makes 
the 
decision 
whether 
to 
grant 
the 
DVO 
and 
the 
duration 
of 
that 
order 
(which 
can 
be 
up 
to 
three 
years 
and 
may 
be 
extended 
if 
necessary). 
Statutes 
governing 
EPOs 
and 
DVOs 
are 
KRS 
403.715 
to 
403.785. 


Rape: 
Please 
see 
Sexual 
Abuse. 


Rape 
Crisis 
Program 
/ 
Rape 
Crisis 
Center: 
One 
of 
13 
nonprofit 
corporations 
designated 
as 
the 
regional 
planning 
authority 
for 
crisis 
and 
advocacy 
services 
for 
victims 
of 
sexual 
assault 
in 
the 
area 
development 
district 
in 
which 
it 
is 
located 
(Source: 
KRS 
211.600). 
Services 
provided 
include: 
crisis 
counseling, 
mental 
health 
and 
related 
support 
services, 
medical 
and 
legal 
advocacy, 
consultation, 
public 
education, 
and 
provision 
of 
training 
programs 
for 
professionals. 
Laws 
governing 
Rape 
Crisis 
Centers 
include 
KRS 
211.600 
-.608 
and 
920 
KAR 
2:010. 


Representative 
Payee: 
Individual, 
business, 
or 
agency 
designated 
by 
the 
Social 
Security 
Administration 
(SSA) 
to 
manage 
the 
financial 
benefits 
that 
entity 
provides 
to 
an 
individual. 


Re-victimization: 
Describes 
the 
experience 
of 
a 
survivor 
being 
victimized 
or 
traumatized 
subsequent 
to 
the 
original 
abuse 
by 
the 
criminal 
justice 
system, 
health 
care 
system, 
media, 
victim 
service 
providers 
and/or 
by 
another 
incident 
of 
violence. 


Safety 
Plan: 
A 
detailed 
approach 
to 
maintaining 
safety 
for 
an 
individual 
and/or 
group 
while 
living 
in, 
escaping 
from 
or 
after 
surviving 
domestic 
violence 
or 
other 
abuse. 
Domestic 
violence 
advocates 
routinely 
assist 
with 
safety 
planning. 


Screening: 
The 
process 
of 
identifying 
additional 
needs 
of 
individuals 
seeking 
services 
from 
programs. 
This 
is 
for 
the 
purposes 
of 
providing 
holistic 
care 
and 
ensuring 
that 
victims 
with 
disabilities 
are 
given 
the 
opportunity 
to 
receive 
appropriate 
services. 


Sexual 
Assault: 
Is 
committed 
when 
a 
person 
forces, 
coerces, 
or 
manipulates 
another 
person 
into 
unwanted 
or 
harmful 
sexual 
activity. 
Also 
note 
that 
legal 
definitions 
for 
sexual 
abuse, 
rape 
and 
sodomy 
are 
much 
more 
narrow. 
These 
are 
set 
forth 
in 
Kentucky 
in 
KRS 
510. 


Rape 
-Pursuant 
to 
Kentucky’s 
criminal 
law, 
rape 
is 
the 
crime 
committed 
when 
a 
person 
engages 
in 
sexual 
intercourse 
by 
forcible 
compulsion 
or 
with 
another 
person 
who 
is 
incapable 
of 
consent. 
See 
KRS 
510. 


33 



Sexual 
Abuse 
– 
Pursuant 
to 
Kentucky’s 
criminal 
law, 
sexual 
abuse 
is 
the 
crime 
committed 
when 
a 
person 
touches 
another 
person’s 
sex 
organs 
or 
intimate 
parts 
by 
forcible 
compulsion 
or 
where 
the 
other 
person 
who 
is 
incapable 
of 
consent. 
See 
KRS 
510. 


Sodomy 
-Pursuant 
to 
Kentucky 
criminal 
law, 
sodomy 
is 
the 
crime 
committed 
when 
a 
person 
engages 
in 
oral 
or 
anal 
sex 
acts 
with 
another 
person 
by 
forcible 
compulsion 
or 
with 
another 
person 
who 
is 
incapable 
of 
consent. 
See 
KRS 
510. 


Sexual 
Assault 
Counselor: 
Pursuant 
to 
KRE 
506 
(addressing 
Counselor-client 
Privilege), 
a 
person 
engaged 
in 
a 
rape 
crisis 
center, 
as 
defined 
in 
KRS 
Chapter 
421, 
who 
has 
undergone 
forty 


(40) 
hours 
of 
training 
and 
is 
under 
the 
control 
of 
a 
direct 
services 
supervisor 
of 
a 
rape 
crisis 
center, 
whose 
primary 
purpose 
is 
the 
rendering 
of 
advice, 
counseling, 
or 
assistance 
to 
victims 
of 
sexual 
assault. 
Sexual 
Assault 
Nurse 
Examiner 
(SANE): 
A 
registered 
nurse 
who 
has 
completed 
the 
required 
education 
and 
clinical 
experience 
and 
maintains 
a 
current 
credential 
from 
the 
board 
as 
provided 
under 
KRS 
314.142 
to 
conduct 
forensic 
examinations 
of 
victims 
of 
sexual 
offenses 
under 
the 
medical 
protocol 
issued 
by 
the 
Office 
of 
the 
Kentucky 
State 
Medical 
Examiner 
pursuant 
to 
KRS 
216B.400(4). 
[Source: 
KRS 
314.011(14)]. 


Sexual 
Assault 
Response 
Team 
(SART): 
A 
multidisciplinary 
approach 
to 
responding 
to 
sexual 
violence. 


SART 
Advisory 
Team 
– 
A 
multidisciplinary 
team 
of 
professionals 
who 
meet 
on 
a 
regular 
basis 
and 
are 
dedicated 
to 
working 
together 
to 
respond 
to 
the 
act 
of 
sexual 
violence 
as 
a 
group. 
This 
may 
include 
representation 
from 
the 
following 
disciplines: 
SANE, 
rape 
crisis 
center 
personnel, 
prosecution, 
detectives 
and 
other 
law 
enforcement, 
etc. 


SART 
First 
Responders 
-A 
multidisciplinary 
team 
of 
professionals 
dedicated 
to 
working 
together 
to 
respond 
to 
reports 
of 
sexual 
assault. 
This 
includes 
crisis 
intervention, 
information 
provision, 
evidence 
gathering, 
investigation, 
and 
provision 
of 
assistance 
through 
the 
legal 
system. 


Sexual 
Harassment: 
Unwanted 
sexual 
or 
gender-based 
conduct 
that 
interferes 
with 
an 
individual’s 
ability 
to 
perform 
or 
advance, 
especially 
in 
a 
work 
or 
school 
setting. 
Sexual 
harassment 
can 
be 
committed 
by 
someone 
of 
the 
opposite 
sex, 
or 
by 
someone 
of 
the 
same 
sex 
and 
victims 
can 
be 
either 
male 
or 
female. 
As 
a 
legal 
term, 
Sexual 
Harassment 
is 
used 
to 
describe 
a 
civil 
cause 
of 
action 
related 
to 
violation 
of 
anti-discrimination 
laws. 
However, 
behaviors 
that 
constitute 
sexual 
harassment 
may 
also 
be 
criminal 
in 
nature, 
including 
rape. 


34 



Sexuality: 
How 
people 
experience 
and 
express 
themselves 
as 
sexual 
beings. 
Biologically, 
refers 
to 
the 
reproductive 
mechanism 
as 
well 
as 
the 
basic 
biological 
drive 
that 
exists 
in 
all 
species 
and 
can 
encompass 
sexual 
intercourse 
and 
sexual 
contact 
in 
all 
its 
forms; 
Emotionally, 
refers 
to 
the 
bond 
that 
exists 
between 
individuals, 
which 
may 
be 
expressed 
through 
profound 
feelings 
or 
emotions, 
and 
which 
may 
be 
manifested 
in 
physical 
or 
medical 
concerns 
about 
the 
physiological 
or 
even 
psychological 
aspects 
of 
sexual 
behavior; 
Sociologically, 
refers 
to 
cultural, 
political, 
and 
legal 
aspects; 
Philosophically, 
refers 
to 
moral, 
ethical, 
theological, 
spiritual 
or 
religious 
aspects. 


Stalking: 
Engaging 
in 
an 
intentional 
course 
of 
conduct 
(two 
or 
more 
acts) 
directed 
at 
a 
specific 
person 
or 
persons; 
that 
which 
seriously 
alarms, 
annoys, 
intimidates, 
or 
harasses 
the 
person 
or 
persons; 
and 
which 
serves 
no 
legitimate 
purpose. 
[Source: 
KRS 
508.130 
(1-2)]. 


Survivor: 
An 
individual 
who 
continues 
to 
live, 
prosper 
or 
remain 
functional 
after 
a 
traumatic 
event. 


Sustainability: 
Effective 
and 
efficient 
enhancement 
of 
services 
for 
all 
individuals 
in 
a 
community 
that 
can 
be 
maintained 
over 
time. 


System 
Change: 
The 
process 
of 
improving 
the 
capacity 
of 
service 
providers 
to 
promote 
and 
provide 
collaborative 
person-centered 
services 
for 
survivors 
with 
disabilities 
through 
the 
creation 
of 
sustainable, 
transferable 
and 
replicable 
change. 


Trauma: 
Any 
physical, 
psychological 
or 
emotional 
injury 
resulting 
in 
pain, 
distress 
or 
shock, 
with 
profound 
impact 
on 
the 
individual’s 
well 
being. 


Victim: 
As 
used 
in 
the 
Kentucky 
Crime 
Victim 
Bill 
of 
Rights, 
an 
individual 
who 
suffers 
direct 
or 
threatened 
physical, 
financial, 
or 
emotional 
harm 
as 
a 
result 
of 
a 
crime 
…” 
[KRS 
421.500(1)]. 
For 
certain 
purposes, 
victim 
may 
also 
be 
defined 
to 
include 
a 
family 
member, 
friend, 
or 
other 
person 
associated 
with 
a 
person 
who 
has 
suffered 
directly 
as 
a 
result 
of 
a 
crime. 


Victim 
Blaming: 
An 
overt 
or 
covert 
judgmental 
response 
to 
disclosure 
of 
abuse 
that 
holds 
survivors 
to 
be 
in 
whole 
or 
in 
part 
responsible 
for 
the 
abuse 
they 
experienced. 
Victim-blaming 
serves 
as 
a 
barrier 
preventing 
survivors 
from 
sharing 
their 
experience 
of 
abuse 
with 
others 
(please 
also 
see 
Re-victimization). 


35 



Primary 
Contact: 


Norb 
Ryan 
ADA 
Coordinator 


(800) 
423-2933 
Alternate 
Contact: 


MaryLee 
Underwood 
Staff 
Attorney 
KASAP, 
Inc. 


(502) 
226-2704 
Media 
Talking 
Points 


What 
is 
Project 
SAFE? 


Project 
SAFE 
(Safety 
and 
Accessibility 
for 
Everyone) 
is 
a 
multi-disciplinary 
network 
of 
professionals 
working 
together 
to 
end 
domestic 
and 
sexual 
violence 
against 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
We 
work 
to 
improve 
the 
capacity 
of 
professionals 
throughout 
Kentucky 
to 
provide 
safe, 
accessible 
and 
comprehensive 
person-centered 
services 
to 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 


In 
2008, 
Project 
SAFE 
received 
funding 
under 
a 
cooperative 
agreement 
by 
the 
U.S. 
Department 
of 
Justice, 
Office 
on 
Violence 
Against 
Women 
to 
refine 
our 
efforts 
to 
promote 
safety 
and 
respect 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
who 
have 
been 
subjected 
to 
sexual 
assault 
or 
domestic 
violence. 
Agencies 
working 
under 
this 
cooperative 
agreement 
include: 


• 
Kentucky 
Association 
of 
Sexual 
Assault 
Programs, 
Inc. 
(KASAP) 
• 
Kentucky 
Domestic 
Violence 
Association 
(KDVA) 
• 
Kentucky 
Department 
for 
Behavioral 
Health, 
Developmental 
and 
Intellectual 
Disabilities 
• 
Kentucky 
Protection 
and 
Advocacy 
(P&A) 
• 
Office 
of 
the 
Kentucky 
Americans 
with 
Disabilities 
Act 
(ADA) 
Coordinator/ADA 
Coordinator 
• 
Kentucky 
Office 
of 
the 
Attorney 
General 
(OAG) 
• 
The 
Arc 
of 
Kentucky 
36 



Why 
Project 
SAFE? 


Individuals 
with 
disabilities 
are 
at 
extremely 
high 
risk 
of 
being 
assaulted 
or 
abused. 
Factors 
linked 
to 
increased 
risk 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
include: 


• 
Limited 
ability 
to 
resist 
or 
escape 
• 
Barriers 
to 
communication 
• 
Dependence 
on 
others 
for 
personal 
care 
and 
basic 
necessities 
• 
Fear 
of 
losing 
needed 
services 
• 
Limited 
resources 
• 
History 
of 
being 
taught 
to 
comply 
with 
authority 
figures 
• 
Fear 
of 
being 
disbelieved 
because 
of 
perceived 
non-credibility 
• 
Lack 
of 
basic 
education 
of 
anatomy, 
sexuality, 
and 
privacy 
Historically, 
there 
has 
been 
little 
cross 
training 
for 
service 
providers 
to 
ensure 
that 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
receive 
appropriate 
services. 
Project 
SAFE 
was 
formed 
by 
professionals 
who 
recognized 
that 
these 
individuals 
could 
fall 
between 
the 
cracks 
and 
were 
willing 
to 
take 
action 
to 
stop 
it. 


What 
is 
the 
Extent 
of 
the 
Problem? 
Kentucky 


• 
In 
Kentucky, 
there 
are 
874,156 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
(U.S. 
Census, 
2000). 
• 
In 
2008, 
there 
were 
1,451 
rapes 
reported 
to 
the 
police. 
In 
the 
same 
year, 
rape 
was 
committed 
every 
6 
hours, 
2 
minutes 
(Crime 
in 
Kentucky 
2008, 
Kentucky 
State 
Police). 
• 
In 
2008, 
the 
Kentucky 
Administrative 
Office 
of 
the 
Courts 
reported 
that 
26,020 
petitions 
were 
filed 
by 
persons 
seeking 
Domestic 
Violence 
Protective 
Orders 
(Crime 
in 
Kentucky 
2008, 
Kentucky 
State 
Police). 
Nationwide 


• 
Up 
to 
90% 
of 
individuals 
with 
developmental 
disabilities 
are 
sexually 
abused 
at 
some 
time 
(Valenti-Hein 
& 
Schwartz, 
1995). 
• 
Each 
year 
an 
estimated 
1.5 
million 
women 
and 
834,732 
men 
are 
physically 
or 
sexually 
assaulted 
by 
an 
intimate 
partner 
(National 
Institute 
of 
Justice 
and 
the 
Centers 
for 
Disease 
Control 
and 
Prevention, 
2000). 
• 
Women 
with 
disabilities 
are 
four 
times 
more 
likely 
to 
have 
been 
sexually 
assaulted 
in 
the 
last 
year 
than 
women 
without 
a 
disability 
(Martin, 
2006). 
37 



• 
Nearly 
25% 
of 
surveyed 
women 
said 
that 
they 
were 
raped 
and/or 
physically 
assaulted 
by 
a 
current 
or 
former 
spouse, 
cohabiting 
partner, 
or 
date 
at 
some 
time 
in 
their 
lifetime 
(National 
Institute 
of 
Justice 
and 
the 
Centers 
for 
Disease 
Control 
and 
Prevention, 
2000). 
• 
It 
has 
been 
estimated 
that 
between 
39% 
and 
68% 
of 
girls 
and 
between 
16% 
and 
30% 
of 
boys 
with 
developmental 
disabilities 
will 
be 
sexually 
abused 
by 
age 
18 
(Sobsey, 
1994). 
• 
Despite 
the 
high 
rates 
of 
violence 
against 
people 
with 
disabilities, 
a 
2003 
national 
survey 
revealed 
that 
only 
9% 
of 
sexual 
assault 
and 
domestic 
violence 
centers 
reported 
having 
a 
line 
item 
in 
their 
annual 
budget 
for 
accessibility 
and 
accommodations 
(Schwartz, 
Abramson 
& 
Kamper, 
2009). 
Goals 
of 
Project 
SAFE 


• 
Ensure 
that 
individuals 
with 
disabilities 
receive 
timely, 
appropriate 
and 
supportive 
response 
by 
disability 
service 
providers 
and 
victim 
service 
providers. 
• 
Increase 
knowledge 
regarding 
domestic 
and 
sexual 
violence 
against 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
• 
Build 
bridges 
among 
service 
providers 
who 
assist 
victims 
and 
those 
who 
provide 
disability-related 
services. 
• 
Raise 
awareness 
about 
the 
need 
for 
full 
accessibility 
in 
the 
delivery 
of 
victim 
services. 
• 
Create 
capacity 
for 
seamless, 
person-centered 
service 
delivery 
system 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities, 
whether 
seeking 
services 
through 
a 
victim 
service 
agency 
or 
a 
disability-related 
service 
agency. 
• 
Address 
the 
need 
for 
a 
sustainable 
infrastructure 
to 
support 
comprehensive 
services 
for 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
• 
Promote 
systems 
change 
to 
ensure 
sustainability. 
How 
Will 
It 
Be 
Done? 


Project 
SAFE 
will 
build 
the 
capacity 
of 
local 
organizations 
by: 


• 
Promoting 
collaborative 
partnerships 
between 
regional 
victim 
service 
organizations, 
governmental 
agencies, 
the 
criminal 
justice 
system, 
and 
organizations 
serving 
individuals 
with 
disabilities. 
• 
Developing 
an 
infrastructure 
for 
cross-training 
and 
technical 
assistance 
to 
regional 
service 
providers 
and 
criminal 
justice 
officials. 
• 
Promoting 
the 
modification 
of 
existing 
policies, 
protocols 
and 
procedures. 
• 
Addressing 
the 
need 
for 
greater 
accountability 
and 
responsibility 
in 
service 
provision. 
38 



• 
Encouraging 
the 
removal 
of 
attitudinal, 
programmatic 
and 
cultural 
barriers 
that 
discriminate 
on 
the 
basis 
of 
identity. 
i 
This 
term 
is 
cited 
verbatim 
from 
the 
Accessing 
Safety 
Initiative 
web 
site 
at 
www.accessingsafety.org 
ii 
ibid. 
iii 
Ibid. 


39