National Board Report 2/2010

Shirley Harlan, Southwest Regional Rep.

Shirley Harlan at Council Meeting

The National Board met in Washington DC January 29-30, 2010. We labored very hard with tough issues for OWL’s future. There was discussion about how to push for the reforms we have been pushing and be fiscally responsible? I report that we (board members) do see a future for OWL. When we adjourned the board members both present and via phone gave and pledged a total of $21,560.00.

We have a four-point message.

1. OWL’s visibility nationally on issues we consider important is realized. Tish Somers would be very proud of this accomplishment. Our director, Ashley Carson has skillfully won us recognition with critical congressional committees and coalition with aging organizations.
2. This strength places us in a strong possibility for fund raising challenges. As you know this has been a difficult year for all non-profits and families. It is difficult in the current economy to raise funds and compete for grants.
3. We have a strong possibility of grant money.
4. The board has committed to increasing fund raising activities.

Board members instructed Kathie and myself to thank you for the support and generous contribution that OWL/CA has given to the National Office.

National OWL Board Members spoke at the White House, as well as Ruth Nadel, who was recognized publicly. Such highlights have promoted our national visibility and are OWL’s greatest asset along with our grassroots members.

The outcome of the two days demonstrated that our mission is “progressive” and still very critical to acknowledge mid-life and older women and that our grassroots members in chapters and at large are very critical for our national recognition.

The Board took fiscal action to reduce national office spending and to support our DC recognition as leading advocate for elders. As Board members we developed a plan to contact every member to participate in the future of OWL. We will be discussing what form an organization takes in order to push for reforms. We have a telephone conference set for early March and we meet again in Washington DC on May 14-15, 2010.

Do contact Kathie Piccagli or myself with your comments and ideas for form and fundraising.
Personal Note: I was lucky to participate Saturday evening with others to celebrate Ruth Nadel's 96-year birthday party at the rehabilitation facility where she is recuperating from a fall. Laurie Young, former executive director was there and sends her greetings to all OWLs in California. Contact information:
Kathie Piccagli: kpiccagli@gmail.com
Shirley Harlan: vldy@aol.com
OWL website www.owl-national.org

Older Women in Prison
Shirley Harlan, SW regional Representative

There have been changes at CIW, California’s Institution for Women. Dawn Davison, warden for past five years, watching over 2,600 inmates, left a legacy of improvements and successes. When she retired in December, she said, “I know I’m leaving CIW better than when I got here”. Now with California budget crisis, the new Warden, Mr. Garcia, is operating in a different manner. I received a letter from the inside telling what new is happening. Here are some of the changes: the education programs discontinued and teachers fired; cells searched and items previously approved and purchased from the canteen placed in the trash; no response to meet with Golden Girls and an increase in guard assignments when activities have been reduced. These actions are creating fear concerns for lifer prisoners who have been 98 per cent write-up free.

Our OWL member, Jane Benson, describes the Golden Girls. They are a collection of abused women who are emotionally damaged by the decades of incarceration and isolation from families whom they love. Many women have been there over forty years. From their letters to the parole board and contacts when I was visiting CIW, I marveled at their education, skill and accomplishments that now are curtailed.

In February, Jane expects to have neck surgery and other treatment to enable her to walk without walker or wheelchair. She says, “I hope to be out there hooting ‘Hoot Hoot’ and helping however I can.” Do send her a card, Jane Benson, W28860, EB517L, 16756 Chino-Corona Road, Corona, CA 92880-9508

I have a list of 100 women in Golden Girls, who would love to have contact with an OWL on the outside to keep their hopes up. Be a pen pal and contact me for a Golden Girl name, especially during this unusual transition of prison management.

There is a template letter to send to the governor on the OWL/CA website women in prison link. Feel free to add your own words. I will post the names of women for whom the governor’s parole board has approved release.

For sample letter and information contact Shirley Harlan, Southwest Region Representative and OWL/CA 909 882 4057 or vldy@aol.com. Template is below.

This list is provided by Crossroads Advocacy Project, PO Box 15 Claremont CA 91711, 909 626-7847

(Template for letter to gov. re Prison reform, or download Word document)

Date

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

(Person’s name and W#) has been found suitable by the Board of Parole hearings. They see no justifications for her continued incarceration.

After stringent review, the Board of Parole hearings, which you appoint, does not find her to be a threat to the larger community.

I urge you do the right thing: Uphold your Board’s decision.
Grant (person’s name) parole.

In Justice,

My Name
My Address
My City, State, ZIP

Older Women in Prison Report

This report begins with a few facts: National growth trends from 1997 to 2004 show the number of women serving sentences of more than a year grew by 757%. Arrests of women were up 13% and the number of women behind prison bars rose by 53%. Female inmates are the fastest growing segment of the total prison population.

When we look at the California 2004 growth trends, we find the female imprisonment rate of 61 prisoners per 100,000 residents is the 22nd highest in the country.

In 1995 a study profiled the Needs of California’s Female Prisoners in California. It was found that 71% of incarcerated women had experienced ongoing physical abuse prior to the age of 18. For 62% of those women the abuse continued after 18. Forty-one percent of women reported experiencing sexual abuse before and after turning 18.

In the state of California, 9.7% or 1145 women of the 11,753 incarcerated women as of December 31, 2006 were age 50 and over. *

Prisons are over crowded and prisoners are aging and we are concerned!

I learned these facts attending Symposium 2009: Different Faces of Poverty, on Saturday, February 14, 2009, in Los Angeles. Suzanne Jabro, CSJ, Director Women in Prison Project led the workshop, Wisdom without Walls: A Crossover. I participate with her coalition at California Institution for Women. Three women shared their experience of crossing over from inside to the outside. It was clear that the outside community must become more aware and active in providing not only support but also home-type settings for rehabilitation. When you have been incarcerated for more than 19 years, returning to society is challenging!

In California, Governor Schwarzenegger is denying parole to women who have been recommended for parole by the Board of Prison Hearings. He appoints these commissioners. The Board of Prison Terms recommends only 5% of those eligible for parole. The Governor then denies 85 to 90% of these women their freedom. These women have been deemed to be no risk to society. These women have support and job skills. Only 1% of those released return to prison for violations.

There are currently over 200 women at California Institution for Women serving indeterminate sentences. The unofficial cost for women in California prisons is about $36,000 per year. For seniors (55+) medical costs exceed $70,000 per year. There are two other Women’s Facilities in California.

We are contacting Governor Schwarzenegger to follow the recommendation of his Board and release the older women.

Contact me for current information about California women who are deemed eligible for parole. Find the “crossroads” facility in your area and volunteer! Find the aging women prisoners, and help them find their voice to outside the walls!

Note: The Governor since 1988 has the right to review and overturn parole recommendations made by the Board of Prison Hearings that he appoints. There has been consistent overturning of their decisions, leading to a situation in which thousands are now effectively serving life sentences without the possibility of parole despite their demonstrated suitability for release.

Shirley Harlan, Southwest Regional Representative, PO Box 2276, San Bernardino, 92406 or vldy@aol.com

*Ref: Action Committee for Women in Prison: Fact Sheet for Women in Prison www.acwip.net/id19.html (accessed on June 18, 2007)

By Shirley Harlan, Older Women’s League, Coalition Community Member, Supporter of IHSS. I live in San Bernardino.

Most Americans want In-home care and cry out “Don’t put me in a Nursing Home!”

I am here before you representing aging people who want this choice and quality of life and especially us older women who live alone. We are more likely to be unable to cover our basic needs, which are partly due to lifetime wage discrepancies. Today women still earn an average of 78 cents for every dollar earned by men, reducing our retirement income. Retirement income is relatively fixed. And as you know, health care and housing costs have risen faster than the overall cost of living. Women generally survive their husbands and are forced to live on much smaller incomes. We have worked during our life and earned the right to choose independent living! I would add that elders of color and Latino elders show even higher rates of economic insecurities.

IHSS programs help the elderly live independently in their own homes – and out of nursing homes. Home care, meals, help for Alzheimer’s caregivers?all help save money by keeping people out of nursing homes.

Every program, every bill and every policy issue is affected by the economy. I urge you to make smarter investments of limited resources. I hope you are familiar with the Elder Index, a new tool that quantifies the actual costs of meeting the basic needs of older adults in the community. For over 45 years, the FPL, or Federal Poverty Line, has been the basis for provided services and has been applied across the board. San Bernardino County’s market is much different from other geographic areas. Times have changed and the new tool, Elder Index, is based on all the costs individuals face on a daily basis.

The Black Voice News recently had an article, Half of IE’s Seniors Can’t Make It On Their Own, describing the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development’s research of this new tool. In San Bernardino County 58.6% of seniors living alone had incomes below the Elder Index but above the Federal Poverty Level. This highlights the importance of adequately assessing measures and policies.

My main point is that homecare workers provide quality and vital care for our seniors and people living with disabilities, allowing them to remain independent in their homes. This is a humane issue: homecare workers need a livable wage and benefits. From a policy viewpoint, money is saved in the long run, keeping elders independent; and, with a livable wage, keeping care workers employed.