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Green named to social services advisory panel By JONEL ALECCIA For years, Arnie Green has lobbied for state funds to battle domestic violence and sexual assault. Now the director of Community Works, a Medford social service agency, will advise state leaders about the best way to spend $2.5 million dedicated to the problems. Green has been named to a 15- to 20-member advisory committee appointed by Attorney General Hardy Myers. The group, composed of representatives from law enforcement, social service and victims' advocacy agencies, will suggest the best way to spend money allocated by House Bill 2918 during the last legislative session. "I was really honored," said Green. Green, a member of the Oregon Alliance to Stop Violence Against Women, said the group will begin next month to address funding for four top priorities: new shelter beds, improved administrative infrastructure, programs to provide culturally appropriate domestic violence services and sexual assault programs. In addition, the group will tackle the thorny issue of splitting funds geographically throughout the state. Green, whose agency runs the Dunn House, Jackson county's domestic violence shelter, said he'll advocate for an equitable distribution everywhere. "I'm going in, unless I'm convinced otherwise, to split the money evenly throughout the state," Green said. "Let's not battle internally about whether Portland gets 50 percent of the funds." It would be far wiser for the coalition to build connections that will sustain the group through future legislative sessions, with the eventual goal of increasing funding for domestic violence and sexual assault, he said. Green, a 27-year veteran of social services, will be a "respected advocate for all Southern Oregon sexual assault and domestic violence programs," Myers said in a statement. For his part, Green said he's pleased that the task of spending new money exists at all. "This is the first time the state has dedicated general fund dollars to domestic violence," he said. "In a tight legislative session where they had to cut other social service programs, this was fantastic." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.