In this month's newsletter we're covering:
- Black History Month
- Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
- Conference Request for Workshop Proposals
- Sign Up for the Monthly Legislative Newsletter
- Upcoming Trainings, Events, & Meetings
- Key Considerations Training Series
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February is a time to celebrate the fullness of Black history and culture, but that cannot be contained in one month alone. As advocates, we have a responsibility to push past performatively showing support for the sexual assault awareness movement without truly understanding the history and the values that this movement embodies. The history of the rape crisis movement in the United States is also a history of Black women navigating the intersection of race, gender, and class to fight for change. This should be the guiding force for all advocacy work today. This is how we can begin to spark real conversation and change.
According to Department of Justice statistics, members of the Black community experience higher rates of sexual violence than white, Asian, and Latina girls and women, and they often feel they have few options for seeking justice and help due to a number of widespread institutional and historical factors. In addition, negative personal, family, and community experiences with law enforcement may cause Black survivors to feel that reporting sexual violence to the police is not an option for them.
We at OAESV commit to intentionally sharing stories that are left untold. We commit to centering the experiences of those who are often pushed to the margins by society. Every day, we affirm that Black histories matter, and the present and future lives of Black people matter.
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Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
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Not all relationships are healthy. You deserve one that is. Topics like dating abuse and unhealthy relationships can be difficult to talk about, especially for young people. It is important to talk about building healthy, meaningful, and equitable relationships, and give the young people in our lives the tools to have these conversations.
This year we amplify love is respect's theme Talk About It, a call to action to engage in meaningful conversations about healthy and unhealthy relationships.
Some tips on having a conversation with youth about healthy relationships are:
- Encourage thoughtful, honest, and open dialogue. Talk openly and allow them to articulate what a healthy relationship is to them.
- Understand and respond to the warning signs of abuse by asking open-ended questions and listening.
- Be supportive and nonjudgmental. Validate, empathize, and create a space where they feel safe.
- Decide on the next steps together.
To learn more, visit loveisrespect.org or attend ODVN's Youth Advocacy Caucus meeting to hear from people doing the work to raise awareness in Ohio about teen dating violence featuring our very own Director of Prevention & Public Health, Caitlin Burke. Learn more in the Upcoming Trainings, Events, & Meetings section!
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Submit Your Conference Workshop Proposals
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We recently announced the dates and theme of our 2022 Annual Conference:
Growing Our Collective Future
June 28-30
Learn more about the theme and proposal guidelines here. Submit your proposals here.
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Are you registered for our Monthly Legislative Newsletter? Get on the list here to receive critical public policy updates focused on Ohio and sexual violence.
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Upcoming Trainings, Events, & Meetings
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Quarterly Prevention Pop-In
This is an opportunity for preventionists throughout Ohio to build community and collective strength, discussing the unique perspectives of the sexual violence prevention field. It is a space for preventionists shaped by preventionists.
Read more
oaesv.org
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Do you have questions about working with men who are survivors or including men in violence prevention? Our Engaging Men Coordinator Jayvon Howard is ready! On February 9th, he will be going LIVE on Instagram to answer all of your burning queries. If you have one you'd like answered, send Jayvon an email before Feb. 9 at jhoward@oaesv.org.
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Ohio Survivor Legal Assistance Clinic Virtual Office Hours
Have questions that need a legal opinion or advice? Give our legal team a call to speak with an attorney for a brief consultation.
Call in from 12pm to 2pm on Feb. 10th and from 4pm to 6pm on Feb. 22 to connect! 216-407-4315
Read more
oaesv.org
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Thirsty Thursday: Space for Sexual Assault Response Team ...
Join us the third Thursday of each month as we explore challenges unique to SART Coordinators and raise our glasses to team successes across our state. This month's call is Feb. 17 from 10-11 am.
Read more
oaesv.org
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As mentioned, February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Join ODVN's Youth Advocacy Caucus meeting to hear from people doing the work to raise awareness in Ohio about teen dating violence. Presentations include varying type of teen IVP service design, including addressing rural and urban youth, juvenile protection orders in safety planning, engaging youth in addressing healthy and unhealthy relationships, and engaging boys in programming. Our very own Director of Prevention and Public Health, Caitlin Burke, will be on the panel of presenters!
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Original Crime Victims: Notification and Support in Wrongful Conviction Cases, hosted by the Healing Justice Project, the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), and the Ohio Innocence Project, will take place at The Graduate Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 10th and March 11th, 2022.
This conference is designed for victim service providers and other mental health professionals working with victims of traumatic crime in the U.S. It will serve as an introduction to, and first step towards, effectively serving original crime victims in the U.S.
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Key Considerations Training Series
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The U.S. Department of Health Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Prevention Program is launched a “Providing Crisis Services to African American Survivors of Crime” training series.
The purpose of this series is to reflect on how our programs are serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities in supportive, liberatory, and just ways. The series is directed at white leaders and staff in the gender-based violence movement with the intention of deep reflection and intention on improving experiences for BIPOC survivors and BIPOC staff by interrogating and dismantling agency policies and practices that uphold white supremacy.
The training videos and the accompanying reflection questions for each module can be found on our website here.
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Thanks for reading! Feel free to forward to a friend.
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This project was supported by Grant No. OAESV 2019-SW-AX-0020 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice , to the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.
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