All treats, no tricks! This month's newsletter is packed with goodies!

Stick with us through the end as we cover:

• Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• October Dates to Remember
• Job Opportunities at OAESV
• Fall 40-Hour Training Institute for Sexual Violence Advocates
• Be the One Focus Group Recruitment
• Upcoming Trainings, Events, & Meetings
• OAESV in the News
• Community Corner
• OAESV Job Board

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

We may be Ohio's sexual violence coalition, but that doesn't mean the work of domestic violence advocacy is lost on us. We recognize and witness the overlap between these two forms of violence.

Domestic and sexual violence (and other forms of violence) share the same root causes — oppression and the abuse of power — and we know violence perpetuates more violence.

We sat down with Rachel Ramirez and Kasey Holderbaum from the Ohio Domestic Violence Network to discuss the

unique differences and similarities

between both domestic and sexual violence – one being, surprisingly and unsurprisingly, brain injury.

The overlap between DV and SV is important because it can help us better prevent violence from occurring in the first place. We can coordinate responses to violence in a way that recognizes these connections and considers the survivor in the context of their home environment, neighborhood, and larger community.

Listen to the episode on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple podcasts, and Amazon Music or visit oaesv.org/TealTalk for direct links and a transcript.

This month and beyond, we will uplift the work of our dual-serving agencies and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. Together, we can make a difference in preventing all forms of violence in our communities.

Check out our Community Corner at the bottom of this newsletter for Domestic Violence Awareness Month events and training opportunities.

October Dates to Remember

Hispanic Heritage Month (Ends Oct. 15) is an annual celebration that honors the history, culture, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry can be traced to 20 countries and one territory — which includes Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Spain. Check out our social media below, to see spotlights on our amazing Hispanic staff! Check out our Community Corner at the bottom of this newsletter for a Hispanic Heritage Month training opportunity.

Down Syndrome Awareness Month (October) is a time to raise public awareness of this common disorder. Folks with disabilities are more vulnerable to abuse and other types of harm, so it's important that we advocate for the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.

Indigenous Peoples Day (Monday, Oct. 9) is a holiday in the United States that celebrates and honors Native American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. OAESV's offices will be closed on this day.

National Coming Out Day (Tuesday, Oct. 11) is an annual awareness day to support folks in the LGBTQ+ community in being open about who they are to their friends, family, and the world!

International Pronouns Day (Wednesday, Oct. 18) seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.

Join Our Team!

We are GROWING and hiring three NEW positions:

• Director of Grant Management & Sustainability
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
• Fund Development Coordinator (Contractual)

Are you the one we are looking for?! Learn more and apply here. Open until filled.

Fall 40-Hour Training Institute for Sexual Violence Advocates

OAESV’s Training Institute for Sexual Violence Advocates is designed for advocates and rape crisis program staff who have been working in the field two years or less, or are new to Ohio laws and procedures.

Training Schedule:

• 20 Hours of Asynchronous Training: Accessible 10/23/2023-11/12/2023, completed at your own pace.

• 20 Hours of Live Zoom Training: November 13th-17th, 10am-3:30pm with an hour break midday for lunch.

Fulfills "Core Standards for Rape Crisis Programs in Ohio,” as well as OAN and NOVA/NACP introductory training requirements for advocates! Approved for 37.5 hours of CEU credits for social workers, as well.

Be the One Focus Group Recruitment

CALLING ALL CHANGE AGENTS!

OAESV is seeking a diverse group of Ohio-based youths aged 13-18 to participate in a virtual focus group session on either 11/14/2023 or 11/16/2023 from 5:30-7 PM. The focus group should last no longer than 1.5 hours, and participants will receive a $50 Visa gift card.

This focus group will provide an opportunity to center youth in youth anti-sexual violence initiatives from our Be the One campaign, a social marketing campaign we started in 2016 with a focus on preventing sexual violence among adolescents and youth. Currently, Be the One is not led by youth, and we know that needs to change.

In particular, we are looking for youth to provide feedback on:

• Top issues they and their peers face and what issues matter most to them
• What draws them in to participate in youth programs and what keeps them engaged 
• Their opinions on programming for sexual violence prevention and Be the One campaign 

Interested youths can register at oaesv.org/bto and any follow-up questions or collaboration ideas can be directed to Sarah Ferrato at sferrato@oaesv.org.

Not between 13-18? Don't live in Ohio? Here are some ways to support!

• Share the focus group opportunity with eligible teens in your life
• Save and share the focus group flyer below
• Share this Be the One post to your social media channels
• Share with others who are connected with eligible teens in Ohio

Mark Your Calendars!

Developing and Supporting 'Men as Survivors' Support Groups

This 2-day in-person training provided by Kenton Kirby and Diana Thomas from Men Healing will cover best practices for engaging and retaining male survivors in support groups. The second day includes a workshop where facilitators provide coaching on creating effective group curriculums for men in healing spaces. Attendees can receive coaching and workshop support on their current resources and engaging men curriculum.

Monthly Legislative Update

Join us for the October First Friday Call to discuss state and federal legislative/public policy updates.

Connect with an Attorney

The OAESV Legal Clinic holds virtual office hours to provide a safe space for Ohio survivors and their advocates to connect with an attorney. Virtual office hours will allow survivors to discuss legal options, connect with resources, and/or have a brief consultation. 

• October 12 from 12pm to 2pm
• October 24 from 4pm to 6pm

Ohio Campus Coalition for Advocates and Preventionists

Connect with campus advocates and preventionists across the state! In our October meeting, we’ll be joined by Radhika Sharma-Gordon, Manager of Outreach and Education at Apna Ghar.

Radhika will present the ways that campuses and community organizations can better serve the needs of international and immigrant students through response, outreach, and prevention education.

3-Part Seasonal Training Series (Fall): Story Stewardship

As the leaves change color, the nights become longer and the fires burn brighter, fall provides a wonderful opportunity to gather with loved ones and share stories. Storytelling can foster feelings of connection, and can even aid in the healing process for those who have experienced trauma. As advocates for survivors of sexual violence, it's our responsibility to create a safe and supportive space for them to share their stories.

Registration for Part 1 closes Oct 16

SART/CCRT Call

CCRT and SART chairs and co-chairs, join us for a monthly space to be in community with other leaders and to raise our glasses to team successes across our state!

October's call is on the 19th at 2pm.

To join, email Nicole Kass Colvin, Director of Coordinated Community Responses, at ncolvin@oaesv.org and request to be added to the SART Coordinators and Co-Chairs Contact List. We will share the call link via this contact list.

Quarterly Prevention Pop-in

The Quarterly Prevention Pop-in 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. Come as you are when you can!

Ready Set Go! Foundations fo Prevention

New to prevention work or itching to brush up on your skills? 'Ready, Set, Go!' is a full-day training that covers the foundations of violence prevention, such as anti-oppression, public health, and best practices.

State Prevention Plan Community of Practice Session

This Community of Practice (CoP) session seeks to bring together preventionists across the state of Ohio to implement a statewide prevention plan, centering those organizations and programs that provide direct services to community members who experience sexual and/or intimate partner violence. CoP members will represent their respective organizations and contribute through their participation in caucus groups, each following an anti-oppressive approach to statewide strategic priorities.

CCRT Training Institute

The Coordinated Community Response Team Training Institute is a two-day virtual training to increase sustainable, Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) and Coordinated Community Response Team (CCRT) trauma-informed practices. We will have workshops on trauma-informed care, cultural humility, and the basics of sexual assault response to increase the capacity of your team members and community to respond to sexual assault. 

More info on workshops and presenters to come!

Works in Progress

This section in our newsletter is a more proactive way to share what technical assistance items and projects OAESV is working on to support local program efforts!

• OAESV is beginning a CDC-funded project dedicated to implementing an internal primary prevention capacity assessment. This assessment will allow OAESV to understand strengths and gaps in providing high quality technical assistance on primary prevention, specifically with a health equity focus. The project will end with action planning around the findings, with community partner input along the way. 

• OAESV’s Prevention & Public Health team received a grant from Bloomberg American Health Initiative to turn the Be the One campaign into a Youth Ambassador program led by teens throughout Ohio, providing opportunities for them to lead sexual violence prevention in their communities. Check out the first half of this newsletter for more information!

• OAESV members will soon have access to prevention-focused training sessions in our Resource Library, thanks to a longtime volunteer's captioning and transcription work. The announcement of the availability of the recordings will be made in The Prevention Monthly newsletter, and anyone interested can be added to the newsletter by contacting sferrato@oaesv.org.

OAESV in the News

Community Corner

Want to add a message to our newsletter? Please email Laurie Hamame at Lhamame@oaesv.org at least 7 days prior to the first of the month with the details of your message request. Examples include event invitations and calls for proposals.

Workshop Presentation Proposal Request

Central Ohio Sexual Assault Awareness Month 2024 SAAM Conference

Submit your workshop or panel discussion proposals for the 2024 Central Ohio SAAM conference on April 10, 2024. Proposal submission deadline is October 31, 2023.

Free DVAM trainings by the Stalking Prevention,

Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC)

Serving Latinx Deaf Survivors and Survivors with Disabilities 

Tuesday, October 24

2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET

As we celebrate the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans during Hispanic Heritage Month, this End Abuse webinar highlights the importance of culturally responsive, accessible services for Deaf and Disabled survivors of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage. 

Join Olga Trujillo of Activating Change, Renee Lopez, a disability rights advocate in Texas, and Aracelia Aguilar, an Empowerment Director at Deaf Hope, for a conversation on how advocates can better engage and support Latinx Deaf and Disabled survivors of violence.  

Human Trafficking: Lessons Learned

from Survivors through Focus Groups

The Salvation Army in Central Ohio offers periodic webinars to share the insights gained from their survivor focus groups. Through a series of conversations with survivors, they are learning firsthand what kinds of supports are most valued by human trafficking survivors as they work to build stability in their lives. Join The Salvation Army and Harold D’Souza, President of Eyes Open International, for a discussion of the lessons learned through this year’s groups.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: Mental Health Considerations

Join NAMI Greater Cleveland for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault: Mental Health Considerations on Monday, October 16 at 12pm via Zoom. Facilitated by Dr. Tyffani Monford-Dent, a clinical psychologist and speaker/author who addresses issues of sexual violence, intersectionality, and the mental health of Black and Brown girls and women, this presentation will provide an overview of the mental health considerations of domestic violence and sexual assault. 

Cuyahoga County SART Conference:

Supporting Those Impacted by Sextortion

This year's conference features expert presentations on topics such as how to identify sextortion, talking with youth about sextortion, prosecution of cases involving sextortion, and more.

These topics are relevant for multiple disciplines, including law enforcement, medical professionals, SANE, advocates, social workers, prosecutors, and K-12 educators.

Date: Friday, November 17, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Location: Presented virtually on Zoom.

Cost: $30.

Vela User Panel: Success Stories and Lessons Learn

Join Vela for a webinar where they will bring together a group of users to share their journeys and experiences. Discover how Vela has revolutionized their efforts and contributed to their success.

Hear real-world success stories, gain insights into effective advocacy, and learn from lessons and challenges.

OAESV's Job Board

Are you or someone you know looking for employment? There are many open positions at rape crisis centers, sexual violence coalitions, and other allied organizations in Ohio and beyond! Please visit oaesv.org/employment and share with your networks.

To post a job opportunity, please email Laurie Hamame, lhamame@oaesv.org