Through a collective voice, the WCADVSA is committed to provide leadership, education, and systems advocacy to advance social change and end violence.

October 21, 2021

Welcome to your weekly edition of the Coalition Connection!

Are you having difficulty viewing this e-mail or do you feel like you are missing some of the information in the Connection? If so, click here for help.

We will highlight important information in this section each week in red that requires your action or attention. This week's highlights include:  

Opportunity

• Seeking Program Director for Big Horn County CARES
• Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma Hiring 3 Positions
• Part-Time Advocate in Thermopolis, WY
• Program & Training Specialist - Praxis International
• WCSADVSA Staff Attorney Position

Our Work

• Governor Proclamation
• Survivor Advisory Council
• 2020-2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Program
• Funds to Reduce Education, Employment, and Job Training Barriers for Survivors

Policy Updates

• Urge Congress to Support Survivors in Upcoming FVPSA Improvement Act Vote
• A Refresh on WCADVSA Monthly Policy Call November 12 - Everyone's Invited!

Training and Events

• Virtual 5k for Anti-Bullying & Suicide Prevention
• Transitional Housing Assistance Program Forms Training - October 26
• RUN WY! Leadership Development Training
• Transitional Housing Voluntary Services Training E-Learning
• 2021 Young Minds Matter Conference: Healing, Justice, and Connection for Mental Wellbeing - October 21 & 23
• Family-Centered Toolkit for DV Programs Webinar Series
• Men & Masculinity 2021 National Conference October 27-28
• Trauma-Informed Principles Are for Everyone: Supporting and Sustaining Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Practitioners

Resources

• Recorded Webinar from NNEDV - Coalition Fundraising Training: Online Fundraising
• One Organization, Shifting Politics in Texas
• JWI Civic Action To-Do List
• Alias Hotel Booking Site for Crime Survivor Agencies
• ERAP Updates
• Interstate Custody Webinar for Advocates

Spotlight

• WCADVSA Economic Empowerment Webinar Series Begins October 25

Seeking Program Director for Big Horn County CARES

This full time position requires the ability to set up and manage budgets, bill out expenses, perform payroll and employment report duties, supervise advocates, provide all kinds of advocacy including documentation of services and state and federal reporting, the preparation and management of board meetings, give presentations, work with the civil and criminal court systems, apply for all types of grants and awards, fundraising, and excellent communication skills.

All applications must be received by email no later than October 27. Start date December 1, 2021.

Please contact either CARES office for more information. 307-568-3334 or 307-548-2330.

Institute on Violence, Abuse & Trauma Hiring 3 Positions

Join the IVAT team and help us support survivors of trauma and abuse and build violence-free communities. We are currently looking for a full-time Forensic Psychologist, a full-time Summit Assistant, and a full-time Summit Registration Assistant. All positions will be based at our main office in San Diego. Click on the links below for more info or to apply.

Forensic Psychologist

Summit Assistant

Summit Registration Assistant

Part-Time Advocate in Thermopolis, WY

Major Duties

• Provides crisis interventions services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Victim Services

• Provide intake, peer support, in-person advocacy and follow-up to victims.
• Assess and evaluate the victims’ situations, formulate a plan of action, and take appropriate action.
• Maintain files; prepare monthly reports and statistical data.
• Facilitate a monthly support group for victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.
• Assist in prevention education to the community on domestic violence, sexual assault, and
• understanding of agency activities.
• Other duties as assigned

Click here for more information and to submit application.

Application deadline is October 27, 2021.

Program & Training Specialist

Primary Duties: The Praxis Program and Training Specialist works closely with other Praxis program staff and leadership to plan, coordinate, and implement Praxis programs. This individual serves as a subject matter expert, contributing to the design and implementation of programs that are designed to advance the work, mission, vision, and values of Praxis. The Program and Training Specialist may have a designated area of program focus but is also available to work across programs.

This position reports to the Program Director designated for their program area.

For complete posting details click here.

Application deadline is 4:00 pm on November 11, 2021

WCADVSA Staff Attorney Position

The WCADVSA Legal Project is funded through a grant received from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program.

The Legal Project has been funded by OVW since 1998 in competitive grant cycles. Two Staff Attorney positions and a Legal Assistant position are funded to complete the grant goals which include providing direct civil legal services on behalf of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking statewide. 

Located within the WCADVSA's Legal Project office in Ft. Washakie, WY. 

Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law in Wyoming.
• Knowledge of Wyoming courts, laws and procedures.
• Thorough understanding of family law, civil procedure, evidence, ethics and familiarity with criminal law.
• Understanding of issues and willingness to continue to learn about issues related to domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault and a strong commitment to ending violence against women.
• Ability to provide professional, high quality and sensitive legal services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
• Ability to counsel and advise clients and provide referrals for people who are in crisis.
• Willingness and ability to work with people from varied backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities and abilities.
• Proficiency with computer and Internet technologies and software programs, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to work with law office management databases, including ABACUS.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage time, keep detailed statistics, evaluate progress and adjust activities to complete work within established time frames.
• Ability to handle multiple projects and work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Demonstrated team building, limit setting, problem solving, creative/analytical thinking and organizational skills, including report writing and grant writing.
• Demonstrated project management skills, including staff supervision.
• Commitment to collaboration, team-building and professional development of staff.

Click here for complete job description and application process.

Governor Proclamation

Although Governor Gordon was unable to meet with us this year to commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month, he provided us with the attached proclamation.

We hope your DV awareness month events are going well and bring critical attention to the issue of domestic violence. 

Survivor Advisory Council

A Virtual Inaugural Convening of the WCADVSA Survivor Advisory Council

Save the Date - Tuesday, October 26 7:00-9:00 pm

All survivors are invited, especially those who have gone through the story telling workshops. For more information, please contact Tara Muir or Susie Markus.

2020-2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Program

The WCADVSA Transitional Housing Assistance Program is purposed to increase housing

options, support service resources, and address barriers relevant to the delivery of transitional

housing services to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking

in Wyoming rural communities and within the Wind River Indian Reservation. This program will primarily focus on supporting the needs of survivors who are Native American, older people, persons with disabilities, persons who are Limited-English-Proficient, persons who are immigrants, and/or survivors within extreme rural areas.

As members of the WCADVSA, DVSA programs are eligible to participate in this Transitional Housing Assistance Program. Through its purpose, the WCADVSA will support DVSA member programs’ holistic and voluntary services approach to provide short-term transitional housing assistance that support survivors moving into permanent housing with a continuation of working towards self-sustainability.

For more information about program requirements, working with participants and providing

services, and accessing and utilizing this assistance please review the 2020-2023 Transitional Housing Assistance Program Policy.

Current availability of funds is approximately $34,415.

Contact Trish Worley, Economic Justice Specialist for technical assistance.

Funds to Reduce Education, Employment, and Job Training Barriers for Survivors

With support from The Allstate Foundation, the WCADVSA has funds to support education, employment, and job training barriers for survivors. These funds can be used to help support survivors in obtaining G.E.D.s, job skills training, certifications, licenses, continuing education, education/job-related supplies such as uniforms, tools, and/or other equipment, transportation-related support, etc. 

If your program is offering training on the Allstate Moving Ahead Curriculum or other economic empowerment training, you may request funds to support and encourage survivor participation such as offering food and/or childcare during economic empowerment events or gas gift cards for survivors to get to the training. 

Member programs may also inquire about offering scholarships to help support survivor participation in job training programs such as CLIMB Wyoming.

Funds must be spent by June 30, 2022. We have approximately $11,581 remaining. Remaining funds will be pledged on a first come first serve basis. To request funds, please submit an Allstate Barrier Reduction Request Form. Once your request has been approved, your program will pay expenses upfront and then you can request reimbursement by submitting an Allstate Barrier Reduction Reimbursement Form.

While it is not required for participants to utilize the Allstate Moving Ahead curriculum to access these funds, financial planning and management is a life-long process and this online curriculum is designed for domestic violence survivors and can help provide the guidance and tools needed to make important financial decisions and work toward gaining long-term financial security.

If you have any questions, please connect with Trish Worley

National Policy Updates

Urge Congress to Support Survivors in Upcoming FVPSA Improvement Act Vote

The FVPSA Improvement bill would bolster existing FVPSA programs and increase authorized funding, as well as expand domestic violence services to Tribes, Tribal coalitions, culturally specific programs, and other underserved communities. 

Unfortunately, there are two proposed amendments that pose a threat for service providers and the overdue improvements included in H.R. 2119. Read more about the amendments in our action alert email that you can send to your Representative today.

Please join us in urging your Representative to vote “YES” on the bipartisan FVPSA Improvement bill and “NO” on these harmful amendments. Find our FVPSA fact sheet here.

Email your Representative now and tell them Vote "YES" on FVPSA Improvement bill and to oppose any harmful amendments. 

State Policy Updates

A Refresh on WCADVSA Monthly Policy Calls - Everyone's Invited!

If you, survivors, staff, board, members of your community response team or other partners are invited. If they would like to learn more or discuss ideas for fixing state statutes in order to keep survivors safer and hold offenders more accountable - the monthly policy call is where to go!

Upcoming Calls - brown bag it on Zoom!

October 22  12 noon - 1:00 pm Canceled

November 12 12 noon - 1:00 pm

December 10 12 noon - 1:00 pm

Contact Tara Muir if you have any questions or topics you would like to discuss.

Wyoming Webinars, Training and Events

Virtual 5k for Anti-Bullying & Suicide Prevention

This October we are observing National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, a month-long observance to educate and raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying prevention. 

We thought a fun and exciting way to participate would be to put on a virtual "Run For Your Life" Virtual 5k/1k Kids/ Bike, Run, or Walk! This virtual event aims to bring us [virtually] together to support bully prevention, suicide prevention, honor those we have lost, and just in general bring awareness to our community’s youth mental health.

Click here for more info and to register.

Transitional Housing Assistance Program Forms Training - October 26

Interested in learning more about the WCADVSA Transitional Housing Assistance Program or do you already access and utilize this assistance and need to know how and when to complete

the new forms?

Please join Trish Worley, Economic Justice Specialist and Clarice Luck, Fiscal Officer to learn about important updates. This training is intended for program directors, advocates, and fiscal staff who submit requests for reimbursements.

Date: October 26, 2021 Time: 2:00-4:00 PM

No need to register - simply click here to join the training. Contact Trish Worley with questions.

RUN WY! Leadership Development Training

ESPC's leadership development training, RUN WY, will be every Thursday in October from 5:00-6:00 p.m. RUN will feature great information and actionable tips and tricks from state and nationally recognized experts and elected officials.

Here’s the schedule for these free, online trainings:

• October 21: Wyoming Women in Elected Office featuring State Auditor Kristi Racines, Natrona County Commissioner Brook Kaufman, Crook County Clerk Linda Fritz, and Jackson Mayor Hailey Morton Levinson
• October 28: Taking Your Social Media to the Next Level with Facebook's Government & Politics Team

For more information about the series or ESPC’s other nonpartisan work in Wyoming, visit equalitystate.org or email questions to jen@equalitystate.org

Transitional Housing Voluntary Services Training E-Learning

The NNEDV Voluntary Services Training in 2021 will be completed through an e-learning module. MOU partners (WCADVSA member programs) are encouraged to participate in the e-learning module if they are providing direct services. There is no limit on the number of staff who can take this e-learning course. But at least one person needs to complete the courses for the agency. 

There are 8 lessons available. In total, you'll need to view 6 lessons to complete the training requirement. There are 5 mandatory lessons in Track A and 3 elective lessons in Track B. At least 1 lesson from Track B must be completed to meet the minimum lesson requirement.

Click this link to find the registration page. When you register, you will automatically be registered for both Tracks A and B and you will have access to all eight lessons. When you register, you'll be asked to create a username and password that is unique for you. Each person, who wants to take the course, should enroll separately. That way the certificate generates with your name on it.

The e-learning platform will track your progress. You can start, pause, and restart all of the lessons. Once you've viewed all of the lessons in Track A, and the lesson(s) you want to view in Track B, you'll need to complete the Course Completion Certification to obtain a certificate. In that quiz, you'll note the lesson(s) you viewed, and then click the "Print Your Certificate" button. 

Please email a copy of your certificate to Trish Worley, Economic Justice Specialist

National Webinars, Training and Events

2021 Young Minds Matter Conference: Healing, Justice, and Connection for Mental Wellbeing - October 21 & 23

Virtually connect through arts, community-building, and dialogues on healing to strengthen and improve the mental health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families! This year, the Young Minds Matter conference will share local strategies with a spotlight on multiple collaborative efforts in the greater Houston area and across Texas with culturally rich and justice-grounded approaches. At a time when we are all navigating increasing challenges to our mental wellbeing, this is an opportunity for people around the country to learn from community-driven approaches in support of children and youth of color.

1. Inviting champions for young minds everywhere! In this conference, participants will learn to: Describe ”upstream” community approaches that can strengthen community healing, connection, and justice.
2. Engage in candid and productive discussions about how structural inequities and racism impact the mental wellbeing of children and youth of color.
3. Demonstrate the power of engaging historically excluded groups (people of color; individuals and families experiencing financial challenges, mental health challenges, etc.) in all aspects of multisector, collaborative work.
4. Identify barriers and strategies to lift up the voices of youth and residents as the decision-makers and leaders of their community.

Click here to learn more and register

Family-Centered Toolkit for DV Programs Webinar Series

NCDVTMH is pleased to announce the forthcoming Family-Centered Toolkit for Domestic Violence Programs – a new resource to expand organizational capacity for family-centered programming. Historically, the DV field has separated services for adults and services for children and youth, rather than taking an integrated approach that centers the relationships between adult survivors and their children. NCDVTMH’s Family-Centered Toolkit for Domestic Violence Programs helps programs envision and implement an integrated approach that supports parent-child relationships and families with a range of culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and developmentally sensitive services.

Webinars are Wednesday at 12:30 pm October 27 and November 3

Click here for more information and to register.

Men & Masculinity 2021 National Conference October 27-28 10:30 am

The NOMAS Model for Domestic Violence Offender Programs serves as a mechanism for offender accountability – a disposition available to the courts and its agents when addressing men’s violence against an intimate partner. The program is grounded in an anti-racist/oppression lens in all of its policies and practices and works to end the systemic problem of male supremacy (patriarchy, sexism) which domestic violence is manifested and continues to perpetuate men’s violence against women.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Trauma-Informed Principles Are for Everyone: Supporting and Sustaining Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Practitioners

Trauma-informed principles are often relegated to solely mental health or crisis intervention work when in reality, trauma-informed principles can benefit people in all sorts of scenarios, sectors, and work environments. In the current context of the Great Resignation, many are beginning to identify the ways trauma and secondary trauma contribute to organizational burnout in the absence of a trauma-informed work culture. Join PreventConnect on this web conference November 1 at 12:00 pm where guests will discuss how they’ve engaged businesses and diverse work environments and sectors in integrating trauma-informed principles to their workplaces and how internal organizational shifts are key to improving relationships with communities involved in sexual and intimate partner violence prevention.

Click here for more information and to register. 

Recorded Webinar from NNEDV - Coalition Fundraising Training: Online Fundraising

We are pleased to share with you the recording and slides from our 10/6 Coalition Fundraising Training: Online Fundraising webinar, presented by Darian Rodriguez Heyman and Robin Sukhadia. This webinar helped participants learn best practices for using email, social media, text messages, and websites to successfully engage individual donors. We are so glad that many of you were able to join us and hope these materials are helpful for anyone who would like a refresher or who wasn’t able to make it.

View the recording and slides from our 9/23 Coalition Fundraising Training: Events Toolkit webinar

One Organization, Shifting Politics in Texas

Across the US, women are sorely underrepresented in political office.

Women make up 50.8% of the U.S. population, but these numbers aren't reflected in the governing bodies. This is true across both blue and red states. It was just this year that New York gained its first woman governor in its entire 230+ year history. Stats and facts like this can feel daunting, but originations like Emerge make it less so. Take Action! Learn about Emerge here..

Flip the Script

It's been ten years since Jennifer Siebel Newsom released Miss Representation! After a decade of confronting harmful gender stereotypes and transforming culture to build a better world, we are paying tribute to this groundbreaking film and it’s filmmaker!

You’re invited to celebrate with us at Flip The Script, a virtual benefit honoring Miss Representation’s tremendous impact, featuring a conversation with Jennifer Siebel Newsom and special guests. Take Action! Join us December 1 at 7:30 pm via Zoom for Flip The Script. Learn more here.

In Case You Missed It

• Lego will remove gender bias from its toys after the finings of a survey.
• Women at the Los Angeles Fire Department detail the sexist abuse and harassment they've experienced in the workplace. 
• A Howard University student started a rugby team to help other Black women to discover the sport

JWI Civic Action To-Do List

1) October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and it's time to take action.

• October 21 Day of Action - tell the Senate to pass VAWA
• October 29 is launch of JWI's National Center of DV in the Jewish Community
• Register for the Interfaith Coalition's webinar on COVID's impact on survivors

2) It's 2021 and Latina women still only make, on average, $.057 for every $1 made by a white man. It's time to demand change. Join the Twitterstorm Thursday, October 21 at 12:00 pm #LatinaEqualPay and attend the Latina Equal Pay Day & Essential Women Workers Virtual Summit

3) Discriminatory voting practices at the state level, such as onerous voted ID laws, partisan mapping of voting districts, and voter intimidation, have obstructed people's ability to exercise their right to vote. These practices most significantly impacts and disenfranchise Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOS). The Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will protect citizens nationwide from disenfranchisement by expanding opportunities to vote and preventing these discriminatory practices.

Alias Hotel Booking Site for Crime Survivor Agencies

Safe Stays by ReloShare is a business-to-business booking platform that allows agencies to book hotel rooms for survivors 24/7 with alias check-ins and no credit card or ID requirements. We also do monthly consolidated billing and have no membership fee -- you only pay for the hotel rooms you book on the site. You can read more here: https://www.reloshare.com/safestays

The site is completely free to use. We have more than 6,000 hotels across the U.S. that are available on our booking site and our clients have booked hundreds of nights of hotel rooms across the country in states like California, Virginia, Washington and Illinois since we launched in June. We are available in rural, suburban and metropolitan areas in all 50 states, including Wyoming. 

For more information contact Paige Allmendinger

ERAP Updates: Future Change to Help Address Homelessness

Getting eligible Wyoming residents rental assistance is very important to us, but we also need to make sure the money is going to the right people. Wyoming has implemented reasonable security protocols for each application to protect our state and its coffers against any future audits and to avoid future federal demands for repayment. Additionally, we have created a from to report suspected fraud. Click here for the form.

Funding Update

As of October 15, ERAP has approved a total of 2,321 applications, or 56% of submitted applications, paying a total of $8.2M in assistance. Of the rental payments, $6.4M went to landlords, $1.3M to renters and $541K to utilities. To see county specific information, click here to see the map.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS

The Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault provides legal aid services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Call 307-755-0992 or visit wyomingdvsa.org/legal-program.

ERAP Resources

• Online: Learn more about ERAP online at dfs.wyo.gov/erap. 
• In Person: If you need assistance with an application, there are community based organizations set up in each county to provide help. (Click here for an updated list) 
• Via Phone: The call center is open 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Monday - Friday. The toll-free number is 1-877-WYO-ERAP (1-877-996-3727). 
• Flyer: Download the ERAP flyer to learn more about the program and to share with those who may be interested in the program. Download here

Interstate Custody Webinar for Advocates

The LRC, in partnership with the National Network to End Domestic Violence will be offering a free webinar December 1 at 10:00 am on basic interstate custody issues. This training will provide participants with an overview of the various federal and state laws that govern interstate custody cases.

The training will specifically address the needs of advocates and coalition staff who work with survivors in interstate cases at the local, state, and national level. Case scenarios will be used to demonstrate how advocates can help survivors address the economic, safety and legal issues involved when they cross state lines to flee abuse.

Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions during the presentation.

Click here to register

WCADVSA Economic Empowerment Webinar Series Begins October 25

Mark your calendars! This webinar series is designed to guide directors, advocates, and community members through the steps of helping survivors rebuild their lives through economic empowerment.

Dates and sessions include:

• October 25 - Understanding Intimate partner Violence as A Structural Economic Issue While Exploring Our Relationship to Money and Beginning the Healing Journey
• October 27 - Allstate Moving Ahead Module 1: Understanding Financial Abuse - Keeping Safe and Starting Over
• November 1 - Allstate Moving Ahead Module 2: Learning Financial Fundamentals
• November 3 - Allstate Moving Ahead Module 3: Mastering Credit Basics-Reviewing, Understanding and Improving Your Credit
• November 8- Allstate Moving Ahead Module 4: Building Financial Foundations–Homes, Loans, and Automobiles
• November 10 - Allstate Moving Ahead Module 5: Creating Long-Term Budgeting Strategies–Saving and Investing, Insurance and Education
• November 17 - Credit as an Asset Session 1: Building Credit as an Asset
• November 29 - Credit as an Asset Session 2: Know the Score Part 1
• December 1 - Credit as an Asset Session 3: Know the Score Part 2
• December 6 - Credit as an Asset Session 4: Get The Good Stuff Going
• December 8 - Credit as an Asset Session 5: Deal with Debt
• December 13 - Credit as an Asset Session 6: Make Credit Building Count
• December 151 - Prioritizing Financial Security in the Movement to End Intimate Partner Violence

View session details here.

Click here to register once for the entire series. 

Please reach out to Trish Worley, Economic Justice Specialist with any questions.

Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

     pbrekken@wyomingdvsa.org  | www.wyomingdvsa.org 

     710 Garfield St | Suite 218 | Laramie, WY | 82070

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