 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| |
Coalition Connection
Your Weekly Source of News, Trainings, and Events
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Through a collective voice,
the WCADVSA is committed to provide leadership, education, and systems advocacy to advance social change and end violence.
|
|
|
Welcome to your weekly edition of the Coalition Connection!
Not sure of the purpose of this newsletter? Click here to learn more. 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 a few helpful hints.
We will highlight important information in this section each week that requires your action or attention. This week's highlights include:
|
| |
Opportunity
|
WCADVSA Staff Attorney Positions
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.
Two positions are open - click below for complete position description, responsibilities, compensation and application process. 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.
|
Equality State Policy Center Executive Director Position 
Equality State Policy Center (ESPC) is seeking an executive director to lead the organization and build on its current momentum in order to further our organization's mission in Wyoming. We are seeking a dynamic candidate who excels in relationship building and public outreach; has excellent written and verbal communication skills; a proven track record in project, budget, and organizational management; and a demonstrated ability to think strategically.
About ESPC
ESPC is a broad-based coalition of social justice, conservation, and labor groups working to improve the
lives of all Wyoming's people through transparent government, fair elections, and thriving
communities. We advance our mission by advocating in all levels of government, increasing civic
engagement both inside and outside of governmental processes and holding our elected officials
accountable to the decisions they make across Wyoming.
Application deadline is Friday, May 28
|
| |
Our Work
|
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.
|
Save The Date! 16th Annual DV Counts Day - September 9 
NNEDV is pleased to announce the date for this year's Domestic Violence Counts Day. This year the count will begin at 8:00 AM Eastern on Thursday, September 9th. An informational packet will be sent out in the next month or so detailing the specifics of the DV Counts Day, including what time you will begin counting in your time zone, reporting your data, important definitions, and frequently asked questions.
This year, NNEDV will be moving away from SurveyMonkey to a new platform for data collection. As with years past, NNEDV will host an information webinar before the day of the count to walk programs through the survey structure and questions being asked. Because we will be using a new reporting platform, it may be helpful to have your staff member that will be reporting the data for your organization join the webinar or watch the recording.
If you would like to have another staff member added to the listserv to ensure they receive the information regarding the day of the count, please email their information to DVcounts@nnedv.org to be added.
|
Silent Witness Initiative
Planning for the 2021 Silent Witness Ceremony is underway, and we are so excited to be working with Taneesa Congdon of the Sweetwater County YWCA The Center for Families and Children who will be hosting the 24th-year ceremony October 9 in Rock Springs..
A couple of notes and requests to help us in organizing the initiative:
1. The WCADVSA is responsible for the addition of new silhouettes to the exhibit. If you are aware of a DV homicide victim in your community that meets the criteria below, please share this information with Pam by June 18. We will connect with each program that submits information to discuss the process to connect with the family about inclusion into the exhibit. Criteria for inclusion in the Wyoming Silent Witness Initiative: - GENDER: Initiative focus is on women who have been murdered as a result of domestic violence.
- RELATIONSHIP: Spouse, ex-spouse, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend (established relationship), share a child or is pregnant by perpetrator. Other extenuating circumstances will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
- ASSOCIATED VICTIMS: Males who are murdered during a domestic violence homicide may be included on the Male silhouette with a small shield that includes their name and age at time of death.
- TIME FRAME: Crime occurred/or was prosecuted since 1985. (If crime or prosecution does not fall within the last ten years, the Silhouette may be added for 2 years then retired.) Silhouette cannot be added until there has been an adjudication of the case.
- CAUSE OF DEATH: Must have been a domestic violence homicide.
- OTHER: Women who have been murdered as a result of domestic violence in another state, territory or country who may or may not be a native of Wyoming but have family living in Wyoming requesting their loved one be included in the exhibit.
2. If you have updated contact information for Silent Witness family members, please share that with Pam. 3. We would love to have more involvement on the committee from program members, advocates, law enforcement, victim witness associates, etc. If interested in participating, please connect with Kristen. The role of the State Silent Witness Committee is to provide a state level voice and perspective for the Wyoming Silent Witness Initiative. The duties of the committee are to: - Be involved!
- Annually review and approve the Guidelines
- Select the annual host community
- Annually review the mission statement
- Attend the Silent Witness Ceremony each year to support programs and provide assistance the day of.
- The Division of Victim Services may be able to help with per-diem expenses for committee members.
- Host a call with the prior community, the committee, and the current community to open the dialogue, allow for initial questions to be answered.
- Host a call after the Silent Witness Ceremony for the committee to debrief and make a plan to stay committed to and increase involvement around the call to action.
|
Don't Miss This Opportunity! Funds to Reduce Education, Employment, and Job Training Barriers for Survivors
REMINDER - funds need to be spent by June 30, 2020.
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 and training 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. If you have any questions, please connect with Trish Worley.
|
| |
Policy Updates
|
NNEDV Virtual Advocacy Days 2021
Great Opportunity to be Trained & Participate in National Lobbying Efforts for VAWA! Be Heard, Take Action, End Violence
The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) will host their annual Advocacy Days Conference June 15-16, 2021. We are so grateful to have the opportunity to advance the collective agenda of domestic violence leadership from across the United States through this virtual event.
Please reach out to Tara Muir to let her know ASAP you are interested in attending all or part
of NNEDV's Virtual Advocacy Days 2021.
There are two short training webinars to get you up to speed on June 8 & 10, and training on June 15
with a strategy session for a Hill visit via Zoom on June 16.
NNEDV and we welcome the participation of as many state and territory coalition members as possible. We encourage coalitions to invite survivors who want to speak from their lived experience, culturally specific service providers, and first-time participants, as well those of you who join NNEDV each year in DC. Registration is free for those speaking from lived experience and for culturally specific service provider staff.
Get ready to talk with our Congressional representatives! Great learning opportunity for new or long time program directors and any staff, volunteers or Board of Directors.
AGENDA
Preconference Webinars:
Tuesday, June 8 @ 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Pre-Conference Webinar I
o Lobbying 101: Impact at a Distance
§ This session is required for first time participants, optional for anyone who wants a refresher.
§ Recording will be available for participants unable to attend the live session.
Thursday, June 10 @ 1:00 - 2:30 pm - Pre-Conference Webinar II
o Federal Updates and Legislative Asks
§ Required for all participants, as this material will not be covered during the conference.
§ Recording will be shared if you are unable to attend the live session
Advocacy Days:
Tuesday, June 15
9:30 am - 12:30 pm - Advocacy Days Policy Forum
3:00 pm - Individual Strategy Sessions with NNEDV Staff
Wednesday, June 16
9:00 am - 5:00 pm - Virtual Hill Visits (actual schedule based on the meetings Tara secures - TBD)
3:00 - 4:00 pm - Happy Hour/Debrief (optional but fun!)
Accessing Trainings
All training sessions will be conducted via Zoom. Zoom information will be provided in your registration confirmation and subsequent emails. Each session will be closed captioned in English. ASL and Spanish interpretation are available upon request.
Strategy Sessions
After the main policy forum ends on Tuesday, June 15, NNEDV policy staff will be available for state/territory group strategy sessions. These sessions will help participants develop individualized plans for each Congressional meeting.
|
Monthly Policy Calls for Program Staff/Board/Volunteers Only
Tara Muir, our public policy director, will connect with all of you on federal and state policy issues! Usually 4th Fridays at lunch. All questions welcome.
May 20 - update during Membership Meeting
|
| |
Training and Events |
|
Wyoming Webinars, Training, and Events
|
Healthy Moms, Happy Babies (HMHB) Community-Based Webinar 
Coming to Your Community in Summer 2021!
Many staff of home visitation, early childhood and similar programs struggle with how best to address issues of domestic violence (DV) among their clients. The impact of DV on parents' and children's physical and mental health and risk for substance use and persistent perinatal depression is well documented. To support communities' capacity in DV prevention, response, and healing, we are providing Healthy Moms, Happy Babies (HMHB) webinars. We aspire to reach each county in Wyoming, and invite you to lead in identifying community partners to invite to the webinars.
This summer and early fall, a team of people from Wyoming Departments of Family Services, Health, and Corrections, along with Wyoming Children's Trust Fund and WCADVSA, will provide training. The 3-hour webinar provides healing approaches to DV prevention and response for staff of home visitation, early childhood, and other community programs, with attuned approaches to DV for survivors.
HMHB is an interactive curriculum that addresses the barriers and difficulties staff experience in addressing DV. The training will address how personal and or vicarious trauma or abuse may impact our ability to do this work. Specific strategies and tools, personal and organizational, will be presented to address the needs of front-line staff and managers so that they feel adequately situated to hear a positive disclosure of abuse.
We hope sharing in this interactive learning space with your fellow community members and organizations will be another capacity building opportunity for all. If you're interested, please click here to choose some weeks that look good for a potential webinar for your community, and Susie will reach out to you to talk about this in more detail. For more information email Susie Markus or call her at 307-222-3352 or 307-274-6292.
|
My name is Kimmy Moon, and I'm reaching out from the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, a project funded by the Administration for Community Living.
In honor of Older Americans Month (May) and World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD), June 15th, the NCEA is hosting our very first virtual awareness walk, Walk for WEAAD from May 1 st to June 15 th. Walk for WEAAD is hosted on the Walker Tracker platform which converts a number of activities (e.g., wheel-chair exercises, yoga, gardening, etc.) into step counts so people of all ages and abilities can participate. Walker Tracker also has a leaderboard function where states and territories are organized as "teams."
We noticed that Wyoming was not represented in Walk for WEAAD, so we wanted to personally reach out to share this campaign as well as promotional materials to help spread the word.
|
National Webinars, Training, and Events
|
Break the System: Exploring Systemic Racism Through Speakers, Dialogue, & Action 
In this interactive online experience, you will meet with activists from Alabama to take an honest look at the history of systemic racism in the health care system. Join us to learn about the victims of human experimentation and engage in meaningful dialogue with Lillie Tyson Head of the Voices for Our Fathers Legacy Foundation, and Michelle Browder of the Mothers of Gynecology Movement. Our panelists will bring the conversation of health care inequality to the present day and discuss how we can move forward.
|
DV-Focused Webinars from JWI 
Expand your understanding of domestic violence and ways to support survivors with these webinars from JWI.
|
Free Training ~ Engage-Calm-Distract: Understanding & Responding to Kids in Distress
You're invited to join the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in Region 8 (CO, WY, UT, ND, SD, MT) for a training to learn how to understand and respond to children's emotional distress and traumatic stress reactions.
Join us Thursday, May 27 at 10:00 am. This training is open to a broad audience; for caregivers and professionals who interact with children, and anyone who is interested in learning these strategies. Information, strategies, and activities to help caregivers and professionals quickly respond to the emotional needs of children and families in crisis will be shared. Participants will also receive a resource toolkit as part of the training to use as a reference tool.
|
Supporting Family Resiliency Through Relationships with Animals
Who Should Attend These Webinars?
Domestic violence professionals, including; dv advocates, child advocates and shelter staff, child and family trauma therapists, counselors, child welfare professionals, early childhood professionals, and educators.
Series Learning Objectives:
1) Understand how human-animal interactions can support resilience and healing for adult and child survivors of domestic violence.
2) Understand how programs serving families who experience domestic violence can increase their capacity to meet the diverse needs of survivors by becoming animal-friendly spaces
Wednesday, June 2 1:00 pm: Supporting Children with Therapy Animals: Human-Animal Interactions for Children Survivors of Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment
|
SUNNY Spectrum - June 28- July 2 Registration Now Open
SPECTRUM is the nation's largest education conference devoted to preventing and responding to sexual and interpersonal violence against members of the LGBTQI+ community. It provides cutting-edge training to enhance the knowledge and skills of attendees. Faculty, staff, law enforcement, medical professionals, and community service providers are trained on turning the dial on sexual and interpersonal violence against sexual and gender minorities, while also providing the trauma-informed and culturally-competent care when incidents do occur.
|
33rd Annual Crimes Against Children Conference - Virtual Edition
Internationally recognized, the Crimes Against Children Conference is the premier conference of its kind, providing practical and interactive instruction to those fighting crimes against children and helping children heal. There were more than 6,900 professionals from around the world in 2020!
The conference is presented annually by the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center. The conference is conducted to provide training to those employed by government or nonprofit agencies in the fields of law enforcement, child protective services, social work, children's advocacy, therapy, and medicine who work directly with child victims of crime.
|
Click here to view a variety of upcoming webinars, national training, and conferences.
|
|
| |
Resource Center |
Storybook Trail Prevention Video 
This video was created after the Violence Free Coalition, a program of the Abuse and Rape Crisis Shelter of Warren County used some of their DELTA funding to create story walks as an environmental violence prevention strategy. Thought this might be of interest to you. Notice, not a single mention of IPV or prevention.
|
Access to comprehensive reproductive health care is central to gender equity and women's full participation in the workplace. For businesses, restrictions on access to reproductive health care are not only at odds with stated corporate values, such as equity and inclusion, they also affect the ability of companies to deliver on their value propositions.
In recent decades, a rise in state efforts to limit access to comprehensive reproductive health care has threatened women's equality and participation in the workforce and put state and regional economies at risk. Between January 1st and April 29, 2021, alone, 536 abortion restrictions, including 146 abortion bans, were introduced across 46 states. Sixty-one of those restrictions have been enacted across 13 states, including eight bans. The effect of these restrictions is amplified by federal policies such as the Hyde Amendment, which limits the use of federal dollars for abortion. These measures fall hardest on women that already face systemic obstacles accessing health care and economic opportunities-including Black women, Hispanic women, low-income women, rural women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and more. To date, the economic costs of these restrictions have not been fully articulated.
This new tool seeks to capture the costs of reproductive health restrictions at the state level."
|
Effective Youth Advocacy Institute: Creating Meaningful Access for Underserved Youth in Rural Communities 
This 2-day institute is an interactive deep dive into understanding the complexities of the data and underlying reasons why youth from underserved rural communities experience teen dating violence at disproportionate rates. Participants will learn to create environments for youth impacted by teen dating violence, incorporate harm reduction approaches in services, community collaboration, and experiential learning.
Monday, May 24th, Day 1: 3 Hours
· Our Story on the Effective Youth Advocacy in the Prevention and Response to Teen Dating Violence
· Creating Meaningful Access for Underserved Youth in Rural Communities
· Practices for Youth Wholeness and Inclusive Environments
Tuesday, May 25th, Day 2: 3 Hours
· Practice Intergenerational Approaches
· Practice for Spaciousness and Experiential Learning
· Practice Community Collaboration and Consistent Support
· Planning for Increasing Access for Underserved Youth in Rural Communities
We aim to make all spaces accessible to everyone. Please include accommodation requests such as interpretive services, closed captioning, large text, etc. in your registration.
Trainers & Facilitators:
· Tracy Wright, North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault
· Jessica Moreno, LCSW, Collective Capacity Consulting LLC
· Kelly Miller, JD, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence
· Dalton Dagondon Tiegs, Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence
|
We are so thrilled to announce the launch of our National Survivor Financial Security Policy Map and Scorecard.
Over the past year, we researched the policies of all 50 states and DC and identified 13 different policy categories that are most directly linked to a survivor's ability to build and maintain financial security.
We evaluated and scored each state based on whether and to what extent its policies are supportive of survivors' financial security. Each state was given an overall score based on how well (or poorly) they did across each policy category.
This map and scorecard is both a resource and a roadmap for action. For each state, the scorecard outlines the existing policies impacting a survivor's ability to build and maintain financial security and provides state-specific policy recommendations that will ensure that all survivors have access to the financial resources and support their need to thrive. Learn more here.
Upcoming webinars:
Thursday, May 27 2:00 pm
Wednesday, June 16 2:00 pm
We're hiring for 3 new positions:
|
ERAP Help & Tips 
The Emergency Rental Assistance Program directly pays landlords for unpaid rent, utilities and internet for qualified renters in Wyoming. This program provides more flexible eligibility than the 2020 program.
IN PERSON: If needing assistance with an application, there are community based organizations set up in counties to provide help.
VIA PHONE: The call center is open 9 am - 6 pm, Monday through Friday.
The toll-free number is 1-877-WYO-ERAP.
ERAP Payment Timeline
Once renters have submitted their application, please allow up to four weeks for applications to be processed and payments to be issued. To prevent any delays, make sure to supply any missing/incomplete documentation.
How do I find out my application status?
1) Please check your application status on the online portal or call the call center 1-877-WYO-ERAP.
2) All correspondence will come from noreplywyoerap@wyo.gov. Please add this email to your contact list to avoid missing important emails.
Troubleshooting Tip - Passwords
When an applicant receives an error message that "an account has already been created," that means that they already registered for an account, and should have received an email from noreplywyoerap@wyo.gov to 'change your password.'
Ways to fix this or reset your password
- Check your email, including spam, to locate the emails from noreplywyoerap@wyo.gov
- If you cannot locate the email, go to the login page (of the application portal), and click "forgot your password" and enter the username (which is your email address).
- For security reasons, the system will generate only one password reset link every 24 hours. Applicants may need to wait for 24 hours to request a new password reset link.
- If an applicant doesn't have access to the email account they are trying to use, then they can create a new account using an alternative email address.
- If you are still having trouble, call the call center at 1-877-WYO-ERAP.
|
My Living Is Not in Vain: How a Rape Survivor Found Hope & Empowerment After Trauma, & How She Persevered to Create Change Through Advocacy & Legislation
Episode fourteen of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women welcomes advocate, author, life coach, and motivational speaker, Lavinia Masters. In this standalone episode, Lavinia shares her emotional journey dealing with childhood sexual abuse and rape, eventually discovering and implementing seven steps to her true empowerment after sexual trauma through prayer and supplication. Lavinia then discusses the important piece of legislation that bears her name, House Bill 8, the Lavinia Masters Act, and the process of moving this Act through legislature and getting it all the way to the Governor's desk. Finally, Lavinia expounds on her continuing work within the anti-sexual assault movement as a survivor, her expectations for rape kit processing and rape investigation pursuance in the future, and what compelled her to publish her book, A Twist of Hope, which shares her personal story with the world.
|
| |
Spotlight |
NNEDV 15th Annual Domestic Violence Counts Report Released
The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) released the findings from our 15th annual Domestic Violence Counts Report via a virtual Congressional Briefing (watch the briefing here ). Not only is the Domestic Violence Counts Report a trusted source of data on the services domestic violence advocates provide to survivors each day, but it brings to light survivors' stories about safety and security, unmet needs and unfunded services, and healing and rebuilding.
In just one day, over 1,600 domestic violence organizations and thousands of advocates provided lifesaving services to 76,525 survivors of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Counts Report provides a snapshot of powerful stories about the work of advocates and the challenging circumstances survivors face.
Unfortunately, in the same day, 11,047 requests for services went unmet and left many victims of domestic violence in danger.
|
|
Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
|
|
Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
