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.

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Spotlight

August 5, 2021
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:  
 
Opportunityopportunity
WCADVSA Seeking Prevention Specialist Prevention_Specialist

This is a full-time position with generous benefits and salary.  

Qualifications include, but are not limited to:  
  • Bachelor's degree in public health, human services, victim services, or a closely related field or an equivalent experience level. Three years related work experience in primary prevention and advocacy preferred. 
  • Understanding causes of violence rooted in racism and oppression as connected to domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking with a strong commitment to ending violence and oppression of all peoples. 
  • Experience in social justice, systems advocacy, and social change work.
  • Experience with primary prevention of violence work, particularly in implementing comprehensive prevention strategies and an understanding of program evaluation. 
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Develop and implement activities based on the goals and objectives of current funding sources, and complete required reports.
  • Through an anti-oppression framework, build local and statewide capacity for sexual violence prevention by researching, developing expertise, and providing primary prevention technical assistance, training, programming, and education to funded sub-grantees, local domestic violence/sexual assault (DVSA) programs, community stakeholders, and partners.
  • Create and build partnerships with other teams or groups who share the mission of sexual violence prevention for addressing complimentary activities such as coalition building, community mobilization, policy review, and implementation. 
 Application received by August 6, 2021 will be given preference.
WCADVSA Staff Attorney PositionAttorneysProgram_Attorney

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.
Accepting Proposals for 17th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women Proposals   

The Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) is currently seeking proposals for workshops, case studies, computer labs, lunch sessions, and film screenings for our 17th Annual Conference to be held May 23-25, 2022.
Proposals should focus on practical, hands-on techniques attendees can apply on the job and be geared towards combatting gender-based crimes.

Please click HERE for detailed submission instructions. The deadline for submitting a proposal for the 2021 CCAW is Thursday, September 30, 2021. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your proposal before submitting, please email Shawn Guy, CCAW Program Manager, at: sguy@conferencecaw.org.
 
Our WorkOur_Work
Updated Mask Guidance from the CDCMask_Update

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated guidance on Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People.  In consideration of  that guidance, as well as instructions from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), there are immediate updates that will affect DHS COVID-19 safety guidance for USCIS offices.

Starting Wednesday, July 28:
  • In all areas of the country, all Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors, regardless of vaccination status or level of COVID transmission in your local area, are required to wear a mask inside all DHS workspaces and Federal buildings. This guidance takes into account the most recent CDC and OMB guidance and incorporates recommendations from the DHS Workforce Health and Safety and DHS Chief Medical Officer teams.
  • Employees and visitors who appear at a field office without a face covering will be provided one from existing supply.
  • All Federal employees, onsite contractors, and visitors must continue to physically distance and follow workplace protection guidance consistent with CDC and Agency guidance.   
As part of its updated guidance, CDC reiterated that fully vaccinated people are at substantially reduced risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared with unvaccinated people.  Fully vaccinated individuals should get tested if experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

The new advice is to mask up indoors if you live in a place with "substantial" or "high" coronavirus transmission. (The guidance for people who are unvaccinated remains the same: Always mask up indoors.)

Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and adherence to these evolving guidelines.
16th Annual DV Counts Day - September 9   Informational Packet & Webinar - August 11Census_Webinar

This year the count will begin at 8:00 AM Eastern on Thursday, September 9

In preparation for this year's count, we will be holding an informational webinar on Wednesday, August 11 at 2:00 pm.
 
Due to changes to this year's survey and the data collection system, we recommend each program attend or be sure to watch the recording. This year's informational packet is ready and can be found here in English and Spanish! 

In the packet, you will find information on collecting and submitting your data, the actual questions for this year's survey, frequently asked questions, definitions of terms, and more. At the link you will also find our tip sheet on Telling a Compelling Story. Please share the documents with those that may be collecting information on the day of the count.
 
The webinar will be held via Zoom and include live captioning. 

Transitional Housing Voluntary Services Training E-LearningTH

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 at tworley@wyomingdvsa.org.
 
Policy UpdatesPolicy_Updates
National Policy Updates

Thank you to everyone who made calls and sent emails earlier this week!
 
President Joe Biden has signed into law a bill to beef up funding for the federal crime victims fund. The fund is used to support victims of federal crimes, including domestic violence and sexual assault.

It's supported by fines and other criminal penalties.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced S.611 to the Senate Tuesday. See a summary of the VOCA fix here. He even discussed  ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences Study) which we have all learned about in recent years. Witnessing or being a victim of violent crime is an adverse childhood experience and VOCA funding helps victims receive what they need.
 
While Wyoming Senators Barrasso and Lummis voted for S611 in its final unameded form, they both voted for the Toomey amendment. According to some of the debate, the amendment possibly would have put caps on the spending and increased the process to appropriate the funding. (We're still wandering through the weeds trying to figure out all the details.) It was also disappointing to see Sen. Barrasso taking the time during this debate on VOCA to give a speech about the economy and the latest budget bill. That's right, he said nothing about vicitms or the importance of this funding to all of us in Wyoming.
 
Our Senators need to know who you are, and how important these issues are to you. Budget bills and the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is still waiting to be heard in the Senate. 
 
Thanks again everyone!
 
Please take another minute to thank Senator Barrasso and Senator Lummis for supporting the VOCA Fix, and if you're up for it, ask for an explanation on why they supported the Toomey Amendment.
State Policy Updates
Monthly Policy Call - August 27Last_Call

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.

In light of recent homophobic and transphobic actions, activities and violence in our state, ESPC has drafted a statement of solidarity. WCADVSA has signed on to the letter, standing in solidarity with WY's LGBTQ+ Community.  
 
Training and EventsTrainings
Wyoming Webinars, Training, and Events
The People's Theater Inquest: A Mock Hearing about the Shooting of Andy AntelopeMock_Hearing

On September 21, 2019, Andy Antelope as needlessly shot and killed by a police officer at the Riverton Walmart. Requests for an official inquest have been repeatedly denied. 

Since the real inquest was denied, the Riverton Peace Mission presents a mock inquest hearing about shooting on August 13 at 7:00 pm in the Central Wyoming College Little Theatre. The mock inquest is to provide the community an in-depth look at what transpired and why. The theater presentation will be followed by an opportunity for community input. 

We are working toward having a Zoom, live Youtube option so folks who can't be there in person, are able to attend.

For more information, visit the Riverton Peace Mission website or Facebook page.
Achieving Justice in Human Trafficking Cases - Virtual Lunch & LearnLunch_Learn

This training on August 20 from 12:00 - 1:30 pm will provide an overview of various forms of trafficking and strategies to better identify cases from within the criminal justice system.  Presenters will bring their lived and professional experience to provide insight into how criminal justice professionals can maximize offender accountability while minimizing re-traumatization to victims.  They will discuss Wyoming-Specific laws and legal strategies to combat trafficking.

Objectives:
  • Recognize indicators of human trafficking within the criminal justice system
  • make charging decisions that account for the context in which trafficking occurs
  • Collaborate to hold offenders accountable while protecting victims' rights
Healthy Moms, Happy Babies (HMHB) Community-Based Webinar
Coming to Your Community in Summer 2021!HMHB

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.
National Webinars, Training, and EventsNational_Trainings
How To Provide Pet Services to DV Victims - Webinar pets
Representation_Project
 
Research has shown the link between humans and animals can be life-changing and in some cases, life-saving.
 
Survivors of domestic violence are often forced to choose between their safety and the safety of their pets. Rose Brooks Center hopes to change this by providing shelters with the resources they need to offer pet services in a way that will work for their agency.
 
Shelter the Whole Family is a half-day training providing participants with an understanding of:
  • How human violence and abuse towards animals are connected
  • How your agency can provide life-saving services to victims with pets
  • How to provide shelter for assistance animals while protecting your agency
 Click for more information and to register   Tuesday, August 10 - 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Allstate Foundation Moving Ahead Curriculum Training of TrainersAllstate_Train_Trainers
Representation_Project
 
This year's Allstate Foundation Moving Ahead Curriculum Training of Trainers will be offered virtually as a two-part series on August 11 and 12 from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm Additional details about the training as well as a registration link is available in the document attached. Please forward this information on to colleagues and sub-grantee programs.
 
Who Should Attend?
This training is open to all Allstate Foundation Moving Ahead Grantees and Sub-grantees, but it is only required for individuals who are leading economic justice work and are new to The Moving Ahead Curriculum or have never attended the TOT training with NNEDV before.
  • New Allstate Foundation Grantees: The coalition staff person overseeing the project, as well as a staff person leading the project from each sub-grantee program
  • Returning Grantees: Coalition and sub-grantee staff who are new to the project and never attended a Moving Ahead Training of the Trainers (i.e. the coalition/sub-grantee is not a new grantee but has experienced turnover or a change in staff on this project) 
Please connect with Trish Worley if you have any questions.
Career Empowerment for Survivors: What Advocates Need to Know Workshopsworkshops         
   Representation_Project
Join NYSCADV, and Nicole Eniclerico of the YWCA of Union County for the training series, Career Empowerment for Survivor: What Advocates Need to Know*.
 
In this four workshop series, we will discuss key factors that affect our clientele, domestic violence survivors, in their path to a successful job search ending in employment. You will get a better understanding of how to work with and support clients through specific barriers that are limiting their capability to find employment, such as the struggle of a job search, lack of interview skills, and unstable living environments. These workshops will also provide helpful resources that can help clients reach their goals.
 
The workshops and topic areas are included below:
Who Should Attend:
Registration is open to domestic violence advocates of private, nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations and programs that have a primary purpose of providing shelter and supportive services to adult and youth victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, and their dependents. This includes programs that are licensed by the NYS Office for Children and Family Services or have local NY Department of Social Services contracts to provide domestic violence services, either residential or nonresidential.

*Webinars will be recorded.
Innovations at the Intersection: Centering Survivors with Disabilities in the MovementCentering_Survivors
 
Representation_Project
Survivors with disabilities are experts in their own lived experiences, so they should guide our work to ensure services are accessible and responsive to their needs. To meaningfully work with survivors with disabilities, you need to make sure everything you do is accessible and inclusive.

In this panel discussion, self-advocates from Washington, D.C. and Kansas who are working to address domestic and sexual violence against people with disabilities will share how their work empowers them as advocates and how they have partnered with their team members to play a meaningful leadership role.

 Click for more information and to register   Tuesday, August 24 - 12:00 pm

Click here to view a variety of upcoming webinars, national training, and conferences.
 
Resource CenterResource
Open Enrollment Ends August 15 for Affordable Insurance on the Marketplace Enroll_Wyo
Representation_Project
 
Anyone who has received an unemployment check in 2021 now qualifies, even if their taxable income is below 100% of the FPL. Insurance for these folks will also be very affordable. They will likely qualify for a plan with a monthly deductible of less than $5.00, but they must sign up in the next six weeks!
 
We need your help spreading the word about this new opportunity Would you please:
  • Share our Facebook post about the good news. 
  • Send an email out to your membership-volunteers, sharing this big news.
  • Post this flyer in your business. 
  • Host a zoom meeting. If your membership/volunteers/staff would be interested in learning more. Enroll Wyoming staff would be happy to lead a zoom-based presentation and answer any questions your members-volunteers have. Call Jason at 316-3076 for more information.
  • Add information in your newsletter. 
  • Do you know someone who needs health insurance? Have them call Jason at 316-3076

July was a productive month for NNEDV, from the passage of the historic VOCA Fix legislation to our hosting a successful Tech Summit. The passage of VOCA Fix is a massive victory for the field and one of NNEDV's top legislative priorities. This victory has energized NNEDV as we continue to advocate for more resources for programs and increased protections for survivors. 

We also hosted our 9th annual Tech Summit. The Summit is a reminder of the power technology-
when used for good it can connect communities, help movement leaders organize and advocate, and increase safety for all. Click here to read newsletter highlights on how NNEDV uses technology for advocacy, information sharing, and supporting survivors, while we also work to stop tech-facilitated abuse. 

1) On average, Black women are paid 37% less than white men and 20% less than white women.  Black Women's Equal Pay Day - which symbolizes how long into 2021 Black women must work to make what men were paid in 2020 - was August 3.
Take Action: Join the twitter storm by using the hashtags #BlackWomensEqualPay and #BlackWomenCantWait.

2) Women are (still)being fired for being pregnant.  This week the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will discuss the bipartisan Pregnancy Workers' Fairness Act (PWFA), a bill that would end pregnancy discrimination, promote healthy pregnancies, and protect economic security for women and their families.   
Take Action: Email your senators using our two-click system and tell them to co-sponsor and support the bill!

3) Approximately 20,000 U.S. military members are assaulted every year, less than 40% of the crimes are reported, and only four percent of the cases that are reported result in the perpetrator being charged with a crime.
The bipartisan Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act - a historic reform to the military justice system that moves the prosecution of sexual assault out of the chain of command to trained military prosecutors - recently passed the Senate Armed Services Committee. 
Take Action:  Check to see if either of your senators is one of the 66 co-sponsors, and if not, tell them to join the majority of their colleagues in supporting the bill.

As advocates, we know that sexual assault can be a challenging topic to talk about. But in order for our messages about prevention to get across to our audiences, we have to understand how they're receiving them.

In order to communicate effectively about preventing sexual harassment, assault, and abuse, we need to consider the best way to frame these issues for our audiences.

Our new e-learning tool,  Reframing the Conversation About Sexual Harassment, Abuse, and Assault, breaks down some of the most common ways people think about sexual violence, as well as ways you can counter these frames in your messaging. With interactive quizzes, lots of examples, and opportunities to practice, this tool is a great way to get familiar with framing.

All you need to access this new e-learning tool is a free account on our online campus, and then you can start practicing how to reframe your conversations about sexual assault.
ERAP Updates: Paying Utilities and More Rental_Assistance     
        
As of July 22, ERAP has approved 663 applications, or 30% of submitted applications, paying a total of $2M in assistance. Of the payments, $1.6M went to landlords, $336K to renters and $149K to utilities. 
 
Utility Assistance
Did you know that the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) can pay for past due utilities to eligible households? With the uptick in COVID-19 cases in Wyoming and low vaccination rates, more households may need this assistance. Eligible utility costs include: electricity; energy costs (fuel, oil, propane); water and sewer; and internet service (up to $50 per month).

If you already applied for ERAP utility assistance and are in danger of having your utilities shut off, please contact your utility companies directly and let them know you have applied.

If you have questions about eligibility or need assistance with an application, there are community based organizations set up in each county to provide help. (Click here for an updated list)

 

If facing eviction, please contact Legal Aid of Wyoming, a sub-recipient of Equal Justice. They may be able to provide other legal assistance to eligible ERAP renters living in Wyoming such as:
  • Lease agreement advice/negotiation
  • Eviction defense 
  • Disputes that could lead to eviction
  • Financial issues directly related to the home you rent (disputes about security deposits, damages claims, late fees, etc.)
  • Issues related to the safety of the home you rent
  • Financial matters affecting your ability to maintain or obtain housing such as: debt collection defense, federal benefits (SSI/SSDI), employment matters (FMLA, disability accommodations), and consumer protection actions to obtain tenant funds lost to scams.
Visit www.lawyoming.org  or call 1-877-432-9955 for Legal Aid. If you need  additional help, please Dial 2-1-1 or visit wy211.communityos.org to be connected to available resources.
 

ERAP Income Eligibility Requirements

You meet the income eligibility requirements if your total household income is equal to or less than 80% the area median income (AMI).  Your AMI depends on how many people live in your household and the county you live in. Please reference the tables below to see the 80% AMI applicable to your household using either annual or monthly income. Click here to view chart.
 
If you have questions about ERAP, please email RentalAssistance@wyo.gov.
 
SpotlightSpotlight
P.E.A.C.E. Awards Nominations OpenPEACERepresentation_Project
          

If you would like to join the selection committee, please contact Pam Brekken or Tiffany Eskelson-Maestas.


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Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

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