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Welcome to the KCIT 2023
Year in Review Update!
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Join us as we reflect on this past year...
and our gratitude for all of YOU!
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VOLUNTEER NEWS
We finished the 2023 calendar year with 12 new volunteers! We are so grateful to each and every one of you and look forward to growing our numbers in 2024 as well.
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Welcome New Volunteer, Danie Martin!
Danie earned a B.A. in anthropology and international politics from Ithaca College, and then a law degree and her M.S. in Negotiations and Conflict Management through a joint program from the University of Baltimore in 2020. Danie has been devoted to victim services, community engagement, and crisis work since 2017, working with children and families involved with CYF and the foster system, survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence, and human trafficking, and other crime victims.
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1st Quarter
We started off our year with a heavy focus on the Racial Equity Learning Community from the nINA Collective, which had been hosted by Bucks-Mont Collaborative. This laid the foundation for participants to take their own journey and apply it to their organizations.
The strong foundation from RELC allowed us to partner and work on our Mission, Vision, and Values and Anti-Racist Statement, which we debuted later in the year, and are linked below. We will be updating protocol and policies in 2024 to reflect our new statements and look forward to continuing to focus our energy on racial equity, which is at the core of the KCIT program.
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KCIT provided companioning for the Victims' Rights Rally, April | | |
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2nd Quarter
The Spring months in 2023 had KCIT at three different events for companioning support.
In April we attended the Crime Victims’ Rights Rally and the PA CASA conference. June saw Melissa McDermott representing KCIT on a panel at the Mothers Demand Action Rally in Montgomery County.
This year ended with more companioning deployments than GCIs, displaying an increased awareness and utilization of the model. More and more organizations are choosing to take advantage of this trauma-informed service, and KCIT is proud to take part!
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3rd Quarter
After too long apart, KCIT volunteers, staff, and advisory committee members gathered in Harrisburg for meetings, training, and connecting.
We hosted Father Paul Abernathy, whose training, "Engaging Racial Trauma: Interacting with Communities of Color in Times of Crisis", was very well received, and it was a pleasure to have him join us. The training speaks to our ongoing work and commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
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Fr. Paul Abernathy
To learn more about him and his work, please visit the Neighborhood Resilience Project website.
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Upcoming Training in May
2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd
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4th Quarter
KCIT coordinated, hosted and provided GCI training in December – with 17 participants completing the training, and also conducted a simulation training for volunteers. Training was a large focus in the fourth quarter.
Our Companioning training module has been completed and is available for all volunteers to complete. Companioning is an important skill for volunteers and a vital application of the KCIT model. We hope this high level of companioning continues as more organizations bring a trauma-informed lens to their events.
The GCI training in February 2024 is already full! Please share our training flyer for the next session in May, which has a link to email Donna. The dates are May 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd. All sessions are from 10am - 1pm.
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KCIT CONFERENCE CONNECTIONS
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National Center for Victims of Crime
KCIT staff attended the National Center for Victims of Crime’s conference in Boston, a national event. Both Donna and Melissa enjoyed the conference, made connections, and learned a great deal, though many sessions were not provided with a trauma informed lens, highlighting the importance of the “safe rooms” KCIT provides for events like this.
At right, Donna Welsh and Melissa McDermott
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2023 Pathways for Victim Services, State College PA
KCIT provided companioning for PCCD's annual conference, with four volunteers joining Donna, Melissa, and Kelsey. KCIT also connected with attendees at our table, and Melissa provided a Trauma-Informed Death Notification Training.
Below, Donna Welsh and Kelsey Dellaporte
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KCIT's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging | |
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With help from Joyce Lukima and the Racial Equity Learning Community, KCIT drafted their Mission, Vision, and Values and Anti-Racist Statements and shared them with our Advisory Committee in July. After discussion we were excited to debut them to our community in the October Newsletter. Thank you for all your support as we continue to move toward a more just, inclusive, and equitable future together!
Find them on our website: KCIT About Us
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Melissa McDermott
We're not saying farewell, we're saying best wishes on your next journey! Melissa has been instrumental in building the KCIT program through training and outreach. She will be missed!
We know she will do great things as the new Director of Prevention, Education, and Outreach at Women in Transition in Philadelphia. Though she is leaving her position she will remain on the team as a volunteer, and we are thrilled to have her with us!
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