The theme for this year’s Mental Health Month, observed annually in May, is Mind Your Health. This theme highlights the importance of overall health and wellness, exploring the connections between the body and the mind and promoting positive steps towards protecting and nurturing our whole selves. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) shares this commitment through our work to promote and enhance trauma-informed approaches for all human services and support systems. Our 3-part Special Collection series, Trauma-Informed Domestic Violence Services, provides resources to support building the foundation, capacity and partnerships that are necessary to bring such an approach to fruition. By working to end gender based violence in our homes and communities, we are working together to improve the overall health and wellness of all people.
OPEN DOORS
Open Doors is a new 2-part Special Collection series from the NRCDV, providing resources to support the development of domestic violence shelter programming and encourage alternative ways to help survivors.
Domestic Violence Shelter Development (March 2014)
The NRCDV receives a large number of technical assistance requests related to domestic violence program development. Part 1 provides resources for building, sustaining and enhancing shelter programs to meet the diverse needs of domestic violence survivors.
Thinking Beyond Shelter (Or Alternative Ways to Help Survivors) (March 2014)
Many concerned community members want to help families experiencing domestic violence. Part 2 provides suggestions and ideas for building needed resources in your community for survivors of domestic violence, in lieu of opening a shelter or safe house.
ADDRESSING VIOLENCE IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY
Violence in the Lives of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing (Updated April 2014)
This Special Collection offers information regarding the experiences and needs of individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing and have experienced abuse. The purpose of this collection is to: 1) increase victim advocates’ knowledge and understanding of Deaf culture, 2) provide resources to assist helping professionals in direct service work with Deaf individuals and 3) highlight best practices for addressing domestic and sexual violence in the Deaf community.
APRIL IS SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH
This April, the NRCDV is pleased to join the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) in promoting healthy adolescent sexuality for their National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (#SAAM) campaign and related activities. Social media activities for #SAAM include #TweetAboutIt Twitter Chats every Tuesday in April at 2pm Eastern and a #30DaysOfSAAM photo contest on Instagram. Keep current on this year’s happenings by following The SAAM Blog. Learn how you can play a role in promoting a healthy foundation for relationships, health and sexual violence prevention by accessing campaign materials and related resources here.
ARCHIVES
In case you missed it: catch summaries and recordings of recent NRCDV webinars, podcasts and Twitter chats.
#NWGHAAD: Safety Strategies for Women at Risk: This webinar, hosted by the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, was held on National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, March 10, 2014 at 11:30am Eastern/8:30am Pacific. View the full webinar recording here.
#CEV #TeenDVMonth: The Impact of Child Exposure to Domestic Violence on Dating Relationships: This BlogTalkRadio program held on Thursday, February 20, 2014, featured a discussion of how childhood experiences of domestic violence can shape future dating relationships. Listen to the full recording here.
TeenDVMonth 2014: Hip Hop/Pop Culture’s Influence on Youth: This BlogTalkRadio program discussed Beyoncé’s embrace of modern feminism, her use of domestic and sexual violence related lyrics, and how these controversial topics might impact teens today. Listen to the full recording here.
#ReachYouth: Engaging LGBTQ Youth to Prevent Teen Dating Violence: This #ReachYouth Twitter Chat explored engaging LGBTQ youth to promote healthy relationships. Guests from The Northwest Network, SMYAL and Break the Cycle explored key questions and considerations in reaching out to and supporting LGBTQ-identified teens.
Utilizando Enfoques Y Herramientas Culturalmente Relevantes, Cuando Trabajamos Con Comunidades Latinas Y Otras Comunidades Que Han Sido Históricamente Marginadas: Este webinar fué presentado por la Red Nacional Latina para Familias y Comunidades Saludables y NRCDV en marzo 13, 2014 de 3pm (hora del Este). Para ver la grabación del webinar oprima aquí.
The Women of Color Network and the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (CALCASA) have partnered to establish a national training and technical assistance project called the Leadership Education and Advancement for Professionals (LEAP).
LEAP held the first Academy in Sacramento, California from February 24-26. Nineteen women of color from Sovereign Nations, the United States and U.S. Territories attended the event. It was amazing to have a full room of amazing women of color leaders! The topics discussed included: leadership, director’s role, budget management, finance, personnel, administration, etc. The time spent together allowed LEAP’s fellows to expand their knowledge while forming deeper connections and relationships. If you have questions about LEAP please contact Lina Juarbe Botella at ljuarbe@nrcdv.org.
WOCN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY E-VENT RECAP
Women of Color Network (WOCN) celebrated International Women’s Day on Saturday, March 8, 2014, with an International E-vent. Various WOCN members and constituents posted selfies holding signs of why they celebrate the international sisterhood.
Thank you for joining us! Please view our WOCN IWD video here.
ACA EXTENSION FOR DV VICTIMS
Victims of domestic violence may apply for insurance through the federal Insurance Marketplace at any time before May 31, 2014 and may be eligible for financial help to buy health insurance. The new policy means that financial help to purchase coverage may be available for individuals who have experienced domestic violence and are legally married, live apart from their spouse, and plan to file taxes separately. Such persons should enter “not married” or “unmarried” on their application (even though they are married) in order to check their eligibility for financial help. No documentation is needed to prove domestic violence but it will be necessary to attest on 2014 taxes that the applicant was unable to file jointly due to domestic abuse.
Eligible individuals should contact the Call Center at 1-800-318-2586, explain their circumstances, and ask to be granted a Special Enrollment Period. Certified local in-person help can be found at localhelp.healthcare.gov. For questions about the Affordable Care Act and Domestic Violence, or to access free tools and resources about partnerships with health care programs to address domestic violence, please feel free to contact the National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence (415-678-5500).
TA QUESTIONS OF THE MONTH
Read and comment on these recent requests received by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center and National Resource Center on Domestic Violence!
APRIL 2014: How can the evolution of SAAM in the U.S. Inform national awareness efforts in other countries?
In the discussion with Rape Crisis of England and Wales, a major issue that arose was the balance between receiving federal grant funding and maintaining a commitment to grassroots activism. This balancing act is one that many sexual assault programs face (Campbell, Baker, & Mazurik, 1998).
MARCH 2014: I can’t say “sex” in schools… help?!
In planning for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the 2014 Campaign on healthy adolescent sexuality, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) heard from folks across the country that they love the idea of healthy sexuality for sexual violence prevention, but the school districts in their area just wouldn’t let them say the word “sex.” While it may be a real puzzle, it’s the reality that many preventionists face.
NEW ON VAWNET
Recent Additions to the VAWnet library include:
Domestic Violence Counts 2013: A 24-hour census of domestic violence shelters and services by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (2014)
Intimate Partner Violence in the United States — 2010 by Breiding, M.J., Chen J., & Black, M.C. for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (2014)
* Access this report and related resources at the NISVS Resource Page.
Introduction to Sexual Health by PreventConnect of the California Coalition Against Sexual Assault (2013)
Supporting and Caring for our Gender-Expansive Youth by the Human Rights Campaign and Gender Spectrum (2013)
Community Tool Box Toolkits by the Work Group for Community Health and Development, University of Kansas (2013)
Transgender 101 for Victim Service Providers [1:25:51] by Loree Cook-Daniels and michael munson for FORGE (September 19, 2013)
Gender Equality: The Key to Ending Violence Against Women by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (2013)
Transitional Housing Toolkit by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (February 2014)
The 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report by the U.S. Department of State (June 2013)
Enhancing Safety: A guide to help advocates identify community-based agencies that provide social welfare to low-income men by Jill Groblewski and Magda Kmiecik for the Center for Family Policy & Practice (March 2014)
