September 24, 2020
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! October is a great time for programs to spread the word about all the crucial services offered to survivors in your communities. Normally Domestic Violence Awareness Month is a time to connect with community during in-person fundraisers and vigils but in the time of COVID things will look a little different. Member programs have creatively updated their DVAM plans to include many virtual events, social media campaigns, and awareness building newspaper ads.
Here is a recap of what our member programs are doing this year to bring awareness about programs and services.
Advocates for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault The Advocates are planning to run a series of awareness ads in local newspapers that will include information about program services offered to the community.
Boundary County Youth Crisis and DV Hotline is planning to run article in the newspaper with information about programs and services. They will also be running an awareness social media campaign. In the future, a support group will be offered.
Family Support Network is planning a DVAM social media campaign and is also planning to run awareness ads in the newspaper. The program will also hold a virtual book club on Zoom that will include discussions and interviews with community members. Keep an eye out for the schedule of events.
Shoshone Bannock Tribes Victims of Crime Assistance Program- The Victims Assistance Program plans to host a drive-through distribution of information packets. Packets will include information about DV awareness, services offered in the community, and will also include information from other community partners. The program also plans to run awareness ads in the newspaper.
Voices Against Violence is planning to create several online education opportunities that will be presented in both English and Spanish. Due to COVID, the annual fundraiser will not be virtual, and the program also plans to hold a candlelight vigil. Lookout for more details to come!
Supporting survivors in schools with new Title IX regulations Schools are opening with layers of uncertainty this year. Administrators and teachers are navigating the health risks of COVID-19, the experiences of the national uprising for Black lives, and now changes to Title IX. When supporting the growth and well-being of students, this degree of upheaval can feel overwhelming. Here we will highlight a few aspects of Title IX and its recent changes.
What is Title IX? Title IX prohibits gender discrimination and sexual harassment by and against students and employees that occurs within educational programs and activities. To comply with Title IX, schools must take certain action when learning that a student experienced a form of sexual harassment, which includes sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking.
Students who experience sexual harassment should be centered in the school’s response and handling of the report. Title IX requires that schools respond promptly and appropriately to the report of sexual harassment. The safety of the student who experienced the harm must be a priority in the school’s response.
A school policy must outline the process the school will use in responding to reports of sexual harassment. To determine if the school policy barring sexual harassment under Title IX occurred, the school must conduct an investigation, a hearing process, and offer an appeal process. Both the person who experienced the harm and the person who did the harming have rights the school will outline for them.
What are the changes? The Secretary of Education Betsy Devos and the U.S. Department of Education changed some of the Title IX regulations this year. Schools had to implement these changes to their Title IX policies and processes on August 14, 2020.
Now, a complaint of sexual harassment must meet certain requirements in order to fall under Title IX proceedings, but Title IX does not bar a school from creating other policies to address harm that does not fall under Title IX. Schools should create policies to address harms that fall outside Title IX processes. The changes put in place more due process requirements for respondents (person who allegedly harmed) and amend what standards schools must follow to be considered in compliance with Title IX. However, we can and should encourage schools to respond to all incidents of sexual violence, dating abuse, domestic violence, or stalking in a way that ensures all survivors can continue their education.
Questions? If you know a student who has experienced a harm related to sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking the Idaho Coalition is here to support them. Our attorneys can meet with the student and talk about what their options in a confidential setting. Please email legal@engagingvoices.org to get in touch with us.
Molly Kafka
molly@engagingvoices.org
Three Things to reach out to me for:
When
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 at 11:00 AM MDT
-to-
Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 1:00 PM MDT
Tać leeheyn oykalo.
Good day relatives,
All people are sacred and worthy of protection, justice, and wellness. During October, the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence will host Ti Novitawi Kocheukaakwe Virtual Conference Honoring Missing & Murdered Indigenous People.
Presented via Zoom, this conference will give advocates, criminal legal system personnel, policy makers, and educators the opportunity to explore the disproportionate rates of gender-based violence impacting Indigenous communities in Idaho and regionally. More critically, it will provide Indigenous informed solutions and response to better collaborate across agencies and sectors.
Community and tribal domestic and sexual violence program members can participate at no cost.
For any individual or organization that is unable to pay the registration fee, there is a zero-cost scholarship option immediately available upon registration.
Registration is now open, and specific session information will be updated as details are confirmed.
Click on the link below to register.
Registration is now open!
We look forward to connecting with you for this transformative experience.
Qeci’yew’yew,
Tai Simpson
tai@engagingvoices.org
Three Things to reach out to me for:
UPCOMING WEBINARS – Resource Sharing Project – OVW Sexual Assault National Technical Assistance Provider
Each week will have a different topic and facilitator so please make sure to register for each Community Dialogue you are interested in attending. Registration information for the first four weekly Community Dialogues is listed below. Simultaneous Spanish interpretation and closed captioning will be provided. Registration capacity is 100 participants, unless otherwise noted.
Building Solidarity Across Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
September 24: Register here.
Our country is in deep truth telling mode, where many Black and Indigenous communities are rising and calling for accountability, for transparency regarding every movement and system across the U.S. Join us as BIPOC anti-sexual assault leaders explore our own accountability and transparency amongst our movement. We will also take a deep dive into framing the concept of siblinghood and solidarity as a strategy for creating culturally specific strategies and as a tool for ending sexual violence. This session will explore the following questions: What does accountability and transparency look like in the movement to end sexual violence? What does accountability and transparency look like for us and with each other as BIPOC? What is this moment demanding of us as BIPOC leaders working to end sexual violence? This dialogue will lay the foundation of the work started by the SADI (Sexual Assault Demonstration Initiative) Indigenous and Communities of Color circle/focus group, while envisioning next level work by culturally specific communities.
**Please note that this dialogue is geared towards people who identify as and have lived experiences as Black/communities of color/people of color/Indigenous/tribal communities. Registration is limited to 20 participants to provide intentional time and space to establish trust and love with each other and to allow for dialogue across all participants.
Understanding Dissociative Identity Disorder: What it means for your work
October 1: Register here.
Olga Trujillo was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder) at the age of 31. Over the years she has undergone an intense journey to understand what Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is, how she developed it, the impact on her life, and she began to address the challenges she faced in healing. In 2011 Olga’s memoir, The Sum of My Parts: A Survivor’s Story of Dissociative Identity Disorder was released by New Harbinger Publications. In this dialogue, Olga will bring her experience of DID to help participants expand their knowledge from an inside out perspective. Participants will explore how DID develops, what the signs are, how it can impact survivors.
Enhancing Advocacy through a Healing Centered Approach
October 8: Register here.
A healing centered approach incorporates a trauma-informed lens while also centering the survivor’s cultural identity and strengths. This holistic approach to advocacy can provide survivors with the opportunities for healing. Join Olga Trujillo for this dialogue where she will explore how advocates can take a healing centered approach with survivors. Through a case study, facilitators will examine why cultural identity is so important and explore strategies advocates may take that sustain connection and center cultural identity and individual strengths at its foundation. Together, these strategies support healing and resilience. The dialogue offers practical guidance for advocates to move toward a healing centered approach.
WEBINAR RECORDINGS – National Network to End Domestic Violence Cultural Series – OVW National Technical Assistance Provider Domestic Violence
March 26: LGBTQ Communities, National LGBTQ Institute/NW Network Click Here
May 20: Native American Communities, NIWRC & AKNWRC Click Here
May 27: Alaskan Native Communities, NIWRC & AKNWRC Click Here
June 18: Asian-Pacific Islander Communities, APIGBV Click Here
August 12: Persons with Disabilities Communities – Pt.1, Vera Institute for Justice Click Here
August 19: Persons with Disabilities Communities – Pt. 2, Vera Institute for Justice Click Here
September 2: African-American Communities, Ujima Click Here
Here’s more detail with the power points and handouts:
LGBTQ Communities Resources from the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence: PowerPoint Slides and Chatbox: Click Here
Native American Communities Resources from the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC): PowerPoint Slides and Chatbox: Click Here
Persons with Disabilities Communities Resources from the Vera Institute of Justice: PowerPoint Slides and Chatbox: Click Here
*** ALL material orders are currently on hold, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out. ***
Reminder that shipping for all material orders made by Programs on the Idaho Coalition website store is FREE of cost, please use the below coupon for all orders.
Visit the online store to view current Idaho Coalition materials available for order. For store questions, please contact Lacey Sinn.
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