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Coalition Connection
Your Weekly Source of News, Trainings, and Events
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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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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:
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Opportunity
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The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) Youth and Young Adult Health Program receives Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent sexual violence perpetration and victimization. This funding requires a public health approach to implement and evaluate identified sexual violence primary prevention strategies based on the best available evidence at all levels of the Social Ecological Model (SEM). The Youth and Young Adult Health Program is seeking applications from Wyoming organizations to support implementation.
Organizations are strongly encouraged to consider addressing shared risk and protective factors that impact youth and young adults ages 12-24 and can be addressed at the community/societal level.
Proposed activities should align with the Wyoming RPE State Action Plan (SAP) identified strategies (Attachment C) and address at least one of the focus areas below:
- A. Provide opportunities to empower and support girls and women;
- B. Create protective environments;
- C. Promote social norms that protect against violence; and/or
- D. Teach skills to prevent sexual violence
Applications must be received no later than 11:59 pm February 28th.
Questions regarding this Request for Application (RFA) or the application process must be submitted to Megan Selheim no later than 10:00 a.m., Mountain Time, February 10, 2021.
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Help Us Locate Our 2021 IGNITE Award Winners - Conference on Crimes Against Women
In 2019, the Conference on Crimes Against Women created the IGNITE Award to highlight and honor various courageous efforts that are sparking awareness and action across the country.
Continuing the tradition of excellence exhibited by previous IGNITE Award recipients, we are searching for the 2021 IGNITE Award winners: front-line workers, first responders, victim advocates, and all those who have reimagined services for survivors of crimes against women during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With this in mind, we need your help! Please complete the following form to nominate someone who has implemented changes at their agency, gone above and beyond for survivors, or found ways to ensure that women continue to receive critical services throughout the pandemic. Feel free to submit more than once if you'd like to nominate more than one individual.
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Response Requested - Survey on Married Minors Access to Shelter
My name is Emily Lauletta and I am a public policy intern with the Forced Marriage Initiative, a project of the Tahirih Justice Center. You are invited to complete this short survey, which gauges the degree of access that married minors have to shelter services across the United States. The results of this survey will inform Tahirih's direct services with survivors of child and forced marriage as well as our policy advocacy.
We are asking anyone with direct knowledge of shelter policies related to housing minors to take this survey. This questionnaire should take no more than 10 minutes, and will close on February 28th.
We would also ask that you please share this survey with the coalition members in your state that provide shelter/emergency housing.
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The WCADVSA is pleased to announce this request for applications (RFA) to select two (2) dual DVSA programs to participate in a learning collaborative that will allow them to build their capacity to provide sexual assault healing services to victims and survivors of sexual assault over a one year award period (February 1, 2021 - January 31, 2022).
Completed applications must be submitted NO LATER than 5:00 pm on March 5, 2021 through this online from.
All questions regarding the award or application should be directed to Jody Sanborn or 307-684-2454.
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Our Work
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Economic Empowerment Connection and Support Call - February 17
Topic: Asset-Building Strategies for Survivors
Time: 12:30-1:30 PM
The WCADVSA is hosting an Economic Empowerment Connection and Support Call for program advocates and community partners on the third Wednesday of every even numbered month. The purpose of these calls is to bring us together to discuss strategies, successes, and challenges in implementing economic empowerment services for survivors. This month we will focus on asset-building strategies including financial coaching, job readiness and job training, matched savings programs, micro-loans, credit building and repair, and micro-enterprise. Asset-building activities are those that benefit or add strength, value, or resources to the lives of survivors, helping them move from short-term safety to long-term security.
We'd like to invite you to join a discussion about building the capacity of communities to better respond to the complex financial needs of domestic violence survivors through a collaborative financial empowerment effort between the WCADVSA, local member programs, and other community partners. Please bring your ideas for how we can build infrastructure to support the economic well-being of survivors now and in the future. An opportunity to apply for funding from The Allstate Foundation to support this work is expected to be available in April.
To join through Zoom, click here!You can use your computer audio or Zoom dial-in at 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 975 8570 2557 Password: 632561 If you would like to have these calls added to your calendar, please connect with Trish and she will add you.
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Funds to Reduce Education, Employment, and Job Training Barriers for Survivors
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.
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Monthly Program Call - March 2
During the early days of COVID, we were gathering daily to share issues and concerns effecting the operation of your programs and impact on your clients.
As the months rolled on, we decreased calls to weekly, then bi-weekly. As we begin the new year, we will be holding monthly program calls to provide a space for sharing and support. Calls will be at 1:00 pm on the first Tuesday of each month. The next call is scheduled for March 2.
As always, the Coalition staff is available anytime to answer questions or provide support to your program.
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Monthly Policy Calls 2021 Schedule
Monthly Policy Calls have begun again. Here is the schedule and links. The WCADVSA website will be updated shortly to ensure you can find all things related to the 2021 General Session.
If you have any questions or suggested topics, please contact Tara
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Policy Updates
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National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) Prioritizes Increasing Prevention Resources in the States
The prevention of sexual violence has always been a fundamental component of the missions of state and territory sexual assault coalitions across the country. Increased attention to racial justice and police brutality has made it ever more evident that the criminal legal response to sexual violence has had limited impact on its overall reduction. Investment in efforts to change norms, attitudes, and culture that contribute to violence and abuse is essential.
The federal Rape Prevention Education (RPE) program provides a small amount of funding to states and territories; advocacy to increase these resources is a key policy priority for the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) and sexual assault coalitions because the current funding level is not nearly enough to develop and sustain comprehensive primary prevention efforts. Most states do not have dedicated funding from state governments to supplement and expand the work of federally funded primary prevention.
This paper will explore the experience of 3 states, California, Massachusetts, and Virginia, that have had success in their advocacy for prevention specific state funding directed to addressing sexual and domestic violence. It will also describe promising approaches in Colorado and Ohio. While the current economic crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic casts a shadow on the certainty of future resources, these stories illustrate pathways for consideration toward a goal of increased prevention capacity.
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Wyoming Legislature Update
The Legislature will end its eight days of work on Joint committee bills Friday, Feb. 5th. They will begin committee work again the week of Feb. 22, and reconvene the full session on March 1.
We are following these individual bills so far:- Suicide Prevention HB0062 - Requiring suicide prevention education in a health and safety program in grades 6-12. Failed to pass committee as a whole in the House on Feb. 3
- Protective Order Amendments SF0075 - Allows Protection Orders to be stipulated. Unclear impact on state or federal enforcement mechanisms.
- Unlawful Dissemination of an Intimate Image - HB0085 - it creates a misdemeanor - it reads in part: A person eighteen (18) years of age or older is guilty of the offense of disseminating an intimate image if the person: (i) Disseminates an intimate image of another person; and (ii) Knew or should have known that the depicted person had a reasonable expectation that the image would remain private and the depicted person did not expressly give consent for the image's dissemination.. Definitions provided in the bill.
- Animal Cruelty - see the national Animal Legal Defense League Fund webpage on bestiality Not surprisingly, limited research - such as a 2002 study - places these crimes in the context of what experts in animal abuse and criminal justice refer to as "The Link" i.e. the well-documented connection between violence to animals and violence to humans:
- SF 26 - Animal abuse statutes reorganization and update - passed 3rd reading Feb 4
- These bills may be heard the week of Feb. 22 nd or after:
- HB 46 - Crime of Bestiality
- SF 24 - Bond of impounded animals
- SF 25 - Animal impound proceedings - bond and disposition
Bills we most likely will oppose - see draft summary of research being prepared for SF0081 here: - Second Amendment Preservation Act - SF0081 - seeks to nullify federal laws. Extremely wordy bill that confuses state law abiding citizens and residents of Wyoming and who may or may no longer be subject to firearm prohibitions in current federal law if they are subject to a state protection order of convicted of domestic assault.
- Repeal gun free zones and preemption amendments - SF0067 - repealing gun free zones; providing for the carrying of concealed weapons as specified; clarifying that only the state legislature may regulate firearms, weapons and ammunition.
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Monthly Policy Calls
Monthly Policy Calls have begun again. Here is the schedule and links. The WCADVSA website will be updated shortly to ensure you can find all things related to the 2021 General Session.
If you have any questions or suggested topics, please contact Tara
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Training and Events |
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Wyoming Webinars, Training, and Events
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MLK Days of Dialogue Keynote Speaker: Dr. Yusef Salaam 
Member of the Exonerated Five, award-winning motivational speaker, thought leader, trainer, New York Times Best Selling author and coach. The 2019 Netflix limited series feature, "When They See Us" is based on the true story of the Exonerated Five with Ana DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey and Robert De Niro.
Tuesday, February 9 at 5:30 pm.
This program was possible thanks to the generous support of 7220 Entertainment.
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Advocacy and Prevention Connection February 10 
Coalition staff will be holding connection space for DVSA program advocates every other Wednesday from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Meetings will alternate between those in which we'll gather around a set topic, and meetings in which we will share open space for free discussion.
We continue to hear from DVSA program advocates that they appreciate the connection with other advocates and would love for more to join! Please keep sharing this opportunity within your program to help support the needs of advocates.
The next virtual connect call will be: Wednesday, February 10 from 2:00 - 3:00 pm
Topic: Introduction to CompassPoint
To join through Zoom, Click here! Please Note: this Zoom link has changed in the New Year, and is the same one in your NEW calendar invites sent by Susie
You can use your computer audio or join by phone by dialing 1-669-900-6833 and enter passcode 760 120 7629
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A Conversation with Donna Brazile and Ana Navarro 
Former Democratic National Committee Interim Chair Donna Brazile and former Republican strategist and political contributor Ana Navarro will discuss today's political landscape virtually
with the University of Wyoming community
Thursday, February 11 at 5:30 pm.
With years of political expertise and media experience under their belts, Brazile and Navarro are seasoned analysts and are among the best political commentators on television today. They can quickly scrutinize geopolitical trends and other major forces at play in the nation. When Brazile and Navarro team up, they deliver straightforward perspectives about the future of Washington, D.C., while peppering their talks with real-life stories from campaigns and television sets.
This program was possible thanks to the generous support of: College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office, School of Culture, Gender & Social Justice, MLK Days of Dialogue, Milward L. Simpson Fund and the School of Politics, Public Affairs and International Studies, Department of Communication and Journalism, Department of English, Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology, and the College of Law.
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Happy Black History Month from Black Women's Blueprint 
Black History Month began in 1926 as a period for the observance and veneration of our ancestors in all their brilliance. To this day it serves us as an opportunity to meditate on where we have been, where we are headed, and appreciate the deeply transformative moment we find ourselves in today.
We have an exciting lineup of programming coming up to aid in cultivating our shared ancestral wisdoms spanning the entire month of February. Our collaboration with the National Organization for Women (NOW) continues with our next conversation in the series: 100 Days of a Feminist Agenda.
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National Webinars, Training, and Events
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Praxis International Advocacy Learning Center Applications Being Accepted
Embark on an interactive and transformative journey with advocacy groups across the country to explore our collective roots and strengthen our efforts to end gender-based violence.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of Class T of the Advocacy Learning Center will be conducted virtually, i.e. with no in-person events. To learn more about what this means, click here. We are tentatively planning an in-person training symposium in May 2022, as long as it is safe to travel and gather. If you have any questions about this, please email us.
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NNEDV Virtual Economic Justice Summit
NNEDV will host its 4th Economic Justice Summit from March 2 - 4, 2021. As part of our ongoing work to highlight and address the intersection of domestic violence and economic security, this national, three-day Summit will bring together advocates, state domestic violence coalitions, national experts, and allies to discuss and share strategies to improve economic security for domestic violence survivors.
The Summit will feature speakers, panel discussions and workshops on a range of topics. Our goals for the Summit are to provide a space to examine the systems that inform economic justice work; share concrete and innovative tools; to identify emerging issues including national and local policy solutions; and to strengthen partnerships between the movement to end domestic violence and anti-poverty movement.
OVW funds are available to programs to assist in the registration fees.
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Crimes Against Children Conference 2021 - Virtual
In response to Covid-19, the 33rd Annual Crimes Against Children Conference will be held virtually. The health and safety of attendees, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors is our top priority. During these unprecedented times, we will continue to provide you with the most relevant content and world-renowned speakers. We enhance the conference year after year and appreciate the feedback we received following last year's event.
These are a few of the new improvements you can look forward to at the 2021 virtual experience.
Content Available: August 9 - December 17 Registration Cost: Virtual Conference Access: $400
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Click here to view a variety of upcoming webinars, national training, and conferences.
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Resource Center |
Why Housing Matters for Sexual Assault Survivors 
Sexual assault impacts survivors in all areas of their lives - and this often includes their housing situation. For a survivor who was assaulted by someone who knows where they live, relocating to a safe place is a crucial part of their healing process.
While sexual assault advocates connect survivors with the services they need immediately following a sexual assault, such as a forensic exam or counseling services, needs related to safe housing may be unaddressed or not fully acknowledged. In order for survivors to be safe and to heal, they must be able to access the housing services they need. It's critical that housing service providers and sexual assault advocates understand how these two issues intersect so they are better-positioned to help survivors. That's why we created a new series of resources on the connections between housing and sexual violence. These resources illustrate how sexual violence can jeopardize a person's housing situation and how housing insecurity can increase the risk of experiencing sexual violence.
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COVID-19 has doubled the unemployment rate for Black women. The impact of COVID-19 can have dire onsequences on Black households- as Black women are more than two times as like to be their family's breadwinner than white women. Take action! Solutions to the economic turmoil America faces will require an intersectional approach. Keep the conversation around the need for policy that addresses the needs of ALL women by downloading and sharing this graphic with the hashtag #ValueEquality.
Media We Like Last year, UCLA gymnast Nia Dennis went viral for her floor routine inspired by Beyonce's Homecoming. On January 23rd, she amazed the world with another show-stopping performance. While leaping, bounding, and backflipping to artists like Kendrick Lamar, Megan Thee Stallion, and Missy Elliot, Dennis also took a moment to pay tribute to the Black Lives Matter Movement, bending her knee and throwing her first into the air with pride. Later on Instagram, Dennis addressed the motivations behind her routine, claiming, "This routine definitely reflects everything that I am today as a woman, and of course I had to incorporate a lot of parts of my culture."
In Case You Missed It:
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Spotlight |
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month - Know Your Worth 
Dating violence is more common than people think, especially among teens and young adults: one in three teens in the US will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they're in a relationship with before they become adults, and nearly half (43%) of college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.
Every February, young people and their loved ones join together across the country for a national effort to raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long push focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.
The theme for TDVAM 2021 is Know Your Worth. Know Your Worth is all about learning about healthy relationships and self-empowerment! Every young person is deserving of a healthy, loving relationship.
Key Dates:
Respect Week - February 8-14 Wear Orange Day - Tuesday, February 9
Resources:
Action Guide Respect Week Guide Social Media Guidance
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Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
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Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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