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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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WCADVSA Seeking 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.
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Accepting Proposals for 17th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women 
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.
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Motherhood After #MeToo Research Study 
My name is Kelsey Drotning and I am a PhD student at the University of Maryland. I am doing field research for my dissertation related to mothers' experiences with the #metoo movement and their approach to sex education with their children.
The purpose of this study is to understand how the mothers are responding to and navigating the #MeToo movement and related events.
I am seeking women:
1. Are above the age of 18 years old and a mother
2. Have at least 1 child age 5 and older
What will you be asked to do?
You will be asked to do two things: 1) Fill out a brief background survey; and 2) Participate in an interview (via phone or a virtual platform) that lasts 45 - 90 minutes. Interview topics will include sex education, parenting decisions, mother-child conversations about sexual behavior, #metoo movement and related events, and sexual violence.
If you have any questions or would like to participate in this study, please email Kelsey Drotning or call/text her at 206-919-4331.
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Protocol for Men and Teenage Boys In Shelter 
I am an intern with Safe Harbor which is a domestic violence shelter in the upstate of SC. We are currently working on researching other domestic violence shelters' protocols regarding men and teenage boys.
Therefore, I would greatly appreciate it if you could share some information regarding these protocols in Wyoming and how they might differ from the female client process.
- Do most shelters have a community living style?
- Are men and women usually separated in shelters?
- Is the onboarding process different for men and women?
- Are there differences in how services are provided (counseling, advocacy)?
If you have the time and capacity to give me feedback, I would appreciate hearing from you. You can email me, Sarah Briere for more information or with additional questions about my research.
Thank You!
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Our Work
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Updated Mask Guidance from the CDC
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.
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Transitional Housing Voluntary Services Training E-Learning 
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.
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16th Annual DV Counts Day Informational Webinar - August 11
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 packet with the survey questions and much more information will be sent out to all programs before the August 11 webinar.
The webinar will be held via Zoom and include live captioning. In the registration, please let us know if you need additional accommodations. Requests made after July 28 may not be able to be met.
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Save The Date! 16th Annual DV Counts Day - September 9 
NNEDV is pleased to announce the date for this year's Domestic Violence Counts Day. This year the count will begin at 8:00 AM Eastern on Thursday, September 9th. An informational packet will be sent out in the next month or so detailing the specifics of the DV Counts Day, including what time you will begin counting in your time zone, reporting your data, important definitions, and frequently asked questions.
This year, NNEDV will be moving away from SurveyMonkey to a new platform for data collection. As with years past, NNEDV will host an information webinar before the day of the count to walk programs through the survey structure and questions being asked. Because we will be using a new reporting platform, it may be helpful to have your staff member that will be reporting the data for your organization join the webinar or watch the recording.
If you would like to have another staff member added to the listserv to ensure they receive the information regarding the day of the count, please email their information to DVcounts@nnedv.org to be added.
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Policy Updates
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Thank you to everyone who made calls and sent emails earlier this week!
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.
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Monthly Po licy Call - August 27
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.
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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.
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Training and Events |
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Wyoming Webinars, Training, and Events
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Achieving Justice in Human Trafficking Cases - Virtual Lunch & 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
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Healthy Moms, Happy Babies (HMHB) Community-Based Webinar 
Coming to Your Community in Summer 2021!
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.
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National Webinars, Training, and Events
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Respect Her Game Panel Discussion - Sexism in the Tokyo Olympics & Beyond
You're invited to a FREE panel discussion about sexism in the Tokyo Olympics,
the state of sports media for women athletes, and more on Tuesday, August 3rd at 1:00pm
Panelists:
Dr. Courtney Cox, Assistant Professor, University of Oregon
Mirin Fader, Staff Writer, The Ringer
Dr. Shaun Anderson, Associate Professor, Loyola Marymount University
Soraya Giaccardi, Senior Researcher, The Lear Center
MacKenzie Thomas, Product Marketing Manager, Google
Moderator:
Dr. Caroline Heldman, Executive Director, The Representation Project
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Advocating for Women's Rights - Policy 101 
Join JWI for a virtual discussion with Advocacy and Policy Director Dorian Karp on women's rights policy and legislation.
Whether you're plugged in and getting daily news alerts, or you're not sure what advocacy is, this event is for you! We will dive into understanding policy and advocacy, highlight current policies and legislation impacting women's rights, give you tools to take action in your community, and discuss why this all matters.
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How To Provide Pet Services to DV Victims - Webinar 
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
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Allstate Foundation Moving Ahead Curriculum Training of Trainers
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)
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Career Empowerment for Survivors: What Advocates Need to Know Workshops 
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.
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Click here to view a variety of upcoming webinars, national training, and conferences.
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Resource Center |
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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.
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The Rise Up Project provides essential job skills to help individuals enter and advance in the workplace. All sessions are provided free of charge by experienced industry coaches. The program was designed for those who are under-resourced, but is open to anyone wishing to participate.
Sessions start each month and run for 6 weeks. The sessions will cover the below topics:
- Resume Review - Interviewing Skills - LinkedIn Setup - Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint
- Virtual Team Meetings - Writing Professional Emails
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We're excited to announce that NSVRC's library collection has hit a huge milestone - we've cataloged over 50,000 resources! This occasion represents the hard work and passion of our library team who works tirelessly every day to make sure resources about prevention are accessible to all.
NSVRC's library houses the world's largest collection of resources on preventing sexual harassment, abuse, and assault. In the library catalog - which is a free resource for advocates, researchers and the general public - you'll find the latest journal articles, fiction and non-fiction books, films, children's books, and more. While our library does not circulate books, it can be an easy way for you to identify titles you're interested in - and many journal articles can be made available upon request at no cost. One especially useful feature of the library is our curated special titles lists, where you can find resources on racism and white privilege, the impact of COVID-19 on prevention, and more.
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Because of the increased likelihood they will experience domestic and sexual violence, people with disabilities' experiences should guide our work. Centering the voices of self-advocates (according to SABE, a self-advocate works to ensure people with disabilities are treated as equals and that they are given the same decisions, choices, rights, responsibilities, and chances to speak up to empower themselves; opportunities to make new friends, and to learn from their mistakes) and survivors ensures that our work to respond to domestic and sexual violence is responsive to their needs.
To ensure that you meaningfully include self-advocates in your work and center their experiences, think about the following tips:
- Pay self-advocates fairly for their expertise. If you need help determining how self-advocates' benefits might be impacted by compensation, review our Self-Advocate Compensation Tip Sheet.
- Ensure that your physical spaces, communication, events, and materials are accessible to all. For information on how to make your resources accessible, view our Accessible Resources Tip Sheet.
- Empower self-advocates to make decisions and guide the work.
- Train self-advocates to become peer to peer educators and advocates to help other survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
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Wyoming Folks Who Have Received Unemployment 
Now Qualify for Affordable Insurance on the Marketplace
On July 1, HHS/CMS made changes to the Federal Health Insurance Marketplace that allow more people in Wyoming access to affordable health insurance through our Marketplace.
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.
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Send an email out to your membership-volunteers, sharing this big news.
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- 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
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ERAP Updates: Paying Utilities and More
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.
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.
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Spotlight |
P.E.A.C.E. Awards Nominations Open
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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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