Network for Victim Recovery of DC ( NVRDC ) continued to grow our impact this quarter by hiring several new employees. Our growing staff reflect our growing capacity to assist more survivors.

Continue reading to learn all about our impact from January 1 to March 31, 2019.
Impact Snapshot:
January through March 2019

NVRDC advocates responded to the hospital 87 times to provide services to survivors.

11% of new clients this quarter self-identified as male and 59% identified as non-white.

NVRDC's Legal Services staff added 107 new cases to their caseloads.

The total number of clients NVRDC saw from January 1 to March 31st, 2019 was 245.
Client Story
Kerry's daughter was shot by her intimate partner. In February, after the defendant took a plea, the sentencing hearing was held. Kerry's NVRDC attorney and case manager worked over a number of weeks to develop a victim impact statement as well as to prepare a memorandum of sentencing which included photos, quotes from friends, and video that was made after her daughter's death. In the week before the hearing, the attorney and case manager prepared the client, as well as received permission from DC Superior Court to bring in the ashes of Kerry's daughter. Kerry read her victim impact statement in court along with her two other daughters. This is one example of how NVRDC's unique holistic approach of wraparound services can support crime victims. In Kerry's case, our case manager offered her emotional support and resources for healing while our attorney offered legal expertise in and experience with preparing memorandums of sentencing.
Pro Bono News

In support of NVRDC's Pro Bono Program, K&L Gates LLP hosted an Introduction to NVRDC's Pro Bono Program, and Hogan Lovells LLP hosted a Pro Bono Program Training on Crime Victims' Rights (CVR) Representation. Our volunteer attorneys also attended a criminal jury trial for sexual assault in D.C. Superior Court in which NVRDC provided CVR representation. This trial included expert witness testimony by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examinations expert under the Daubert standard adopted by the DC Court of Appeals in 2016 .
Equal Justice Works:
Fellow successfully negotiates a Consent CPO

This past quarter, NVRDC's Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Justice Corps Fellow, Heba Estafanous, screened 29 individuals for services, took on 4 new clients, and continued to assist 5 clients from the previous reporting period. Heba also successfully negotiated a consent Civil Protection Order for her client that included many non-traditional requests, such as an absolute stay away order from a few local social establishments, that would help ensure the client's peace of mind and safety. The agreement also required the Respondent to pay the Petitioner restitution for property damage that he caused.
University & Weekly
Call-in Clinics Continue
NVRDC continues to host weekly call-in-clinics for victims of crime to speak with an attorney. Twenty-three individuals received advice from attorneys during the clinics on Civil Protection Orders, Crime Victims' Rights, and Title IX questions. Individuals included survivors of sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, assault, and hate crimes. 

NVRDC also hosted one Know Your Rights Clinic at American University for student athletes. NVRDC presented on Civil Protection Orders, Crime Victims' Rights, and Title IX (both federal rights and American's procedures). Approximately 15 students attended this clinic.

VLNDC Expands Network and Services Offered
In January, VLNDC further expanded its network of legal service providers with the addition of DV LEAP , the Health Justice Alliance at Georgetown University Law Center, and the Neighborhood Legal Services Program . This expansion grows the network to 19 legal service providers. Through an Access to Justice grant from the DC Bar Foundation for 2019, VLNDC also expanded the services it offers through the hiring of a part-time Attorney Navigator who will provide brief advice on civil protection orders that VLNDC is unable to connect to extended representation at a network partner.
Responding to Older Survivors

NVRDC continues its partnership with the District’s Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) to provide funds for elder abuse survivors’ housing and case management needs. In this quarter, DASH’s Elder Housing Resource Specialist was able to assist 15 older survivors of elder abuse, domestic violence in later life, and sexual assault to gain housing stability and safety from abuse. 
 
In March, DC TROV members offered a multidisciplinary-lead training for 30 mediators working at the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Mediators learned how to spot possible elder abuse, criminal neglect, and financial exploitation, make referrals and seek support, and work with older victims who have experienced trauma.
 
The DC TROV team continues to meet regularly, last gathering at Legal Counsel for the Elderly in the AARP building in March. The team’s goals include providing professionals in the District with multidisciplinary training, increasing outreach to elder survivors, and increasing services offered and improving referral mechanisms. If you are a professional who interacts with seniors, please contact merry@nvrdc.org  if interested in joining or learning more. 
Restorative Justice at NVRDC

The Restorative Justice Program keeps growing at NVRDC. Last March 2 NVRDC staff members, traveled to New York for training in Restorative Approaches to Sexual Harm, Intimate Violence, and Patriarchy. The event was organized by the Ahimsa Collective and took place at the Columbia School of Social work.

A group of future Restorative Justice facilitators trained to create awareness and grow the Restorative Justice program in the District of Columbia. Different experts from around the country gathered and talked about best practices and approaches.

On top of all this, the Krav Maga helped organize a fundraiser raising $2,000 to support NVRDC's work. The event was a success and also fostered empowerment, self-defense training, inspiration, and wellness.
Introducing Stephana Henry!
NVRDC's Newest Board Member
Stephana J. Henry , Esq. is an Associate in Venable’s International Trade and Advertising Law groups in the Washington, DC office. During law school, Stephana served as a legal extern at the Administrative Tribunal with the World Bank Group, where she assisted judges with conducting research and drafting opinions and navigating labor law issues. She served as a legal intern with the International Association of Women Judges, where she completed research on global trafficking and gender-based violence issues, particularly in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Stephana served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Judge Catharine Easterly of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, where she drafted an opinion in response to an order to show cause against reciprocal discipline and drafted memorandum opinion of judgements on criminal and landlord-tenant matters. Stephana is also a trained Mediator with a focus on the facilitative approach. She received her J.D. from Howard University School of Law and her B.A. in Philosophy from Florida A&M University.
NVRDC Staff

Staff
Kristin Eliason
Heba Estafanous
Julia Fuld
Leise Gergely
Naida Henao
Kris Klassen
Audrey Meshulam
Emily Morazán
Merry O'Brien
Matt Ornstein
Ruth Perrin
Maggie Schmidt
Alex Scott
Saron Shiferaw
Lindsey Silverberg
Alexandra Smith
Sarah Taylor
Junia Telamour
Karin Tovar
Natalie Trujillo
Danielle Turner

Executive Director
Bridgette Stumpf


Board   of   Directors
Ryan Guilds,  Chair
Christopher Ekimoff,   Secretary
Marc Filer,   Treasurer
Blair Decker
Stephana Henry
Karen Kazmerzak
Jane Lee
Dionne Lomax
Monica McHugh
Liam Montgomery
Miranda Petersen

Help us make a difference!

We could not do the work we do without the support of our donors and we would love to add you to the list of generous people who are lifting up survivors and making our services possible. Click below to make a gift today.
You can also support survivors directly by purchasing items from our Amazon Wish list , which includes items we often provide to survivors whose clothes are collected as evidence or to survivors who are homeless without access to basic toiletries.

You can also support us by shopping on Amazon Smile. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to NVRDC if you select us here .
Every dollar helps us move towards survivor defined justice!
NVRDC's staff and board thank all of those who contribute time, financial support, energy, and love to empowering victims and survivors of crime in DC.
202.742.1727   |   info@nvrdc.org    |   nvrdc.org
6856 Eastern Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20012