Friday, December 19, 2014

NRCDV: Domestic Violence and The Holidays: Promoting Wellness and Managing Stress Technical Assistance Guide

NRCDV recently released a technical assistance guide on Domestic Violence and The Holidays: Promoting Wellness and Managing Stress. To read the full version click here for a wealth of resources visit www.nrcdv.org.  


Source: www.nrcdv.org 

Thursday, December 04, 2014

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence: Domestic Violence and the Holidays

The GCASAFV wishes you all a safe and happy holiday season! This month we'll be featuring blogs on Domestic Violence and the Holidays. Below is a snippet of a technical assistance guide released in December 2011 from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence. To read the full version click here or for a wealth of resources visit www.nrcdv.org.  

Source: www.nrcdv.org

Thursday, November 27, 2014

National Alliance to End Sexual Violence: Where We Stand, Campus Sexual Assault


WHERE WE STAND
Campus Sexual Assault

Campus Sexual Assault
Policy Statement
June 2014

The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence (NAESV) is the voice in Washington for the 56 state and territorial sexual assault coalitions and 1300 rape crisis centers working to end sexual violence and support survivors. Every day, local rape crisis centers see the devastating impact of campus sexual assault and the increasing occurrence of the crime. According to the Campus Sexual Assault Study, one in five women has been sexually assaulted while in college. The aftermath of rape can hamper both educational attainment and future employment for survivors. College survivors suffer high rates of PTSD, depression, and drug or alcohol abuse, which can hamper both their ability to succeed in school and future employment. At the same time, only a small percentage of these cases are reported, sanctioned by campus judicial boards or prosecuted, allowing offenders, who will often have multiple victims, to go without punishment as well as creating an unsafe environment for students.

NAESV applauds the recommendations advanced by the White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault and supports a continued legislative and administrative focus on five key areas: partnerships, prevention, advocacy and confidentiality, training, and climate surveys.

• Partnerships: Postsecondary institutions have a prime opportunity to make significant and lasting change by integrating comprehensive sexual assault prevention throughout all aspects of campus life. State sexual assault coalitions and community-based rape crisis centers are experts in sexual violence with decades of experience doing sexual assault training and prevention as well as building an evidence base founded in practice and the real experiences of communities. Rape crisis centers can help schools better serve their students. These centers provide crisis intervention, 24-hour services, longer-term therapy, support groups, accompaniment to hospital and legal services, and community education and training. They stand ready to work with colleges and universities to design and implement prevention and training programming.

NAESV urges campuses to develop MOUs with state sexual assault coalitions and/or community-based rape crisis centers and to prioritize partnerships with local and state not-for-profit experts rather than partnerships with out-of-state and/or for-profit entities. NAESV believes that each community has unique characteristics and that state sexual assault coalitions and community-based rape crisis centers know first-hand the available medical, legal and support services. MOUs should include fees for services rendered or a mutually agreed upon plan to fund activities. If a given community lacks a rape crisis center, or the local center is unable to take on additional responsibilities, the state sexual assault coalition may be able to serve as a partner for some purposes. Reimbursing rape crisis centers and coalitions for their services is a best practice.

State sexual assault coalitions and/or community-based rape crisis centers can be partners on a broad range of campus activities to address sexual violence and comply with federal law including:

  • Providing training to campus judicial officials, campus police and/or security, residence life, and Title IX coordinators;
  • Providing or consulting on ongoing prevention programming and initiatives now required by the Campus SaVE Act;
  • Providing guidance and acting as a liaison on a campus task force/sexual assault response team;
  • Providing confidential advocacy and counseling to student survivors; and
  • Providing training on sex offending behaviors and effective sanctions, or facilitating partnerships with those with expertise in sex offending.

• Prevention: Primary prevention strategies are focused on stopping the violence before it happens. Institutions must assess their readiness for prevention and measure the effectiveness of programs. State sexual assault coalitions and community-based agencies, often funded by the federal Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program, are essential partners to help provide training and technical assistance about evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies to prevent sexual violence. We also recommend that state boards of regents have access to the prevention strategies institutions utilize and the frequency of interventions, as well as collect annual reports on outcome data regarding the effectiveness of programs.

• Advocacy & Confidentiality: Sexual assault is a unique crime: victims often blame themselves; the associated trauma can leave memories fragmented; and insensitive or judgmental questioning can re-traumatize the victim. It is imperative that survivors’ confidentiality is guarded. If a survivor chooses not to report the assault, this choice must be honored and her or his anonymity protected for the purpose of Clery Act reporting. Guidance provided to universities regarding their obligations to disclose survivor or incident information must reinforce the value of privacy for survivors. Title IX and Clery both reference survivors’ rights related to privacy and confidentiality. All advocates, whether working on a campus or in the community, must be able to honor the confidentiality needs of survivors. The cornerstone of rape crisis advocacy is empowering survivors to regain control of their lives by making their own decisions following sexual assault. Campuses are tasked with preventing these crimes, supporting survivors, creating a safe learning environment, and holding offenders accountable. In doing this, we must keep the needs of survivors central to this process by granting advocates confidentiality when supporting survivors of campus sexual violence.

At the same time, it is essential for campuses to rigorously investigate reported sexual assaults and proactively look for patterns of perpetration. Campuses must be clear which employees have a duty to report and which employees can guard confidentiality. NAESV believes the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault recommendations appropriately balance survivor confidentiality and public safety concerns. NAESV would support legislation to codify this policy.

Conversely, NAESV could not support a blanket mandatory reporting policy requiring campuses to report sexual assaults to local law enforcement even with an opt-out provision. Survivors must be apprised of the avenues and procedures for reporting as well as advocacy assistance in making and following through with reports. However, the act of reporting must be the survivor’s decision.

• Training: Central to training for supporting survivors and changing the culture of sexual violence is providing trauma-informed services and response systems. Institutions should provide new campus security and police officers with training on sexual assault investigations, and annual policy reviews for quality assurance. Title IX officers should be required to attend annual trainings and partner with community-based rape crisis centers and/or state sexual assault coalitions. Additionally, campuses should include local rape crisis centers and/or state sexual assault coalitions in identifying plans for resolution agreements and compliance reviews between higher education institutions and the Department of Education. Campus personnel need training on sex offending behaviors and effective sanctions, training that can be provided by state coalitions, local rape crisis centers, and/or their professional allies.

• Climate Surveys: NAESV supports a requirement that postsecondary institutions conduct climate surveys to better ascertain the extent and nature of sexual violence on individual campuses. It will be essential that climate survey questions are developed using the strongest scientific data available and with the help of experts, informed by experience conducting surveys of sexual violence victimization, as well as experienced advocates from rape crisis centers. Climate surveys must be developed in a spirit of mutual collaboration and teamwork, and just as survey development will require collaboration, so too will the process of interpreting results and developing action steps. Sexual violence is a crime and an endemic social problem with complex causes. There is little to be gained from simplistic finger-pointing. No institution should be incentivized to further hide areas where improvement is needed.

The recommendations of the White House Task Force to Protect Students Against Sexual Assault marked a historic commitment at the highest levels of leadership to address this entrenched and unpalatable social problem, and we are hopeful. It will take a concerted and ongoing commitment from all postsecondary institutions to truly turn the tide of campus sexual violence. We commend Congress for its diligent work to craft legislation that is victim-centered with a focus on prevention, and focusing on partnerships with local rape crisis centers and state sexual assault coalitions as the experts poised to best assist campuses in addressing this problem.

HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
Contact Terri Poore, Policy Consultant at (850) 228-3428 or terri@endsexualviolence.org.

The National Alliance to End Sexual Violence is the voice in Washington for state coalitions and local programs working to end sexual violence and support survivors.


Source: http://www.endsexualviolence.org/where-we-stand/campus-sexual-assault

Thursday, November 20, 2014

CALCASA Releases Report on Campus Sexual Assault

CALCASA Release Report on Campus Sexual Assault


Given the current climate on college campuses and the increased called for better policy mechanisms to support survivors, CALCASA resScreenshot 2014-11-04 08.38.37ponded by convening 50 students, with diverse cultural and college backgrounds, to share their experiences and work with CALCASA to develop recommendations for institutional change during the 2014 Student Summit on Sexual Assault. During this 2-day event, students shared their varying experiences, identified gaps and strengths and, using their collective thought process, helped develop recommendations for universities, colleges, legislators, funders, and other stakeholders to meet the needs of students most effectively. This report is a culmination of student input and perspectives from the Student Summit.
We hope that rape crisis centers, college and university campuses, legislators and funders use this report to adjust to the new landscape of campus sexual violence. CALCASA is excited to work with all partners and stakeholders to provide technical assistance and support. CALCASA has served as a national leaders on campus violence (sexual, dating, domestic, and stalking) via our work with the Office of Violence Against Women and the Centers for Disease Control in supporting the work of communities and institutions in addressing and preventing sexual violence.
As you review the report, consider how you can create the change you want to see on your campus and in your community. For more information, please contact CALCASA’s Campus Team.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

NNEDV's Fact Sheet about HIV/AIDS & Domestic Violence

kNOw MORE! 

The National Network to End Domestic Violence launched a new tool kit, Positively Safe: The Intersection of Domestic Violence & HIV/AIDS. Below is a featured fact sheet from the Positively Safe toolkit. If you want additional materials and links to more resources visit nnedv.org


Source: nnedv.org 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

NNEDV's Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Violence

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month! Below is a blog from the National Network Against Domestic Violence on Frequently Asked Questions About Domestic Violence. 
Click here to read more about this blog  or visit nnedv.org  for more materials. 


Source: nnedv.org 

Friday, October 10, 2014

GCASAFV's Regional Summit 2014: We kNOw MORE

The Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence (GCASAFV) is pleased to present the "Regional Summit 2014: We kNOw MORE."

The Summit will occur from November 6, 2014, Thursday to November 8, 2014, Saturday with different topics each day. Those who should attend include youth, young adults, families, and members of the community; victim service providers and advocates in programs designed to address sexual assault (SA), domestic violence (DV), and other forms of gender-based violence; social workers, counselors, and systems advocates; and community leaders engaged in efforts to ending the violence.

From November 6, Thursday to November 7, Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Holiday Resort & Spa, Tumon, the Summit will focus on trauma-informed victim services, SA/DV across the lifespan, effective advocacy in the community, and the impact of sexual/domestic violence in the workplace, to an audience of community leaders, various organizations, business establishments, victim service providers, social workers, and counselors.

On November, 8, Saturday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Holiday Resort & Spa, Tumon, the Summit will be for youth, young adults, and the community leaders with the focus on raising long-term, effective awareness and advocacy in the community. The Saturday session will have two tracks. Track A will be for youth and young adults on the Speak! Act! Change! curriculum on SA/DV awareness & peer advocacy. Track B will engage the community to address SA/DV and breaking the barriers for survivors to include language access.
Registration is free. Seats are limited so please register early.
 The deadline for registration is Wednesday, October 22.
Check-in will start 7:30 AM.




VARO and Erica's House Family Violence Awareness Wave

In commemoration of Family Violence Awareness Month, Victim Advocates Reaching Out (VARO) with Erica's House will be hosting a Family Violence Awareness Wave on October 21, 2014. 
Please see the flyer below for more details. 


Guma' Mami, Inc. presents The Clothesline Project

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO 

OCTOBER 22, 2014 


Guma’ Mami, Inc. will host The Clothesline Project exhibit as part of the Domestic Violence Awareness Month of activities.  The Clothesline Project serves as an outlet for women who are victims of violence to express their emotions.  The Clothesline Project is part of a national effort to educate communities about the personal impact of sexual violence.  This project offers women, men and children and their supporters, an opportunity to have a voice around the issues of sexual abuse and assault.  Individuals express themselves artistically by creating personal messages on the shirts.  This exhibit provides an opportunity for survivors to bear witness to their experience of violence, and to celebrate their transformation from victim to survivor by ‘breaking the silence’.

We invite you to participate in this event as we all help victims, victims’ families and their friends “Break the Silence”.  This event is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Guma’ Tasa, Mangilao.

For more information, please contact Jirrah Cabrales Bautista @ 477-1505 or email @ jirrahc@guam.net.



Source: Jirrah Cabrales, Guma' Mami, Inc. 

Friday, October 03, 2014

Reflections on the 30th Anniversary of the Family Violence Prevention & Services Act

Click the link below to read the personal story and reflections of the 30th Anniversary of the Family Violence Prevention & Services Act by Marylouise Kelley, PhD., Director of the Family Violence Prevention & Services Program.
Drawing from FVPSA Program Director Marylouise Kelley's daughter, age 6, while Kelly was an advocate in a shelter: "Sometimes ladies come to The Crisis Center because they have trouble at home. Sometimes my Mom has to show them where they sleep. Sometimes they come to The Crisis Center with kids."

Source: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/

Thursday, September 18, 2014

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Sexual Violence & the Workplace, A Guide for Advocates

To read more about NSVRC's Sexual Violence & the Workplace, A Guide for Advocates or for other materials visit nsvrc.org or click here to take you directly to the publication. 



Source: nsvrc.org

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Sexual Violence & the Workplace, A Guide for Employers

To read more on NSVRC's Sexual Violence & the Workplace, A Guide for Employers or for other materials visit nsvrc.org or click here to take you directly to the full version. 
Source: nsvrc.org 

Friday, September 05, 2014

The National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Sexual Violence & The Workplace Overview

For the month of September we will feature blogs that focus on the spill over effects of sexual assault and domestic violence in the workplace. To read more about the featured blog below and other materials visit nsvrc.org or click here to take you directly to the full version. 


Source: nsvrc.org 

Thursday, August 28, 2014

NNEDV's Tech Savvy Teens: Choosing Who Gets to See Your Info

Do you know who sees your info? Good reads from NNEDV on "Tech Savvy Teens: Choosing Who Gets to See Your Info". 



Source: The National Network to End Domestic Violence 
www.nnedv.org 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

NNEDV's Safety & Privacy on Facebook: A Guide for Survivors



This guide explains how to be safe, manage your friends list, review your privacy settings, security settings and notifications on Facebook. To read more visit: NNEDV's Safety & Privacy on Facebook: A Guide for Survivors


Source: The National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV)


Monday, August 04, 2014

Technology Safety

New Survey: Technology Abuse & Experiences of Survivors and Victim Service Agencies

In a survey conducted by the Safety Net Project at NNEDV, nearly 90% of programs report that survivors come to them for help after abusers intimidated and made threats via cell phone, text messages and email, and 75% of programs noted that abusers accessed victim’s accounts (email, social media, etc.) without the victim’s consent and oftentimes without their knowledge. Intimidation, threats, and access of information about victims aren’t new tactics within the context of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or trafficking. However, the use of technology as a tool to facilitate these tactics means that the harassment and abuse can be much more invasive, intensive, and traumatizing. 
Technology gives abusers more methods of controlling and monitoring victims. Seventy-two percent of programs reported that a survivor’s location is being tracked by smart phones or other devices; more than half of the programs report that survivors are saying abusers are spoofing caller ID (manipulating caller ID so that it appears as though someone other than the abuser is calling); and nearly 70% of programs report that abusers are posting pictures or videos of victims online for the purpose of distressing or harming the victim. Programs also report that survivors are asking for help on how to manage their technology and stay safe while using them. Survivors frequently ask for help with cell phones (71%); followed by how to manage location privacy, whether through cell phones or other location devices (62%), and computer or laptop use (56%). 
These two newest infographics show how technology is being misused by abusers against survivors. NNEDV conducted a survey of more than 750 victim service agencies across the United States, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime. This is one of the most comprehensive reviews of what survivors are telling victim service providers about how abusers misuse technology to harass, stalk, and harm.

Friday, August 01, 2014

National Domestic Violence Hotline U.S. Firearms Focus 2014 Survey


Below are statistics from a recent 2014 survey by the National Domestic Violence Hotline about the intersection of gun violence and sexual and domestic violence.

#KNOWMORE and share this now to help #EndTheViolence.


Article - Larry Magid: San Jose Domestic Violence Prevention Summit Deals With Stalking & Trafficking Through Technology

Hafa Adai Friday Everyone! Get a good read out of this article from San Francisco KCBS regarding the "National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Safety Net Technology Summit 2014" that our GCASAFV Representatives are currently attending!

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS)— A domestic violence prevention summit is underway in San Jose where the focus is on issues dealing with technology, stalking and trafficking.


Some people might not realize that potential stalkers can use a victim’s smartphone to find out where they are. The conference is reminding people to turn off location services, or if you leave them on, be sure that any apps that are location aware are turned off or not displaying your whereabouts.

People would probably be surprised at how many apps actually use location services. It’s not just the obvious ones like Google Maps or the map app built into your iPhone. Most or just about all social networking apps like Foursquare, Facebook, Twitter all have these tracking components. It’s not so much to spy on you, but geolocation allows you to check in, but also it can gather information so that advertising can be catered to your whereabouts.

Think of how handy this comes in when using the Yelp app when you want to find a restaurant in unfamiliar territory.

This may seem obvious, but make sure potential abusers don’t have your passwords. This would likely be in the case of a previous spouse or significant other. If you end up replacing your phone, make sure you don’t just update it with data from your own phone; do it manually so you don’t get any spyware on the new device.

As far as being located in an emergency, one thing you cannot disable is E-911. That’s secure as mandated by federal law. Even if you turn off location services, when you dial 911, dispatch will know your approximate location.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/07/30/larry-magid-san-jose-domestic-violence-prevention-summit-deals-with-stalking-trafficking-through-technology/

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Hafa Adai Guam! 

July is about building Healthy Relationships!

























Thursday, June 05, 2014

NSVRC: The Process of Coming Out, Sexual Violence & Individuals Who Identify As LGBTQ

Hafa Adai! June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month. This month our blogs will contain information regarding sexual assault and domestic violence in the LGBT community. Click on the link below to read more about it! 




Source: www.nsvrc.org


Thursday, May 29, 2014

NCEA's Research Brief: How at Risk for Abuse Are People with Dementia?

Hafa Adai! May is Senior Citizens' Month. In keeping up with this month's theme below is an info-graphic provided by the National Center on Elder Abuse with information on the risks of abuse for people with dementia.  




Source: www.ncea.aoa.gov 

Friday, April 25, 2014

The Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence extends their gratitude

Hafa Adai Friday Guam!
 We would like to extend our gratitude to those who attended and participated in our conference for the past two days. We would like to thank Attorney Basil O'Mallan from the Office of the Attorney General, Capt. Ray Perez from the Guam Police Department, Jacob Perez and Attorney Mikaela Henderson from the Guam Public Defender Service Corporation, Dr. Karri Perez and Dr. Ansito Walter from the University of Guam, School of Business & Public Administration, and most especially to our off-island guests Ms. Olga Trujillo and Ms. Tracy Wright for their dedication and advocacy in Raising Awareness to KNOW MORE!


Thursday, April 17, 2014

Naval Base Guam – Victim Advocate Appreciation Luncheon


The Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (GCASAFV) would like to thank the Department of the Navy – Sexual Assault Response Prevention and Response program for extending the invitation to attend the Victim Advocate Appreciation Luncheon and would also like to congratulate those that received the Certified Victim Advocate Awards today:

CFAF DET AIMD/ASD
AZ1 Hughes-Batalla
LS2 Paredes
CRG-1
MA1 Trowbridge
MA2 Borgus
MA2 Ubiera
CSS-15
YNC Harris
EODMU-5
ITCS Hafer
ND2 Patterson
IS3 Peters
HSC-25
AM1 Maxson
AT3 Dvorak
JRM
SMSgt Felicia Simon
YN1 Batts
Navy Recruiting District
PSC Guardino
NAVFAC
LT Gutierrez
NAWMU-1
AO1 Blair
AS1 Boese
AO2 Montgomery

NBG
RPC Cleridor
YN1 Booth
MA2 Brown
MA2 Velez
MA 3 Williams
Ms. Marsea Lewis
Mr. Fernando Meave
NCTS
IT3 Hermosura
NMC EAD
IT2 Ehrs
NOSC
PS2 Gomez
NSWU-1
IT1 Scott
USNH
LT Debo-Trosclair
LT Helfrich
HM1 Calalo
HM1 Devera
HM1 Vegamora
LS2 Gutierrez
HM2 Isiorho
HM3 Lindstrom
HN Odegard
USS CHICAGO 
HM1 Eustaquiao
USS FRANK CABLE
ENC Rodriguez
HT1 Castillo-Figueras
ICI Kornexl
MM1 Rabago
GM2 Castellanos
EM2 Hannah
HT2 Lacaillde
BM2 Pena
EM3 Dalton
GM3 Doolin
MM3 Grant
ET3 Bishop 

USS OKLAHOMA
ET1 Goldy