Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance

Today is a great day to become a member of the Action Alliance! In fact, January is the ideal time to join since you'll receive a full calendar year of benefits! We have individual memberships starting at just $25. Choose the one that works best for you. Join now: https://lnkd.in/eVanKu4Y

January is #StalkingAwarenessMonth. Stalking often occurs in many different forms, including making repeated and unsolicited phone calls, sending unwanted letters or other items, and following victims and/or showing up at their workplaces or homes. If you or someone you know is or suspect their being stalked, SPARC has resources that can help. You can also call our Statewide Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call: 800-838-8239 Text: 804-793-9999 Chat: vadata.org/chat/

Happy New Year! As we celebrate the new year, we reflect back on 2024 with gratitude and inspiration from all of the hard work done to end domestic and sexual violence. The Action Alliance looks forward to the work that we can accomplish with our members and supporters in 2025!

We’re grateful for the advocates who show up each day and do what must be done to make sure that safety, healing, and justice are accessible to every person impacted by sexual and domestic violence. They’re ready to listen and help you, your friend, and/or your family. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Call: 800-838-8238 Text: 804-793-9999 Chat: https://lnkd.in/eaAHbpq3

The Action Alliance office is closed until January 3rd, but the statewide hotline is open every day, 24 hours a day, including Christmas and New Year's Day. Our advocates are ready to help anyone who needs support. Call: 800-838-8238 Text: 804-793-9999 Chat: https://lnkd.in/eaAHbpq3

The Day of Action is almost here! On Jan. 29 we'll gather in RVA for a briefing on our 2025 legislative priorities. On the 30th, we take to the halls of the VA Capitol to meet with legislators! Please be sure to make an appointment with your legislator before the big day! Register now: https://htru.io/SK6M

Throughout the year, the Action Alliance provides BATs at locations across Virginia for our local and member SDVA advocates. But why? And what are they? Short answer: BATs are Basic Advocacy Trainings. They are designed for advocates in their first year of work in the field of domestic and/or violence advocacy and take place over the course of two days: one focused on DV and the other on SV. We recommended that new advocates attend both days of training even if their work focuses solely on one or the other since the two often overlap. Long Answer: Basic and Continued Advocacy Trainings Key Points and Importance Definition of Advocacy Training: Basic advocacy training provides foundational knowledge and skills to address issues such as gender-based violence (GBV). This includes understanding laws, policies, and the social and cultural factors surrounding GBV, as well as effective communication and negotiation skills. Continued advocacy training is an ongoing learning process that updates and deepens knowledge on emerging issues, best practices, and advanced strategies. It ensures advocates stay current on new legal frameworks, policy changes, and innovative approaches in the fight against GBV. Importance to the Movement to End GBV: Empowering Advocates: Training enhances the capacity of advocates to support survivors, challenge discriminatory practices, and influence policy change. Building Awareness: Proper training helps raise awareness about GBV, its consequences, and the need for intervention, thus driving broader societal change. Promoting Legal Reforms: Well-trained advocates can influence the creation and enforcement of laws and policies that protect survivors and prevent GBV. Strengthening Networks: Training fosters collaboration among individuals and organizations dedicated to ending GBV, strengthening the movement through collective action. Impact on Agency Function: Improved Service Delivery: Advocates with up-to-date knowledge and skills provide more effective support to GBV survivors, ensuring appropriate legal, medical, and psychological assistance. Increased Credibility: Agencies with trained staff are seen as more reliable and credible by survivors, funders, and policymakers, enhancing their reputation and influence. Enhanced Efficiency: Training leads to better coordination within and between agencies, improving response times and resource management in addressing GBV cases. Sustainability: Continued professional development within agencies helps maintain long-term momentum in the fight against GBV, ensuring organizations can adapt to changing needs and challenges. Improved Policy and Advocacy Impact: Well-trained staff are more adept at advocating for systemic change, influencing government policies, and mobilizing public support. The next BAT training is on December 10 in Hampton Roads. Our first BAT of 2025 is February 12-13 in RVA. Keep checking our Training Page for further BAT registration opportunities!

Check out this The Conversation U.S. article by Sound Justice Lab Co-Director and UVA School of Music Associate Professor Nomi Dave about the burden of shame survivors face in the legal system and how some are starting to testify publicly to push back against it https://bit.ly/4if0let

Did you know that Maslow's hierarchy of needs was inspired by time he spent with the Blackfoot? Witnessing the qualities of self-actualization among the Blackfoot and diving into their practices led Maslow to deeper research into the journey to self-actualization, and the eventual publishing of his famous Hierarchy of Needs concept. Later in his career, Maslow wrote further about his observations and noted that the Blackfeet took self-actualization further and sought community actualization. Continued observations of the Blackfoot and other First Nations demonstrate that a Circular Model of Needs is the most appropriate representation of First Nations thinking. A circular model captures the inter-relatedness of our needs and helps highlight that we can experience needs simultaneously and in changing order. This way of viewing needs makes more sense when seeing an individual as deeply rooted in a community, especially because a community is capable of meeting multiple needs in parallel. While one individual is cooking, another may be keeping children safe, while another may be negotiating peace with people from other tribes. Read more here: https://bit.ly/48USWwO #NativeAmericanHeritageDay #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

What are you thankful for? We are thankful for advocates today and everyday! Just a reminder that our hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7/365 - including today. Call: 800.838.8238 Text: 804-793-9999 Chat: vadata.org/chat