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Volunteer Voices – Current Issue

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Welcome to the 2026 September issue of Volunteer Voices, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) volunteers.

In this Issue:

Table of Contents
Notes from the Staff Self-Care Corner: Self-Care: Grounding Exercises Can Help Medicaid Changes Coming Soon TED Talk Sexual Violence Survivors Have Increased Risk of Dying by Suicide Quotables	Join the Conversations! A Day in the Life… Reviews: Inside the Manosphere Birthdays Test Your Brain Events and Educational Resources Make a Note! Parting Shot

Notes from Staff

Hello, DSVS volunteers! My name is Bonnie Robinson, and I recently joined Domestic and Sexual Violence Services as the training and outreach coordination specialist on the Prevention, Education, and Coordination team. In that role, I’ll be working closely with the Community Engagement volunteers, among other parts of my job. I am looking forward to getting to know our amazing volunteers and learning more about the crucial work you do!

I have more than 20 years of experience in training design and development, community engagement, outreach, and partnership building. I also believe deeply in public service, having dedicated my entire career to that purpose. I started out as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine in 2002-05, where I taught English as a foreign language to middle- and high-school students, and organized and taught a wide variety of seminars, clubs, and classes on gender/gender-based violence issues, sexual health, human trafficking, and gender and HIV/AIDS at Ukrainian schools, summer camps, and NGOs. After returning to the U.S., I earned a master’s in international development studies with a concentration in gender and development from The George Washington University and spent over 20 years as a federal government employee leading training and development programs across several agencies. Most recently, I served as the training advisor for the Office of Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where I managed training programs on gender-based violence prevention and response around the world.

After living in Fairfax County for 15 years and seeing both its robust services and unique challenges, I am excited to use my skills and experience to support volunteers, employees, and community partners that are preventing and responding to sexual and domestic violence in our neighborhoods and communities.

Outside of work, I am an avid quilter and sewist, and a die-hard fan of the Washington Commanders and the Nationals. My husband and I have two high-school age daughters, so we spend lots of time at high-school sports and chorus events. When we’re not doing that, I also enjoy spending time outside running, hiking, or birdwatching. I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming training or event!

Bonnie Robinson
Training and Outreach Coordination Specialist

Self-Care Corner

Grounding Exercises Can Help

When we practice self-care, we decrease our stress levels and increase our resilience. One way to get started with self-care is through grounding, which helps keep us in the here and now. Grounding exercises don’t have to be grand or expensive gestures. They can be done any place, any time—and no one even has to know you’re doing them! Read more.

Medicaid Changes Coming Soon

Losing health insurance can create challenges in accessing and managing care. This can be especially true for survivors of domestic violence, who often access Medicaid to have health care independent of the person who caused harm. Medicaid provides economic security for a survivor to be able to leave an abusive relationship while maintaining access to physical or emotional health care for themselves and their children after an abusive relationship or as a result of one. So how will the upcoming changes to Medicaid impact these survivors? Find out more.

TED Talk

September is Hispanic Heritage Month! This month reminds us to celebrate diverse cultures in our country and bring to the forefront values which connect us all. Hispanic and Latin culture is inextricable from American culture, and we can all celebrate the richness of blending traditions and learning about one another.

To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, watch Tales of Passion, a TED Talk by Isabella Allende, one of the most influential Latinas in the world. Allende has connected her Chilean culture with stories that resonate with people from all over the world. In this talk, she uses humor to discuss how passion can push us toward a future that supports all of us. Her words remind us of the passion of our volunteers and the work they do to ensure everyone is able to access resources in their time of need.

Sexual Violence Survivors Have Increased Risk of Dying by Suicide

Survivors of domestic and sexual violence face much higher suicide risk. Here’s what we know: 1 in 3 women who have survived rape and 1 in 5 men who have survived intimate partner violence have attempted suicide. Survivors of intimate partner violence are about twice as likely to attempt suicide as people who haven’t experienced intimate partner violence. We also know this risk can be reduced. Learn more.

Quotables

“Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don’t live in the world all of your own.” –Albert Schweitzer

Join the Conversations!

Domestic and Sexual Violence Services’ podcast, Unscripted: Conversations about Sexual and Domestic Violence, is real talk on tough topics! Stay in the know with these biweekly discussions. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to hear addressed on Unscripted, email them to DSVS’ communications specialist Kendra Lee.

A Day in the Life …

“A day in the life as the Advocacy Services program manager is always full and collaborative,” says Shauna Caria of the job she has held for eight months. “I usually start my morning by saying good morning to the Advocacy team, and then reviewing any critical updates and Lethality Assessment Protocol (LAP) calls that came in overnight.

“I scan for important emails from partners or staff and look ahead at the day’s priorities. I focus on building and managing Domestic Violence Action Center’s (DVAC) partnerships by strengthening communication, aligning goals, and ensuring our collaborative model remains effective and survivor-centered.

“Much of my day also involves coordinating across key partners and teams—planning for and facilitating meetings with DVAC’s 15 government and nongovernment partners such as shelter staff, The Women’s Center, Fairfax County Police Department Victim Services Division, Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, and many other coordinated community response partners. I collaborate closely with other DSVS teams such as Crisis Response Services; Prevention, Education, and Coordination Team; and Clinical Services to align goals, discuss trends, address systems issues, and ensure our services remain well connected and accessible to survivors.

“Another significant part of my role includes supervision and leadership of the Advocacy Services team—supporting coaching, professional development, team cohesion, and ongoing staff growth. I work within Department of Family Services policies, the DSVS leadership team, and alongside our broader advocacy partners to streamline practices, ensure policy coherence, and improve protocols that guide our daily work.

“One other important portion of my day includes program oversight and grant management: reviewing grant funded staff reports, dashboards, and partner inputs to complete required narratives and maintain compliance. In addition to managing existing grants, I support the development of new grant applications to expand our impact. I collaborate closely with the DSVS Data Team to review emerging advocacy and grant related trends and identify opportunities for improvement. Some days include strategic planning and countywide coordination through workgroups such as Fairfax County Sexual Assault Response Team and other multidisciplinary teams—work that shapes the future of DSVS and supports a consistent, trauma-informed response to domestic and sexual violence across Fairfax County.

“The pace varies, but every day is rooted in improving access, coordination, and safety for the community we serve.”

Each newsletter will include this section to help share reviews, spotlight the people who support Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, recognize birthdays and list upcoming trainings and meetings.

Reviews

Louis Theroux’s recent documentary, “Inside the Manosphere,” explores the lives and perspectives of highly popular internet influencers who are a part of the “manosphere,” which refers to the largely online community that revolves around masculinity, particularly among communities that frame masculinity from an anti-feminist, misogynistic viewpoint.

The main focus of the documentary is manosphere influencers who promote men controlling women and assessing women’s value based on their beauty and sexuality. The major influencers featured in the documentary express the misogynistic beliefs that men should control women, sleep with as many as possible, and be strong providers, while women should remain loyal to one man and stay in the home. They believe traditional roles of men as the provider and women as homemaker and mother are “under threat” in today’s society. The influencers also make racist, homophobic, and antisemitic statements – though they insist they are not racist, homophobic, or antisemitic.

The views and prominence of these men is certainly troubling, and the most concerning thing in this documentary was the effect the manosphere content had on young boys and men. The documentary repeatedly shows young men and teens praising the influencers when they see them on the street, calling them their idols, their role models, and their inspiration. These young fans also frequently shout slurs before high-fiving the influencers. This shows a culture of misogyny and a lack of supportive role models for young men. Even if the manosphere is not the mainstream, there is no doubt about its influence on young boys’ minds.

The documentary also explored conspiracy theorists and “red pilling,” both of which appear heavily in manosphere content. Red pilling is a reference to The Matrix, encouraging people to “wake up to the truth” that the powers in society are trying to put men down, eliminate masculinity, and in more extreme cases, worship Satan.
When learning about the influencers featured in the documentaries, it was not surprising that conspiracy theories and the manosphere go hand in hand because many of the men do not act logically and have significant experiences of cognitive dissonance. One example of this includes demonizing sex work and pornography, while simultaneously profiting from sexually explicit content. Another is that they claim to “know everything about women and what they want,” while the vast majority of women who are interacting with influencers are other female influencers, profiting off proximity to the manosphere.

It is hard to believe all these men truly believe in the values they are sharing online, especially as many frequently express different views when speaking to Theroux or in front of a long-term female partner.

The documentary is short, but impactful. For me it was difficult to watch, especially knowing so many young people identify with this hurtful ideology. It also connects the red-pill ideology to many relevant DSVS topics, including trauma and harmful gender roles. Though difficult, I highly recommend this documentary as it offers an opportunity to explore the highly topical counterculture of the manosphere and its wider effects.

This review was written by Volunteer Manager Caroline Croghan.

Birthdays

Vic Batson - 9/12
Kimberly Bell - 9/12
Laura Faino - 9/12
Maria Sayrs - 9/19
DeAnna Salee - 9/23
Ronda DeVore - 9/25
Audrey Arnold - 9/28
Lucinda Audey - 9/28
Kelsey Staton - 9/30

Test Your Brain

Can you spot the difference in these photos?

Answer Key

Events and Educational Resources

When Home Becomes a Housing Unit: How to Minimize the Impact Your Profession Has on Your Personal Life
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026
3-4:15 p.m.

In this line of work, it’s easy to bring the job home—even when you don’t mean to. The mindset. The hyper-vigilance. The silence. The need for control. The emotional distance. They sneak in—until home starts to feel more like a housing unit than a safe place to land.

In this candid and compelling webinar, author and correctional wellness advocate William Young explores how the job can quietly reshape how we think, feel, and connect with the people we love. From parenting like a CO to struggling with emotional shutdown, this session offers honest insight and practical strategies to help you draw a clearer line between work and home—and start reclaiming your life. Registration is free.

When Helping Hurts: Balancing Community, Compassion, and Self-Care
Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026
2:15 p.m.

Justice professionals, advocates, and community responders absorb a tremendous amount of others’ pain, often without realizing how much it’s affecting them. This webinar explores the realities of burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and vicarious trauma, and how these forms of stress show up in the day-to-day work of people serving trauma-exposed communities.

Attendees will learn to recognize early “pink flags” that signal stress is building and understand how repeated exposure to suffering can shape decision-making, boundaries, and overall well-being. The session also offers practical ways to strengthen sustainability, accountability, and team health without relying on self-care as the only solution. Through real-world examples and interactive dialogue, the training focuses on how to protect empathy while staying grounded, effective, and supported in the work. Registration is free.

Sexual Violence Tier 1
Saturdays, Sept. 19 & 26, 2026
8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
4555 Ahmadiyya Drive
Chantilly, VA 20151

Registration for the fall session of Sexual Violence Tier 1, a 16-hour training on understanding sexual violence, systems responding to sexual violence in Fairfax County, and resources available in our community, is now open. This training is free, but for full credit, all 16 hours must be completed. Questions? Contact Victoria Nevel-Babla.

Confidentiality, Privilege, & Mandated Reporting for Virginia-based Sexual & Domestic Violence Advocates
Monday, Sept. 21, 2026
3-4:30 p.m.

This 90-minute webinar training will provide sexual and domestic violence advocates with a basic understanding of (or refresher on) confidentiality, privilege, and mandated reporting requirements in Virginia. We will provide tips, tools, and best practices for record-keeping to ensure advocates are aware of the legal requirements as well as the commitment to survivor safety involved in different record-keeping strategies and confidentiality protection measures. Participants are encouraged to bring related questions and scenarios applicable to their work that can support a collaborative learning process. Registration is free.

Domestic Violence Tier 1
Wednesdays & Thursdays Oct. 21-Nov. 18, 2026
6-8 p.m.
Virtual
Note: There will be no session on November 11 due to Veterans Day

Registration for the fall session of Domestic Violence Tier 1, a 16-hour training on the dynamics of domestic violence, systems responding to domestic violence in Fairfax County, and resources available in our community, is coming soon. Questions? Contact Abby Picard.

Make a Note!

Please take a moment to log on to your Volunteer Management System (VMS) account and log your hours for the month of August. Please also log any time you spent on training under “volunteer training.” If you do not see this selection under your opportunities, please email Caroline Croghan, and she will log on to add it to your account.

Please enter your hours for each day you volunteered and not as a lump sum. If you need to log hours for a previous month, please email Caroline Croghan to let her know so she can be aware of the entry and expedite the approval process.

Parting Shot

Volunteer units have networking and in-service days. This is some members of the HASA team getting a briefing from one of the forensic nurses last summer.

DSVS Wants You!

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Contact Caroline Croghan.

Check out past issues of Volunteer Voices.

Department of Family Services – Domestic and Sexual Violence Services

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