Welcome to the 2020 October issue of Volunteer Voices, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Domestic and Sexual Violence Services (DSVS) volunteers.
In this Issue:
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Hi, Everyone,
Incredibly, we are now in October. DVAM is in full swing, and it truly is thanks to you and all you do for the community! Things may be a bit (or a lot) different, but your flexibility and overall commitment to the community we serve will make great strides throughout this month and beyond.
My name is Ana Villalta Hernandez, I am a Crisis Line Specialist with DSVS and am well into my second year with the team. When not working the Hotline, I enjoy unplugging and connecting with nature, the ocean being my go-to. I spent my first few years of life taking nightly strolls alongside the Pacific Ocean in El Salvador with my mom and grandmother, and the love and appreciation for the ocean is engrained in me. Now I love seeing this in my two kiddos, as my husband and I try to get them out to the beach as much as possible.
During this month when we are pulled in so many different directions, whether that be responsibility for awareness raising activities, family and work life, or holiday preparations (or the avoidance of reminders of winter holidays prior to Halloween), how will you unplug?
Yours in Unplugging,
Ana Hernandez
Crisis Line Specialist
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time. They have the heart.”
–Elizabeth Andrew
Learn more about county activities and resources honoring the month and check out our community engagement toolkit for ways you can share the message.
Though Fairfax County’s office buildings currently are closed to the public, DSVS volunteers can still help answer the Domestic and Sexual Violence 24-Hour Hotline. We are also still providing hospital accompaniment via the phone. If you have questions about your role during the pandemic, contact Lynne Rowson or Ara Jo (Hotline) and Angela Acosta (Hospital Accompaniment).
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.
Come Listen to a TED Talk: How to Practice Emotional Hygiene Many people wonder what exactly is taught in ADAPT, the DSVS program that serves those who have hurt their loved ones. There are questions about the curriculum content, the approaches used and the responsivity of the clients. The goal of the program is to help clients shift from blaming to taking responsibility, to develop compassion and to learn skills to regulate their emotions. Emotional regulation sounds great, but many are unsure of what it entails. “How to Practice Emotional Hygiene” is a TED Talk by Guy Winch that explains the importance of emotional regulation using metaphors and stories. The speaker asks the audience if they learned how to treat a physical wound as a child, to which the majority agreed they had been taught. He then asks if they were taught how to treat an emotional wound, to which many agree they had not.
The TED Talk helps the viewer reflect upon the lack of education we receive on our psychological health and how we neglect our emotional wounds, such as failure, rejection and loneliness. In ADAPT, we know our clients are dealing with core hurts or emotional wounds that have not been addressed. As Winch explains, the untreated emotional wounds worsen over time and require treatment just as physical illness does.
For example, he explains how chronic loneliness has the same devastating effect on a person’s health as cigarette use.
If you are interested in learning more or would like a resource to teach about psychological health, “How to Practice Emotional Hygiene” is an excellent video to start the conversation. Simply search “How to practice emotional hygiene | Guy Winch | TEDxLinnaeusUniversity” on YouTube. –Heather Potter
Meet Joan Meagher, Court Advocate Volunteer!
"The most rewarding part of being a court advocate is seeing how grateful the victims are to have someone who will listen to them and help them formulate their next steps in being safe and staying safe. They are often so alone in their situation and just being able to talk with someone who cares and wants to help gives them a sense of hope." Learn more about why Joan volunteers with Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.
Ellen Carson, 4
Ni Hsieh, 11
Norma Williamson, 20
Active DSVS volunteers may sign up for training. If you are interested in a training and not currently volunteering with DSVS, please contact Debra Ranf or visit the VOICES web page for current volunteer opportunities.
Webinars
Advocacy and Male Survivors of Domestic Violence
As domestic violence programs across the country grapple with how to support survivors of all genders, important questions inevitably emerge. What is different about male survivors of domestic violence from other survivors and to what do we attribute that difference? What is the impact of patriarchy and toxic masculinity on relationships? How do we maintain and strengthen a collective feminist analysis on gender, power and violence as we grapple with these questions? LGBTQ culturally specific programs have a long history of supporting bisexual, transgender and gay men who have survived domestic violence. Join us on this webinar, as we explore the questions above, share our approach to supporting male survivors by centering the experiences of bi+, trans and gay men, and share tips and best practices in providing advocacy.
The National LGBTQ Institute on IPV
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020
3-4:30 p.m.
Con Confianza: Entendiendo la Dinámica del Abuso de Pareja en Comunidades LGBTQ+
¿Apoyas a personas LGBTQ+? ¿Te gustaría aprender como mejor apoyar a sobrevivientes de violencia de pareja de nuestra comunidad? En este taller, vamos a conocer mejor las fortalezas, vulnerabilidades y barreras con cuales las personas LGBTQ+ sobrevivientes de abuso se enfrentan día a día, y a explorar como apoyarles de manera creativa y eficaz. Compartiremos historias para conocer nuestras necesidades únicas y ofreceremos herramientas para apoyar a lxs sobrevivientes LGBTQ+ con confianza.
The NW Network
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020
3-4:30 p.m.
Evidence Is Power
Community-based agencies receive growing pressure to implement “evidence-based programs”--that is, programs that have been studied and deemed “effective” by researchers. But what is considered evidence? And how can community-based agencies build their own evidence of what works in their communities? This webinar will examine these questions and explore the many opportunities and challenges that agencies face when conducting research and evaluations in community settings. We will discuss strategies for agencies to maximize the utility and power of the data they collect.
The National LGBTQ Institute on IPV
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020
3-4:30 p.m.
There are no quarterly trainings this month.
Please take a moment to log on to your Volunteer Management System (VMS) account and log your hours for the month of September. Please also log any time you spent on training under “volunteer training.” If you do not see this selection under your opportunities, please email Debra Ranf, and she will log on to add it to your account.
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Please enter your hours for each day you volunteered and not as a lump sum.
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If you need to log hours for a previous month, please send email Debra to let her know so she can be aware of the entry and expedite the approval process.
Check out past issues of Volunteer Voices.