Welcome to the 2022 January 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!
My name is Ebonique Bethea, and I am one of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services therapists on the Counseling team. I’ve been in this role since July 2021, so I’m still in the process of getting adjusted and learning new things about DSVS every day. Prior to me taking this position, I was employed as the clinical director of the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network, RAINN. In my time at RAINN, I was able to serve in a variety of roles, enhance service delivery and connect with a broad range of persons impacted by sexual violence.
I have been working as a licensed social worker for approximately 13 years in the DMV area. I’ve lived in this area my entire life and have always taken pride in giving back to this collective community. In my previous roles, I’ve worked with underserved populations impacted by poverty and homelessness, mental health and substance use, out of home placement, juvenile detention, human trafficking, and domestic and sexual violence. I’ve been able to utilize my skill set to provide therapy, crisis counseling, and training, as well as participate in research projects, grants, and program management.
I rarely have free time, but when I am a blessed to have it, I enjoy reading, writing, and just being in nature. My family is by far my most important assignment. I am a mother of four beautiful daughters, the oldest of five siblings, and I have the pleasure of being my nieces’ and nephews’ favorite auntie. I dedicate a lot of time to supporting them in their various activities and endeavors, particularly those that focus on community activism.
Volunteerism has an extra special place in my heart because I had the opportunity to volunteer at a variety of community-based organizations in my youth. Volunteers provide services based on their desire to give, oftentimes not ever knowing how their hard work and dedication truly impact the greater community. I applaud you all for your commitment to this work, those you serve and the community at large.
You are appreciated!
Ebonique M. Bethea, LMSW
Practicing Self-Care After the Holidays
For some people the holiday season can be magical, but the season also can ramp up a variety of emotions. Jam-packed schedules, parties, lots of food, travel, and bonding with family and friends can leave us burnt-out, exhausted, and overwhelmed. We should place post-holiday self-care practices at the top of the list of things to do in the new year.
Check out these four tips!
Happy Anniversary, Cultivating Seeds of Equity and Justice!
Cultivating Seeds of Equity and Justice is delighted to celebrate its one-year anniversary. In recognition that an equitable society is one in which racial and social disparities do not exist, CSEJ was created as a platform for volunteers to remain connected and informed about DSVS’ efforts to mitigate racial inequities and promote social justice in all aspects of its work. Learn more about how CSEJ is evolving and what's in store for 2022.
“Individually, we are one drop. Together we are an ocean.”
—Ryunosuke Satoro
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.
A Way Forward Has a Simple Mission: Help Survivors
A Way Forward’s purpose is simple and straightforward: to help survivors of domestic and sexual violence in Fairfax County. Find out how A Way Forward, a small but mighty non-profit organization, partners with the Domestic Violence Action Center.
“Aly Raisman – Darkness to Light”
“Aly Raisman – Darkness to Light” (Lifetime TV) is a documentary about Raisman, a two-time gold-medal-winning Olympic gymnast who speaks out and speaks to other survivors about childhood sexual abuse. The documentary shows how communities often support and enable those who offend. It conveys the long-term suffering experienced by abused children into adulthood.
The Darkness to Light (D2L.org) organization gives voice and support to survivors of child sexual abuse and is affiliated with the film, producing a viewer guide (https://www.d2l.org/tag/viewing-guide) to accompany the documentary (as the film contains some graphic stories) full film for streaming on Lifetime (https://bit.ly/3zhvSX8). “Darkness to Light” includes trigger warnings, but the overall content could contain a lot of painful reminders of trauma for a survivor, albeit with ample affirmation and validation. I recommend the film for anyone--professionals, community members, family, and friends – trying to understand and support survivors.
The documentary and the panel discussion that follow feature excellent modeling of how friends, family, professionals, and other bystanders can protect children, spread education about child sexual abuse, and offer a supportive response when learning about abuse. The film balances focus on criminal justice with focus on validating the experience and holding up the other needs of survivors. It appropriately places the responsibility of protecting children on the adults and communities, not children themselves, and gives simple tips for how adults can do this. The film focuses mostly on female survivors, but the panel prominently features perspectives of queer and male survivors.
The information resonated with what I observed during the 10 years I facilitated a survivor group for men abused as boys. Several prominent Black voices are represented in the film and the panel, with a little mention of how racism compounds sexual abuse. Much more could be said about this and about survivors’ diverse paths for healing and the diverse social institutions that support this across various cultures. Still, “Aly Raisman – Darkness to Light” is an excellent watch, which I’m pleased to recommend.
(Note: “Aly Raisman – Darkness to Light” features excerpts from an interview with Ebonique Bethea, now a therapist on the DSVS Counseling Services team, in her former role at Rape Incest and Abuse National Network (RAINN).)
This article is by Chris Davies.
Julia Selah, FACT Department Volunteer Crisis Counselor
“Each time I have been called in, I know I made life a bit better for the individual I was serving,” says Julia Selah, FACT Department volunteer crisis counselor. “I enjoy volunteering with the FACT Department to make the county a bit richer and safer than I found it.”
Learn more about Julia's volunteer journey.
Juliana Akhavan, 1
Nadia Makkawi, 1
Nikita Thadani, 1
Torri Mumm, 11
Lauren Coutu, 27
Nooreen Razi, 28
Gautam Ramanathan, 29
JANUARY
When Abuse Goes Digital – Addressing Modern Gender-Based Violence
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022
2-3:30 p.m.
Abuse has gone digital. Today, we are spending more time online and on our devices than ever before, which has created new safety risks for victims of gender-based and family violence. This prevalence of technology-enabled abuse necessitates that we now must be able to prioritize the physical, emotional, and digital safety of victims and their children. This training will explore practical approaches that anyone working with victims can implement to recognize, address and prevent the ways people are harmed online and via their devices. This training is free but registration is required.
Strangulation and Sexual Violence
Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022
2-3:30 p.m.
The presenters will share their expertise on strangulation as they describe the general dangers and signs of strangulation, how to identify and support strangulation victims, and Forensic Assessment and Consultation Team (FACT) services. This training is free but registration is required.
WINTER 2021-2022 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION
Sign up to learn about DSVS, the services the division provides and the population it serves. Discover how volunteers can contribute to the DSVS mission and the application process. Orientation is free but registration is required. Multiple dates are available. Choose the one that works best for you.
Friday, Jan. 7, 2022, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, 6-7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022, 6-7 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, 12-1 p.m.
QUARTERLY TRAININGS
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 December. Please also log any time you spent on training under “volunteer training.” If you do not see this selection under your opportunities, please email Tanisha Cox, 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 email Tanisha Cox to let her know so she can be aware of the entry and expedite the approval process.
Check out past issues of Volunteer Voices.