Welcome to the 2023 August 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: Coloring Is Good for Your Health TED Talk: “What Doctors Should Know about Gender Identity” Show You CARE: RAINN Bystander Intervention Quotables Program Spotlight: Tahirir Justice Center Reviews: “She Said”	Raising My Voice: Meet Levette Fondaumiere, Hospital Accompaniment Support Advocate  Birthdays Test Your Brain Educational Resources Make a Note! Parting Shot

 

I joined the Domestic and Sexual Violence Services division in December 2022. In my role, I handle subpoenas and FOIA requests, quality assurance reviews of the notes of the clinical staff, reviews of clinical records and processes, help identify quality assurance risks and gaps, and improve system processes, and supervising intake coordination.

When I began college, I believed I wanted to be a registered nurse. I took several courses to align with my goal and was accepted into a nursing program. The summer prior to the start of the nursing program I met with my college advisor who suggested I complete a career assessment. That assessment identified a list of helping professions I could consider with social work at the top of the list. I began to explore what it meant to be a social worker by taking a Social Work 101 course that summer, which prompted a change in my major. I applied to the school of social work and was accepted for fall entrance. While working on my Bachelor of Social Work degree I decided to complete an additional bachelors in Sociology and prior to graduation was accepted into a master’s degree program for Social Work and graduated summa cum laude.

I am proud of these milestones mainly because I was a single parent of small children while trying to complete college. I love to learn, which may be why I am currently completing my Ph.D. in general psychology. I have held positions of medical social worker, clinical director, and program manager, and I am a licensed clinical supervisor and licensed clinical social worker in Virginia, D.C., California, and Maryland. I am a Brene Brown Daring Way facilitator, Brainspotting consultant and therapist, and am an Internal Family Systems therapist. Over the years I have been trained in TF-CBT (certified), EMDR, and mindfulness. In 2016 and 2017 I helped develop the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services SOAR Against Human Trafficking curriculum and facilitated the training to other professionals. I truly have a passion for the work that I do.

As I reflect on my educational journey, I can’t help but realize I have been supporting the community for almost 25 years and have a heart full of gratitude for every life I have had and will have the opportunity to positively impact from a micro and macro level. After years in the field of social work, I have personally learned the value and importance of self-care and can proudly say I have completed my dissertation research on social worker self-care.

I am a mom to my four adult children, one teen, and one 5-year-old. I love to travel, which is justified as a means for my own self-care. My favorite places to travel to have warmer climates and clear water. I am fascinated by the ability to see fish swimming next to me. I like the outdoors. I like sports, hiking, cycling, and being out in nature--even if that means sitting by a body of water and reading a book.

I look forward to my journey with Fairfax County and meeting all the amazing people who have taken on the love of helping others.

Kelly Jackson
Quality Assurance Clinical Supervisor

Remember how much fun you had coloring when you were young? It’s time to pull out those crayons and colored pencils because coloring isn’t just for kids. Adult coloring books are a little more intricate than the simple designs and cartoon characters in your child’s books, but mental health experts say they are a good mental health tool. Here's why. 

 

 

Kristie Overstreet, clinical sexologist and psychotherapist, is on a mission to ensure that the transgender community gets their health care needs met. In this informative, myth-busting TED Talk, she provides a primer for understanding gender identity and invites us to shift how we view transgender health care so everyone gets the respect and dignity they deserve when they go to a doctor.
 

You have the power to prevent sexual violence. Being an active bystander means looking out for each other and showing you care for everyone’s safety. You can do this by noticing the potentially dangerous situation and identifying if and how it’s safe to intervene. After assessing, if you feel comfortable doing so, step in; intervention starts when you show CARE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.” –Dorothy Height