Welcome to the 2024 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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A resource is anything available in our environment that can be used to fulfill a need or desire. Individuals who are impacted by domestic and sexual violence, human trafficking, and stalking see our services as a resource for themselves or someone they know or love. The agency strives to enhance the way we serve and who we serve so we can continue to be a resource for those going through their healing journey.
Here at Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, it’s the people who add value to a resource through their skills, knowledge, and time. Time is the measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues. In my opinion, our time is our biggest resource. Unlike a lot of the people we serve, we get to choose how we spend our time and with whom we spend it. As we end the holiday season, start a new year, and reevaluate how we spend this precious commodity, let’s incorporate things into our day that don’t eat away our time. Hopefully, these methods will also feed our spirit.
I continue to uplift the people who repeatedly give the most expensive gift--their invaluable time. Thank you, DSVS volunteers!
Words cannot express how truly grateful I am to be part of the DSVS family, so I am excited about my new journey and the opportunities that lie ahead!
Tanisha Cox
Volunteer Manager
Taking care of ourselves with kindness and gratitude is crucial to our well-being. But self-care doesn’t have to mean an expensive vacation or weekend getaway full of massages, candles, and wine. There’s a wealth of options you can try at little to no cost! Give one of these four options a try and take care of yourself without breaking the bank.
Human trafficking is the control and exploitation of another person's labor or commercial sex work by force, fraud, or coercion.
Forcing someone to engage in commercial sex work against their will is a form of sexual violence. Commercial sexual exploitation includes using force, fraud, or coercion to facilitate the exchange of sex acts for anything of value, including money, drugs, or basic needs such as food, clothing, or shelter.
Force can include the use of physical or sexual violence. Coercion can include threats of violence, emotional manipulation, or controlling access to basic needs. Fraud can include someone claiming the victim owes them money or is paying off a debt.
Human sex trafficking may be perpetrated by a victim's intimate partner or family member(s); through a commercial business such as a restaurant, massage parlor, or modeling agency; or through a gang or pimp.
Sexual exploitation of minors is legally considered trafficking regardless of whether force, fraud, or coercion are used. Sex trafficking is a crime under United States and Virginia law.
Learn more about human trafficking and the ways DSVS is observing the month. And check out this County Conversation podcast with Stacy Ziebell, program manager of DSVS’ Prevention, Education, and Coordination team, where she discusses human trafficking misconceptions, gaps in service, and resources and support with host Jim Person.
Nearly 50% of survivors of interpersonal violence report they delay leaving a dangerous situation because they have no way to keep their pet safe. If you are in an unhealthy relationship and have pets in your home, it can be a good idea to make your pets part of your safety plan. Follow these suggestions to ensure all your loved ones have a path to safety.
Legal definitions of stalking vary between jurisdictions, but a good working definition of stalking is: A pattern of behavior directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety or the safety of others, or suffer substantial emotional distress. Learn more about stalking and how DSVS is observing the month.
As 2023 drew to a close, DSVS’ volunteer corps submitted reflections about what the year meant to them. This is what they said:
“Being a part of DSVS over the past year has been an absolute honor for me. The individuals associated with DSVS are some of the most sincere and compassionate people I have ever met, and it has been truly inspiring to work alongside them. Helping victims of domestic and sexual violence has been a life-changing experience for me, and it has motivated me to dedicate my legal career to assisting victims in need.” –HASA volunteer
“Being compassionate and really listening to the individuals opens the door for meaningful discussions. When I am meeting individuals where they are, it shows them there are people who really care about them.” –ADAPT volunteer
“Volunteering makes a positive impact on people. It improved my confidence, helped meet new people, and develop new skills.” –Admin volunteer “Over the past year, shifting to a person-centered approach (yay!) has been my most memorable moment with volunteering with DSVS.” –ADAPT volunteer
“As a volunteer with DSVS, I’ve reaffirmed my strengths and abilities, which I also use in my professional job as a substance abuse counselor.” –ADAPT volunteer
“As a volunteer with DSVS, I’ve learned how to be compassionate and how to respond to stressful situations. For me, waiting to receive a call is nerve-wracking, and I’ve been able to overcome those nerves by continuing to review materials and reminding myself that how I’m feeling is only temporary, but what some of our callers are going through is more than temporary. I’ve also learned that showing up for others with compassion and a listening ear is sometimes just enough. My most memorable moment this year was when a caller told me that I was doing a great job in helping them. She was dealing with a difficult situations but felt comfortable enough to open up to me and ultimately, I was able to help her build the courage she needed to report an incident. She reminded me that validation can go such a long way.” –Hotline volunteer
In this TED Talk, Yvette Young, who coordinates Connecticut’s Human Anti-Trafficking Response Teams focusing on reducing commercial sexual exploitation of children and domestic minor sex trafficking, breaks down the facts about human trafficking. Surprise, surprise: It's not the type of people being trafficked that you think.
“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” –Albert Pike
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. A Way Forward Has a Simple Mission: Help Survivors Find out how A Way Forward, a small but mighty non-profit organization, partners with the Domestic Violence Action Center.
Join the Conversations!
Domestic and Sexual Violence Services has a new podcast, Unscripted: Conversations about Sexual and Domestic Violence. Domestic and Sexual Violence Services has a podcast, Unscripted: Conversations about Sexual and Domestic Violence. Stay in the know with these biweekly discussions!
… with Keesha Coke
Keesha Coke, assistant division director of DSVS, manages the division’s volunteer, crisis services (hotlines and hospital accompaniment), data analytics, and administrative teams. It’s a relatively new position that came about while DSVS was drafting its strategic plan and saw deficiencies with how they do the work. A peek inside a “typical” day for Keesha shows she’s a master juggler. “It’s a lot of project management and process improvement to make sure we have the tools we need to do our job, including technology, equipment, and resources for increasing our knowledge. It requires really looking at strengthening our systems and planning our work,” she says. “And, of course, there’s a lot of collaboration with others.” Here, we glimpse a day in the life of Keesha Coke.
Most films about domestic violence rely on the worn-out tropes of makeup-covered black eyes and long sleeves over bruised arms. While physical abuse certainly can be part of a toxic relationship, the exclusive use of it to portray interpersonal violence makes the audience feel safe. As long as someone who causes harm doesn’t hurt (read: hit, punch, slap, rape) a partner, is it really abuse?
Meet Katrina Hush, Community Ambassador
Why Doesn’t She* Just Leave?
Give your word-solving skills a try with 
All DSVS volunteers must complete Tier One training, 16 hours each of domestic violence and sexual violence training to understand the basics of these forms of interpersonal violence, how systems in Fairfax County respond, and available resources in our community. This photo was taken during the March 2023 Domestic Violence Tier One training, and features a combination of DSVS staff, current volunteers, staff from partner organizations, and potential volunteers. Sign up for the upcoming