Advocates across the state and the nation are rallying against H.R. 4970, VAWA Reauthorization, because is dangerous for sexual assault survivors and survivors of all violence against women.  Lend your support today!  The House bill rolls back protections for survivors in general and leaves out important components found in the bipartisan Senate bill that protects Native, immigrant and LGBTQ survivors, as well as other marginalized communities.  The House must support ALL victims.

Call your representative today and tell her/him that you strongly oppose the House VAWA bill:

“I oppose the House bill because it is NOT the REAL VAWA and doesn’t include protections for all survivors, and it rolls back protections for survivors of violence. It is DANGEROUS for them. We support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native, immigrant and LGBTQ survivors and other culturally specific communities. Please must support me in passing the REAL VAWA.”

Click here for a list of Maryland’s Congressional Representatives and their contact information.

On Tuesday, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and passed the Adams (R-FL) version of VAWA, H.R. 4970.  The National Task Force and thousands of community activists all across the nation have worked very hard in the last few weeks to defeat this harmful bill that sets back the clock on VAWA, hurts and excludes survivors of violence and in some cases gives more rights to perpetrators than survivors.

In a near party-line 17-15 vote, one Member, Representative Ted Poe (R-TX), crossed the aisle and stood firmly with the field and on the side of victims.  We applaud Mr. Poe and the Democratic Members of the Committee for standing with survivors. We continue to have grave concerns about this legislation that contains punitive provisions that will harm survivors and exclude key communities.

Now, we must turn our efforts to the full House of Representatives to pass an inclusive VAWA that is a real step forward for all survivors of violence. That vote could be as early as next week so champions of the “real VAWA” have their work cut out for them.

Call your representative today and tell her/him that you strongly oppose the House VAWA bill:

“I oppose the House bill because it is NOT the REAL VAWA and doesn’t include protections for all survivors, and it rolls back protections for survivors of violence. It is DANGEROUS for them. We support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native, immigrant and LGBTQ survivors and other culturally specific communities. Please must support me in passing the REAL VAWA.”

Click here for a list of Maryland’s Congressional Representatives and their contact information.

May 8, 2012

National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women Statement on the House Judiciary Committee’s Passage of the Adams Bill

Today, the House Judiciary Committee marked up and passed the Adams (R-FL) version of VAWA, H.R. 4970.  The National Task Force and our thousands of community activists all across the nation have worked very hard in the last few weeks to defeat this harmful bill that sets back the clock on VAWA, hurts and excludes survivors of violence and in some cases gives more rights to perpetrators than victims.  In a near party-line 17-15 vote, one Member, Representative Ted Poe (R-TX), crossed the aisle and stood firmly with the field and on the side of victims. As Co-Chair of the Victims’ Rights Caucus, he joined VAWA’s Democratic champions and voted against the bill. The National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women, a coalition representing thousands of organizations, service providers, researchers, educators, religious leaders, law enforcement, advocacy groups and victims all across the nation, continues to have grave concerns about this legislation that contains punitive provisions that will harm victims and exclude key communities.

In today’s committee markup, a substitute amendment offered by Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) that closely mirrors the bipartisan Senate-passed bill was not even allowed to be considered or debated. Numerous amendments were offered by our House champions to improve the Adams bill by including vulnerable communities such as Native women, LGBTQ victims, and immigrant victims, and striking mandatory minimum sentencing, but these amendments were consistently defeated by the House committee majority. Despite these disappointing results, the National Task Force will now turn our efforts to the full House of Representatives in order to pass an inclusive VAWA that is a real step forward for all victims of violence.  That vote could be as early as next week so champions of the “real VAWA” have their work cut out for them.

The results of these interviews were brought to Congressional offices two years ago, to help inform the drafting work of the Members, and the House bill ignores all of the advocate’s input. The bill includes damaging and unworkable provisions that will harm survivors, increase costs, and create unnecessary inefficiencies. WORSE, THE HOUSE BILL PROTECTS ABUSERS AT THE EXPENSE OF SURVIVOR SAFETY.  THE HOUSE BILL LACKS THE PROTECTIONS OF THE RECENTLY PASSED, SOLIDLY BIPARTISAN SENATE BILL, WHICH PUTS SURVIVOR SAFETY FIRST.

Call your representative today and tell her/him that you strongly oppose the House VAWA bill:

“I oppose the House bill because it is NOT the REAL VAWA and doesn’t include protections for all survivors, and it rolls back protections for survivors of violence. It is DANGEROUS them.   We support a bill like the bi-partisan Senate bill that protects Native, immigrant and LGBTQ survivors and other culturally specific communities.  Please must support me in passing the REAL VAWA.”

Click here for a list of Maryland’s Congressional Representatives and their contact information.

Maybe we blame our erotic selves for our past, current, and future pain.  Maybe we suppress those spaces within ourselves that are erotic because we fear what or who she may be if allowed to see the sunlight.  But what would the world do if we suppressed the sun…?

There is no doubt that sexual assault is a real and tangible threat that faces communities in Maryland and the world over.  Rape has been used as a weapon of choice in war for thousands of years1, and in some cases has become more sophisticated while simultaneously maintaining its ancient origin.  Of the many negative effects that follow being sexually victimized, falling (back) in love with our erotic selves can be one of the most challenging.  It is important to note that falling in love with one’s erotic self can be difficult even for women who have never been sexually assaulted, which further shows how deep the wounds of sexual abuse run in our society.

Not only can the idea of “loving” our erotic selves cause us to feel more fear than confidence, but where exactly do we learn how to love that part of ourselves?  Is there a class? Will a preacher, priest, or guru teach a lesson on it?  Are there any self-help books or blogs on the subject?  If there was such a thing, is it free or will it cost a few hundred dollars?  These are the sorts of questions I have heard in some form or fashion in my work with sexuality that shows how important it is to simply begin asking ourselves “who am I erotically?”

Audre Lorde defines the erotic as “a resource within each of us that lies in a deeply female and spiritual plane, firmly rooted in the power of our unexpressed or unrecognized feeling2.”  Imagine that?  The erotic as a resource and not the source of old pain, hurt, and fear.  Yes, our daily lives are full of things to do and maybe finding our erotic self is just another task to add to our calendars.  Maybe we fear that having ignored or erotic self for so long, finding her will be impossible.  Maybe she will be ugly.  But maybe if we went in search of our erotic self we would find her cold and hungry, and in need of love.  And who knows, just maybe after talking with her we would find out that she isn’t so scary after all…

By:  D. LaShay Harvey, M.Ed., is a Human Sexuality PhD student at Widener University.  Her research focus involves healthy sexual expression for women of color and LGBTQ matters.  LaShay Harvey works for Johns Hopkins and teaches Human Sexuality at the University of Baltimore and Morgan State University.

References:

1.    Diken, B., & Laustsen, C. B.  (2005).  Becoming abject: Rape as a weapon of war.  Body and Society, 11(1), 111-128.
2.    Lourde, A.  (1984).  From “Uses of the erotic:  The erotic as power,” in Sister Outsider.  Berkeley, CA:  Crossing Press.

CLICK HERE to download the PDF of this article.

Is the team a figurehead or are victims actually coming forward to report in greater numbers? When they do, are they being treated with dignity and respect by police, prosecutors, and medical staff?  Do they have access to advocacy throughout the process, and are their cases being prosecuted?

Baltimore City has been undergoing a transformation in the investigation and prosecution of sexual assaults in the past year and a half. The unfounded rate of sexual assaults has dropped by 95%; the Sex Offense Unit received strong new leadership, as well as additional detectives to investigate sexual crimes; all partners received substantial training, and the number of sexual assaults reported, conviction rates, number of years sentenced, and probation times are all up from 2010. How is progress of this nature possible in such a short time, especially when things had remained stagnant for so long? Especially when your City is known to have had the highest unfounded rate of rapes in the nation just two years ago?

It should be encouraging to all SARTS to know that it has largely been the work of the SART that has made the difference. It would have been easy to make superficial changes upon being publicly shamed and held accountable for such mistakes. But the inclusion of outside groups such as the state sexual assault coalition and the city’s rape crisis center, along with the determined and dedicated internal responders, allowed substantive work to happen. The team reorganized and rejuvenated in June 2010 and set to work quickly by acquiring funding, hiring a SART Coordinator, and creating a work plan. Subcommittees including Best Practices, Audit Committee, and Outreach have done the bulk of real work, collaborating to create an MOU, changing response protocol, updating police SOPs, creating new expectations for investigations, creating and executing a city-wide awareness campaign, and auditing over 125 sexual assault/child abuse cases.

Advocates as well as victims themselves have recently reported positive experiences overall with the handling of their cases and the treatment they received. This is well expressed in the words of one advocate who recently wrote “[the detectives] showed definite concern for these victims. The younger victim I saw couldn’t remember much of what happened because she was drinking, and I can’t help but think that if this were the same Sex Offense Unit from the past, her case would have died right there. I was so impressed with how they spoke about this case. They were very sympathetic and concerned about her!” Along with trends in reporting and prosecuting, this is how a SART can measure its success and effectiveness.

By:  Heather Brantner, MS.  Ms. Brantner serves as the full-time SART Coordinator for the Baltimore City Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) funded through the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office on Criminal Justice.

CLICK HERE to download the PDF of this article.

SALI is one of the only legal services programs in the country that is devoted to serving sexual assault survivors.  Original staff included one attorney, a part-time director, and a paralegal; since then it has grown to include five attorneys and two advocates.  Interns regularly accept placements at SALI, with one to two summer interns working full-time and as many as five interns working part-time during the school year.

Since SALI opened, over 1300 survivors of sexual assault and abuse have received direct legal services.  These services include representation and/or advice in family law cases, protective and peace orders, immigration applications, employment claims, school issues, and crime victims’ rights.  To supplement SALI staff, a “low bono” program based on MLSC’s Contested Child Custody Project was created.  This program provides $50 per hour (up to $1000) for private attorneys providing representation to survivors.  Currently this list has 41 private attorneys willing and competent at providing legal help to survivors.  To assist these attorneys, SALI published the SALI Maryland Sexual Assault Law Manual.  This 14-chapter, practitioner-oriented legal manual covers legal and strategic issues arising in sexual assault cases.

Outside of directly caring for the legal needs of survivors, SALI has produced brochures, booklets, and manuals to assist survivors, parents of survivors, and other professionals.  One of these brochures, Identifying Legal Issues for Victims of Sexual Assault: A Checklist for Survivors (2004) was translated into Spanish in 2008.  Over 20,000 checklists have been distributed.

SALI has also created two guides relating to child sexual abuse and the court system: Understanding the Legal System When Your Child Has Been Sexually Abused, a 32 page booklet providing information about child protective services cases, criminal prosecution, civil tort, immigration issues, divorce & custody, child advocacy centers, and physical and emotional effects of child sexual abuse and Child Sexual Abuse:  A Guide for Children’s Attorneys and Other Court Professionals, a companion guide for professionals.

SALI also provides training to professionals to further education about survivors’ legal needs.  SALI has helped train approximately 3400 professionals and others working with survivors, including victim advocates, prosecutors, legal services and private attorneys, nurses, law enforcement, college peer advocates, counselors, and other mental health professionals.

SALI is committed to caring for the legal needs of sexual assault survivors.  If you are interested in any of the services SALI provides, please do not hesitate to contact us at 301-565-2277.

By:  Lisae C. Jordan, Esq. and Ellen C. Opdyke, Esq.   Ms. Jordan serves as MCASA’s General Counsel and Director of the Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI).  Ms. Opdyke serves as the Supervising Attorney at SALI.

CLICK HERE to download the PDF of this article.

The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act, S. 1925, has passed the Senate by a 68 to 31 vote!

Special thanks to our wonderful advocates, the National Alliance to End Sexual Violence.

Check the vote count, and call your Senators that voted yes to tell them how proud you are that they supported the bill written by more than 2,000 professionals serving victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking and supported by more than 1,000 national, state and local programs. Let them know you are glad that they voted to protect ALL victims of these crimes! Both of Maryland’s U.S. Senators, Senator Mikulski and Senator Cardin, voted for the reauthorization.

Check out www.4vawa.org for fact sheets, press coverage, support letters and updates.

Don’t forget to tweet about VAWA using the hashtags #ReauthorizeVAWA and #VAWA.

On to the House!

Thank you to the following speakers for sharing their expertise in their field. Without them, this training would not have been possible. MCASA is scheduling another Comprehensive Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy training for fall of 2012, for more information please email ntay@mcasa.org.

The training agenda and resources that follow are for your use and information.

Comprehensive Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Training Agenda

Day One – Sexual Assault and Victim Advocacy Overview, Law Enforcement

PowerPoint Slides

Introduction and Overview
History of Sexual Assault
Sociocultural Contexts of Sexual Assault
Statistics/Research
History, Definitions, and Models of Victim Advocacy
Effective Listening

Sexual Assault: History, Sociocultural Contexts, Statistics and Research

MCASA: Sexual Assault in Maryland (2012)
MCASA: Maryland Rape by County (2012)
CDC: National Intimate Partner Sexual Violence Survey (2010)
MCASA: Maryland Crime Statistics (2010)

Law Enforcement

IACP: Police Response to Violence Against Women
IACP: Sexual Assault Incident Reports
OVC: Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims (2003)

Day Two – MCASA, SALI, SART, FNE, Hospital Accompaniment and Hotline Work

SART

OVC: Resources for Sexual Assault Response Teams
MCASA: Introduction to Sexual Assault Response Teams
NSVRC: National Sexual Assault Response Team Report (2009)
SANE/SART Services for Sexual Assault Victims: Policy Implications (2006)

Forensic Nurse Examiners and Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner Programs

Adolescent Sexual Assault Victims’ Experiences with SANE-SARTs and the Criminal Justice System (2011)
Medical Evidence and the Role of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners in Cases Involving Adult Victims (2010)
NSVRC: First National SANE Coordinator Symposium (2009)
OVW: FAQ Anonymous Reporting and Forensic Examinations (2008)
OVW: National Training Standards for Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examiners (2006)
Step-by-Step Practitioner Toolkit for Evaluating the Work of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Programs in the Criminal Justice System
GOCCP: Maryland VAWA Forensic Compliance Guidelines

Civil Legal Issues & Services

Legal Services – Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI)
SALI: Identifying Legal Issues for Victims of Sexual Assault: A Checklist for Survivors (2012)
Tool Kit for Law Enforcement Use of the U-Visa (2010)
NRCDV: Civil Tort Actions Filed by Victims of Sexual Assault: Promise and Perils (2009)
The “New” Withdrawal of Consent Standard in Maryland Rape Law: A Year After Baby v. State (2009) 

Day Three – Privilege Discussion, Underserved Populations, Trauma

PowerPoint Slides

Effects of Sexual Violence and Intro to Trauma

Underserved Populations

NSVRC: Unspoken Crimes: Sexual Assault in Rural America (2003)

Effects of Sexual Violence; Trauma

MCASA: Reporting Sexual Assault: Why Victims Often Don’t (2011)
Explaining Counterintuitive Victim Behavior in Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Cases (2006)

Day Four – Drug & Alcohol Facilitated Assault, Child Sexual Assault, Offenders, Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault

PowerPoint Slides

Drug and Alcohol Facilitated Assault
Who are the Offenders?
Intersection of Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault

Drug & Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault

MCASA: Alcohol/Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault (2011)
The Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Sexual Victimization (2008)
Drug-Facilitated, Incapacitated, and Forcible Rape: A National Study (2007)
OVW: Prosecuting Alcohol-Facilitated Sexual Assault (2007)
Sexual Violence and Alcohol and Other Drug Use on Campus (2005)

Child Sexual Abuse

SALI: Understanding the Legal System When Your Child Has Been Sexually Abused (2012)
MCASA: Early Warning Signs and Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse (2012)
MCASA: Behaviors of Sexual Predators: Grooming (2012)
MCASA: Appropriate Responses to a Child Reporting Sexual Abuse & Available Resources (2012)
MCASA: Requirements for Reporting Child Sexual Abuse (2012) 
MCASA: Creating Safe Environments: Working to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse (2012)
MCASA: Child Sexual Abuse (2011)
MCASA: Child Victims of Sexual Assault – Focus on Maryland (2011)
10 Strategies for Prosecuting Child Sexual Abuse at the Hands of a Family Member (2011)
CDC: The Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan (2008)

The Offenders

IACP: Registering and Tracking Sex Offenders (2008)
IACP: Strategically Monitoring Sex Offenders: Accessing Community Corrections’ Resources to Enhance Law Enforcement Capabilities (2008)
IACP: Framing a Law Enforcement Response: Addressing Community Concerns About Sex Offenders (2007)
IACP: Sex Offenders in the Community: Enforcement and Prevention Strategies (2007)
IACP: Managing Sex Offenders: Citizens Supporting Law Enforcement (2006)

Human Trafficking

MCASA: Sex Trafficking and Prostitution (2011)
National Plan to Prevent the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (2012)
Know the Facts: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
The National Report on Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking (2009)

Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Sexual Assault

MCASA: Stalking: A Guide for Victims (2011)
Research on Partner Stalking: Putting the Pieces Together (2010)
Marital Rape: New Research and Directions (2006)

Day Five – Healthy Sexuality and Consent, Prevention Spectrum, Bystander Intervention, Secondary & Vicarious Trauma, Self-Care

PowerPoint Slides

The Spectrum of Sexual Violence Prevention and Introduction to Bystander Intervention
NSVRC: Engaging Bystanders in Sexual Violence Prevention (2009)

Healthy Sexuality and Consent

MCASA: Healthy Relationships (2010)
NSVRC: An Overview on Healthy Sexuality and Sexual Violence Prevention (2012)
NSVRC: It’s Time… to Talk to Your Children About Healthy Sexuality (2012)
NSVRC: It’s Time… to Talk About Consent (2012)
NSVRC: It’s Time… to Talk About Gender Norms (2012)
NSVRC: It’s Time… to Talk About Sexuality in Later Life (2012)
NSVRC: It’s Time… to Connect. Here are Tips for Partnering with Men’s Organizations (2012)
NSVRC: Healthy Sexuality: A Guide for Advocates, Counselors and and Prevention Educators (2012)
NSVRC: Healthy Sexuality Glossary (2012)
NSVRC: Healthy Sexuality Resources (2012)
Overcoming the Consent Defense (2006)
NSVRC: Consent and the Court of Public Opinion (2005)

The Prevention Spectrum and Bystander Intervention

MCASA: How You Can Help Prevent Sexual Violence On Campus (2010)
MCASA: How Guys Can Help Prevent Sexual Violence On Campus (2010)
NSVRC: It’s Time…  to Incorporate the Bystander Approach into Sexual Violence Prevention (2011)
CDC: Training Professionals in the Primary Prevention of Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence (2010)
Guidelines for the Primary Prevention of Sexual Violence & Intimate Partner Violence (2009)

Secondary & Vicarious Trauma

Strategies for Reducing Secondary or Vicarious Trauma: Do They Work? (2005)
Preventing Vicarious Trauma: What Counselors Should Know When Working With Trauma Survivors (2004)

Prosecution of “Cold Case” Sexual Assaults in Jeopardy

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA), its Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI), and the state’s 17 rape crisis and recovery centers are urging the Attorney General to appeal the Maryland Court of Appeals decision in Alonzo Jay King, Jr. v. State of Maryland. This decision will reduce prosecutions of sexual assault in “cold cases” by preventing law enforcement from swabbing the cheeks of defendants arrested for crimes of violence or burglary.

Read the full press release here.

Help us thank our Maryland senators!

Call them today and thank them for supporting VAWA Reauthorization S.1925. Please offer a special thanks to Senator Mikulski for her leadership on funding issues. Contact information and tips on messaging are provided below.

Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), (202) 224-4654
Message for Senator Mikulski: Thank you for your leadership to help fund sexual assault programs including SASP, the Sexual Assault Services Program. SASP provides core funding for direct services to survivors. I also know you co-sponsored VAWA Re-authorization, S.1925, and I stand firmly behind this bill. Thank you for leading Maryland and the nation in helping to end violence against women.

Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), (202) 224-4524
Message for Senator Cardin: Thank you for co-sponsoring S.1925, the VAWA reauthorization. I appreciate everything you do to help victims of violence against women, and I stand firmly behind this bill. I believe that VAWA truly helps to save lives.

May 21 – 22, 2012

8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville Campus (800 South Rolling Road, Baltimore, MD, 21228-5317)

The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention (GOCCP) and the Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force (MHTTF) will host a 2-day conference to communicate a total statewide approach to combating human trafficking and serving survivors. Maryland experts will present specialized topics for law enforcement, prosecutors, State personnel, victim service providers, and community-based advocates.

Participants will receive:

• Governor’s Report on Combating Human Sex Trafficking in Maryland
• Training Curricula on Victim Identification & Response
• Statewide Directory of Human Trafficking Resources
• Interagency Protocols on Victim Identification & Response
• Specialized Training in Policy, Enforcement, Prosecution, Advocacy, and Public Awareness

To register, click here.

This conference is a partnership of GOCCP, MHTTF, U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Maryland, TurnAround, Inc., Maryland Association of Resources for Families & Youth, Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and The Samaritan Women

The award highlights individuals throughout the country whose outstanding work is making a significant impact in their communities. Senator Forehand has been a steady and strong advocate for survivors of sexual violence throughout her tenure in Maryland’s General Assembly. As part of her work, she has helped to:

· Extend Maryland’s rape shield act to males and to child sexual abuse victims
· Criminalize human trafficking and involuntary servitude
· Make it a crime to secretly videotape individuals
· Require police to force internet service providers to remove child pornography
· Criminalize the intimidation of witnesses and victims
· Allow out-of-court testimony from school principals and vice principals, nurses, social workers, licensed professional counselors and therapists in cases involving physical and sexual child abuse

“MCASA is honored to recognize the contributions of Senator Jennie Forehand,” said Lisae C. Jordan, Esq., General Counsel for MCASA. “We have had the pleasure of working with her for years, and Senator Forehand is a true partner in efforts to end sexual violence in the State of Maryland.”

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) is the statewide collective voice advocating for accessible, compassionate care for survivors of sexual assault, and accountability for all offenders. MCASA actively works to end sexual violence in the state of Maryland through public policy, community outreach, education, technical assistance and legal services.

MCASA, along with the state’s 17 rape crisis and recovery centers, will be marking the month by hosting a number of special events. To find an event near you, visit: http://bit.ly/GYhoxD.

For more information on MCASA, SAAM or to find a rape crisis and recovery center near you, visit: http://www.mcasa.org. We will be posting and twittering about SAAM all month long. To follow-us on Facebook or Twitter, visit: http://bit.ly/HsXMkb.

MCASA extends a warm thanks to all of its partners for their continued work and committment to ending sexual violence in our state. It is an honor and a pleasure to be working with each and every one of you!

April 1, 2012 Sunday 2:00 pm
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Presented by Walden and St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes-St. Mary’s is a free community march to prevent and end gender violence and sexual assault, with a special focus on getting male youth and men of all ages involved.

Location: The Track at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, 18952 E. Fisher Road, St. Mary’s, MD 20686 (rain location in the adjacent Rec Center)

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

April 4, 2012 Wednesday 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
SAAM Kick Off
Presented by UMBC University Health Services Office of Health Education
Pick up an awareness ribbon, a copy of the calendar and other resources about sexual assault.

Location: UMBC, The Commons, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

April 4, 2012 Wednesday 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Presented by Towson University Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Committee
Towson University invites men to walk one mile on campus in a pair of women’s shoes to raise awareness about sexualized violence toward women.

Location: University Union Potomac Patio, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

April 4, 2012 Wednesday 2:00 pm
Web Forum discussion: Serving Sexual Assault Victims in Rural Communities
Presented by Office for Victims of Crime
Join Robin Clover, the Executive Director of the Sublette County Sexual Assault and Family Violence Task Force in Wyoming, and Tiffany Eskelson-Maestas, the Resource Development Specialist for the Wyoming Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, in a live Web Forum discussion on best practices for serving sexual assault victims in rural communities.

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

April 12, 2012 Thursday 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Take Back The Night
Presented by The Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center at Dimensions Healthcare
Take Back The Night is a rally and candlelight vigil  for survivors and families to speak out against sexual violence.

Location: Prince George’s Hospital Center Pavilion, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, MD 20785

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

April 13, 2012 Friday 11:30 am – 12:00 pm
Zumba Sexual Assault Awareness Month Activity
Presented by The Rape and Sexual Assault Prevention Program
Let’s workout as we work together to make a difference! There is no cost to attend this event. Please contact Tiwanica Moore at 410-767-2866 or tmoore@dhmh.state.md.us for more information.

Location: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Main Lobby of the State Center Complex, 201 West Preston Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

April 17, 2012 Tuesday 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Sexual Assault & Violence Education Forum
Presented by the Domestic Violence Center of Howard County
A panel of local experts will answer your questions to raise awareness and to share information on how every individual plays a role in sexual violence prevention.

Location: Howard County Library – Miller Branch, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

April 28, 2012 Saturday 9:00 am – 11:00
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
Presented by the YWCA of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a fundraising walk to raise awareness about sexual violence. Despite the seriousness of the topic, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is a family fun event. Men and are encouraged to join in this event. All those who attend the event wearing women’s shoes will be entered in a raffle! Guest speaker Jennifer Wheatley-Wolf will also be signing her newly released book, One Voice Raised: A Triumph Over Rape.

Location: Anne Arundel Community College Track, 101 College Parkway, Arnold, MD 21012

CLICK HERE for more information about this event.

Below is a recent press release distributed by Senator Mikulski on her support of the VAWA Reauthorization Act.

_____________________________________________________________________________

March 15, 2012

MIKULSKI, WOMEN SENATORS SPEAK ON SENATE FLOOR TO SUPPORT BIPARTISAN BILL TO FIGHT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

Senator Mikulski Helped Pass Legislation in 1994 Which Has Helped Millions of Women; Urges Senate to Take Up Bipartisan Reauthorization

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today spoke on the Senate floor to urge the Senate to reauthorize the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which helps protect women and families from domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence. As Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski puts funds in the federal checkbook to support the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office on Violence Against Women and programs authorized through VAWA, which she helped pass into law.

“The Senate debates big issues, such as war and peace and the deficit, but we have got to remember our communities and our families,” Senator Mikulski said. “If you are beaten and abused, you should be able to turn to your government to be rescued and put on the path to these very important programs early on to focus on prevention and intervention. I fund this bill. I stand ready to support the passage of the bill and to put money in the federal checkbook to support it. I’m going to yield the floor, but I will not yield on this issue.”

Domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking are crimes of epidemic proportions, exacting terrible costs on individual lives and our communities.  Twenty-five percent of U.S. women report that they have been physically assaulted by an intimate partner during their lifetimes, 1 in 6 have been the victims of attempted or completed rape, and the cost of domestic violence exceeds $5.8 billion each year.

Senator Mikulski was joined by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) in making remarks on the Senate floor.

Senator Mikulski’s remarks, as delivered, follow:

“I strongly urge that the Violence Against Women Act come up to the floor so that we could look at the issues and debate them in an open and public forum. If people have amendments to either add or subtract from the bill in an effort to improve it, let’s do it, because this is a really compelling situation.

“I have been here since we passed that first bill in 1994. The original architect was Senator Joe Biden, now our Vice President.

“Why did we do it? It’s a compelling need. One in four women will be a victim of domestic violence. Sixteen million children are exposed to domestic violence every day. Over two million will be victims of physical or sexual violence each year; 20,000 in my own state of Maryland.

“Since we created the legislation in 1994, the national hotline has received millions of calls. Millions of women felt in danger and millions had a chance of being rescued.

“And who was the biggest request for passing the Violence Against Women Act? It is not only the women of America, it is also local police. One out of four police officers killed in the line of duty are responding to domestic violence. They love the lethality index. When they go to a home, they have a checklist to determine how dangerous that situation is. Is it simply a spat or a dispute, or are they in the danger zone?

“The Senate debates big issues, such as war and peace and the deficit, but we have got to remember our communities and our families. If you are beaten and abused, you should be able to turn to your government to be rescued and put on the path to these very important programs early on to focus on prevention and intervention.

“I fund this bill. I stand ready to support the passage of the bill and to put money in the federal checkbook to support it. Maryland has done such a good job.

“I’m going to yield the floor, but I will not yield on this issue.”

###

Presented by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Mental Health and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Johns Hopkins University Thomas B. Turner Building
Baltimore, Maryland

THIS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR AMA PRA CATEGORY 1 CREDIT.™

This conference is intended for medical and legal professionals in Hygiene and Mental Health, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Psychology, Social Work, Law, Law Enforcement as well as other professionals who desire a more comprehensive perspective of child sexual abuse.

After attending this conference, the participant will demonstrate the ability to:

• Describe the effects of legal policies on preventing sexual harm.
• Describe the effects of CSA on survivors.
• Provide accurate information on the treatment and recidivism rates of offenders and juveniles who cause sexual harm.
• Provide a comprehensive rationale for moving beyond a legalisticonly view of sexual offending toward a broader public health conceptualization of child sexual assault.

To register or for further information:
Register Online: www.HopkinsCME.edu
Register by Phone: (410) 502-9636
Register by Fax: (866) 510-7088
General Information: (410) 955-2959
E-mail: cmenet@jhmi.edu

For a detailed description of the symposium and more information on how to register, please visit http://www.hopkinscme.edu/CourseDetail.aspx/80027654

Darkness2Light-Stewards of Children Program

April 19, 2012
10am-1pm

Stewards of Children teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. The program is designed for individuals concerned about the safety of children as well as organizations that serve youth. Stewards of Children is the only nationally distributed program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes and change child protective behaviors.

The training will be delivered by Donna Leffew, MS, NCC, LCPC, Clinical Director at the Life Crisis Center in Salisbury, MD.

Attendees will leave with:

• An increased awareness of the prevalence, consequences and circumstances of child sexual abuse
• New skills to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse
• Proactive, positive input to change organizational policies and procedures
• An individual commitment to action via a personal prevention plan

There is a $10 fee for the training manual/workbook which will be provided on-site.  This fee is transferable but is non-refundable.  The fee must be received in advance in order to be fully registered.  Space is limited, so register soon.

For more information on this training program or to register, please visit http://bit.ly/y4bIiI.

CLICK HERE to read the full message on the US Department of Justice website.

The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) has made available a new online resource on child sexual abuse on their website at http://www.mcasa.org/child-sexual-abuse/. The new resource, which MCASA hopes will help the public learn to recognize and take measures to prevent child sexual abuse in communities across Maryland, offers information on topics such as:

• Creating Safe Environments:  Working to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse

• Behaviors of Sexual Predators: Grooming

• Incidence of Child Sexual Abuse:  Focus on Maryland

• Early Warning Signs and Symptoms of Child Sexual Abuse

• Appropriate Responses to a Child Reporting Sexual Abuse & Available Resources

• Requirements for Reporting Child Sexual Abuse

“The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault is pleased to have developed these resources to help in the fight to end child sexual abuse in our state,” said Jennie Boden, MCASA’s Executive Director.“We estimate that there are more than 31,930 cases of child sexual abuse annually in the state of Maryland, with most of these survivors never seeking or receiving services. Clearly, we must begin expanding services to those in need, but it’s important to work toward preventing child sexual abuse, and we hope these resources will be helpful in that endeavor.”

CLICK HERE to visit MCASA’s Resources for Preventing and Addressing Child Sexual Abuse.

CLICK HERE for a full list of trainings.

To become a MCASA Member, visit our membership page.

April 2-6, 2012 Mon – Thurs 9:00 am – 5:00 pm; Fri 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
MCASA Comprehensive Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Training
Presented by Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault and the Sexual Assault Legal Institute
This 32-hour training will cover historical and sociocultural aspects of sexual assault, dynamics of sexual violence, advocacy models and techniques, sexual assault response and resource teams, working with specific populations, the legal system in the state of Maryland, primary prevention and self-care.

Location: Frederick County Public Safety Training Facility, 8349 Reichs Ford Rd, Frederick, MD 21704

CLICK HERE to register for this training.

April 5, 2012 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Taking a Stand:  Sexual Violence Prevention & Greek Life (for students)
Presented by Men Can Stop Rape
This session will address sexual violence issues on college campuses by looking at how influential campus groups, such as Greek members, can play a role in preventing sexual violence on campus.

Location: Bowie State University, Center for Learning & Technology 102, 14000 Jericho Park Road, Bowie, MD 20715

April 19, 2012 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Darkness to Light
Presented by Donna Leffew, MS, NCC, LCPC, Clinical Director, Life Crisis Center

Location TBD, however the training will be held in Anne Arundel County

April 23-27, 2012 8:00 am – 4:30 pm daily (including lunch)
Maryland State Forensic Nurse Examiner Training – FNE/Adult & Adolescent
Presented by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
FNE-A: 40 hour didactic program to train registered nurses as Forensic Nurse Examiners. The Maryland Board of Nursing approved curriculum covers forensic nursing practice and sexual assault evidentiary examinations of sexual assault patients aged 13 and older.

Location: Anne Arundel Medical Center, Annapolis, MD 20715

CLICK HERE to register for this training.

MAY

May, TBD
7^th Annual Women of Color Network Statewide Conference
Presented by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault’s Women of Color Network

Exact time and location TBD

May 21-22, 2012
State Symposium on Human Trafficking
Presented by the Governor’s Office on Crime Control & Prevention, the Maryland Association of Resources for Family and Youth, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Maryland Human Trafficking Taskforce, The Samaritan Women and TurnAround

Location: Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville

JUNE

June 27, 2012
Sexual Violence & the LGBTQ Community: What Victim Advocates Need to Know
Presented by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
This training session will cover LGBTQ 101 such as definitions and statistics, unique challenges and barriers faced by LGBTQ survivors of sexual assault, and proactive tips for providing inclusive, sensitive, and competent victim advocacy services for the LGBTQ population.

Exact time and location TBD, however the training will be held in Baltimore City

JULY

July, TBD
Maryland State Forensic Nurse Examiner Training – FNE/Adult & Adolescent
Presented by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
FNE-A: 40 hour didactic program to train registered nurses as Forensic Nurse Examiners. The Maryland Board of Nursing approved curriculum covers forensic nursing practice and sexual assault evidentiary examinations of sexual assault patients aged 13 and older.

Exact time and location TBD

AUGUST

August, TBD
Maryland State Forensic Nurse Examiner Training – FNE/Pediatric
Presented by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
FNE-P: A 30 hour didactic program to train FNE-A registered nurses as pediatric forensic nurses. The Maryland Board of Nursing approved curriculum covers forensic nursing practice and sexual assault evidentiary examinations specific to sexual assault patients aged 12 and under.

Exact time and location TBD

SEPTEMBER

September 20, 2012 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Sexual Assault Laws – 101
Presented by the Sexual Assault Legal Institute
Join the Sexual Assault Legal Institute (SALI) staff to learn about both criminal and civil laws that impact victims of sexual assault in our state.  The session will also include a legislative update from the 2012 legislative session, including any potential new laws that may go into effect.

Location: MCASA, 1517 Gov. Ritchie Highway, Suite L-1, Arnold, MD 21012

The Consensual Project
Presented by The Consensual Project

Exact time and location TBD

September, TBD
MCASA Comprehensive Sexual Assault Victim Advocacy Training
Presented by the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
This 32-hour training will cover historical and sociocultural aspects of sexual assault, dynamics of sexual violence, advocacy models and techniques, sexual assault response and resource teams, working with specific populations, the legal system in the state of Maryland, primary prevention, and self-care.

Exact time and location TBD, however the training will be held on the Eastern Shore

Check this page regularly for updates and registration availability. CLICK HERE to download a PDF of the current training calendar.

Most sex crimes in Maryland are treated with additional seriousness when committed in conjunction with a burglary in the first, second, or third degree. Sex crimes involving touching of genitals or breasts during a burglary are not. House Bill 351 would re-categorize 4th degree sex offenses committed during a burglary as 3rd degree offenses, thereby fixing a loophole in Maryland sex crimes law.

Led by Delegate Luke Clippinger, this bill is technical in nature, but for Maryland’s survivors the change is critical.

Contact members of the House Judiciary Committee today and ask them to support HB351. The phone numbers and emails for the committee members are provided below for your convenience, and we invite you to visit http://www.mcasa.org/law-public-policy/legislative-agenda/ to learn more about this year’s MCASA legislative agenda.

House Judiciary Committee Members’ Phone Numbers and Emails

Joseph F. Vallario, Jr., Chair (410) 841-3488

Kathleen M. Dumais, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3052

Tiffany T. Alston, (410) 841-3692

Curtis S. (Curt) Anderson, (410) 841-3291

Sam Arora, (410) 841-3528

Jill P. Carter, (410) 841-3283

Luke H. Clippinger, (410) 841-3303

John W. E. Cluster, Jr., (410) 841-3526

Frank M. Conaway, Jr., (410) 841-3189

Don H. Dwyer, Jr., (410) 841-3047

Michael J. Hough, (410) 841-3472

Kevin Kelly, (410) 841-3404

Susan C. Lee, (410) 841-3649

Susan K. McComas, (410) 841-3272

Michael A. McDermott, (410) 841-3431

Keiffer J. Mitchell, Jr., (410) 841-3802

Neil C. Parrott, (410) 841-3636

Luiz R. S. Simmons, (410) 841-3037

Michael D. Smigiel, Sr., (410) 841-3555

Kriselda Valderrama, (410) 841-3210

Geraldine Valentino-Smith, (410) 841-3101

Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher, (410) 841-3130

joseph.vallario@house.state.md.us; kathleen.dumais@house.state.md.us; tiffany.alston@house.state.md.us; curt.anderson@house.state.md.us; sam.arora@house.state.md.us; jill.carter@house.state.md.us; luke.clippinger@house.state.md.us; john.cluster@house.state.md.us; frank.conaway@house.state.md.us; don.dwyer@house.state.md.us; michael.hough@house.state.md.us; kevin.kelly@house.state.md.us; susan.lee@house.state.md.us; susan.mccomas@house.state.md.us; mike.mcdermott@house.state.md.us; keiffer.mitchell@house.state.md.us; neil.parrott@house.state.md.us; luiz.simmons@house.state.md.us; michael.smigiel@house.state.md.us; kris.valderrama@house.state.md.us; geraldine.valentino@house.state.md.us, jeff.waldstreicher@house.state.md.us

The Enough Abuse Campaign’s goal is to educate every adult in the community about the true nature and scope of child sexual abuse and give them the tools and knowledge they need to better protect children. Studies continue to show that many parents believe the major risk of child sexual abuse involves “stranger danger,” when in reality up to 90% of all cases are committed by someone known and trusted by the victim and family.

The Baltimore Coalition/Baltimore Child Abuse Center; Talbot County Children’s Advocacy Center and Worcester County SART Team/Worcester County Child Advocacy Center were chosen as the first organizations in Maryland to launch the Enough Abuse Campaign throughout their communities. This effort was originally pioneered by the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership.

The Baltimore nonprofit, The Family Tree, who founded the Maryland Partnership to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, will provide free training on the campaign’s curriculum, which will enable these local organizations to mobilize their own hyper-local initiatives in a way that can be adapted for their respective community’s needs.

For more information about The Enough Abuse campaign visit http://www.familytreemd.org/programs/enough-abuse-campaign/.

The FUNDING ALERT provides a synopsis of the available funding that can be used by individuals and/or agencies working to end domestic violence and sexual assault.

The FUNDING ALERT can be downloaded at  http://www.vawnet.org/Assoc_Files_VAWnet/FundingAlert-V7N3.pdf

Based on an anonymous survey of more than 300 black women, she reports that:

“60% of black girls experience sexual assault…by the time they turn 18.” (Black Women’s Blueprint, 10 Questions About Rape, 2011)

Unfortunately, I wasn’t very surprised to hear this staggering figure. Since my hire to the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, I have yet to conduct a presentation or participate in some outreach event in an African-American community where multiple attendees haven’t publicly disclosed an experience of child sexual abuse or come up to me privately with that revelation.

The first time I encountered such a moment was back in 2003 when the MCASA-WOCN was conducting a focus group for our Still I Rise: Black Women Confronting Rape brochure. Our focus group was comprised of 12 randomly selected women who had to be willing to dedicate an hour to review and discuss the brochure, as well as self-identify as a black woman. We performed this focus group at district courthouse prior to the start of the afternoon docket; and for those women who showed up early to the courthouse as either plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses, transportation or as supporting friends and/or family it was a selfless act of help and assistance in ensuring not only a culturally specific but culturally relevant brochure for women like themselves.

The focus group went off without a hitch. We had specific questions that were asked and answered and there was plenty of room for Q/A, discussion and feedback. We had the essentials in place such as beverages and snacks and certified counselors who would respond to any women who might be triggered or experience retraumatization. By the close of the group we knew we had a great brochure and were on our way to better assisting Black women in our state, however the final conversation is what hit me the hardest.

I can vividly recall my amazement when of the 12 women in attendance, 10 of them disclosed childhood sexual abuse (CSA). One by one they all recounted in some measure an incident that had happened to them as a child. Once the first disclosure was made, it was like a domino effect with one story or simply stated declaration made after another. The incidents involved family, friends, teachers, pastors, neighbors and babysitters. As soon as the words came out of the first woman’s mouth, you saw heads start nodding and the whispers of “Uh, huh” and utterances of “Yep” and “I know what you mean.” I was shocked.  It seemed crazy that here sat a bunch of women who didn’t know one another from Adam yet had such shared experiences. And to further add to my astonishment was that the remaining two women, who while hadn’t been the victims of such incidences, reported that the daughter of one and a family member of the other had actually experienced CSA in recent years. 100% of that group had some experience with CSA.

That was how CSA first came onto my radar in the capacity of the work I was doing for MCASA and since, as I stated earlier, these types of disclosures occur on a regular basis. Although, the experience left an indelible impression on me and was discussed at length on many occasions, regrettably there wasn’t anything that was done. Back then VAWA didn’t support initiatives that involved children; which meant that coalitions like ours and many others weren’t doing a lot relative to child sexual abuse.  In fact, there seemed to be a line drawn in the sand, with the work of coalitions being to promote and improve the responses to adult victims only. It was also a time before the language in VAWA had been reworked to specifically include communities of color and underserved populations. How unfortunate that so much time went by before our work and our funding caught up with the overwhelming realities that:

• Women who’ve sexually assaulted as children “have double the risk of being raped in adulthood as women with no history of rape.” (Tjaden & Thonnes, Extent, Nature, and Consequences of Rape Victimization: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, NIJ 2006)
• “More than 1/3^rd of Latina women between the ages of 18-50 experienced re-victimization and more than 80% of the initial incidents occurred from age seven.” (Romero et. al., The Prevalence and Circumstance of Child Sexual Abuse Among Latina Women, 1999)
• “1 in 4 Black girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18.” (Stone, R.D., No Secrets, No Lies:  How Black Families Can Heal from Sexual Abuse, 2004)
• “30% of Black women with documented histories of CSA were sexually assaulted in adulthood.” (Siegel & Williams, Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization of Women, Violence Against Women 9, 2003)

I am interested to see the final report by the Black Women’s Blueprint due out sometime in mid-to-late 2012 and MCASA will share the report with our members when it becomes available. I am interested to see what action items they recommend which can be promoted by statewide coalitions and rape crisis and recovery centers. I’m certain that not only will stronger alliances be developed between anti-sexual assault and anti-child sexual abuse colleagues, but programs such as our MCASA-WOCN will be better able to support best practices that give voice to the issue of child sexual abuse that’s clearly occurring in communities of color without appropriate redress.

Written by:
Kathy Ferguson
MCASA-WOCN Program Manager

CLICK HERE to download PDF of this article.