TVSA 2015 Conference
Workshops Confirmed to Date 03/25/15
Human Trafficking: A Worldwide Epidemic Affecting Border Communities and the Nation – Evonne Lopez, RN, CFN, CA/CP SANE, Mission Regional Hospital, Rosie Martinez, Rio Grande Valley Empowerment Zone & Paul Williams , LCC, MPA, Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Regional Police Academy
Human Trafficking has become a very lucrative business across the globe. Every year 20.9 million women, men, and children are trafficked around the world. Human Trafficking affects 161 countries worldwide. Traffickers transport human trafficking victims into the U.S. to be used in sex trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labor, and unlawful recruitment and use of child soldiers. The growing number of human smuggling cases in border communities is now a national problem. Human smuggling is the gateway to human trafficking and bordercommunities are at the frontlines of this crime.
Murderabilia/Son-of-Sam Laws/Notoriety For Profit – Andy Kahan, Mayor’s Office/Houston Police Department
Crime is a business. Convicted criminals and their dealers sell for profit personalized items on internet auction sites. Recent legislative initiatives will be discussed. News clips of murderabilia dealers, killers and victims discussing the industry will be shown as will items of murderabilia.
“One Stop Shop”: Integrated Victim Service Models – Katherine Bacon, Paris Foundation & Roya N. Williamson, San Marcos Police Department
Integrated victim services are provided when more than one agency/entity are housed in the same building and/or campus. The development, implementation, advantages, and caveats of integrated victim service models will be explored. Examples from the San Marcos-Hays County Family Justice Center, Parris Foundation, and Children’s’ Assessment Center (CAC) will be provided.
Unresolved grief: You don’t have to be stuck – Barb Tucker, CASA – Hope for Children
The single most off-limits topic of discussion in the English speaking western world is grief or people’s reaction to loss. If we asked that question most folks would probably answer “death”. We have absolutely no difficulty whatsoever in our society talking about death. It is on the front page of most newspapers and online. You can see as many as four different articles about death or violent death. There is a whole section of obituaries. But what about feelings? No we, have no problem taking about feelings. Actually, we may all be a little tired of hearing people talk about their feelings. So, how many of you have figured out that there is little or no help in dealing with the conflicted feelings of the death of a love one or a significant loss in your life.
Building and Utilizing a Victim Centered SART – Haleh Cochran, The Turning Point Rape Crisis Center & Tonia J. Cunningham, Frisco Police Department
This workshop will briefly discuss what a SART is, the history behind it, and dynamics involved in building your own team. It will then provide an overview of the Collin County SART and how their team aims to better services and response to survivors of sexual assault.
Responding to Victims of Mass Violence – Amy Perkins, Jill McAfee, & Christine Reeves, Heart of Texas Regional Advisory Council
This workshop will provide the attendees with the knowledge of how to integrate with unlikely partners to help identify a victim of violence. Early recognition of these persons in an emergency/disaster situation involving violence will ultimately be better for those that we seek to help.
Spirituality and Religion in the Lives of Survivors of Homicide Victims – Shannon Johnson & Dr. Marilyn Armour University of Texas at Austin
The facilitator will share the findings of original studies that have examined the role of spirituality and the process of spiritual change in life after homicide. She will guide participants in a discussion of how these findings can inform efforts to cater services to the unique needs to the homicide survivor population.
Sailing to New Career Paths: Tools for the Tradewinds Ahead – Karen Kalergis, Mani Partners Strategic Communications, Cindy Brignon, Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department & Stephanie Frogge, University of Texas at Austin
What’s the “next chapter” in your professional life? This panel will focus on the career paths of TVSA members who worked in victim services then went on to other related careers outside of traditional agencies/programs.The panelists will discuss job opportunities they've createdin education, academia,consulting, publicationand related private industry.
Cultural Competency in Victim Services: Understanding and Working with Gender Diverse Clients – Katrina Stewart, Transgender Education Network of Texas
To work compassionately and with efficacy in regard to gender diverse clients, we must first ourselves understand this shared concept we call gender, how it is controlled and enforced in society, and what this means in regard to systems oppression of gender diverse individuals.
Protective Orders and the Importance of TCIC data entry: Advocate’s Perspective - Kimberly A.F. Piechowiak, Texas Office of Court Administration
For a protective order to be properly enforced, the order must be promptly entered into the Texas Crime Information Center system. This workshop will discuss the process, efforts by the Texas Office of Court Administration to improve reporting rates, obstacles, and best practices for advocates.
Yoga for Stress Relief, Energy and Concentration – Krista del Gallo, Texas Council on Family Violence
This workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to learn healthy ways to deal with the stress, fatigue and emotional drain that are oftentimes associated with victim advocacy professions. This session will discuss the importance of self-care and introduce simple breathing practices, postures and movement to calm the mind and heal and energize the body and spirit.
Reaching Las Familias for Sexual Violence Prevention - Laura E. Zárate, Arte Sana
Budget constraints and changing demographics pose special challenges for many victim assistance agencies. This workshop will address some barriers that Spanish-speaking survivors of sexual violence face, and inform participants about collaborative opportunities and services available through the statewide ‘Latina Victim Outreach Project’ including some possible vehicles for eliminating language barriers.
The Undocumented Immigrant: Hidden Victim of Crime, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking - Linda A. Brandmiller, J.D, ASI, Inc.- Asociacion de Servicios para el Inmigrante
Finding and serving immigrant victims of crime, domestic violence and human trafficking is particularly challenging. This basic workshop will help victim service providers identify and understand what immigration relief is available to immigrant victims, why it is important to screen immigrant victims for possible relief and where to go for additional assistance.
Crime Victims with Disabilities: Advocating and Meeting the Challenges They Face - Wanda Page & Elizabeth Page, Disabled Crime Victims Assistance, Inc.
Disabled crime victims have unique challenges. There are two types: those disabled as a result of a crime and individuals with a disability that become a crime victim. The impact and challenges they and their families face is life-altering. We will explore resources and solutions for disabled crime victims.
Family Violence Shelter Services and the Populations They Serve: Inside the Black Box - Dr. Lisa Muftic – Crime Victims Institute
Despite an abundance of attention devoted to studying intimate partner violence, little is known about services delivered to survivors. This workshop will explore recent research conducted by SHSU on services available to survivors who seek shelter protection, including service delivery obstacles. Policy implications of these results will be discussed.
Get Child Support Safely – Krista del Gallo, Texas Council on Family Violence & Ruth Thornton, Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division
This workshop will provide an overview of the IV-D Child Support process administered by the Texas Office of the Attorney General, emphasizing the importance of understanding the potential risks and outcomes associated with the participation in the child support system. We will review the protections available within the OAG Child Support system for survivors or domestic violence and discuss “good cause” waivers to child support cooperation requirements associated with several public benefits programs such as TANF and Child Care Services. Most importantly, we will highlight ways in which advocates can play a crucial role in supporting survivors navigating the child support process.
Communicating the Issue: A focus on Non-Stranger Sexual Assault – Rose Luna, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault
The most common form of sexual assault is also the most misunderstood form of sexual assault within our communities. This workshop will reveal the truth behind non-stranger sexual assault by exploring statistics, examining non-stranger perpetrator typology and community misconceptions. This workshop works to educate service providers and community members in unmasking the perpetrators of this heinous crime and to dispel the myths allowing these perpetrators to remain undetected in our society.
Intersectionality of Sexual Assault and Family Violence - Sarah Hilderbrand, Texas Council on Family Violence
This session will discuss differing tactics of intimate partner sexual assault, including reproductive coercion. Participants will learn best practices for screening clients for sexual abuse during the intake process. This session will also provide tools for law enforcement to screen and work with victims when responding to a crime scene.
Stalking: Impact, Prevalence and Lethality - Rebecca Dreke, Stalking Resource Center at the National Center for Victims of Crime
Stalking is a crime that is often misunderstood, minimized or missed entirely. This session will address the crime of stalking, including stalking behaviors, prevalence, and lethality. The workshop focuses on the impact of stalking on victims and ways advocates can incorporate safety planning and threat assessment into their work with stalking victims. It will also address the strong links between stalking and domestic violence and stalking and sexual assault.
The Use of Technology in Stalking & Intimate Partner Violence Cases - Rebecca Dreke, Stalking Resource Center at the National Center for Victims of Crime
Today, technology is all around us. Many people have daily access to cell phones, computers, and the Internet. While this technology can be fun and helpful, it can also be used by stalkers to track, surveil, and gain information about victims. In fact, more than one in four victims of stalking reported some form of technology used in the duration of the crime. Many stalkers use the information they gain through technology to assist them in committing a further crimes, such as sexual assault and/or identity theft. As the technology advances, so will stalkers’ abilities to utilize it in their crimes. Those who work with victims of stalking should be familiar with the various ways that technology can be used to stalk. This knowledge will ensure that they are best prepared to provide safety to victims and hold offenders accountable.
Victim Offender Mediation Program – Brooke Ellison, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Victim Services Division
The Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue program provides an opportunity for victims or surviving family members of violent crime to initiate an in-person meeting with the offender responsible for their victimization. The process offers offenders an opportunity to express remorse, admit guilt and take responsibility for the full impact of their behavior upon the victims, their families and their communities. Crime victims have expressed a sense of taking back control once they meet directly with the offender to describe the impact of their victimization and to receive answers to questions regarding the offense. By attending this session, criminal justice professionals and victim advocates will increase their knowledge and therefore, their clients’ knowledge, of crime victims’ rights, services available and be better equipped to respond to inquiries regarding the Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue program.
Protective Orders: a lifeboat for victims of family violence and sexual assault - Liz Boyce, Keri Sunshine Ward, Rachel Leinen, Gwendolyn Jacobs, & Susan Lefler, Texas Legal Services Center
Victims often feel they are drowning in the wake of an assault. A protective order helps victims obtain safety, financial stability, and peace of mind. Join us on a three-hour tour of the protective order process, from drafting the application to presentation of a mock hearing.
*two part session.
Economic Options for Victims and Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence: Protections, Remedies, and Reliefs - Molly Woodard Thibodeaux & Krista del Gallo, Texas Council on Family Violence
This workshop will provide an overview of the economic related protections, remedies, and reliefs available for victims and survivors domestic and sexual violence including Texas specific and newly adopted federal housing protections, child support and public benefits systems protections and reliefs, and other resources available for victims and survivors.
Keeping Victims Informed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division – Rose Treviño, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Victim Services Division
This session will provide information on various victims’ rights post-conviction and how to assist victims in executing those rights. This session will provide detailed information on a victim’s right to notification and about the Victim Notification System including who is eligible to register, how to register, methods to receive notification and the types of notification that are provided by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division (VSD). As the needs of victims and professionals change, the VSD notification capabilities continue to grow to meet those needs. This session will provide participants with knowledge on new enhancements and updates regarding notification to victims whose offenders are sentenced to prison. We will also discuss in detail the Victim Impact Statement and how it provides the opportunity for victims to exercise some of those rights.
International Parental Abduction of Children: Prevention and Response - Pamela Brown & Mariano Nuñez, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid
This workshop will expose victim services providers to the relationship between the crimes of domestic violence and parental abduction of children. It will empower providers to direct victims to appropriate resources for assistance in responding to the often unrecognized yet increasing crime of international parental abduction of children.
Building hope: a solution focused model for ethical victim services – ethics workshop
Solution-focused techniques build on hopes for the future and are designed to maximize a sense of autonomy and empowerment. They are strengths-based, built on the belief that clients bring expertise and capacity to the helping relationship. The ethical support for this model in working with crime victims will be illustrated.
*Workshops are subject to change without notice.