FCASV Insight November 2021
Honoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Each October is nationally recognized as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), when anti-violence advocates and programs unite to increase public awareness and to call for community action. The COVID-19 pandemic reminded individuals that homes should be a place to feel safe. However, rapid spikes in the number of domestic violence cases serve as a stark reminder that for many, home can be a dangerous place.
Existing challenges for victim-centered services were exacerbated as lockdown orders and quarantine mandates were put into effect. Crisis programs and service providers need collective support. To showcase community support for survivors and to promote awareness and prevention locally, programs across the state hosted DVAM events and activities. As fourteen of Florida's thirty-one certified rape crisis programs are also certified domestic violence centers, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight another, related aspect of the important work they do. Check out a few snapshots from the events below!
Survivors Deserve Care from Trauma-Informed Medical Providers in Aftermath of Assault
To honor National Forensic Nurses Week (Nov. 8-12), FCASV's Director of SANE Training and Sustainability wrote an article about the importance of trained, trauma-informed medical professionals providing care to survivors. Here's an excerpt from that piece; please visit fcasv.org for the full article.
Imagine this scenario: Minutes ticking by. Anxiety level increasing. Fear of who is going to take care of you and what is going to happen. Fear you will not be heard. Following a sexual assault, a survivor experiences a range of emotions, in addition to a complex set of decisions to make and systems to navigate. Then in the midst of these overwhelming questions and concerns, envision this scene unfolding: A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) enters the room who immediately offers compassion, explains your rights to a medical forensic exam (MFE) free-of-charge and regardless of whether you report to law enforcement, and who relieves your concerns by saying that you are in control and can stop the exam at any time.
SANEs are oftentimes one of the first responders in acute cases of sexual assault, and they are crucial in providing the initial survivor-centered and trauma-informed response. A SANE has specialized education and clinical preparation in the medical forensic care of the survivor who has experienced sexual assault. By law, survivors in Florida are entitled to no-cost MFEs which include evidence collection, along with advocate accompaniment. To ensure a comprehensive response that includes wraparound services, SANEs work with advocates from Florida’s 31 certified sexual assault centers that provide ongoing, trauma-focused confidential services.
Visit fcasv.org to read the complete article.
Sexual Violence and Reproductive Health
Sexual violence and abuse affect every aspect of a survivor’s life. Navigating through loss of power, bodily autonomy, and emotions driven by trauma can be debilitating, no matter the length of time that the abuse occurred. A cornerstone of the anti-violence work led by programs and advocates is supporting victims in all facets of recovery as they work to regain control of their mental and physical wellness. This includes supporting all survivors’ reproductive decisions and reinforcing the message that the choices related to their futures, bodies, and health are their own to make.
Sexual violence is a public health issue where rape and reproductive health intersect. Rape related pregnancy and/or reproductive coercion leave individuals particularly vulnerable to other short- and long-term health consequences including physical injury, sexually transmitted infections, and a culmination of fears that may result in the aftermath of assault.
Unencumbered access to patient-centric services ensures that safe comprehensive care is available for those in need. Readily available sexual and reproductive health care services, access to emergency contraception, and resources for therapy and recovery are fundamental building blocks in the holistic response to survivors. The urgency for continuum of care by health professionals and aid groups, designated to provide vital support for survivors, is heightened as infringement on bodily autonomy becomes a threat for many.
Restrictions on the accessibility of services and choices for individual wellness cripple the options, support, and outcomes for survivors. Reproductive choice is essential to individual health care.
Prevention Projects Kicking Off
In partnership with the Florida Department of Health, FCASV began administering the Centers for Disease Control’s Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) program in 2021. The RPE-funded providers are kicking off their prevention projects that aim to promote social norms to protect against violence; provide opportunities, both economic and social, to empower girls and women; and support survivors to lessen harm. An important part of the RPE grant is establishing and expanding partnerships with community stakeholders and engaging them in prevention work. Community partners such as schools, faith-based organizations, and county health departments are an integral part of the prevention projects.
Several providers adapted curriculums and programs that are used nationally:
Coaching Boys into Men: engaging athletic coaches and male athletes in practicing healthy relationship skills, bystander intervention, and abuse prevention
Safe Dates: focusing on middle and high school students to teach them about healthy/unhealthy relationships and dating violence prevention
Green Dot: emphasizing community bystander intervention trainings
In the Ft. Myers area, a new program is launching -- a 12-Week Social Justice Mentorship Program for at-risk girls.
All providers are tasked with implementing social marketing campaigns within their communities. One notable campaign engages the local hospitality sector by distributing Date Rape Drug Test Coasters to bars and hotels in Volusia County.
Primary prevention invites community-level involvement in reducing risk factors and creating protective environments.
Meet FCASV's Newest Employee
Mónica García Vega
Mónica joined FCASV in May 2021. She serves as the Prevention Specialist for FCASV where she helps support initiatives across Florida that aim to prevent sexual violence under the Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Grant. Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mónica moved to Tallahassee, FL in 2016 to pursue an undergraduate degree. She earned her A.A. degree from Tallahassee Community College and then transferred to Florida State University to earn a B.S. in International Affairs. She interned with the International Rescue Committee as a Casework Intern, providing advocacy and essential services to the refugee population in Tallahassee, and with the Tallahassee/Leon County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls as a Research Intern. In addition to her work with FCASV, Mónica is currently involved with Tallahassee Southern Model United Nations and serves as the President of the Board of Directors. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and binging the latest reality TV shows.
Save the Date: FCASV's 2022 Orlando Summit
FCASV’s Biennial Summit, June 15-17, 2022, will be hosted in Orlando, FL at the Embassy Suites Orlando-Lake Buena Vista South.
This year’s theme, Arriving Together: Forging a Collective Path, invites participants to join us in community as we hold impactful conversations around expanding our social justice work and advancing the anti-sexual violence movement.
Every other year, FCASV hosts our statewide Summit with expert presenters as a training opportunity for those who serve survivor communities. During the two-and-a-half-day conference, attendees have access to informative workshops and engaging keynote speakers that offer fresh perspectives and challenge current practices. Attendees also have the chance to meet or reconnect with colleagues throughout sessions and during our evening reception on the first night of the conference.
To learn more about the conference like registration rates or to check out our call for workshop proposals, please visit fcasv.org.
This project is supported by subgrant No. LN208 awarded by the state administering office for the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of justice’s STOP Formula Grant Program. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the state or the U.S. Department of Justice.