Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance

Health Cares About Domestic Violence (#HCADV) Day raises awareness that domestic violence is a healthcare issue and promotes partnerships between healthcare and domestic violence programs to support survivor health and prevent domestic violence. Learn more: https://bit.ly/HCADVDay

Member organizations The Salvation Army Turning Point, YWCA of Central Virginia, and Transitions Family Violence Services were all featured in their cal news today for #DVAM events they've planned in their communities! Check out their coverage here: https://lnkd.in/efV3ZVdp https://lnkd.in/eXe7uMma https://lnkd.in/e5dGV9pa

TRUE! You may list a family member’s address or shelter address as your voting address where you could receive mail. If you are homeless and living on the street, you may denote a street corner or a park as your residence, instead of a traditional home address. There is a box on the voter registration form where you can indicate you are homeless. Register online here: https://lnkd.in/dSVh-sG

Bullying is a form of childhood trauma, and its effects can increase the risk of being abused or being an abusive partner in adulthood. Adults, as well as other kids, can be allies for those who are targeted by bullies as well as those doing the bullying. Showing kids that they can overcome the trauma they’ve experienced, rather than give in to the anger that’s developed as a result, can give them a sense of not only control, but also hope, regarding their future. #NationalBullyingPreventionMonth #DVAM

Just one month until Election Day. What's your one-stop shop for Virginia voting information? Why, the Department of Elections of course! From this single page, you can register to vote, check your registration status, find where to vote, and even request a ballot by mail. So easy! So important! https://lnkd.in/dSVh-sG

A recent The Washington Post article called much-needed attention to the adverse impacts #VOCA funding cuts are having on local shelters and their ability to provide life-saving services to the people they serve. The article quotes member organization ' President & CEO Diana Ortiz's concerns about how these cuts impede their ability serve survivors. Contact your legislators today and insist they restore VOCA funding. Read more: https://bit.ly/3N9Dzqg

Peace is a cultural process that needs to be taught and practiced at every level of society. It is more than just the absence of conflict, but also a process of dialogue and cooperation. #InternationalDayofNonviolence

October is #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth. Now, more than ever, we must work together to embrace the many cultural ways we can heal from violence and oppression, hold space for survivors, and center those most marginalized in all of our efforts to end domestic violence. #DVAM

According to research from Texas A&M University-Educational Psychology , "self-compassion may be a more useful way to conceptualize a healthy way of relating to oneself than the more ubiquitous construct of self-esteem, because it provides a stable foundation of positive self-regard. In fact, research suggests that self-compassion provides greater emotional resilience and stability than self-esteem. It also involves less intense self-evaluation, ego-defensiveness, and self-enhancement than self-esteem. One might say that with self-compassion, the ego moves from the foreground into the background. Instead of evaluating oneself as a distinct, separate individual, with boundaries that are clearly defined in contrast to others, the self is seen as part of a greater, interconnected whole. Self-compassionate individuals do not have to be successful or feel superior to others in order to experience positive feelings about themselves. In fact, self-compassion is relevant precisely when people feel inadequate." Read more here: https://bit.ly/3XCpszv

The deadline to register for this groundbreaking and innovative in-person training in Staunton is this week! This gathering is designed for individuals to participate in a wide variety of practices spanning the individual, organizational, and community levels. Individual: Join us to learn new ways of being in our work – an intentional and critical paradigm shift in the movement, from reacting to the crisis of burnout towards healing-centered capacity to prevent it. Together, we will unpack the impacts of this work and explore practices that support recentering our own wellness and wholeness. This will be a reflective, interactive, experiential, and joy-filled session meant to foster mutual aid connections and ready us with insight and practices to get back to work whole and well. Organizational: Deepen your foundations for building and practicing wellness within your organization. By increasing retention of healthy staff at SDVAs, we can directly improve the emotional and physical safety and well-being for survivors who are in our care. Community: : This is an opportunity for sexual and domestic violence advocates to learn, organize, and meaningfully implement with community partners who have shared visions for wellness. Register for any or all three levels today: https://lnkd.in/eaz9DhE2