October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
CPAF Family,
This month we’re honoring the origins of Domestic Violence Awareness Month and its purpose to connect advocates! “Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the 'Day of Unity' in October 1981 observed by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children,” (Source: NCADV). The work to create nonviolent communities cannot be done alone. How can you connect with others to support survivors?
We invite you to share how connecting with others has helped you to unite against violence and tag us on social media @cpaforg. Check out what other regional and national domestic violence organizations are doing this month and get involved!
Community Program Updates
Connecting with North America Taiwanese Women's Association
CPAF staff members presented to members of the North America Taiwanese Women's Association (NATWA) about how to be supportive bystanders to loved ones experiencing harm. NATWA invites CPAF yearly to raise awareness of domestic violence in the Taiwanese community and provide recommendations on how their association can help. This year the theme of the presentation was "Becoming supportive allies." In addition to relating the 5 Ds of Bystander Intervention by Hollaback, the group reflected on the cultural context of domestic violence and sexual assault within their community, discussing questions like, “What is the Taiwanese culture when it comes to family dynamics and relationship issues?” and “How and who do we ask for help?”
If someone discloses their abuse to you, here are ways to respond empathetically: Tips to Support Survivors
Image Source: API Chaya via frontporch.seattle.gov
Calling All Youth Leaders!
CPAF is hosting virtual info sessions for our upcoming Rooted Leadership Project (RLP) program. These sessions are open to any and all youth (ages 13-18) who are interested in the RLP program. The Rooted Leadership Project provides the space for youth to design, implement, and evaluate a project that promotes nonviolence in their communities. RLP is a cohort-style program that emphasizes peer learning and connection as participants learn from each other and are also matched with mentors who will guide them through this process and support their efforts. The program can provide a supportive environment for youth looking to dive deeper into their interests via culturally specific community-based work. For youth interested in exploring a passion they already have through community-based work, this is a great opportunity to dig into that interest and utilize tools and supports from CPAF in exploring this topic. The ideal participant will have completed either a youth prevention program with CPAF (Know Your Roots or Peer Counseling 2) OR a youth program with another organization that focused on core elements of healthy relationships, gender & culture, power & privilege, and self-empathy. Info sessions will be held on Thursday October 14th 4:00-5:00pm PST and Wednesday October 20th 4:00-5:00pm PST.
Online Advocate Training
Last Friday, Community Partnerships kicked off DVAM with a Decoding Language and Culture session as part of this fall's Advocate Training. Participants discussed questions like "What does consent look like and how do we learn about the power to give or deny permission in our culture?" A role play exercise helped attendees walk through a hotline call, which required leaving enough time for an interpreter to translate between caller and hotline counselor. Another exercise provided an example of how a survivor may feel isolated when seeking help from friends, faith leaders, or other community members. Participants asked engaging questions and the CPAF team offered guidance to support survivors as they move toward safety and healing. The 65-hour Advocate Training will continue this Friday with the topic of crisis intervention.
Staff Updates
Warm Welcomes and Fond Farewells
This month we welcomed back Katherine Pool who is now a Residential Counselor (formerly an Interim Remote Counselor) and Emily Krupin who served as a Grants Writer (2017-18) and is now the Director of Development and Communications. We're excited for the return of some familiar faces who have previously supported our organization and for a new member on our Partnerships team with Jessie Wu joining CPAF as a Senior Virtual Community Outreach Specialist (Mandarin).
Before our next newsletter, we will say goodbye to Manmeet Kaur, Interim Youth Engagement Specialist; Esther Lee, Interim Community Engagement Coordinator; and Samantha Copé, Interim Development and Communications Coordinator. Thank you for all your efforts to help further our mission with youth, parents, and the community.
Interested in joining one of our teams?
Visit NurturingChange.org/jobs for openings in Prevention, Development, and Direct Services.
Shelter Program Updates
The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Homelessness
in collaboration with Diana Grant, Regional Domestic Violence Coordinator SPA 4
Survivors are being prioritized for a housing resource for the first time. Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), Los Angeles's Continuum of Care (CoC), has independently chosen to prioritize victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and dating violence for the Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHVs), a type of Housing Choice Voucher released earlier this year. Despite years of work on aligning victim service provision and housing service provision, this is unprecedented. EHV applications from survivors that are attempting to escape or are actively fleeing, that have been made unsafe while permanently housed, that have experienced any of the violence listed above throughout the course of their lifetime, and/or that identify as a victim/survivor are specifically considered for these vouchers before those experiencing housing instability and homelessness without any experience of victimization.
While there are many intersections between homelessness and victimization, one principle point of intersect is that due to the nature of abuse, survivors are typically unable to obtain or maintain any ownership over resource--personal resource (their time, their mental and physical energy), money, transportation, housing, bank accounts, phones and laptops, clothing, documentation. At the time that a victim escapes an abusive relationship, they are often unable to take anything with them, and, thus, are immediately entering into homelessness. This is coupled with the fact that there is typically nowhere safe they feel they can go where the abusive person would not find them, and that with the damaging impact of isolation the abusive person has caused, it may be impossible to rely on any community support.
By allowing survivors to be prioritized for EHVs, we are potentially preventing their homelessness before it has a chance to begin, or, at the very least, streamlining the process; we are acknowledging that according to LAHSA's 2020 Greater Los Angeles Point-in-Time Count, 33% of people are homeless due to domestic violence and intimate partner violence, and holding in mind that those are vastly underreported numbers; and we are honoring that survivors have already faced loss of personal autonomy while inside an abusive dynamic, and the absolute last thing they need is to experience further oppression by barriers to accessing social service resources.
Thank you, Donors!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to CPAF through their workplace or through our website or social media. We're grateful for the continued support from individuals like you!
We'd also like to recognize the following organizations for recent grants awarded to CPAF:
The California Endowment
John Gogian Family Foundation
Mightycause Charitable Foundation
Pledgeling Foundation/Pledgeling Technologies
Pobladores Fund of the Liberty Hill Foundation
The TJX Foundation, Inc.
Valero Energy Foundation
We appreciate these gifts that allow for more autonomy for our organization and our clients.
