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A VSC Open House
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VSC staff shared curriculums, programming information, and discussed prevention and outreach activities with the community at its December Open House. |
On December 9th,
the Victim Service Center opened its doors to community stakeholders
for some good food and awareness building of
some of our
programming activities.
The VSC also presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Jamie Loomis of the Winter Park Police Department for Outstanding Partnership.
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Officer Jamie Loomis (r) receiving
Certificate of Appreciation from
VSC's Executive Director, Gina Costa |
Officer Loomis presents the Women's Safety Class: S.A.F.E (Self-defense & Familiarization Exchange) for women who work or live in the City of Winter Park. Our Victim Advocates provide a presentation about our services and are available to talk with the participants should they have questions and or in need of our services.
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(l--r) Sgt. Rich Mankewich, Det. Thorpe, Det. Adams, and Corp. McCullough stopping by the VSC's Open House in December |
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You're Invited . . .
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Monthly Informational Briefings
Last Wednesday of Every Month
Next Briefing
Wednesday - January 25, 2012
Noon - 1PM at the Victim Service Center
Did You Know?
The Victim Service Center provides services to victims of all crimes.
We offer support support groups.
There is no fee for our services.
We are the only certified Rape Crisis Center in Orlando.
We are a nonprofit agency.
And we offer so much more...
...Come learn about our agency.
Informational Briefing
Each month the Victim Service Center will be offering Informational Briefings to educate the community on our services, cultivate interest in our agency, offer an opportunity for individual to become more involved with our mission thru volunteer opportunities, fundraising activities, or assisting us in spreading the word that we are here to help those impacted by crime.
By attending our Informational Briefing, you will learn about our history, our mission, services, our priorities, and our goals.
Where & When
1801 Lee Road, Suite 165
Winter Park, Florida 32789
January 25, 2012
Noon - 1PM
Please let us know that you will be attending, as space is limited. Office: 407.644.2577 or e-mail Jody Swain at jody.swain@ocfl.net |
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Speakers Bureau
Are you a victim of a crime?
Are you willing to educate the public by sharing your story?
The Victim Service Center now has a Speakers Bureau.
Mission:
The mission of the VSC Speakers Bureau is to increase awareness of all types of crime, the effects that crime has on its victims, and the need for recovery resources.
Speakers:
The VSC Speakers Bureau consists of survivors of crime, from all walks of life, who share a passion for helping others.
Members have the opportunity to share their personal stories with students, communities, victims' service groups, and others.
Recruiting Speakers:
If you are a victim of a crime, or a friend or family member of a victim, who may be interested in joining the VSC Speakers Bureau, contact our Speaker Bureau Task Force Chair, Diana Oakley, for more information.
You are Vital to Others:
We know that it's difficult to share something so personal, but we believe that your survival story can inspire others who may be victims to come forward for the first time and receive the help they need.
In the process, we hope the experience will benefit you, as well, by sharing the struggle you went through to overcome what happened.
Contact Us:
If you are interested in having a member of the VSC Speakers Bureau attend your event you can contact Diana Oakley or Jody Swain at 407-644-2577 or you can e-mail Jody at Jody.Swain@ocfl.net
By speaking out about crime we can make a difference in the lives of so many who are not ready or able to speak out.
There is power in your voice!
Let Us Know of Your Interest:
Note: Let us know if you would be interested in serving on our Speakers Bureau Task Force as we continue to develop our overall goals to positively impact the communities we live, work, and play in. Please contact Diana Oakley or Jody Swain at 407.644.2577.
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January is
National Stalking Awareness Month
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January is National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to mobilize against a dangerous crime.
This year's theme, "Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.," calls our nation to stop this crime by learning more about it.
- Stalking can happen to anyone, and it affects 3.4 million victims a year.
- Stalkers may assault or murder their victims, and they are hard to stop.
- The more you know about stalking, the more you can do to fight it.
- For more information or help, contact the Victim Service Center at 407.644.2577.
For instance, our Advocates can assist with Stalking Safety Planning. While victims can make safety plans on their own, it is often helpful to enlist the assistance of trained professionals. These professionals, including advocates and law enforcement officers, can help a victim determine which options will best enhance their safety and will work to devise a safety plan to address each unique situation and circumstance - we're here to help you.
You can also visit the National Center for Victims of Crime web site at www.ncvc.org and click on their stalking resource tab.
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Please don't hesitate to contact one of our Victim Advocates for assistance: 407.644.2577 to help you with a safety plan.
"In response to the vulnerability of stalking, sexual assault, and other victims, 32 states have launched Address Confidentiality Programs (ACPs), which gives victims substitute, government-managed addresses (often a post office box) to use in place of their physical address. All the victim's first-class mail is routed to the substitute address and then forwarded to the victim's actual address, decreasing the victim's vulnerability to stalkers and other offenders who attempt to locate them. ...
... ACPs rely on local victim service providers for referrals, counseling, safety planning, and occasional application assistance to victims."
(From article by Carol Lavery, Address Confidentiality Programs Aim to Keep Victims Safe. The article can be found at the Stalking Resources Center, a program of The National Center for Victims of Crime.)
The Victim Service Center has certified staff to assist anyone in need of this service.
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January is National
Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month _______________________________________________________________
- If you suspect an act of human trafficking in your area, you can report a tip to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
- This national, toll free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.
- You can also call the local authorities.
This past month our Victim Advocates attended training on Human Trafficking. The workshop was held here in Orlando and was provided by a multi-disciplinary team to include the FBI, FDLE and mental health professionals.
Our volunteer, Norma Wilkinson, even got involved and was able to answer questions and give information to attendees as they visited our table we set up at the symposiums.
Human Trafficking is a growing concern nationwide but is a particular problem in central Florida. We learned a great deal and feel better equipped to serve victims of this devastating criminal activity. Please don't hesitate to contact one of our Victim Advocates for assistance: 407.644.2577.
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Top 10 Facts About Modern Slavery
- Slavery: forced to work without pay under threat of violence and unable to walk away.
- 27 million slaves are in the world today.
- Slavery is not legal anywhere but happens everywhere.
- The majority of slaves can be found in India and in African countries.
- Each year, thousands of slaves are trafficked into the U.S.
- Slaves work in fields, brothels, homes, mines, restaurants-anywhere slave owners can feed their greed.
- Human trafficking is the modern-day slave trade.
- $90 is the average cost of a human slave sold around the world.
- Slave holders use many terms to avoid the word "slavery": debt bondage, bonded labor, attached labor, restavec, forced labor, indentured servitude and human trafficking.
- We can end slavery in our lifetime. Everyone has a role to play: government, business, international organizations, consumers, and YOU.
Facts from: www.FREETHESLAVES.NET
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A Birthday Greeting
to our VSC Program Director
Some Staff Wrapped Zeva's Office
Happy Birthday, Zeva!
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Zeva Edmondson, Program Director
We think she said, "Oh my!" |
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Donate Now
A value-added transparency option:
You may use your credit card to donate now.
You have the option to donate now by clicking on the button-link below.
This takes you to our portrait in the Community Foundation of Central Florida's knowledge base where you can safely and securely use your credit card to donate now.
Your donation will be processed through the Foundation and then directed to the Victim Service Center.
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Investing in the Victim Service Center
Remember the Victim Service Center when creating your legacy, or as part of your ongoing planned giving efforts.
Feel free to contact your attorney or financial planner to discuss how the Victim Service Center can be incorporated into you will, trust(s), or other facets of your financial and estate plan.
Contact Jody Swain, Development Director, at Jody.Swain@ocfl.net or 407.644.3831 to discuss how you might want to donate to the Victim Service Center. |
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Another Way to Support the Victim Service Center
GoodSearch
It is easy for you to support the Victim Service Center. Support the Victim Service Center with the GoodSearch Toolbar.
The Victim Service Center of Orange County, Inc. is registered with GoodSearch.com, a company that helps non-profits like ours raise funds through the everyday actions of our supporters.
Here is how you can help:
Use GoodSearch when you search the internet - they will donate a penny to us every time you do.
Use GoodShop.com when you shop online - they work with more than 2,500 major brands, have over 100,000 coupons and donate a percentage of every purchase you make to us.
Enroll in the GoodDining.com they will donate up to 6% of every dollar you spend when you eat at one of 10,000 participating restaurants.
Please join our community on GoodSearch.com and help us raise money for our mission.
Get started by going to the GoodSearch.com web site and select the Victim Service Center of Orange County, Inc. to support - click here to go to GoodSearch:http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=75-2978885
- Earn donations every time you search and shop online.
- Get reminders about donation opportunities when you shop at over 2,500 top brand retailers.
- Save more with special deal alerts when you visit GoodShop partner stores.
- Make GoodSearch Your Homepage
- Use Yahoo! powered GoodSearch so that every time you search the web about a penny goes to your cause! Plus, find exciting new offers and more ways to raise money for your cause!
- Add the GoodToolbar to your browser. Adding the GoodToolbar is a great way to ensure that every purchase and web search you make will count as a donation to your cause.
- Your GoodSearch profile shows off how much you've raised for the causes you care about and the good things that you're doing to give back!
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Contact us...
Victim Service Center
Contact Information
Hours: Monday - Friday(8AM-5PM)
Office: 407.644.2577
1801 Lee Road, Suite 165
Winter Park, Florida 32789
24-Hour Sexual Assault Hotline: 407.497.6701
Toll Free: 1.866.757.2046
www.VictimServiceCenter.com
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Let us know how we can help you with a presentation:
To learn more or request a presentation about our services or want to talk to us about developing a topic to present to your group, please call us to discuss.
407.644.2577
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Receive our Newsletter
Click the above button and follow the prompts to join or update your mailing list information to Victim Service Center.
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New Data
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the initial findings of the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS).
The 2010 survey is the first year of the survey and provides baseline data that will be used to track tends in sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence.
Highlights:
- Nearly 1 in 6 women in Florida have been raped in their lifetime and 42% have experienced other forms of sexual violence.
- 20% of men in Florida have experienced a form of sexual violence other than rape in their lifetime.
The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence (FCASV) Executive Director, Jennifer Dritt, commented: "This study confirms many things we know about sexual violence and will help shed new light on the scope and context of our work to end sexual violence. In light of recent national events and this alarming new data, it is more important than ever for Florida policy makers to fund the rape crisis services these victims so desperately need."
Dritt adds: "Sexual violence can be prevented. Since NISVS will be an annual survey, we will be able to track tends over time as prevention programs are implemented. More than three-quarters of female victims were raped before their 25th birthday; and more than one-quarter of male victims of completed rape were first raped when they were 10 years old or younger. It is critical that we continue strengthening sexual violence prevention efforts here in Florida and move beyond concepts of stranger danger to have the critical conversations necessary to end this horror in our communities."
(Information taken from FCASV Press Release, December 14, 2011)
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A Huge Success!
Adopt a Family for Christmas
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Board Member (r) Adela Buczynski Hathaway and her brother, David
Adela and her extended family got involved to help a family that was impacted by crime.
Along with Adela's family, many other local Victim Service Center supporters donated items to our families in need.
Thanks to all! |
Each year, the Victim Service Center works with families that are struggling during the holiday season. These families are in need because they have been victims of horrific crimes.
We have families that faced their first Christmas without their loved one that was murdered, they are living in hotels because they lost their home when they left the abuser, they lost their job due to the injuries they sustained during a brutal attack. The stories are endless.
Our Advocates identified families that needed support this holiday season and many of our Board members and others donated gifts to these families. The gifts were dropped off at the Victim Service Center and the Victim Advocates coordinated the delivery of gifts.
Many thanks to those who adopted families this year! |
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REQUEST A PRESENTATION
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Presentations
Workshops
Question / Answer Sessions
Panel Presentations
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What can we do for you?
Looking to learn more about our services or in need of a 'topic' presentation or a workshop experience?
We can come to you...
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To learn more or to request a presentation about our services or discuss developing a topic to present to your class, group, employees, please contact us.
We can also incorporate a speaker from our Speakers Bureau that can speak to their personal crime victimization and or their survival of sexual violence and respond to questions.
407.644.2577 |
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Wish List Items
Question: Why are we asking you to help us with the following snack, beverage and hygiene items?
Answer: Our survivors must wait to clean up or eat something until the sexual assault forensic examination is completed. This, sometimes, can take up to 4 to 5 hours. Clothing is taken into evidence, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner performs the exam and collects evidence from the survivors body, law enforcement interviews the survivor, and our Victim Advocates extend crisis counseling, referrals, and assistance with overall understanding of their rights as a victim of sexual assault. Follow up with our client is performed to further assist in helping them through this horrific event in their life.
Please consider helping us to ease the pain in the lives of our clients by considering to donate the following:
Assortment of Snacks and Beverages to provide to clients when at our Sexual Assault Treatment Center and Victim Service Center
- Sports Drinks
- Sodas
- Peanut Butter & Cracker Wafers
- Cheese & Cracker Wafers
Hygiene Packages
- Comb or brush
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Dental Floss
- Mouthwash
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Soap
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Gum/Mints
- Cotton Swabs
- Tampons
- Feminine Pads
Call the Victim Service Center at 407.644.2577 if you have questions about how to donate these items.
Thank you for your consideration of helping to meet this need. |
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CURRENT
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
- Speakers Bureau Task Force Member
Speaker for our Speakers Bureau
- Volunteer-building Opportunities (Help us grow our volunteer program)
Newsletter Manager (Manage the monthly newsletter via inputting content and uploading appropriate photos and links; seek out article content from others)
'Walk in My Shoes' Planning Group Member - (Event is February 4th)
- Social Media / Information Technology
Host an Event / Fundraiser (In the community or at your business to raise awareness and resources for the Victim Service Center - contact us to discuss what you would like to do.)
Your are invited to attend one of our Monthly Scheduled Informational Briefings - just let us know when you would like to come (407.644.2577 or jody.swain@ocfl.net)
Briefings are scheduled for the last Wednesday of each month from noon to 1pm. |
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Mark Your Calendar
Every Monday
5:30PM - 6:30PM
Support Group for
Sexual Assault Survivors
The Victim Service Center conducts a Support Group for Sexual Assault Survivors. The group meets every Monday at the Victim Service Center, located at 1801 Lee Road, Suite #165, Winter Park, Florida 32789.
The group will be facilitated by our Advocates and will meet from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
If interested in attending please contact us at: 407-644-2577.
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Last Wednesday of each Month: Noon - 1PM
Come learn more about your Victim Service Center...
Monthly Informational Briefing
Location: Conference Room at the Victim Service Center (Please let us know you are coming - space is limited.)
Wednesday, January 25
Wednesday, February 29
Wednesday, March 28
Wednesday, April 25
To RSVP, please call us at 407.644.2577 or e-mail Jody Swain at jody.swain@ocfl.net.
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February 4th (Saturday)
3rd Annual
2012 Walk in My Shoes
An awareness event about sexual abuse and encouraging survivors that it's okay to tell.
An awareness event that also educates attendees about the programming and services of the Victim Service Center and other organizations that can assist victims of crime, sexual abuse/violence survivors, and secondary victims of these crimes.
We will have Victim Advocates attending this event should you need to speak with one and learn more about what we can offer you, a friend, a family member, a student, or a co-worker.
We hope to help survivors find even more of their voice as they move through their healing process.
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Central Florida
Community Foundation
(DonorEdge Portrait) | |
Learn more about the Victim Service Center - visit our DonorEdge portrait, established by the Community Foundation of Central Florida - helping donors validate the organizations they support.
To search the Central Florida Community Foundation's knowledge base or share it with others, visit (click button):
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Once you register on CharityBlooms.org, you'll receive a special promo code to give back 8% of your eligible purchase to us as a donation.
You can also just click a special link from your account to start shopping and CharityBlooms will remember the code for you. This comes at no extra cost to your purchase.
Send smiles to friends and family by purchasing from 1800Flowers.com. More than just flowers - gift baskets, cookies, and gourmet popcorn are just a few of the various goodies available right now on 1800Flowers.com.
Enjoy shopping and supporting the Victim Service Center at the same time - thank you for you support.
Note: A separate "landing" page has been created for you to be able to start shopping without having to take the time and manually look for your charity within our database. Below you will find the link:
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