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March 19-23
National Youth Violence Prevention Week
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National Youth Violence Prevention week is March 19-23. The Victim Service Center has taken a proactive approach in reaching the youth in our community regarding this issue. We have created a curriculum that addresses issues such as dating violence and sexual harassment. Our Prevention Specialist presents to middle school students in the public schools, the boys and girls clubs, private institutions, and the Orange County Youth Shelter.
 | Paula Cooke-Freeman,
Prevention Specialist |
Several studies show it is estimated that one in 10 teens experience abuse as part of their dating relationships. One study suggests that almost half of the boys in physically aggressive relationships reported mutual aggression. Upon further investigation, it was noted that while both boys and girls report that anger is the primary motivating factor for using violence, girls also report self-defense as a motivating factor, and boys cite the need to exert control.
Studies show girls experiencing teen dating violence are more likely than boys to suffer long-term negative behavioral and health consequences, including suicide attempts, depression, cigarette smoking, and marijuana use.
The Victim Service Center of Center Florida is committed to prevention and intervention strategies. We aim to educate youth and clients on how to respond with appropriate safety planning, mental health services, and assist when needed with criminal justice involvement.
If you would like the Victim Service Center of Central Florida to meet with your organization, you may contact us at 407.644.2577.
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April is
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The Vagina Monologues
 Sunday, March 18th Tickets: $30
Come join us for an afternoon of feel good humor, charitable laughter, unique gifts, and heartfelt drama. In the early 1990's, Eve Ensler wrote a ground breaking play to help combat violence against women. The money raised by the thousands of productions produced every year has gone to help build safe houses for girls in Africa as well as support the local initiatives chosen by the cast. Each year the University of Central Florida Victim Services department produces this show to help raise awareness about these issues. This is a one day event and tickets are limited, so get them fast. There will be live music and other local artists displaying their work for the pre-show/art show starting at 2PM; The Vagina Monologues will begin at 4PM.
All proceeds benefit UCF Victim Services and the Victim Service Center.
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UnderAWARE Underwear Drive
All of April
In a forensic investigation, sexual assault survivors lose personal items when they are taken into custody for evidence. Please help us collect new items among your professional or social group by setting up a box for donations of the following necessities:
* Sports Bras (All sizes; larger sizes appreciated)
* Sweat Pants (All sizes; larger sizes appreciated) * Flip-Flops (All sizes) * Long Sleeve Shirts (All sizes) * Women's panties and Men's briefs and boxers (All sizes) * Bed linen/sheets (All sizes) * Personal Hygiene Kit Items: comb or brush / toothpaste / toothbrush / dental floss / mouthwash / shampoo & conditioner / soap / razor / deodorant / gum / mints / cotton swabs / tampons / feminine pads
We are also collecting monetary donations that will go towards providing victim services.
Please call our development team at 407.644.2577 or email jody.swain@ocfl.net to request a collection box for your group.
Click here for more information on the UnderAWARE Underwear Drive.
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Denim Day
Wednesday, April 25
To bring awareness and to honor sexual assault victims, the Victim Service Center will be encouraging organizations to host their own Denim Day in which participants wear jeans to work or school (along with a teal ribbon) in order to promote discussion of the misconceptions that surround sexual assault. Denim Day is also a chance for participants to pledge money towards a future free of sexual violence with a donation to the Victim Service Center.
Please call our development team at 407.644.2577 or email jody.swain@ocfl.net to request teal ribbons and to discuss collecting donations from your group.
Click here for more information on Denim Day.
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Saturday, April 28, 9AM - 1PM
The Victim Service Center has partnered with the Avalon Park Foundation to present the 1st annual Ride to Reach sexual assault awareness event. A bicycling and walking
event, Ride to Reach is a community outreach platform to increase awareness about sexual violence and bring attention to the services of the Victim Service Center of Central Florida. There will also be food vendors, local businesses, nonprofit organizations, and entertainment.
Visit our website to register for the event. T-shirts will be given to participants who
make a donation to the Victim Service Center on the day of the event.
Click here for more information on Ride to Reach.
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Clothesline Project
Saturday, April 28
The Clothesline Project serves the Victim Service Center's mission to focus awareness of women and men who have been directly affected by sexual violence. A clothesline hung with t-shirts decorated by survivors, their family, friends, colleagues, as well as other attendees of the event will create an emotional symbol of support. The VSC hopes these personal testimonies to the problem of sexual violence will help promote its prevention.
The Victim Service Center of Central Florida will conduct a Clothesline Project on Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at our Ride to Reach event. We will have t-shirts available for participants to decorate to honor those affected by sexual violence. We will then display the t-shirts during the event. Participants can also bring a pre-made shirt from home to hang on the clothesline.
Click here for more information on The Clothesline Project.
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The Me Nobody Knows
A Survivor's Story by Diana Ousley
She is a survivor, the mother of a survivor, and the friend of someone who did not survive.
She survived being attacked and raped at age sixteen on her way home from an event in her neighborhood, just two blocks from her home. She had a court-appointed counselor who was found guilty of molesting his clients of which she became one. Fast forward and she finds herself in a church that she thought the world of because they were helping her pull it all together - so she thought.
She ended up in the mental ward for about six months because she was having a difficult time with all of the trauma. Her doctors decided that she had a case that should go to trial. She prepared to take the case to trial, but one day before, she decided that her life had been such a wreck that she no longer wanted to put it on stage so she dropped the case. Peace of mind meant more than winning a case.
Where was her FAITH? She struggled for many years trying to find it as it truly was not in God anymore - how could all of these things happen to one person? She was living right, so she thought. She had her children in "church school" and gave her "tithes and offering," yet her life seemed worse as a member of a church.
Yet one day she got the courage to call a hotline, read a website, and started researching everything she could about why and how? (If only she'd known about the Victim Service Center of Central Florida 20 years earlier.) Along her quest for an answer she found three important things.
First and foremost she found God, she found Hope, and she found a Purpose. She found that God allows crazy things because, after all, He gives us "free will." He does not approve of all the things that happen, but looks at how we handle them. She found HOPE in all the research that she did as she began to see she was not alone. There were a countless number of teachers, preachers, advocates, etc. that encouraged her in their words via an article, DVD, or book, to name a few.
She heard God's voice in so many different "languages" that truly spoke to her. Thank God for the internet, the research of others, and the hotline numbers whose updated information gave her power even when she didn't call.
There were times when she just couldn't find the strength to call the line for herself, but she always took the time to read whatever was posted to the site and the stories of other survivors. Yet in the midst of it all, she heard the voice of God speak to her.
She truly knew what it meant to be "REDEEMED". She knew that FORGIVENESS meant something to her like nothing else. And she also learned BOUNDARIES.
She stands today to ENCOURAGE YOU to take a stand and become an ADVOCATE for SOMETHING. She chose to be an Advocate Against Abuse because it touched her life so much, but whatever you become PASSIONATE about, allow it to become a part of your MISSION.
And that, my friends, is THE ME NOBODY KNOWS.
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This Women's History Month, we want to honor one of the pioneering women in victim services, Marlene Young.
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Marlene Young, JD, PhD
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Dr. Young describes that in the early days of the movement, victim assistance work was done by individuals and programs in relative isolation. Her attempt to educate herself about the subject of victimology and victim assistance led her to the conclusion that there was a need to consolidate the written works and expertise in order to enhance and advance both. Encouraged by her employer at the time, Multnomah County Sheriff Lee Brown, she began to conceive the idea of creating a national network that became the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) in 1975.
She served as NOVA's board president from 1979 to 1981, when she became executive director. She has also served as the Vice-President of the World Society of Victimology, past treasurer of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies, co-chair of the Victim Services Committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and a member of the Victims Committee of the American Bar Association. She was a founding board member of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children.
In her capacity as NOVA's Executive Director, Dr. Young wrote and published the first forty-hour, victim-oriented training curricula for five allied professionals groups, namely, law enforcement patrol officers, law enforcement managers, prosecutors, judges, and mental health providers. She also designed some of the first such courses for victim advocates, victim counselors, and victim service program managers.
(From An Oral History of the Crime Victim Assistance Field, produced by The University of Akron and the Conference on Restorative Justice, produced by Simon Fraser University.)
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Monthly Informational Briefings
Last Wednesday of Every Month
Next Briefing
Wednesday - March 28, 2012
Noon - 1PM at the Victim Service Center
Each month the Victim Service Center will be offering Informational Briefings to educate the community on our services, cultivate interest in our agency, and offer individual involvement with our mission through volunteerism, fundraising, or assisting us in spreading the word that we are here to help those impacted by crimes and sexual assaults.
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
March 28, 2012
Noon - 1PM
Please let us know that you will be attending; accompanying guests are most welcome!
RSVP - Office: 407.644.2577 or e-mail Devon Hutchins at devon.hutchins@ocfl.net
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Speakers Bureau
Are you a victim of a crime?
Are you wanting to inspire and help inform others 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 Speakers Bureau Task Force Chair, Diana Oakley, or Jody Swain, Development Director, for more information.
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. We can help you develop a topic-focus area that fits your group's presentation need.
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Victim Service Center of Central Florida
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:
Request a presentation about our services, crime or crime prevention or talk to us about developing a topic to present to your group - please call us to discuss.
407.644.2577
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Sign-Up for 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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Mark Your Calendar
Support Group for
Sexual Assault Survivors
Every Monday
5:30PM - 6:30PM
The group meets every Monday at the Victim Service Center, located at 1801 Lee Road, Suite #165, Winter Park, Florida 32789.
If interested in attending please contact us at: 407-644-2577.
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Monthly Informational Briefing
Last Wednesday of each Month
Noon - 1PM
Come learn more about your Victim Service Center...
Location: Conference Room at the Victim Service Center
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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Vagina Monologues
Sunday, March 18th &
Saturday, March 31st
Note: UCF is donating a percentage of show donations to the Victim Service Center of Central Florida. Thank you, UCF Victim Services!
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Denim Day
Wednesday, April 25th
Contact us to see how you can create awareness and raise funds on behalf of the Victim Service Center.
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UnderAWARE Underwear Drive
All of April
Contact us to see how you can help collect needed items and bring awareness to sexual assault.
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Ride to Reach
Saturday, April 28th
9AM - 1PM
Help spread the word and come on out to show your support.
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Clothesline Project
Saturday, April 28th
9AM - 1PM
This will be part of our Ride to Reach event at Avalon Park.
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Wish List Items
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 in helping to meet this need.
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Volunteer Opportunities
Speaker for our Speakers Bureau
Newsletter Manager
Event Planning and Assistance
Social Media / Information Technology
Host an Event / Fundraiser
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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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Creating a Solid Future
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 your 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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Central Florida
Community Foundation
(DonorEdge Portrait)
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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.
Click here to see our Victim Service Center portrait.
To search the Central Florida Community Foundation's knowledge base or share it with others, visit (click button):
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Other Ways to Support the
Victim Service Center
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 Use Yahoo! powered GoodSearch so that every time you search the web, money is donated to the Victim Service Center.
Get started by clicking the "Become a Supporter" button on our profile page!
The Victim Service Center is now registered with CharityBlooms.org. 8% of your purchases go towards helping VSC provide our valuable services!
CharityBlooms.org partners with 1800Flowers.com, 1800Baskets.com, FruitBouquets.com, Cheryl's cookies, Fannie May Fine Chocolates, and The Popcorn Factory.
Just remember to input our Donation Code in the promo field when you check out: CHA3195N. Or check out our new landing page here!
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