Valentine Greetings from the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence

E-Newsletter of the National Center
on Domestic and Sexual Violence

February 2013

In This Issue

Wear Bravelets Charity Bracelets

Of Note on NCDSV's Website

The National Center is Part of Amplify Austin

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Upcoming Events and Trainings

Brighten Your Valentine's Day with Flowers!

Gorgeous flowers are the ideal gift this week. Order from Touched by Flowers and 50% of the profits benefit NCDSV! This has helped us over the last few years, so we hope you'll try their services for Valentine's Day. Thank you!

Wear Bravelets charity bracelets to help you be brave during tough times and to help you be brave for others. Choose a cause, wear a Bravelets bracelet, and be brave! These are lovely and would make a good Valentine's Day gift.

Buy the purple domestic violence bracelet or the teal sexual assault bracelet and $10 is donated for each bracelet to the National Center!

Of Note on NCDSV's Website

The Senate Passes the Violence Against Women Act! ~ Statements from the President, Vice President and Attorney General, February 12, 2013. For updates on Congressional activity on VAWA, visit www.4vawa.org.

President Obama signs National Defense Authorization Act into law ~ which includes 19 amendments to significantly reform U.S. Department of Defense sexual assault and sexual harassment policies, January 8, 2013.

CDC releases data on interpersonal and sexual violence by sexual orientation, January 25, 2013.

Logo of CDC's NISVS

Lowered Funding Jeopardizes Services to Victims of Domestic Violence, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, January 30, 2013.

Check out the National Center's funding page for numerous grant announcements from the Office on Violence Against Women, the National Institute of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, SAMHSA, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and others.

The National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence is among more than 300 nonprofit agencies participating in Amplify Austin, a 24-hour period of online philanthropy with the goal of raising more than $1 million.

Please make a note now to come to the NCDSV website home page, (http://www.ncdsv.org) during the hours of 7 pm (CT) March 4 to March 5 at 7 pm (CT) and make a gift of

at least $25.

Just click on the Amplify Austin logo during those hours and it will connect you directly to our fundraising page.

There are also going to be matching funds to assist nonprofits from the University Federal Credit Union and the Austin Community Foundation.

If at any time over the National Center's 14 years of service we have helped you gain knowledge and skills, problem-solve, advocate effectively for policy change or just listened, please contribute as part of this campaign. Your contribution will go even further by qualifying for the match from UFCU, ACF and their other partners.

Scholarships Available for the Establishing Expertise as an Ethical Expert Witness Conference, Apply by February 28, 2013

Full Court Press Scholarships are available for select OVW grantees to attend the Establishing Expertise as an Ethical Expert Witness Conference, scheduled for May 20-22, 2013 in Austin, TX. Deadline to apply for the scholarships is February 28.

After decades of effective advocacy, policy changes, and direct service provision, myths about violence against women and victim blaming persist and impact the effectiveness of the criminal justice system's response to victims and survivors. Research indicates that advocates and law enforcement officers are effective expert witnesses, and that they and court personnel can affect change regarding the perceptions of these crimes. This conference aims to address that gap by providing a high-quality national conference to increase the use of expert testimony in domestic violence cases.

The conference is a collaboration of the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, The University of Texas at Austin, School of Law, School of Social Work and the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. The curriculum is structured on adult learning theories and includes lecture, case studies, and experiential learning. The distinguished faculty is comprised of advocates, attorneys, practitioners, and researchers with experience either providing expert testimony in domestic violence cases, or utilizing an expert witness in civil and criminal courts. Interpreters with experience in courtroom settings are available for attendees who are hearing impaired.

Early registration is $300. After April 19, 2013 it is $325.

Register online.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

Join President Barack Obama (proclamation), the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence and advocates across the country in recognizing February 2013 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

February is an opportunity to engage youth and reach new audiences to raise awareness about dating abuse and support young people in learning to have safe and healthy relationships.

Resources to support promotional efforts can be found at .

Resources are available at www.teendvmonth.org.

Check out publications and links on teen dating violence.

Spread the word ~ sample Facebook posts and Twitter tweets:

February is TDVAPM! What does it mean? It means coming together to support healthy teen relationships. Visit www.teendvmonth.org #tdvapm
Teen dating violence is pervasive and harmful. Be an upstander who stands up, not a bystander who stands by. #tdvapm
We learn about relationships in adolescence. Adults must teach the difference between healthy, unhealthy and abusive ones. #tdvapm

Upcoming Events and Trainings

February 14 ~ One Billion Rising in Austin. The National Center's Debby Tucker is a speaker.

March 15-16 ~ Tenth Annual Conference ~ Creating our Future: One Family at a Time, the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts and the Office of the State Courts Administration. The National Center's Debby Tucker is a speaker.

April 3-5 ~ 2013 International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence and Stalking, End Violence Against Women International.

April 8-10 ~ 8th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women, the Genesis Women's Shelter and the Dallas Police Department. The National Center is a co-sponsoring organization.

April 16-18 ~ 13th Annual International Family Justice Center Conference ~ The Power of Hope, the Family Justice Center Alliance. The National Center is a co-sponsoring organization.

Check out the National Center's website for a more thorough listing of trainings, webinars and events around the country.

Peace!

Debby Tucker Christina Walsh

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence