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Changes in our Therapy Team
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Holly Smith, our new full-time mental health counselor
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The Victim Service Center is excited to announce the new changes to our Therapy Services staff. Joining us full-time is Holly Smith, who previously served in a part-time contract role.
Holly Smith has been working with victims of crime in various capacities for almost 10 years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Women Studies from UCF and received her Master of Science from NOVA Southeastern University. As a former Victim Advocate at the Victim Service Center, she is excited to re-join the team as the new full-time mental health counselor. She has worked primarily in her private practice for the past few years treating individuals and families. She is a Neurofeedback practitioner and continuing education instructor at Valencia Community College. As an avid gardener and nature enthusiast, her approach to life, love, and work is summed up in an Italian proverb: "All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds today."
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Pam Brooks, LCSW, our new Clinical Director
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We're also pleased to welcome Pam Brooks on-board as our Clinical Director. Pam has been a contract therapist with the Victim Service Center since 2009. She has degrees from Avila University and Florida State University and has been licensed since 1997. While employed by the Orange County Sheriff's Office, she was a victim advocate, worked with the Staff Psychologist, and served as a mental health debriefer for the Critical Incident Stress Management Team. After leaving the Sheriff's Office, she was employed as a therapist with the Sexual Trauma Recovery Center, providing individual therapy and group facilitation. She was an adjunct professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University and provided numerous trainings for local agencies. In private practice since 1999, Pam provides individual therapy for adults, and as a Qualified Supervisor, provides Clinical Supervision for license-eligible Master's level clinicians. Additionally, she has been the Central Florida Area Coordinator for the College of Social Work at Florida State University and adjunct professor at FSU since 2003.
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VSC Welcomes Marketing & Social Justice Intern
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The Victim Service Center is pleased to have Brandi Godbee, a Master of Mental Health Counseling student at Rollins College, work as a social justice intern through the end of the year.
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Brandi Godbee assists with an outreach event alongside our Prevention Specialist.
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Brandi's work includes enhancing community awareness and education about sexual assault. She crafts informative marketing messages and attends outreach presentations and public events. Her long-term career goals include changing public conversation about sexual assault to help advocate for victims. "I think we can achieve better awareness and better support with a greater, more impactful educational reach," she said.
In her rare snippets of free time, Brandi enjoys sleeping, cooking, catching up on DVR-ed TV shows, and relaxing with family and friends. She also loves being in nature and cozying up with a well-written fiction novel.
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WHAT? Meetings for Crime Victims
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Have you been the victim of a crime? Are you wondering What Happens After This? The Victim Service Center is launching a new opportunity for crime victims to learn about our services and what types of advocacy we can provide in the aftermath of a victimization.
Our first WHAT? Meeting will take place on Tuesday, November 13 from 5:30-6:30PM at our office at 2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210, Orlando, FL 32806. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a crime and would like to know how we can help, please plan to attend!
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Benefit Concert for the VSC on November 9th
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Come see three great bands at this All Ages show supporting the Victim Service Center on Friday, November 9 at 9PM. The event is taking place at Stardust Video & Coffee, 1842 E Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Thank you to Stardust for allowing the event to take place, the bands (City of Ifa, It Runs In Our Blood, and Disasteroids) for donating your time, and Nicolette Shurba for coming to us with the idea and making it happen!
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Help Us Win $500 By Donating Your Cell Phone Today!
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 For each 10 cell phones we collect through December 31, the Victim Service Center will receive one entry into the Shelter Alliance's $500 giveaway. Help us enter to win by donating your old cell phones at our office today! |
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Help us with Ride to Reach
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 You've seen our Save the Date for next year's Ride to Reach (April 20, 2013) - now we need your help to make the event as successful as it can be!We're seeking volunteers to join our three subcommittees to help in the planning and execution of this annual bicycle ride for sexual assault and crime victim awareness. If you'd like to work in any of these areas, please let us know:- Marketing
- Fundraising
- Volunteers
Call or email Jody Swain at (407) 254-9415 or jody.swain@ocfl.net with your interest. |
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November 12-16, 2012
Is Forensic Nurses Week!
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 Forensic Nurses Week is organized by the International Association of Forensic Nurses (IAFN), a nursing association representing over 3,000 registered nurses, death investigators, other forensic medical professionals, correctional officers, and law enforcement.
Forensic Nursing is the fastest growing nursing sub-specialty and a critical solution to providing care for victims of abuse and violence. Victims require care from a health professional who is trained to treat the trauma associated with the wrong that has been done to them-be it sexual assault, interpersonal violence, neglect, or other forms of intentional injury. Forensic nurses are also a critical resource for anti-violence efforts. They collect evidence and give testimony that can be used in a court of law to apprehend or prosecute perpetrators who commit violent and abusive acts.
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VSC Staff Celebrate Pink Out Day for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
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Top row: Stephanie Landi, Devon Hutchins, Holly Smith, Gina Costa, Rhonda Wilson, Zeva Edmondson. Bottom row: Jody Swain, Taryn Hobby, Sarah Webb, Aleea Shaw, and Laura Rodriguez. (Not pictured: Carolina Villegas.)
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 | | Prevention Specialist Rhonda Wilson attends UpStanders Day in the Park at Lake Eola sponsored by the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. |
You can see these pictures and more when you visit our Facebook page!
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Monthly Informational Briefings
Last Wednesday of Every Month
Next Briefing
Wednesday - November 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
2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210
Orlando, Florida 32806
November 28, 2012
Noon - 1PM
Space is limited; please let us know if you will be attending.
RSVP - Office: (407) 254-9415 or e-mail devon.hutchins@ocfl.net.
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Victim Service Center of Central Florida
Contact Information
Hours: Monday - Friday (8AM-5PM)
Office: (407) 254-9415
2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210
Orlando, Florida 32806
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) 254-9415
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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
VSC Benefit Concert
Featuring: City of Ifa, It Runs In Our Blood, and Disasteroids
Stardust Coffee
1842 E Winter Park Rd
Orlando, FL 32803
THREE great bands, ONE cool venue, only $5!
WHAT? Meeting
5:30PM - 6:30PM
If you're a victim of crime, come learn about our services and what happens after your victimization.
Support Group for
Sexual Assault Survivors
Every Monday
5:30PM - 6:30PM
The group meets every Monday at the Victim Service Center, located at 2111 E Michigan St, Suite 210, Orlando, Florida 32806.
If interested in attending please contact us at: (407) 254-9415.
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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, November 28
To RSVP, please call us at
(407) 254-9415 or e-mail devon.hutchins@ocfl.net.
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Recycle Your
Cell Phone
Did you know that the Victim Service Center collects used cell phones for recycling?
We're a proud member of the Shelter Alliance, a socially responsible cell phone recycling program that donates money to nonprofits in exchange for mobile phones that are no longer in use.
Bring your phone to our office, and we'll take care of the rest!
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Wish List Items
Neurofeedback system
Exam table
Flat screen monitors
Call the Victim Service Center at (407) 254-9415 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
Website Development
Host an Event/Fundraiser
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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) 254-9415 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.
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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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"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."
-Christopher Reeve
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