DVIP & RVAP Transition
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The Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) and the University of Iowa Rape Victim Advocacy Program (RVAP) announced the transition of sexual assault services in early April 2024. This collaboration is a natural fit for DVIP/RVAP because of the over 40 years of shared historical collaborations on advocacy, dating violence, prevention education, and work within the communities they serve and University of Iowa student groups. In addition, the mission of RVAP mirrors, at its core, that of DVIP’s – providing immediate and long-term crisis support to victims of gendered violence.
The overall goal for the University of Iowa, RVAP, and DVIP is to allow space for victim services to grow in the most beneficial way for all victim-survivors throughout Southeastern Iowa and on the UI campus. DVIPs credibility within the communities that we serve comes from years of experience, hiring locally, and delivering to the best of our ability the resources that victim-survivors need. We will continue to offer this same support and dedication to victim-survivors of sexual assault and abuse throughout Southeastern Iowa. Currently, the target date for completion of this transition is September 30th, 2024.
In light of this transition, DVIP announced the development of the Sexual Assault Victim Services Advisory Council. This council includes sexual assault field experts from across Iowa, Executive Directors of state coalition memberships (ICADV and IowaCASA), RVAP Executive Directors (past), past and current RVAP staff, staff from Women’s Resource Action Center (WRAC) and United Action for Youth (UAY), a rural-based RVAP services evaluator, a representative from a national organization – The Resource Sharing Project and current DVIP administrative team members.
DVIP approached a diverse pool of candidates to serve on the committee. These individuals were solicited because of their understanding of sexual assault programming, the policies and procedures of the agency, and continually center victim-survivors creating an authentic space for sexual assault services. “The advisory council is taking a big-picture view of our organization/policies to make sure they are appropriately responsive to sexual assault services,” says DVIP Executive Director Kristie Fortmann-Doser. “ I managed a sexual assault program for nine years, and I’m very aware of the need for review from the perspective of understanding that services for sexual assault victims and domestic violence victims do look different.” DVIP has contracted with V Fixmer-Oraiz to facilitate the sessions that will take place in June and July of 2024.
In addition to the Sexual Assault Victim Services Advisory Council, DVIP is building working groups of key stakeholders, community members, and program referral professionals within each of the eight counties the programs serve and the University of Iowa. These working groups will evaluate protocols and MOUs currently in place with the existing RVAP. The working groups will name the successes and identify goals or changes needed in each community. The primary focus for these groups is to ensure lines of communication and access are clear and easily found for community members and victim-survivors.
After the transition is completed in late September 2024, DVIP will continue to maintain the existing 24-hour hotline for RVAP and incorporate the name, information, and resources into its online and print media sources to ensure that victim-survivors are able to locate and access services when they need them.
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Since April 2024 we have accomplished the following:
- Open Letter to Current RVAP Clients – DVIPs Director of Sexual Assault Services issued an open letter to current RVAP clients on August 21st, 2024. The full letter can be found here: Letter to Current RVAP Clients.docx
- Advisory Board: This is a group of cross-constituency experts in the field of sexual violence services across Iowa. We have begun meeting to outline organizational goals for incorporating sexual violence services, ensuring the authenticity of services for sexual assault victim/survivors, and addressing the strengths/weaknesses of the current environment to support services. This group will continue to meet over the summer of 2024, reviewing overarching needs and organizational policy.
- Program Administrative Transition: Administrative discussions with the University of Iowa have continued throughout the past five months in preparation for the transition and to ensure current sexual assault services continue. In addition, DVIP and the University of Iowa have been crafting the legal documents for transition.
- Technology: a significant part of the transition includes technology and resources related to hotlines, social media, websites, and how victim survivors find services when they need them. We have outlined the plan for how technology will rollover, but remain visible for victims. For example, many of you know that DVIP intends to keep/advertise the RVAP 24-hour hotline. This is incredibly important for survivors so that they can easily find the emergency and advocacy services they need. Over the next two years, all of the ways victims have reached out in the past will remain the same, but victims will start to receive additional information about how to reach support now and in the future. During the months of August and September, DVIP will start testing technology systems and will seek the support of community partners to help us ensure our systems are responding the way they are needed before the full transfer on September 30, 2024.
- Community Awareness Campaigns: DVIP has started developing a community awareness campaign to help victims find the support they need, whether they are on one of the three college campuses in our eight-county service area, in a rural area, or in one of the larger cities we serve. The campaign will include an updated logo that has both the DVIP and RVAP names, nationally recognized purple and teal colors from our respective fields, and information to help diminish misinformation about how to reach out or get support as a sexual abuse survivor. We are also working closely with the media to share information that is victim-centered and ensures victims have accurate information about the resources available to them when transitions will happen and what they can expect when they reach out.
- Hiring Sexual Assault Staff: DVIP will be hiring approximately ten to twelve staff for the Sexual Assault Services Department. Interviews have began in early June 2024, and offers for positions are imminent now that major funding questions have been resolved.
- Key Stakeholders and Working Groups: DVIP has been meeting with key stakeholders throughout our eight-county service area to talk about how sexual assault services will remain the same, where there may be changes, and what communication lines will be beneficial for each area. Working groups in each of the eight counties we serve, as well as on the University of Iowa Campus and Southeast Community College Campus will begin meeting in July and August 2024. The goal for these working groups is to evaluate the protocols or MOUs that exist – to name the successes, identify goals or changes each county/campus hopes for, and to ensure lines of communication/access are clear and easily found.
- Training DVIP Staff – While DVIP staff will continue in their role as domestic violence advocates, it is important that our staff have the training and resources they need to support their sexual assault advocate colleagues. We are currently reviewing roles that may benefit from dual Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Certification and establishing training needs within the agency for the addition of a new department. A training schedule is set for the coming months that supports current staff and establishes required certifications for sexual abuse advocates.
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- When will the transition be completed? DVIP will take over sexual assault and sexual abuse advocacy services on October 1st, 2024.
- Are services available during the transition? Yes. RVAP is still contractually obligated to provide advocacy services to victim-survivors through September 30th, 2024.
- Does DVIP provide advocacy services to youth? Yes, DVIP provided advocacy to 179 youth in FY23 and will continue to offer services to youth victims of domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual violence.
- Who do I call for help? DVIP and RVAP hotline numbers will remain active for 2 years. Victim-survivors in need of support and resources should call 800.373.1043 or 800.228.1625
- I am a current client of RVAP – what are my next steps? Please review the open letter to current RVAP clients from DVIP/RVAPs Director of Sexual Assault Services Letter to Current RVAP Clients.docx
Resources
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These services will be available to adults and youth victims of sexual abuse, as well as family, friends, and significant partner relationships:
Crisis Intervention: For immediate response after an assault, DVIP will provide trauma-informed, comprehensive sexual assault response to direct and indirect survivors of sexual violence in the 8-county service area through our 24-hour hotline and 24-hour advocacy including emotional support, accompaniment to forensic medical exams, law enforcement interviews and emergency sheltering.
Criminal Justice and Court Advocacy: In all counties within the service area, DVIP advocates are involved in civil and ongoing criminal justice advocacy, helping victim-survivors understand the process and their choices. Legal advocacy will include obtaining civil sexual assault protective orders and support during any SA court proceeding, civil or criminal, related to the victim/survivor’s trauma.
Each county has its own unique protocols and practices. We are committed to a coordinated community response; each county advocate will represent DVIP on their county Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) or CCRT. Advocates work closely with the criminal justice system professionals in our service area and have begun the process of reviewing current MOUs and protocols for consistency, best practices, and areas for improvement.
Additionally, in Lee, Henry, Des Moines, Johnson, and Van Buren counties, DVIP works with the county attorney’s offices with our Open Hours program, where advocates are available to anyone in a private location in the court houses. It is under discussion how Open Hours will incorporate sexual assault cases as well.
Forensic Exam Advocacy: Advocates provide critical emotional support and inform victim-survivors of their rights before, during, and after the examination process, ensuring the victim-survivors’ interests are represented, and their voice is central to the process. Victim advocates are experts in providing sensitive, appropriate, and coordinated interventions. DVIP advocates will be available on-call in all of the eight-county service areas and will support adult and youth victim-survivors.
Emergency Sheltering: DVIP has three sheltering options: Emergency Shelter (Johnson Co), Journey House (Des Moines Co), and Serenity House (Lee Co). Any victim of crime 18 or older or an emancipated minor is eligible for shelter services. Advocates focus on listening, supporting, and providing shelter and non-shelter options.
Peer Counseling, Therapy, and Support Groups: DVIP will provide peer-based individual counseling and support groups specific to sexual abuse survivors. In hiring, we will seek up to 30% of our SA staff with counseling/therapeutic licensure to provide long-term support. In addition, DVIP collaborates with various therapists and county-local mental health services, substance abuse centers, and local school districts. We also work with NISAA African Family Services, Monsoon, LUNA, and Thrive to provide culturally specific support. Together, we provide a comprehensive range of advocacy, therapeutic, and trauma care resources.
Trauma-informed Doula Care: is a comprehensive approach that fosters a safe and supportive space for pregnant individuals who have experienced trauma. DVIP integrates evidence-based practices into all aspects of client care and works with the Emma Goldman Clinic and Iowa Black Doula Collective. In addition, DVIP has two staff trained as trauma-informed doulas through DONA International.
Housing Advocacy: Sexual Assault Comprehensive (SAC), Emergency Shelter, and Domestic Abuse Comprehensive (DAC) advocates will assist clients in identifying housing goals, including identifying challenges, such as criminal history, poor credit, or past evictions. Advocates assist with essential paperwork and housing assistance funds. SAC will work with the client to reconcile past utility bills, access their credit report, and connect to employment services.
Child/Youth Specific – Sexual Assault Certified (SAC) advocates will offer an empowerment approach to believe, support, and connect children who have experienced or been exposed to sexual violence, assessing their needs and working to expand their support network. We work closely with non-offending parents to process the trauma they have experienced, the crisis impacting the family, and address the child’s immediate and long-term needs, aiming to strengthen the support the child and family receive beyond the initial disclosure.
DVIP will deliver specialized, culturally, and age-appropriate advocacy/ counseling (individual, joint child, parent, and group), including:
- Promoting resiliency in child sexual abuse victims.
- Engage in age-appropriate safety and emotional care.
- Support and strengthen the relationship between children and their (non-offending) parent(s).
- Make referrals and accompany youth and families to child protective services and forensic exam programs throughout our service area. DVIP SAC advocates will provide comprehensive support to children, including emotional support, assistance in understanding the process and ensuring their comfort and safety throughout the procedure.
- Trauma recovery and resiliency activities and resources, including activity-focused groups, peer-appropriate engagement, and individual support plans.
- Respond to law enforcement and medical calls for youth sexual assault victims-survivors.
- Education on healthy boundaries, resiliency, and trauma recovery.
- Identify what constitutes consent.
- Equip youth with skills to help identify trustworthy resources and support people.
- Grow youth’s skills in positive communication and conflict negotiation.
Male survivors- All services provided include male survivors. In addition, DVIP plans to continue RVAP’s work with the Men & Masculinities Coalition at the University of Iowa and will look to collaborate with Southeastern Community College in Des Moines and Lee Counties to create similar programming for their students, faculty, and staff. These groups are committed to expanding and coordinating efforts to mobilize and engage men and boys to work as allies with individuals of all genders to create a culture of respect free from gender-based violence. Further, these groups help to raise awareness that men and boys can be victims of sexual violence.
Family members/significant others: DVIP will provide assistance to the family/friends/significant partner relationships of a victim-survivor, addressing their concerns and struggles related to the crisis of sexual violence and its impact on their loved ones. Family members will be offered crisis line and counseling support, and a support group for parents of young sexual assault victim-survivors will be available.
Community Education/Technical Assistance/Prevention Education: DVIP will educate the community and professionals on sexual violence and its effect on victim-survivors. Our focus will be dispelling myths, understanding how trauma affects the brain, the short and long-term impacts of sexual violence, considerations for social change, and bystander intervention. DVIP will identify the critical issues in assessing and intervening with youth exposed to sexual violence. We also support gender violence prevention. DVIP currently provides education and community service presentations throughout our eight counties for 4000 people annually. These presentations are designed for civic groups, schools, and community events, including training modules for varied age groups.
DVIP also currently provides specialized services to Human Trafficking Victims, Campus Victims, and systems advocacy. These services will be enhanced to respond specifically to sexual violence survivors.