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News, Upcoming Trainings, Other Resources
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January is...Poverty Awareness Month
Poverty and relationship violence often go hand in hand. The roots of relationship violence run much deeper than emotional, physical or mental abuse.
Many survivors find themselves trapped in abusive relationships due to systemic issues that complicate the ability to leave. Circumstances such as job instability, or an abuser who controls the household finances, can lead to financial struggles that make it difficult for survivors to live on their own.
Because we live in a society focused on capitalism, the rising cost of housing, health care, child care, food and other necessities are often out of reach without community assistance. And with cuts to those community programs, survivors may consider it an easier choice to remain in an abusive situation.
Here are ways that you can take action to help end the cycle of poverty for survivors:
- Support public policy that addresses the root causes of poverty, including living wages, affordable child care and paid leave
- Provide services and resources for survivors that include crisis intervention, housing transition options and workforce assistance
- Advocate for job-protected paid leave policies in the workplace to provide survivors time to seek medical care, find safe housing or pursue legal protection
- Find out where you can get involved in your community, whether it's a local homeless shelter, a food bank, or working with a domestic violence organization in your area
Survivor safety shouldn't be dictated by systems that encourage poverty. It's time to support policies and organizations that work to lift survivors to a place of safety and healing, and allows them to thrive in our communities.
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Resources
13 Lessons About Poverty: an AmeriCorps VISTA presentation by Dr. Stephen Pimpare detailing the lessons learned about poverty during the first 50 years of the VISTA program
The Denver Foundation: a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring people and mobilizing resources to strengthen our community since 1925
LGBTQ Poverty Initiative: an organization seeking to increase awareness and discussion of poverty in LGBTQ communities by engaging mainstream anti-poverty organizations, policy makers, funders, LGBTQ advocates and community centers to share information
Trickle Up: an organization that helps people in extreme proverty and vulnerability advance their economic and social well-being, with a focus on women, people with disabilities, refugees and Indigenous populations
Shriver Center for Poverty Law: leading the fight for economic and racial justice by litigating, shaping policy and training and connecting people in the advocacy community
Shepherd Consortium: an education consortium of colleges and universities dedicated to research on poverty, with additional poverty resources available to the public
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 | Lydia Waligorski,
Public Policy Director
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Public Policy Team Upate
Engaging with decision makers to create equitable laws impacting the lives of domestic violence survivors is a high form of advocacy practice. But how exactly do you get involved in advocacy?
Join us for Policy and Pie, a deeper dive into domestic violence policy work to further develop your skills to analyze, debate and advocate for change!
January 10, 1-4 p.m.
Second Floor Large Conference Room
Rose Andom Center, 1330 Fox Street
Denver, CO 80204
Advance registration required. Limited in-person registration available
Violence Free Colorado members: free
Non-members: $65
Remote participation available through Zoom. For Violence Free Colorado member programs who gather three or more team members to participate remotely, we'll send you a gift card to purchase a pie or a pizza pie for your team.
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Tamika Matthews, Community Impact Manager
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Community Impact Team Update
Happy New Year from the Violence Free Colorado Community Impact Team!
It's January, which means our annual membership drive is underway! Once you renew for 2020, you'll have access to all of our incredible member benefits, including our Online Learning Center, discounted rates to our annual conference, training and technical assistance from the Coalition at your fingertips, and so much more.
This year, we'll be sending your invoices by mail based on your 2019 budget. If your budget has substantially increased or decreased since last year, please contact us so that we can recalculate your 2020 fees.
You can pay your annual dues by credit card using our membership site on Coalition Manager. If you need access to Coalition Manager, or are having problems accessing the site, please contact Hannah Colter, Community Impact Specialist, at hcolter@violencefreeco.org for assistance.
If you need to pay by check, just return the invoice with your payment and send it back to Violence Free Colorado. It's that easy!
And speaking of training and TA, don't forget that your Community Impact Team is here and available for any questions you may have around media relations, social media development and strategic communications for your organization. Contact me at tmatthews@violencefreeco.org or 720-728-8368 to learn more!
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 | Liz Stuewe,
Training and TA Manager
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Training and TA Update
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence. It is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare!” -Audre Lorde
Tired of hearing "new year, new you?"
It’s the time of year when many of us make (or consider making) resolutions, with the pressure to be “better” or “different” than we are right now. Sometimes we can feel personally or professionally defeated or ashamed when we stop working toward resolutions or don’t achieve goals.
As advocates, this work takes a toll on our minds and bodies, through witnessing emotional pain that survivors we work with endure, as well as vulnerability to secondary trauma. Some advocates also navigate other layers of triggers, institutionalized racism, intolerance, silencing, and many other roadblocks that can lead to a sense of hopelessness and diminished meaning.
In this webinar, Violence Free Colorado's Training and Technical Assistance Team of Liz Stuewe and Brandy Walega will explore both self-care and community-care, and discuss strategies for mitigating some negative impacts of secondary trauma and promoting resiliency. !
Healthy Organizations webinar #3: noon, Jan. 16
Topic: Creating and Sustaining Volunteer Programs
Register today!
Participants will follow the creation of a hypothetical new volunteer program from the ground up. They will learn about every step of the process: from setting strategic goals for the programs, to handling challenging volunteer situations, and building program sustainability. Participants will also be introduced to resources and tools available through Violence Free Colorado to support the development of their volunteer programs.
Violence Free Colorado webinar: 2 p.m. Jan. 22
Topic: Setting an ACRTI Goal
Register today!
Per the Domestic Violence Program (DVP), Outcome 5.2.4 calls for organizations to respond to Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed (ACRTI) questions within the FFY20 Year-End Narrative (due Oct. 31, 2020). This 30-minute webinar will show how Violence Free Colorado can support you in setting and reaching your ACRTI goals. Violence Free Colorado's training and technical assistance support on ACRTI is available for free to all DVP-funded programs.
Healthy Organizations webinar #4: 11 a.m. Jan. 27
Topic: Hiring Practices that Attract Quality Candidates
Register today!
Participants will learn about common challenges and practical solutions to attracting job applicants in the nonprofit sector. Programs will learn how to assess if their wages are competitive, how to write and promote job postings to attract high quality candidates, and how to determine what qualifications are truly needed for the position. Tools for improving applicant review and interview processes will be shared. Additionally, participants will be presented with resources on diverse hiring practices for predominantly white-led organizations.
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Webinars and Web-Based Trainings
Do you have an upcoming training or event that you'd like to share with the Violence Free Colorado community? Post an event on our website calendar!
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Unison Housing Partners 2020 Housing Choice Voucher Online Lottery open through Jan. 11
Unison Housing Partners administers the Housing Choice Voucher program (Section 8) through an online lottery-based application process.
Online lottery applications submitted within the allotted time frame will be held in Unison's Lottery pool. Selected applicants will be notified by mail to complete a formal application and be processed for eligibility.
Interested individuals must submit a lottery entry via the internet at Unison's website at www.unisonhp.org. Recorded information is available by calling 303-227-2743.
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Survivors can request Social Security Administration block electronic access to records
You can request to block electronic access to your Social Security record. When you do this, no one, including you, will be able to see or change your personal information on the Internet or through our automated telephone service.
You may want to block your information if you have been the victim of domestic violence or identify theft; or have any reason you do not want your record to be available.
If you block access to your record and then change your mind in the future, you can contact Social Security and request your account to be unblocked.
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Denver Children's Advocacy Center offers Immigrant Family Initiative
Solidarity and community can be so important at these times. The Denver
Children's Advocacy Center offers a safe space for people to come together and
learn about a range of topics with people who may share similar experiences.
In addition, the center offers a team of trauma-specialized therapists to support families suffering from the stress of their immigration situation.
For general questions or to schedule an appointment contact:
Claire Henkel at 720-974-7234 or Chenkel@DenverCAC.org. To speak to a therapist or schedule a workshop, contact Tali Linton at 303-996-8581 or Tlinton@DenverCAC.org.
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