During CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference, in Sacramento, Calif., Millennials represented the endnote address. Hugo Rios and Ashleigh Klein, who were both born while the Rape Crisis Movement was already gaining momentum, talked about the future of this work and why they are a part of this movement.

During CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference, Leah Aldridge, an activist who has been in the rape crisis movement for almost 25 years, gave the keynote presentation about the past, present and future of this work. This year’s conference theme, The Evolution and Revolution of Our Movement, celebrates the 40 years of how the California Rape Crisis movement was formed, how it has grown and evolved, not only as a grassroots movement, but as a profession. This field was founded in a revolutionary time; it has evolved and we are once again at a pivotal moment, one in which we must consider a new type of revolution. As we continue to lay the foundation for the future of our movement, we have much to reflect upon and consider. We must strive to successfully engage and embrace a new generation of advocates and leaders; to integrate new ideas and approches; to be receptive to adapting our existing efforts to intervene and prevent sexual violence. We must meld the youth, the founders and our new generation of emerging leaders, because only together can we transcent the many challenges that we face today.

During CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference at the Basics of Confidentiality workshop, a roomful of advocates came together to become more informed about the importance of protecting the privacy of survivors. A survivor’s story is very powerful and, ultimately, their own. Many times, in what seems like an environment of aid, our society tries to take that story and put it to use in other systems for other purposes. Law enforcement wants to use it to catch the bad guy; the courts want to use it to seek justice; the government wants to use it to provide aid to others; and the one person whose experience will forever be a part of their memory loses the right to control that story.

The workshop on confidentiality helps advocates understand that there are many protections for survivors rights to privacy written into the law, including how that information must be protected through the court process, funding requests, data collection and even electronically. Privacy laws such as sexual assault counselor privilege, VAWA, HIPPA and CMIA were discussed and examples were given on how to keep that very personal story protected and the importance of working with survivors to empower them to make decisions about where that story goes. Leona Smith, CALCASA’s Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator,  and I shared examples from our work with survivors, and Linda Bowen, Chief of the Sexual Assault Section-Victim Services Branch of the California Emergency Management Agency, provided some understanding about how funders respond to a survivors right to privacy.

In a more in-depth three-hour institute, called Working with Survivors in Institutional Settings: Understanding the Rights of Survivors on University Campuses and in the Military, I discussed the function of systems that must be maneuvered by survivors. While some of the more traditional systems (law enforcement, courts) are already difficult to navigate, there are some systems that are currently uncharted territory, and as we work with survivors in all settings, this workshop helped advocates understand how to help protect survivors’ rights in two of them — on college campuses and in the military. Each of these institutions has its own set of values, regulations, goals and culture. Each of these institutions has its own set of characters that survivors come into contact with including their own law enforcement, adjudication systems and sexual assault response networks. Rape Crisis Advocates play a critical role in helping survivors understand how these systems work and in protecting survivors’ rights while in them.

We began with a discussion laying out the rights of survivors on campus. The discussion revolved around understanding how federal laws like Title IX and The Clery Act regulate how universities and colleges prevent and respond to sexual assault. We also looked at some ways that advocates can work with the survivor and the university to keep the survivor in school, if possible, and to ensure that the needs of the survivor are at the forefront of the process. Many RCCs from around the state shared their experiences working with their universities and provided an opportunity to discuss how some of this applies to their work.

The second half of the institute focused on the experience of sexual assault survivors in the military and veterans. Advocates were provided with a framework for the Department of Defense’s protocols and response to sexual assault, and how the military system worked as it responded to sexual assault. We also looked at how the Department of Veteran’s Affairs addresses Military Sexual Trauma and the criteria it uses to assess benefits for veteran survivors. A few CALCASA member centers had a great deal of experience with survivors who were somehow involved in the military and brought their experience and expertise to the discussion. We closed with a discussion about the commonalities of the experiences of survivors in these institutions and some ways that advocates can help.

CALCASA will continue to develop programs and support around the areas of confidentiality and survivor rights. In the coming months, CALCASA will provide additional training  and technical assistance in this area; assess the need from the field about what further it needs; prepare current written materials to share with centers; and facilitate discussion surrounding needs and practices at regional and caucus meetings.

My Life, a primary prevention program for girls was highlighted at the 2011 CALCASA Leadeship Conference

At last week’s CALCASA Leadership Conference, several California Rape Crisis Centers gave presentations about the primary prevention work they are doing in their communities.  The stories we heard described how these prevention programs supported people in their communities to become agents of change.  As we were recognizing 40 years of a movement to end sexual violence, I see the next 40 years as creating some major shifts in social norms.

Tarah Fisher and Cynthia Patterson of the Monterey County Rape Crisis Center talked about MyLife, a primary prevention group for girls that helps them determine how to take action to change the social norms that contribute to sexual violence, such as offensive advertising. Hugo Rios of Fresno County’s Resources for Resource Center for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Family Violence described the work he does with young men through MyStrength – California’s adaption of the Men Can Stop Rape’s “My Strength is Not For Hurting” media campaign and Men of Strength Clubs.

Finally, Niko Johnson from Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition in Grass Valley shared her experiences with Green Dot as her agency is planning to implement this bystander intervention program in a local high school. Inspired by the Green Dot training, she shared she had to reexamine  how she responds to situations she sees in her everyday life.

I provided a short overview of the trends in prevention. Click here for a list of the programs, materials and resources I highlighted.

These are only a few of the excellent examples primary prevention in California.  There are so many other examples. What is the primary prevention in action in your community?

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Management for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Developing Your Staff Through an Effective Performance Review.

Performance reviews — you either tolerate them or dread them. As a manager who may supervise other staff members, conducting a performance review can be anxiety-provoking experience. However, learn how to turn this process into an empowering experience for yourself and staff. Utilize this opportunity to provide feedback and encouragement so that your staff may become effective and engaged employees at your agency. Attendees will have the opportunity to practice and role play a performance review.

Presenters: Matt Huckabay

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
Activity
Developmental Feedback Preparation
Developmental Feedback
Observation or Evaluation
Outlining Your Own Real Scenario
Questions to Use in Creating Accountability
Suggested Reading

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Special Focus Areas for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is How Intergenerational Differences Impact and Inform Our Work.

For the first time in history, there are four distinct generations in the workforce: Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials — all with their own perspectives, styles, and expectations. With this comes the risk of conflicting expectations, difficulties in communication, differential use of technology, and diverse approaches to problem solving and innovation. How does this current trend impact and inform our work as sexual assault and rape crisis staff members and volunteers? This three-hour institute will provide information about the qualities of each generation, the gaps between them and how to turn generational differences into opportunities.

Presenters: Leah Aldridge, Jessica Napier & Harkmore Lee

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Prevention for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Community Mobilization to Prevent Sexual Violence Part 1 & 2.

Sexual violence is supported by societal and community norms. Eliminating it requires fundamental change on many levels. One of those levels is the community level. Communities are a powerful force in shaping the behaviors of their members. One effective tool in creating social change is community mobilization.  This workshop will provide an overview of two community mobilization frameworks and showcase the work of one California rape crisis center to mobilize members of its community to prevent sexual violence. Additionally this workshop will provide participants an opportunity to evaluate and discuss community mobilization strategies in relation to their own violence against women work.

Presenters: Lydia Guy Ortiz & Evelyn Garcia

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
Community Development Handout
Peer2Peer Project

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Intervention/Advocacy for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is From Local to Global: Working With Human Trafficking Survivors.

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others.  Often, Sexual Assault Programs and Rape Crisis Centers become a point of first contact for trafficking survivors, because of the sexual exploitation of victims.  This institute will focus on helping participants understand how to respond to trafficking survivors and will highlight some of the innovative work that CALCASA members are doing to in this field.  This panel format will allow institute participants to get a broad understanding of the best practices in response and allow an opportunity to engage with agencies who are doing this work.

Presenters: Perla Flores, Kirsten Kleymann & Patrick Mims

Download Workshop Materials:
A Collaborative Response to Human Trafficking PowerPoint
Improving Outcome for Youth Who Are Victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation PowerPoint
Legal Assistance for Human Trafficking Survivors PowerPoint

Bette Davis accepts an award on behalf of the Bay Area Women Against Rape for 40 years in the rape crisis movement.

The first week of August was CALCASA’s 2011 Leadership Conference, which began with a reflection about the evolution and revolution of the rape crisis movement. The morning plenary began by honoring two rape crisis centers in California that have been working to end sexual violence for 40 years. Bette Davis from Bay Area Women Against Rape and Patti Giggans from Peace Over Violence(formerly the L.A. Commission on Assaults Against Women) accepted awards, as both of their agencies were founded in 1971.

In the audience was Linda Bowen, Chief of the Sexual Assault Section-Victim Services Branch of the California Emergency Management Agency, who has been working in the rape crisis movement for 36 years. CALCASA commemorated Linda with a video slideshow to highlight her passion and dedication to ending violence against women.

Leah Aldridge, an advocate who has been in the violence against women movement for more than 20 years, was the keynote speaker who talked about where this movement started and what we need to do as we go forward. She talked about the importance of understanding our roots while at the same time being open and receptive to change.

Leah Aldridge, keynote speaker

During the remainder of the day, attendees participated in sessions about confidentiality, social media, male survivors and management. Tomorrow, the conference will continue with more discussion about intergenerational leadership and how this movement can continue to improve its services and capacity.

Click to view photos on Flickr.

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Management for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Making the Career Jump from Direct Service to Management.

Are you an advocate ready to take the next step in your career? Do you want to become a manager at your agency but lack the knowledge and skills? If you answer “yes” to these questions, then this institute will identify and equip aspiring advocates and newly appointed coordinators and managers with some basic core competencies, skills and resources that will address program development, budgeting, grant management and mentorship.

Presenters: Harkmore Lee & Ellen Yin-Wycoff

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Special Focus Areas for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Responding to Sexual Assault Survivors in Institutional Settings.

The criminal justice system has been a key partner for rape crisis advocates throughout the evolution of the movement. A key responsibility for advocates has been to assist survivors in understanding and maneuvering the criminal justice system and ensuring the survivors understand their rights during the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. However, survivors are often forced to maneuver other systems, which can be confusing and seem overwhelming. In this workshop we will discuss survivors’ rights in two systems, the educational system and in the military, and identify ways for programs to respond using best practices.

Presenters: Denice Labertew

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Prevention for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Prevention In Action: California Primary Prevention Practice.

California is on the cutting edge of promising primary prevention of sexual violence activities. The session will begin with a summary of current trends in sexual violence prevention. This workshop will also feature California Rape Crisis Centers highlighting their prevention efforts including examples of MyStrength, prevention with girls and young women, and Green Dot.

Presenters: David Lee, Hugo Rios, Tarah Fisher, Cynthia Patterson & Niko Johnson

Download Workshop Materials:
Resources CDPH 2011
The MyLife Club PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Special Focus Areas for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Lasting Effects of Childhood Sexual Experiences in Men’s Lives.

This workshop for advocates and other professionals, who work with men, provides an overview of the particular ways men respond to childhood sexual abuse. The workshop covers:

• Common misunderstandings about men and sexual abuse
• Special barriers men face in disclosing childhood abuse
• How cultural norms may inhibit men from seeking treatment
• Discussion of existing resources and the challenge of finding therapists specifically trained to work with male survivors of sexual abuse
• Guidance on the critical need to remain neutral when raising the issue of sexual abuse or responding to a disclosure

This training is most useful for those with basic knowledge and understanding of sexual abuse dynamics.

Presenters: Steve LePore

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
2011 Trainings from 1in6

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Prevention for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Social Media to Advance Prevention of Sexual Violence.

How can emerging social media technologies help rape crisis centers to frame discussions around sexual violence? What is the value of these technologies for prevention, education and intervention programs? How can social media help us to tell a good story? Participants in this workshop will learn about a range of social medial tools and their common usage. The workshop will address some of the factors to consider when thinking about the role social media can play in achieving an agency’s communication goals, and provide examples of internal policies that can help agencies to manage the way social media strategies are implemented.

Presenters: Chad Sniffen & Jessica Napier

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
CALCASA Social Media Policies
Social Media Policy Framework

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Management for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Mentorship vs. Supervision: How You Can Be the Best for Your Staff.

For many managers and directors, the role as supervisor can be a rewarding and challenging experience. Developing a mentoring approach toward managing employees is an effective management tool, which helps foster ethical communication with staff, as well as support their professional development. It helps develop the strategic direction and continuing growth of the organization. We will focus on how to develop a mentoring approach.

Presenters: Harkmore Lee

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint
Effective Skills for Team Building PowerPoint

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Intervention/Advocacy for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is The Basics of Confidentiality.

Protection of confidential communications is key to the empowerment of survivors.  Since the beginning of the Rape Crisis Movement the law and policy on protecting these communications has evolved.  This workshop will review the basics of confidentiality,  and the outline the importance of maintaining privilege for advocates.  In addition, there will be opportunities to discuss the development of confidentiality policies, and address practical scenarios for application of confidentiality laws.

Presenters: Denice Labertew & Leona Smith

Download Workshop Materials:
Workshop PowerPoint

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for the CALCASA Annual Meeting and Statewide Leadership Conference on August 2 to 4.

We are excited to once again host this year’s conference and bring together rape crisis centers, rape prevention programs and allied members from across California. This year’s theme is “The Evolution and Revolution of Our Movement.” After hosting last year’s National Sexual Assault Conference in Los Angeles, it became clear to us that the rape and sexual assault movement has significantly evolved since its birth 40 years ago. Additionally, our movement is now experiencing major demographic and cultural shifts that could potentially revolutionize how services are delivered to survivors from numerous communities, as well as how advocates and future leaders in our field are trained and empowered. This year’s conference theme and program reflects this unique point and opportunity in our field’s herstory/history to further advance the work each of us are doing to serve more survivors and to help end sexual violence in our state.

To register visit: http://tinyurl.com/calcasa2011

When: Tuesday, August 2 – Thursday, August 4
Where: DoubleTree Hotel, Sacramento, CA
Scholarships: 2 per agency per Cal EMA grant. (Application details will be forthcoming.)

General Agenda:
Tues, 8/2 – Morning: Position Specific Forums; Afternoon: Annual Membership Meeting and Vote for New Slate of Board Officers
Wed, 8/3 – Morning: Opening Plenary and Keynote + workshops; Afternoon: Half-day Institute
Thur, 8/4 – Morning: Half day institutes; Afternoon: workshops

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Intervention/Advocacy for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Reaching Out to the Latino Community: The Promotora Model.

This workshop will address organizational capacity and staff qualifications necessary for facilitating the Spanish version of the Promotora Model as well as discuss English and Spanish models of the training. Participants will get a history of the Promotora model and look at a specific program model from the East LA Womenís Center, with discussion on the challenges that arise in the development and implementation of Promotora programs. Guidelines on how to develop a Promotora training and curriculum, funding options and suggestions for developing a Promotora program based on key components of Sexual Assault Advocate trainings will be presented.

Presenters: Sonia Rivera & Stephanie Mesones

At the 2011 Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif., CALCASA will host a variety of workshops dedicated to Intervention/Advocacy for advocates working with survivors of sexual violence. Among those workshops is Practice What You Preach: Working Models in the Field.

Best practices. Promising practices. Buzz words for highlighting models that are successful in the field. The field of sexual violence intervention has consistently used innovative models when working with survivors. These models are informed by the populations that advocates work with daily and can have broad applications or be specific to the communities they reside in. This workshop aims to facilitate and create a space for participants to share and dialogue about the models they use when working with survivors.

Presenters: Leona Smith & Imelda Buncab

Benefits that are offered to employees by California nonprofits are diverse, sometimes complex and constantly changing.  In this current economy of drastically decreasing agency budgets and increasing unemployment, do you feel that employees should be provided benefits or is having a job and receiving a paycheck benefit enough?

For this article, when referring to employee benefits I am excluding mandatory benefits such as Workers Compensation, Unemployment Insurance, and Family Medical Leave; as these are governed by state and federal statue.

Employers have used and continue to use employee benefits as a way to attract and retain highly qualified staff.  The employee benefits that employers offer have only been limited by agency budget constraints and or management’s imagination.  Some of the benefits that are offered by California nonprofits are medical, dental, and vision insurance, chiropractic services, acupuncture, retirement plans, long term care insurance, adoption assistance, child care benefits, transportation benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, paid holidays, bereavement leave, employee assistance program, relocation assistance, etc.

Every year Executive Directors, Directors and Managers spend hours and sometimes weeks discussing and reviewing documents to accurately forecast their next year’s financial situation to determine a workable personnel, program, and overall agency budget.  With nonprofit’s budgets decreasing and layoffs and anxiety increasing; management is taking a concise look at if the agency can afford to continue to offer full, partial or any benefits at all.

There are many difficult decisions facing agency management.  If your primary premise behind decreasing or cutting all employee benefits is solely financial then you may not have all the facts.  There are some things that cannot be measured in terms of money:

• Increased employee morale
• Increase pride in the agency
• Increase productivity and dedication of the employee
• Mutual appreciation of employee and employer

Providing employee benefits or not providing employee benefits is a crucial question for you to consider. 

Contact Kavin Black  at CALCASA for more information related to this topic.

Additional Resource:

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Taxability of Employee Benefits

Society For Human Resource Management

California Department of Personnel Administration

Memphis, TN – September 22-23, 2009 marked two days of challenging and rewarding dialogue amongst women of color in the field to end violence against women in the U.S. Tracey Wright of the National Sexual Assault Coalition Resource Sharing Project, Monika Johnson Hostler of the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and Luz Marquez from National Organization of Sisters of Colors Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) facilitated challenging discussions on the shared experiences of women of color working to end sexual assault.  The Roundtable served as a wonderful opportunity for advocates to network with representatives from across the United States and the territories, including Guam.

Before the start of the conference, participants were encouraged to tour the National Civil Rights Museum a few minutes away from where the Roundtable discussion would ensue.  The National Civil Rights Museum was built around the Lorraine Motel where Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in 1968.  The museum narrates the struggle of African Americans in the  United States fighting for civil rights and the intersection of oppression that connects people across identity markers such as race, gender, class, sexuality, age, persecution based on political or religious beliefs, language, and nationality.  Visiting the museum was a powerful beginning for the two-day Roundtable that brought advocates together.

Last week at CALCASA’s Leadership Conference, I co-led a workshop on program planning for primary prevention programs.  This workshop highlighted steps to plan comprehensive prevention from assessment to evaluation.  In this planning process the selection of a program activity is important to match the needs of the community.  But often a key resource in selecting a program is ignored – the intended audience itself.

When . I saw the abstract for an article titled “Adolescents’ own suggestions for bullying interventions at age 13 and 16” from the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, I realized how infrequently sexual violence prevention practitioners actually ask what is the best activity to address the problem.  Using focus groups or approaches like Community-based participatory research (CBPR) can elicit great potential activities.  In the quest for evidence-based practices we cannot ignore the preferences of the community we are working with.

Organizations such as the New York City Alliance Against Sexual Assault are using CBPR to have community members ask other community members what can work to prevent sexual violence.  I think that is a great question.

Arte Sana's Existe Ayuda National Project

CALCASA had the privilege to host the second phase of Arte Sana’s Existe Ayuda (Help Exists) National Outreach Project this year during our Leadership Pre-Conference day on August 17, 2009 in Sacramento.  About 23 Bilingual, Spanish-Speaking advocates from California and neighboring states such as Oregon and Nevada participated in the National Outreach Project this year.  Arte Sana’s National Outreach Project is a outreach and training product demonstration of Spanish language materials. Laura Zarate, Executive Director for Arte-Sana, facilitated the day long project and provided participants with the existing outreach materials to review. Participants had the opportunity to review and provide feedback on grammar, content and language pertaining to these outreach materials.

Participants discussed the complexities that come with the development of culturally appropriate Spanish-language materials due to the diversity of the language as well as the generational differences in Spanish-Speaking communities. The Outreach Project participants, who were from communities from different areas of Mexico and Central America, shared their individual experiences working in communities were services for Spanish-speaking survivors are not offered in culturally appropriate ways. Arte Sana thanks all the participants who devoted their day to attend this training and for being a part of this project. Your feedback and dedication towards providing the best and most culturally appropriate information and services to your communities is greatly appreciated.

For more information on Arte Sana’ and their Existe Ayuda National Outreach Project, please go to www.arte-sana.com

Day Long  Institutes, The TechSoup Kitchen, Public Policy 101, Position Specific Networking Forums, Region and Caucus Meetings, the Social Event and the Annual Meeting.  Just thinking about all that took place during the CALCASA Statewide Leadership Conference  ” Ending Sexual Violence 2.0 -The Future is Connected” has me exhausted!

If you attended the conference, we would like your input on the content of the training and on the various events that you participated in.  We will use  your responses  as a template for improvements on future CALCASA trainings, conferences and institutes.   Click here to access the evaluation.

The Social Event - Great conversation and music.

This year’s CALCASA Leadership Conference included several awards, the most prestigious of which were given to the Adjutant General of the California National Guard and a State Senator. CALCASA’s Leadership Awards are givent to individuals who have shown leadership in the area of preventing and responding to sexual assault in our community.

Major General William Wade is the 44th Adjutant General of the California National Guard appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2005. As the Adjutant General, he serves as Director of the State of California’s Military Department and leads the largest, most tasked National Guard force in the United States, with an authorized strength of 18,000 Army National Guard and 4,900 Air National Guard members serving in 35 countries.

Through his leadership he fostered a culture that has encouraged sexual assault survivors to come forth to seek help. His compassionate concern for his troops is well know throughout his command and their families. He holds his leaders to high standard in the California National Guard as evidenced by his pursuit of justice victims of sexual violence.

Senator Elaine Alquist is a lifetime champion of crime victims, and the first woman to chair the Senate Public Safety Committee. She authored ground breaking legislation that makes it easier to protect our children from sexual predators.

She has been fighting for several years now to repeal the Statute of Limitations for victims of sexual assault (SB 46). This bill was held in Senate Public Safety Committee, but Senator Alquist is working with leadership to get it passed later this year or in January. She has vowed to never give up on victims rights.

Both of these leaders have been a tremendous support to the work of sexual assault victim advocates, and CALCASA is proud to have honored them this year.

What the heck is Twitter?  How can I use Facebook to promote my agency?  Are social media programs really worth my time?

It seems like the number of new technologies designed to promote communication on-line is ever expanding.  In this sea of options and possibilities, it’s easy to get lost.  That’s why this year, CALCASA chose a conference theme that would promote a dialogue about new technology, and how we should (and even shouldn’t)  integrate it into our work.

CALCASA is thrilled to be working with our friends at Tech Soup to offer the “Tech Soup Kitchen” to our conference attendees so they can have hands-on, one-on-one time with social media experts to answer questions, learn new skills and think about how to use social media in their agencies.

Here’s how it works: we have individual work stations set up, connected to the internet with experts at the ready … they are taking drop in appointments all day so stop by!

Have you ever had the opportunity to meet CALCASA’s Leadership? Do you know who CALCASA’s Board President is? How about CALCASA’s Executive Director? Region and Caucus Representatives? Well, here is a great opportunity to meet CALCASA’s Leadership as well as have your voice heard as we vote on the slate for the 2009-2010 Board of Directors and a new membership structure for CALCASA’s members.

We will also be celebrating advocates around the state who have been recognized by their peers as outstanding advocates in the field as well as agencies who have celebrated their 20th, 25th, 30th and 35th anniversaries! CALCASA’s Annual Meeting will take place on: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 from 10:00am to 1:00pm at the Hyatt Regency Hotel , 1209 L Street, Sacramento, California.  Don’t miss out!!!

Every year, CALCASA solicits nominees from CALCASA member agencies for the following awards: Outstanding Board Member, Outstanding Intervention Staff / Volunteer, Outstanding Prevention Staff / Volunteer and Outstanding Executive Director or Sexual Assault Program Director. The CALCASA Member Recognition Awards Committee has worked tirelessly over the past six months on guidelines, criteria and finally the selection of recipients of for these four prestigious awards. Please join me in congratulating the following individuals:

• Robert Buelow, Prevention Educator , UC Irvine Campus Sexual Assault Resource Education (CARE) – Outstanding Prevention Educator

• Debbie Ruiz, Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Advocate, Community Solutions – Outstanding Intervention Staff

• Sherrill Nickerson, Board Treasurer, Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center, – Outstanding Board Member

• Kim Goldberg Roth, Sexual Assault Program Director, Valley Trauma Center, Outstanding Sexual Assault Program Director

Each recipient received an award and free lodging, travel expenses and registration to conference.

I would also like to thank the selection committee that consisted of Nina Alcaraz, Christine Dillman, Yesenia Curiel, Yvette Lozano, and Sonia Rivera along with CALCASA staff.

Victimization of a survivor of sexual assault and the questioning of their faith, the response to the survivor by their faith community, or the lack of acknowledgment of the crisis center to address the issues of conflict related to the survivor and their faith is not a new issue of the 21st century. Survivors often struggle with these issues in isolation.

Can faith, feminism and addressing violence against women issues be a collaborative concept or are they diametrically opposites and a survivor is left to deal with each is a segmented solution?

CALCASA has provided some content for working with faith communities in the past when I worked with consultants who produced “From Campus to Congregation: Secular And Sacred Collaboration To End Campus Violence Against Women”. CALCASA is providing an excellent opportunity for you to build a skill set around this issue at the 2009 CALCASA Leadership Conference, “Ending Sexual Violence 2.0 – The Future is Connected.”

The day long workshop is titled “Tapping Spiritual Resources: Your Own, The Survivors and the Community” and will be facilitated by Rev. Dr. Kibbie Ruth of Kyros Ministries.

On August 18-19, CALCASA will be hosting its Annual Statewide Leadership Conference in Sacramento, California. This is a training opportunity for service providers at Rape Crisis Centers across California to learn more about a variety topics as well as network with other providers in the field of ending violence against women.

The Campus Program will be co-presenting with Marisa Messier, Consultant and Celina Alvarez, Outreach Director with the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center on collaborating with colleges and universities to reduce violence against women. This is great opportunity for rape crisis centers to collaborate with colleges/universities in reaching women 18-24 years of age.

Come back and visit the site soon to download the presenters’ materials.

Yes, there is ALWAYS room for FUN in the movement And CALCASA’s 2009 Annual Leadership Conference is just the place for that, of course, there will also be time for the serious stuff!! Join us for CALCASA’s Annual Social Event and Reception, hosted by CALCASA’s Council Members, on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm for some games, music, food, no-host bar and just plain FUN!

Take some time to relax with some yoga and stick around for some door prizes. You can’t miss this great opportunity to be surrounded by your fellow advocates from around the state for some time to network, laugh, and just engage in some fun times!! As they say, “laughter is the food for the soul,” so come and FEED YOUR SOUL!!! See you there!

Join us for even MORE networking!!

During CALCASA’s 2009 Annual Leadership Conference, you will have an opportunity to convene with advocates from your specific regional areas and those who share similar experiences as Women of Color, Queer Women and Persons with Disabilities. CALCASA’s Council will be hosting meetings throughout the Conference for you to attend and network. If you have not had the opportunity to attend a Region or Caucus meeting in the past, this is a great opportunity to meet other advocates as well as you Region and Caucus Representatives. Caucus and Region Meeting times are as follows:

• Women of Color North and South Caucus:  A  caucus  for women in the Northern and Southern regions of CA who ethnically and/or racially identify as women of color and are staff of member agencies of CALCASA. Tuesday, August 18, 2009 5:00pm – 6:30pm

• Queer Women’s Caucus: A  caucus  for lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning women involved in CALCASA Member agencie throughout the State of California. Tuesday, August 18, 2009 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Advocacy Caucus for Persons with Disabilities: A prevention and advocacy caucus for people with disabilities, disability advocates and allies from Member rape crisis centers in CA. Tuesday, August 18, 2009 8:30am – 9:30am

• All CALCASA Regions – North Region, South Region, Valley Region, Bay Region, Central Coast, Mid-Coast – will be meeting during the same time on: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 11:30am – 1:15pm.   Grab your lunch and come join us for the region meeting!