WJ Programs
Advocacy
Witness Justice’s advocacy program focuses on the gaps
in services felt by survivors of violence and trauma throughout
the United States.
On-going initiatives include fostering trauma education and
awareness; address trauma-specific concerns (i.e. veterans,
domestic violence, survivors of disaster), and meeting the
needs of survivors with mental illness or disabilities. Some
of our advocacy focus issues include: veterans and family
violence; establishing a national crime reporting system/protocol
for times of emergency or natural disaster; creating an evidence
and data preservation/evacuation plan; improving and coordinating
interagency crisis communications and collaboration (at the
federal level); and streamlining mass communications to better
inform and bring service providers together in times of national
emergency.
Witness Justice is a member of the Mental Health Liaison
Group, serves on the Crime Victim’s Rights Caucus Advisory
Group, and participates in the Veteran’s Health Council.
Veterans and Families
An important new area of concentration for advocacy emerged
during 2007. As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq rage on
and more and more of our service people are called to duty
(many for more than one tour), it has become graphically
clear that there is an overwhelming need to acknowledge
and address the impact that this trauma is having on our
service men and women as well as their families (due to
the alarming rise in domestic violence for returning veterans).
The recognition of the need for advocacy and the development
of key alliances have set the stage for what will be a major
focus in 2008.
Notably, in the fall of 2007 Witness Justice was asked to
join the Veteran’s Health Advisory Council.
National Employment Survey
Late in the fall of 2007 Witness Justice released the findings
of an employment survey revealing that a large majority
of trauma survivors experience substantial workplace
problems in the aftermath of violence. More than half of
the respondents switched jobs or careers within two years
of the event, with 85 percent citing the violence as a major
factor in the job change. The financial impact to the corporation
and the nation’s economy is staggering. According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, decreased
productivity due to violence-related trauma accounts to
about $64.4 billion annually, in addition to $5.6 billion
in medical expenses. Witness Justice continues to advocate
for better workplace knowledge of victim and trauma-related
issues that can have an economic impact on the survivor,
employer, and community.
National Crime Reporting System/Protocol
On October 7, 2005 Witness Justice initiated a conference
call of national leaders to discuss the crime reporting
issue with key federal legislators and national service
provider representatives. During that call there was consensus
that Hurricane Katrina revealed crime victimization as an
emergency preparedness and response issue. It was similarly
agreed that the lack of any means by which to report crimes
during such crises – especially when survivors are
displaced out of jurisdiction – poses a significant
problem for victims and communities. Call participants also
acknowledged that, due in large part to the lack of a national
emergency crime reporting procedure, the precise nature
and extent of crime in the aftermath of Katrina is not known,
and likely will never be known. This remains a significant
problem and violation of core victim rights that Witness
Justice continues to advocate on.
While Witness Justice’s advocacy frequently focuses
on federal initiatives that will have the most profound impact
on victim rights and services, we also utilize alternate venues
to advocate for a cause.
Advocacy Endorsements
Witness Justice’s trauma education and awareness advocacy
have been endorsed by a wide range of prominent leaders in
the fields of victim assistance, mental health, law enforcement,
criminal justice, domestic violence, elder abuse, crisis response,
and education. A number of federal legislators and leading
professional and service organizations – including the
Campaign for Mental Health Reform – have also endorsed
our work.
Education and Outreach
Education has always been a part of what Witness Justice
does. Whether we are hosting a briefing on the Hill or responding
to a victim’s inquiry, educating is a major component.
Additionally, we have had a number of initiatives directed
at educating the public about a variety of topics, frequently
these are in the form of information available on our website
or in brochures and print materials. 2007 saw both the expansion
of education specific programs and initiatives, and the methods
used to educate.
OVW Technical Assistance Grant
In the early fall of 2007 the U.S. Department of Justice,
Office on Violence Against Women, awarded Witness Justice
a two year technical assistance contract to address critical
and emerging issues related to domestic violence service
provision and prevention through the development, application,
and administration of an e-learning facility. This free
on-line learning tool will offer three courses on domestic
violence related subjects as well as an interactive forum
to share information and ideas with domestic violence service
providers throughout the United States.
National Center for Trauma-Informed Care
In March of 2007 the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services—in collaboration with Witness Justice and
others—launched the National Center for Trauma-Informed
Care (NCTIC). Witness Justice is also the managing partner
in charge of education and outreach for NCTIC.
Trauma Education and Awareness Campaign
The Trauma Education and Awareness Campaign, initiated
in 2007, will be a three year program recognizing that
trauma, especially when experienced in early childhood,
can impact many aspects of someone’s life and health (mental
and physical). This initiative is designed to help individuals
and families understand trauma and recognize unhealthy coping
mechanisms (e.g. substance abuse, alcohol abuse, self-injury,
etc.) and to find a path to healing. A secondary goal (though
no less important) is to educate and raise awareness among
service providers to provide a clearer understanding (and
subsequently better treatment) of the interrelation between
trauma and a variety of health and mental health concerns.
Service Provider Training and Technical Assistance
Witness Justice offers service provider training and technical
assistance to facilitate the implementation of trauma-informed
programs, services, and systems into common practice. Realizing
that trauma is a significant public health concern, Witness
Justice assists service providers in taking the initiative
to integrate trauma-informed practices into their programs
and services.
V-Training.org
This past year, Witness Justice created V-Training.org.
This webinar based program allows us to combine our training
and education services with the technology of the web,
effectively letting us bring our training and education
services to anyone without losing the benefits of the “live” interaction
while providing a more cost-effective, accessible solution.
Further, this allows us to expand our education and training
services through the inclusion of expert speakers in different
subject areas without the costs and logistical issues. For
those we train, we have eliminated much of the cost and
logistical issues.
Professional Consulting Program
Witness Justice provides award winning marketing and public
relations consultation to advance victims’ rights,
improve victim services, and raise awareness of the nature
and impact of trauma.
Direct Assistance
Witness Justice found its roots early on by providing direct
assistance to victims of violence and while we have grown
and expanded beyond that, direct assistance has remained an
integral component of what we do.
Direct Assistance for Survivors and Other Concerned Individuals
As an organization established by survivors for survivors,
one of our core programs is providing direct assistance
for victims, loved ones, employers, advocates, and other
service providers. Almost all services are provided in
a virtual environment, either by telephone or via the Internet,
which provides victims and others with a unique opportunity
to tap in to the experience and expertise of hundreds
of licensed and accredited, experienced expert volunteers
to answer specific inquiries related to law enforcement,
criminal justice, healing from trauma, mental health, and
other issues—all
while retaining their anonymity, if they so choose. Since
Witness Justice does not want to duplicate existing services,
we do not provide hotline or crisis intervention services.
Rather, we provide personalized expert responses—often
developed with the help of numerous different types of experts—to
empower victims with information and options.
BlueSpace
BlueSpace, a healing arts program currently in development,
represents an integrated approach focusing on mind, body,
and spirit that promotes healing and connection with
trauma survivors. Marketed in an intentionally vague way,
BlueSpace is promoted as a series of healing arts workshops – not
as victim service, mental health, or other “labeling” programs.
The free workshops focus around healing arts such as music
interpretation, photography, creative writing, theater,
healthy cooking, pottery, painting, song writing, and more – using
the practice of learning and creative means of expression
through art as a means of reaching those who might not otherwise
reach out for traditional programs and services.
Participants have an opportunity to learn and explore and
a chance to build sustaining relationships (i.e. peer support)
and trust with other survivors and community leaders, and
in the process, they find paths to healing and wellness.
The reference to “BlueSpace” is intended to connote
a non-threatening social gathering where one can be refreshed,
feel at peace, find safety, and breathe; it is used in the
context of this program to convey warmth, openness, and peace.
BlueSpace is a highly adaptable model (WJ is working on adaptations
for veterans and family members and domestic violence survivors)
that can be used in a variety of community settings.
Expert Corps of Volunteers
As one of our founding programs, the Witness Justice Expert
Corps of Volunteers offers victims access to leading national
experts ranging from sleep researchers who specialize in
trauma, to relationship experts, to state attorneys and
security specialists. Realizing that many survivors who
come to Witness Justice for help may be struggling emotionally
and economically, we rely on the Expert Corps of Volunteers
when difficult and unusual questions and problems arise.
These volunteers offer suggestions, resources, and other
useful tools through a flexible and rewarding virtual volunteer
program in which even the busiest experts can participate.
National Prayer Group for Survivors and Allies
The National Prayer Group for Survivors was established
in 2006, during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week,
to provide victims an opportunity to share prayer concerns
and engage faith communities and volunteers in offering
support through prayer. This is a multi-faith effort to
foster positive prayer and meditation to fulfill a need
expressed by so many survivors. The group is composed of
volunteers from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist,
and other faiths who have come together to respond to prayer
requests from survivors, family members, friends, service
providers, first responders, and other concerned individuals.
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