American Indian law Center launches two online trainings in Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Sexual Assault

Albuquerque, NM – April 24, 2012 – The  American  Indian Law Center, Inc.  (AILC)  today announced two online trainings in domestic violence and intimate partner sexual abuse as part of its Tribal Court Training Program. The Domestic Violence Virtual Courtroom teaches about the issuance and violation of restraining orders from a tribal court judge’s perspective.  The second online training, Tribal Court Practice: Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse (IPSA), focuses on multidisciplinary resources and data in Indian Country. Both  online  trainings  were  created primarily for  tribal  court  judges. The online trainings are free of charge and are accessible at www.ailc-inc.org.

The Domestic Violence Virtual Courtroom includes video scenarios filmed from a tribal court judge’s perspective utilizing an electronic case file of the hypothetical hearings. In this basic training, the trainee is asked to rule on motions or answer questions from a judge’s point of view.  Feedback is provided in the form of bench tools and analysis points.

Tribal Court Practice: Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse provides an overview of topics dealing with intimate partner sexual abuse in Indian Country and the possible dynamics of such issues in the tribal courtroom. Synopses and quotes from multidisciplinary resources and data comprise the curriculum for this online training. The Tribal Court Practice: IPSA adapted a course by the National  Judicial Education Program of Legal Momentum to offer a basic training to tribal court judges.

The AILC collaborated with the University of New Mexico School of Law’s Southwest Indian Law  Clinic  to develop and implement the online programs. “It is vital to the continued development of tribal courts that accessible training be offered electronically to tribal judges on these  important  subject  areas  impacting  Indian  Country,”  said  Helen  B.  Padilla,  Director  of AILC. “With many tribal courts located in rural areas, AILC hopes this training will reach and be helpful to as many tribal courts as possible.”  Funding is provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services.

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Transitional Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Program – The United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) (www.ovw.usdoj.gov) is please to announce that it is seeking applications for the Transitional Housing Assistance Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by providing transitional housing assistance to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 29, 2012.

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Assistance Program

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Assistance Program – The United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) (www.ovw.usdoj.gov) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for the Fiscal Year 2012 Rural Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Assistance Program. This program furthers the Department’s mission by supporting projects designed to address and prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in rural jurisdictions. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 29, 2012.

OVW FY 2012 Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program

OVW FY 2012 Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program – The Enhanced Training and Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women Later in Life Program provides or enhances training and services to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation, including sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking, involving victims who are 50 years of age or older. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 29, 2012.

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program – The United States Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) (www.ovw.usdoj.gov) is pleased to announce that it is seeking applications for the Grants to Encourage Arrest Policies and Enforcement of Protection Orders Program). This program furthers the Department of Justice’s mission by encouraging State, local, and Tribal governments and State, local, and Tribal courts to treat sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking as serious violations of criminal law requiring the coordinated involvement of the entire criminal justice system.  Current Closing Date for Applications: March 12, 2012.

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program

OVW Fiscal Year 2012 Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program – The Legal Assistance for Victims (LAV) Grant Program is intended to increase the availability of civil and criminal legal assistance needed to effectively aid adult and youth victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking who are seeking relief in legal matters arising as a consequence of that abuse or violence. Criminal legal assistance is limited to criminal matters relating to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. LAV Grant Program funds may not be used to provide criminal defense services. The LAV Grant Program makes awards to law school clinics, domestic violence victims’ programs and shelters, bar associations, rape crisis centers and other sexual assault services programs, private nonprofit entities, Indian Tribal governments and Tribal organizations, Territorial organizations, legal aid or statewide legal services, and faith- and/or community-based legal service providers.

Grant funds may be used to provide direct legal services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in matters arising from abuse or violence and to provide enhanced training for lawyers representing these victims as well as advocates. The objective of the LAV Grant Program is to develop innovative, collaborative projects that provide quality representation to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. “Legal assistance” includes assistance to adult and youth victims of sexual assault, intimate partner domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking in: a) family, Tribal, Territorial, immigration, employment, administrative agency, housing matters, campus administrative or protection or stay away order proceedings, and other similar matters; and b) criminal justice investigations, prosecutions and post-trial matters (including sentencing, parole, and probation) that impact the victim’s safety and privacy. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 26, 2012.

OVW FY 12 Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program

OVW FY 12 Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program – Recognizing the pressing need to focus on sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking against individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals due to the proliferation of such crimes, Congress authorized the Education, Training and Enhanced Services to End Violence Against and Abuse of Women with Disabilities Grant Program (Disability Grant Program) in the Violence Against Women and the Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005. The goal of the Disability Grant Program is to create sustainable change within and between organizations that results in accessible, safe and effective services for individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking and accountability for perpetrators of such crimes. Disability Grant Program funds will be used to establish and strengthen multidisciplinary collaborative relationships; increase organizational capacity to provide accessible, safe, and effective services to individuals with disabilities and Deaf individuals who are victims of violence and abuse; and identify needs within the grantee’s organization and/or service area, and develop a plan to address those identified needs that builds a strong foundation for future work. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 26, 2012.

OVW FY 12 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program

OVW FY 12 Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program – The Grants to Enhance Culturally Specific Services for Victims of Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence and Stalking Program  was created by the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005) (codified at  42 U.S.C. ‘ 14045a).  This program creates a unique opportunity for targeted community-based organizations to address the critical needs of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking victims in a manner that affirms a victim’s culture and effectively addresses language and communication barriers. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 26, 2012.

Advocates report that survivors are more inclined to seek services from organizations that are familiar with their culture, language and background and that there is no “one size fits all” approach to adequately address these critical needs.  Culturally specific community-based organizations are more likely to understand the complex multi-layered challenges and obstacles that victims from their communities face when attempting to access services in response to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.  Culturally specific community-based organizations are also better equipped to form essential relationships and engage their communities in the creation and implementation of services relevant to the diverse and unique needs of the victims.

OVW FY 2012 Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program

OVW FY 2012 Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Program – The Supervised Visitation Program provides an opportunity for communities to support supervised visitation and safe exchange of children in situations involving domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, child abuse, or stalking. Studies have shown that the risk of violence is often greater for victims of domestic violence and their children after separation from an abusive situation. Even after separation, batterers often use visitation and exchange of children as an opportunity to inflict additional emotional, physical, and/or psychological abuse on victims and their children. Visitation and exchange services provided through the Supervised Visitation Program should reflect a clear understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking; the impact of domestic violence on children; and the importance of holding offenders accountable for their actions. Current Closing Date for Applications: March 26, 2012.

Support VAWA Suggested actions for this week

National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence thanks you for all you are doing to urge Congress to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act! We are excited that the Attorneys General from 47 states have signed onto a collective letter to Congress supporting the reauthorization of VAWA. This week, we are hosting a briefing on VAWA for Senate staff with excellent speakers from across the country who know first-hand how important VAWA is to victim/survivors. We also invite you to participate in the first ever VAWA blog carnival. Please see below for more details about how to take action and make our voices heard to reauthorize VAWA now!

Suggested actions for this week include:

1. Call your Members of Congress and encourage them to attend a VAWA briefing!
2. Thank our important allies in the campaign to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act.
3. Draft your blog for the upcoming VAWA blog carnival!

Action 1: Call your Members of Congress and ask them to send staff to the Task Force’s upcoming “Hill briefings” on VAWA:

Visit these links for Senate Phone Numbers and House Phone Numbers and then ask to speak to the staff person handling VAWA, and either leave a message or ask them to please attend the briefing. Staff for our sponsors should attend to get information to shore up and expand their bosses’ knowledge and enthusiasm about the bill. Staff of wavering or uncertain Members will be able to gather important info about VAWA and ask questions or voice their concerns.

Senate Briefing:
Thursday, January 26, 2012
G-50 Dirksen Senate Office Building
2:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M.

House Briefing:
Tuesday, January 31, 2010
2237 Rayburn House Office Building
10:30 A.M. to 12:00 A.M.

Action 2: Thank our important allies in the campaign to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act:

On January 11, 2010, the National Association of Attorneys General Sent a Letter to every Member of Congress encouraging them to reauthorize VAWA. A bipartisan group of 47 Attorneys General signed the letter  along with the AGs from the territories. The 3 holdouts were from Alabama, Alaska and Virginia.

Find the Phone Number of your AG and call or email and thank them for their support. Invite them to speak about the importance of VAWA at any of your group’s events and encourage them to personally contact their Senators to show support. Send a version of your thank you note to your local paper, praising the AG and showcasing your Senators and Representative – either thanking them for sponsoring or encouraging them to get on board. Also, copy and resend the letter to your own Senators and House member emphasizing how important it is to have the highest law enforcement official in your state supporting VAWA. This is truly bipartisan, with 22 Republican and 25 Democratic AGs sending the letter.

Action 3: Draft your blog for the first ever blog carnival for VAWA:

Participate in a “Blog Carnival for VAWA” during the week beginning January 30. HERvotes is a coalition of women’s rights organizations and activists who have been blogging on important issues facing women in the upcoming elections. This is a perfect grassroots activity for anti-violence activists leading up to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s vote on VAWA in early February and the House Judiciary Committee’s hearing on VAWA February 16. National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women will send more information in the next alert about how to make sure your blog is included—this week, start drafting! Have questions? Email: Emily@ncjwdc.org

Possible points to cover:

• How does VAWA help my community or my constituency?
• Why is it important for Congress and the federal government to partner with us to lead the fight against domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking?
• Your perspective as a victim/survivor.
• Your perspective as an advocate/activist.

To see if your Senator has signed on to VAWA,

• Go to THOMAS of The Library of Congress
• Select search by “Bill Number”
• Enter S.1925 in the space provided
• When the bill is brought up, click on “Cosponsors”

Check out National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women website for updates.

Check out and “like” our National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women Facebook page where you can find a toolkit and other action and information items.

If you aren’t on one of the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women VAWA email lists or want to add members of your staff or state/community leaders to our grassroots alerts e-mailing list, send names and contact information including email to Sean Black, sblack@icasa.org  .