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Veterans Health Administration sent this bulletin at 01/20/2023 04:52 PM EST

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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 2023

PREVENTION IN ACTION

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Lelia Jackson, Director,
Assault and Harassment
Prevention Office

Happy New Year!

The Assault and Harassment Prevention Office (AHPO) had a busy 2022 and accomplished a lot through partnership in action. We strategically collaborated internally and externally to expand the White Ribbon VA campaign, ensuring its incorporation into various Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programming and that there’s a White Ribbon VA Champion appointed at every VA medical facility. AHPO spearheaded and launched multiple efforts and critical tools, including a tracker to evaluate and respond to incidents across Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities with the aim of increasing VHA’s mission to be a high reliability organization. We communicated consistently and thoughtfully through special awareness events such as April’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, as well as hosted and co-facilitated year-round awareness activities with various stakeholders to promote education, resources and trainings like Bystander Intervention for Veterans and for employees. Team members appeared on several podcasts and webinars, published engaging blogs and social media content, and launched this newly redesigned quarterly newsletter Prevention in Action, highlighting significant activities actively transforming the culture of health at VA.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Leading in Cultural Health through Respect

Understanding differences to create a safe, welcoming environment at VA.

Showing respect is a common workplace priority, but at the VA it is a continuous effort to engrain safety and inclusivity in all practices throughout the organization. As a leader in health care for LGBTQ+ Veterans, being an exemplary model of a dependable, healthy work environment is not just a priority, but imperative to VA’s success as a health care provider and employer.

Dr. Michael Kauth, Executive Director of the VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program within the Office of Patient Care Services in VHA Health, spoke to how the Department emphasizes the importance of respect in interactions with patients, colleagues, and visitors at VA.

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PREVENTION IN PRACTICE

people taking the white ribbon VA pledge.

White Ribbon Day 2022

VA recognizes Global Day of Activism against domestic violence.

An honorable cause, White Ribbon VA promotes a harassment-free environment. AHPO leads the White Ribbon VA Campaign to eliminate sexual harassment, sexual assault and domestic violence in VA facilities and advancing positive change in our organizational culture.

On December 1, 2022, VA joined collective partners, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and White Ribbon USA for a ceremony honoring domestic violence victims and survivors and to promote an end to domestic violence. The special event unveiled a promotional video featuring VA Secretary Denis McDonough sounded by VA staff and Veteran Service Organization representatives taking the White Ribbon VA pledge.

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TRAINING

Stand Up to Harmful Behavior

Bystander intervention training provides you with the tools to intervene safely.

Bystander intervention works when we stand up to stop harmful behaviors. Take the live, interactive “Bystander Intervention Training by Alteristic” (Talent Management System Course ID number 42344) to learn how to recognize harassment, how to respond, and how to get help. (Learners will be directed to take the training prerequisite: a brief questionnaire [5 minutes]. Access the full list of classes here.)

In case you missed it -- Watch Lelia Jackson, AHPO Director, and Dr. Jeff Bates, Deputy Director, Veterans Crisis Line (Clinical Operations) discuss The HEART of Responding to Inappropriate Comments in the Workplace on C20 Episode 266 (Aired 11/29/22)

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HAPPENINGS

LEARN & DISCERN

INSIDE AHPO

Inappropriate comments training – AHPO recently filmed a series of short vignettes based on real stories from trainees and staff presenting ways for staff to deal with inappropriate comments and behaviors.
Short video development – AHPO is developing a series of short informational videos to support sexual assault and harassment awareness prevention efforts at VA. Stay tuned, videos will be released beginning in 2023.
March Event – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons: AHPO and VHA Tribal Health are collaborating on a Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons event in March to bring awareness and education to VHA staff. Be on the lookout for more information.

ACROSS VA

Jan 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Feb: Black History Month
Feb: VHA Dignity and Respect
Campaign Launch
Mar: Women’s History Month
Apr: Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

What does RESPECT mean?

The Dignity and Respect Campaign kicks off in February and runs through National Respect Day on Sep. 18.

Maria Shores quoted as saying that our respect, work and the people we serve fuels meaningful change in support of voices that are unheard

Tisha Petelo quoted as saying our mission is critically important to the safety of Veterans, staff and all who enter any VA facilities.

What does respect mean to you? Submit your response by Feb. 28 to be featured in our next issue.

EMAIL AHPO

MEET THE TEAM

The AHPO team is here to assist you. We are passionate about our work and want to provide you with the resources and information you need. Learn more about our team and the work we are driving in AHPO and VHA.

AHPO Staff - Lelia Jackson, Georgina Baumgartner, Erinn Izykowski, Hannah Hall, Maria Shores, Tisha Petelo

AHPO Sharepoint | Website | Intranet

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