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OCVS Grants and Training Updates Bulletin #19
December 2022
Table of Contents
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OCVS Grants and Training Programs
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Justin Wartzenluft - Victim Services Grants Supervisor
I am Justin Wartzenluft and I have been with OCVS for almost four years now. In my time with OCVS I often focused on creating financial policies and other tools that our office can put in place to make both sides of grant management clearer and ensure that funds that are spent are supported. It is my goal to make receiving and applying for grants through our office approachable and accessible to all those interested. Something about me, I love learning about mythology from all different cultures. Currently I am trying to learn more about Eastern mythology as that is not as commonly taught or referenced in our pop culture compared to Greek, Roman, and Norse mythologies. I am looking forward to supporting our team and our community partners in this new role.
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Ashley Welak - Grants Specialist
Hi, my name is Ashley Welak, I am excited to start my new adventure with OCVS. Prior to coming to DOJ, I worked at PAVE, a DV and SA Shelter in Dodge County. I started with PAVE as a volunteer while I was in college, then became the Legal Advocate, which lead to Associate Director and eventually the Executive Director. I was with PAVE for over 12 years, 8 of those years I provided direct clients services and bring this experience and knowledge to OCVS. I look forward to learning even more about state and federal funding and working with all the wonderful programs around the state.
I am the chair of the Beaver Dam DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Taskforce and previously sat on the LGBTQ Committee with End Abuse and WCASA. The Beaver Dam DEI Taskforce is currently bringing awareness and education to the community about race, ethnicity, LBGTQ visibility, and sharing information about the many cultures that make up the community to increase equitable opportunities in our area. In my free time I enjoy golfing with my partner, making cornhole boards, playing any Super Mario game, or watching every Wisconsin sport possible. I am a huge fan of Wisconsin Badgers Basketball and if you saw my truck, you would know I wear my Badger pride on my sleeve. March Madness is my absolute favorite time of year, since High School I have watched all four days of basketball with my sister. As we have grown older, we maintained the tradition, but now enjoy the week with my two nephews. This almost always results in them getting a new Lego set so I can help put it together at the beginning of the tournament. I enjoy decorating our house for every holiday possible with bright lights, cute rugs, and garden flags. Spring and Summer are my favorite time of year to be outside on the golf course or hanging with family and friends on our deck. I look forward to meeting all of you who also want to make a difference in this work, I am honored to be here.
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Amanda Powers - A Farewell Message
I have worked with so many of you to further victim services in Wisconsin over the last eleven years and it makes it incredibly bittersweet to share that my last day with OCVS will be December 23rd. I am joining National Criminal Justice Association’s VOCA Center to provide training and technical assistance to VOCA Administrators throughout the country. It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with you all over the past decade and support your work through OCVS grants. Thank you all for your dedication and commitment to survivors in Wisconsin every day. It has equally been my honor to work with the dedicated and caring OCVS Grants Team for eleven years. Through this transition I leave you in their wonderful hands. Thank you again for all your hard work.
The OCVS Grants & Training Team is incredibly grateful for the years of service Amanda has provided to OCVS and the state of Wisconsin. Her dedication resulted in well-deserved respect not only in Wisconsin, but on a national level. The VOCA Center is lucky to bring Amanda into their team and we look forward to continued partnership in the coming years.
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Leadership Team
Michelle Viste, Executive Director - A Farewell Message
Greetings!
After 5 ½ years as the Executive Director of OCVS, I have made the difficult decision to leave DOJ. I will be returning to the Dane County District Attorney’s Office as a sensitive crimes prosecutor and am looking forward getting back into court! My last day at DOJ will be January 13, 2023.
I have enjoyed my time in OCVS and am grateful for the opportunity to work with all of you over the past several years. I have learned so much and I appreciate you educating, advocating, and challenging OCVS to do a better job in providing equitable victim services to all victims of crime in Wisconsin. Thank you for the work you do every day to support crime victims in Wisconsin. You truly make a difference!
Since I’ll still be working in the criminal justice system, I am hopeful that our paths will cross again in the future. Feel free to track me down at the Dane County District Attorney’s Office after January 17!
Take Good Care,
Michelle
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Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin (the statewide Chapter for CACs) and Wisconsin Department of Justice are sponsoring a six-month pilot mentorship program for forensic interviewers. In this program, you will have the opportunity for one-on-one mentorship and review of recorded interviews with highly experienced, highly skilled mentors. The total time commitment over 6 months is approximately 16 hours total.
Please contact Elizabeth at elizabeth@cacsofwi.org or 608.228.5214 with any questions.
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Save the Date
Welcome! The Wisconsin Victims’ Rights Conference is happening again in 2023. The inaugural conference (2022) focused on basic victims’ rights issues and brought together criminal justice professionals, victims’ rights attorneys and victim advocates for a virtual conference over two half-days of sessions. In 2023, the conference will be held virtually over 1 ½ days and will focus on ensuring crime victims in Wisconsin have equitable access to exercising and enforcing their constitutional and statutory victims’ rights. We will feature sessions about multi-disciplinary collaborations in supporting crime victims’ rights, innovation in victim services, and wellness for those working with crime victims.
We hope to see you there!
Latest Updates:
SAVE THE DATE: Wisconsin’s’ Crime Victims’ Law Conference will be held virtually on April 20-21!
Times:
April 20, 2023 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CST April 21, 2023 - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CST
Call for Presentations
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*also known as the OCVS Online Curriculum
Next Training Date: TBD
The prerequisite to attend this training is to watch the following pre-recorded training videos: History of Crime Victim Rights in Wisconsin, Enforcement of Crime Victim Rights in Wisconsin, Crime Victim Compensation and The SAFE Fund, and complete a brief post-test to confirm your knowledge of the material. These videos provide introductory material that sets the foundation to attend the virtual Introductory Training for Victim Service Providers. The training videos and post-test can be found online click here.
For those wishing to receive participation credit for VOCA, SAVS, and VAWA grant requirements, please complete this post-test after watching all segments of the curriculum.
A certificate of completion will be emailed to you within 2 weeks of finishing the post-test.
Please contact Kay Ragland with any questions or concerns about the certificate.
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Safe at Home Program Video Now Available on YouTube
Safe at Home, Wisconsin's address confidentiality program, is pleased to announce the publication of an introductory informational video now available on YouTube.
Safe At Home is an available option a victim may choose to include as a part of their safety plan. Enrollment in Safe at Home provides a legal substitute address that can be used for public and private purposes. This resource is available to anyone concerned about their safety and seeking peace of mind in their everyday life.
Please take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the Safe at Home program by watching the following video. If working with a victim that may benefit from enrollment in Safe at Home, please feel free to refer them to this video and/or Safe at Home directly for additional information.
To request brochures, additional training, or for any questions about Safe at Home, please contact safeathome@doj.state.wi.us.
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SAVS - Final Reports, Statistical Requirements, and Fiscal Reports due 1/30/23
The Final Report and Fiscal Reports are due in Egrants by January 30, 2023.
A Statistical Requirements email will be sent to each SAVS subgrantee on January 1, 2023 with a due date of January 30, 2023.
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