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OCVS Grants and Training Updates Bulletin #20
January - March 2023
Table of Contents
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Victim Resource Center
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Twyla Beets - Victim Services Specialist
My name is Twyla Beets. I was recently hired as a Victim Services Specialist in the Victim Resource Center with OCVS. I have a degree in Political Science, with a concentration in Criminal Justice from U.W. Parkside. I have worked with crime victims for 24 years. Prior to coming to OCVS, I spent those 24 years with the Racine County District Attorney’s Office, as a Victim Witness Specialist. During that time, I saw a lot, heard a lot, and learned a lot. Now, I’m ready to take things to the next level with DOJ! I look forward to not only sharing what I know, but expanding my knowledge, taking on new challenges and serving on a great team.
When I am not working, I enjoy exercising, attending car shows, spending time with family and friends, and preparing vegetarian and vegan dishes. I enjoy watching NBA Basketball. I am a big fan of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Go Bucks! Thank you all for the warm welcome! I am excited to be here and to work with all of you!
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Safe at Home
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Carmin Valerdi - Victim Services Specialist
Carmin Valerdi is a Victim Services Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of Crime Victim Services, Safe at Home program. In her role, she supports Wisconsin’s Address Confidentiality Program by providing participant services, enrolling applicants, supporting Application Assistants, and providing outreach. As a bilingual staff member, she is excited to support expansion of Safe at Home services to Spanish speaking survivors across the state. Prior to joining DOJ, Carmin worked as an advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking. She worked at YWCA Madison as a Bilingual Coordinator and Case Manager for a transitional housing program for survivors. Before then, she worked at UNIDOS as the Bilingual Helpline Coordinator and Advocate. During her time there, she supported Spanish-speaking, Latinx, and immigrant survivors. Additionally, she helped start the 24/7 Spanish helpline, LA RED. She received her degree in Psychology from Beloit College. In her free time, she likes to watch movies and spend time with her orange tabby cat and corgi dog.
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Leadership Team
Shira Phelps, Executive Director
I have dedicated my career to ending gender-based violence. For over 20 years, I have focused my energy on building partnerships and developing multidisciplinary responses to human trafficking, sexual assault, domestic violence, and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives through my work as an advocate, researcher, grant administrator, policy analyst, staff attorney, program manager, trainer, consultant, and technical assistance provider. I approach this work grounded in equity and racial justice, dedicated to continued personal learning and growth.
Most recently, I worked with the national Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center addressing Missing and Murdered Indigenous People and human trafficking in Indian Country. I have also been working as a consultant with the ALSO STAAR Project, the national training and technical assistance center for STOP Administrators, for the past three years. In my previous role with OCVS, I spent 7 years as the VAWA Program and Policy Analyst, which included providing training, technical assistance, serving as the Wisconsin STOP and SASP Administrator, and project lead for the Wisconsin Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force. I worked in the field as a direct victim service provider to survivors of human trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence for over 11 years at Project Respect in Madison. At UW-Madison University Health Services, I co-developed and managed their first campus sexual and dating violence prevention program. As the staff attorney for WomensLaw.org, a project of the National Network to End Domestic Violence in Brooklyn, NY, I provided legal information and resources for survivors across the country.
I am an almost-45-year-old mom to 7-year-old Henry. I married my high school sweetheart, JP Croake, 13 years ago. I was born and raised in Madison – lived in NYC for many years – and moved back to Madison in 2009 to be closer to my amazing family. I love sci-fi, boxing, Ani DiFranco, and my 13-year-old puppy, Brooklyn. I graduated from The New School for Social Research – Eugene Lang College, NYC, in 2001 and UW Law School in 2007. I am so honored and excited to be back in OCVS!
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 The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) Seminar for the Adult, Adolescent and Pediatric Population will be held May 1-5th at Mercy Health & Trauma Center in Janesville, WI. This 64 hour blended learning course contains 22 hours of self-paced learning modules and 42 hours of in-person sessions, preparing the health care professional with the minimum education needed to practice competently as a forensic nurse examiner, and to provide care and treatment to patients who have experienced sexual assault, interpersonal violence, trafficking or strangulation.
Contact Susie Kanack for more info.
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 Hurry! Application Deadline April 14, 2023
Please share with your networks
and feel free to reach out with questions.
Wisconsin Forensic Interview Guidelines Training
5 days, Monday-Friday over 1 week
May - In Person - Wisconsin Rapids
Day 1: Monday, May 15
Day 2: Tuesday, May 16
Day 3: Wednesday, May 17
Day 4: Thursday, May 18
Day 5: Friday, May 19
Description of Training
This five-day, interactive program is designed to introduce participants to the Wisconsin Forensic Interview Guidelines. Learners will develop forensic interview skills by increasing their knowledge of the process of disclosure, the impact of language and development, effects of trauma, and question strategies that contribute to dynamics of memories and suggestibility. Learners will also engage in practice opportunities for conducting developmentally appropriate forensic interviews of child alleged as child abuse victims or children who have witnessed abuse or violence. All content will be reflected in the concept that forensic interviews have the purpose of gathering accurate information from children about events they experience.
It is required that all attendees actively participate and complete the full 5 days of training to receive a certificate.
It is strongly encouraged that WIFIG graduates participate in the DOJ supported forensic interview mentorship pilot program sponsored by Child Advocacy Centers of Wisconsin. This program includes one-on-one mentorship, additional training opportunities, and peer review. Additional information will be provided during the 5-day training.
Due to limited space, not all applicants will be accepted, and participation may be limited to two individuals per county. This training will be conducted up to 4 times per year, 2 being in virtual format and 2 being in-person until further notice.
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 Register today!
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.
This year's conference will be held virtually over 2 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:
Wisconsin’s’ Crime Victims’ Law Conference will be held virtually on April 20-21, 2023.
Times:
April 20, 2023 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. CST
April 21, 2023 - 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. CST
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*also known as the OCVS Online Curriculum
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Crime Victim Compensation
The learning objective is to increase awareness of the CVC program, know how to apply and learn basic information about the CVC program.
ocvs@doj.state.wi.us
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Safe at Home
The learning objective is to know the basic information about the Safe at Home program and what makes a participant eligible, recognize the benefits and limitations of the program and how participants use their assigned address in a real-world context and understand how Victim/Witness professionals can ensure a Safe at Home participant’s address is protected.
safeathome@doj.state.wi.us
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SAFE Fund
The learning objective is to increase awareness of the SAFE Fund program and learn basic information about the SAFE Fund program.
safefund@doj.state.wi.us
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OCVS Grants Subgrantees - Required Training:
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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Coming Soon...
The Office of Crime Victim Services (OCVS) Grants & Training Team is collecting feedback from VOCA subrecipients in preparation for an Office for Victims of Crime, Performance Measurement Tool (OVC PMT) informational webinar that will be scheduled soon.
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SAVS
SAVS - 1st Quarter Fiscal Reports due 4/30/23
VAWA
STOP and SASP 1st Quarter Fiscal Reports due 4/30/23
Fiscal reports may be submitted monthly, but at a minimum, quarterly. Please refer to the Monitoring section of Egrants to determine your fiscal reporting.
VOCA - OVC PMTs
2nd Quarter OVC PMT Reports due 4/30/23
How to Complete OVC OMT Reporthttps://ojpsso.ojp.gov/
OVC PMT FAQs
OVC PMT Dictionary & Terminology Resource
Second Quarter OVC PMT Report – (See directions & definitions in the first three attachments above)
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The timeframe for the OVC PMT Second Quarter Report = January 1, 2023, through March 31, 2023.
- If you never had a password and need one, please call Mary Colletti.
- Enter your OVCPMT report, or Performance Measures data directly into the OVC PMT website.
- BUT, if you are having trouble signing onto the OVCPMT website, please go to the OVCPMT website to view the login instructions.
- You can also find this information on the OCVS Grants VOCA website.
VOCA - Program Report
Semi-Annual VOCA Program Report due 4/30/2023
How to Submit a Program Report in Egrants
Semi-Annual VOCA Program Report – (See directions attached above- “How to Submit a Program Report in Egrants”)
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The timeframe for the Semi -Annual Program Report is October 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023.
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