The Advocate | May 2023
We’re thrilled to announce two brand-new partnerships, and we want to tell you all about each one!
First, the Akron Fire Department (AFD).
In April, VAP leadership met with Chief Natko, Deputy Chief Henderson, and Captain Lash of the Akron Fire Department. VAP Advocates will now be called on scene 24/7/365 for any fatality caused by a fire in the city of Akron. In addition to fatalities, VAP Advocates will be requested to support families anytime AFD specialty teams are deployed for search and rescue/recovery missions. This new VAP-AFD partnership complements the great work the Red Cross continues to provide to financially support individuals traumatized by fire damage and fatalities…
This will serve as an additional entry point to VAP’s critical services. Upon arriving on scene, VAP Advocates will immediately provide crisis intervention, link victims with resources beyond Red Cross to meet their basic needs, address physical and psychological safety, provide support after a first responder delivers a death notification, and liaison with first responders and medical examiner personnel.
In the coming days and weeks after the fire occurs, VAP Advocates will stay connected with fire victims as they navigate the aftermath of their traumatic incident by empowering them to regain a sense of control and ultimately achieving long-term self-sufficiency.
Secondly, Guardians Advocating Child Safety (GASP).
We have also recently partnered with Guardians Advocating Child Safety and Protection. GASP is “a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safer environment for children through modern and effective programs designed to prevent encounters involving dangerous situations, sex offenders, abuse and abduction.”
Through this partnership, VAP will more effectively safety plan with families who have been or may be concerned about the wellbeing of their child(ren). Through the use of GASP’s technology, Victim Assistance Program can now create a confidential demographic file for a parent or guardian’s child(ren) that can be given to the authorities in the event of kidnapping, missing child, or abduction.
The process involves obtaining the child’s demographic information, copies of their fingerprints, up-to-date pictures, and a video to better help police identify the child in the event they were to go missing. After the creation of the profile, the child’s information is deleted off the secure computer and the parent or guardian is provided a USB drive containing their child’s information. This USB drive is then the responsibility of the parent or guardian to keep it safe and readily available to give to the authorities if needed.
Because of your investment in every aspect of VAP’s work:
- New partnerships like these are possible …
- Deeper strategies with groups like the Akron Fire Department and GASP mean victims have a better chance of healing from trauma, abuse, violence, and crime …
- And our prevention efforts are even more effective.
Thank you!
Our latest Annual Report has just been released, and it’s all about “Catalyzing Collaboration!”
In the 50 years since Victim Assistance Program began, we have served well over 250,000 clients thanks to the support of friends like you. VAP was built upon innovative community partnerships, dedicated advocacy for the vulnerable, and breaking down systemic barriers to service.
As our 2022 Annual Report attests, we are still committed to these foundational motivations and carry them out — with your help — every day of every year. We continue to strengthen our community ties with individuals, organizations, and corporations to mutually lead the way for a safer and stronger Summit County.
Your support truly “catalyzes collaboration” … and VAP is grateful! Thank you for your commitment to empower those impacted by crime, violence, and tragedy.
Please take some time to view the digital Annual Report here. It outlines all the ways your partnership is making a significant difference!
Experience the joy of being part of something bigger than yourself … discover a new (and surprisingly simple!) avenue to providing ongoing relief, help, understanding, compassion, and support for victims of crime …
Join our monthly Advocate Partner program!
With just $37 a month (or the cost of one meal eating out, a night at the movies, or even your streaming subscription), you will help Victim Assistance Program reach those in crisis year-round as we provide 24-hour crisis intervention, advocacy, and education to thousands of victims throughout Summit County.
Your monthly partnership will help us:
- Respond on-scene day or night for those who need us, right where they are, to help them get through the 24-48 hours immediately following a crisis.
- Advocate for those in danger for weeks and months – as long as it takes.
- Fill a large gap in the community, serving ALL victims of ALL crimes for free.
- Decrease violence in underserved areas.
- Keep families safe.
- And more!
And when you become an Advocate Partner today, we’ll thank you by sending a book that has meant a lot to our team: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma.
This book exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal — and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.
Please join us today… Your monthly giving will be an immeasurable investment in offering hope and healing to the vulnerable. Thank you!
Become a VAP Advocate Partner Today
Thank you for celebrating our 31st annual Mardi Gras Gala with us!
Hundreds of friends and guests gathered March 11 to enjoy a gourmet meal, an open bar, and live and silent auctions — while helping us get closer to reaching our fundraising goal of $150,000.
With the increase in violence in our community over the last year, our service utilization has increased greatly. The strong support of generous people like you allows us to continue important services such as 24-hour crisis intervention, advocacy, and education to thousands of victims and the professionals who serve our community.
We heard from victims like …
- Jennifer — who says: “People just don’t get how much as a woman you go through just to protect yourself and how much you put your life on the line in order to reach out for help. Victim Assistance did the one thing that any of us needed in the moments when we were begging for help … and they believed me. I felt like I was not fighting alone. VAP is the lighthouse in the storm.”
- And Savannah — who says: “I was so shaken that first conversation we had — it was just so nice to know that someone was out there checking on me. VAP has helped me so much … my experience with Victim Assistance has been amazing. They helped me get involved with my attorney — I have one of the best attorneys in Akron because I was referred by VAP to legal aid. I got into trauma therapy” … and now Savannah is empowering other women in abusive situations to get the help they need online, too!
We’re so glad we could spend time together … “letting the good times roll” for a great cause!
Victim Assistance Program awarded the “Rev. Dr. Robert A. Denton Outstanding Victim Services Award” to Summit County Domestic Relations Court Administrative Judge, Katarina Cook, on April 28 at a special celebration during National Crime Victim Rights’ Week (NCVRW).
Judge Cook’s leadership has been foundationally instrumental for Summit County victims.
“I am honored to be this year’s award recipient,” Judge Cook said. “This pioneering partnership has increased access to services and removed a large barrier of childcare for families seeking domestic relations court services, with the addition of the Children Who Witness Violence (CWWV) Drop-In Center. The synergy between the Summit County Domestic Relations Court and the Victims Assistance Program has provided a more trauma-informed approach and continuity of services for those persons seeking protection orders.”
Both the provision of in-court advocacy services and the new childcare option would not be possible without Judge Cook’s personal and professional advocacy …
And ALL our efforts would not be possible without your support. Thank you for standing with us!
In 1981, the Office for Victims of Crime first designated the last week of April to “challenge the Nation to confront and remove barriers to achieving justice for all victims of crime, and to recognize the efforts of dedicated professionals and volunteers who support crime victims throughout the nation.” This week is known across the Country as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW).
Victim Assistance Program joined thousands of organizations around the Country to honor NCVRW on April 23-29 — we had a lot to celebrate! Most recently, thanks to the dedicated work of professionals from around the state, sections of the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 2930 increased the rights of victims by removing barriers many victims face.
Ohio House Bill 343, known as Marsy’s Law, came into effect on April 6, 2023, to increase Ohio victims’ access to actively participate in the criminal justice process of their offender and protect themselves from future harm.
- Most notably, these revisions create actionable ways for victims to be informed of their Ohio Constitutional Rights, maintain privacy of the victim’s identifying information, receive notification of an offender’s status, communicate with prosecutors, and request restitution.
- Moreover, the law expands upon the legal definition of a victim to include, “a person directly or proximately harmed by the criminal offense or delinquent act.” This lends support to the family of homicide victim or the guardian of a child victim.
Victim Assistance Program appreciates the time and effort required of local police jurisdictions, prosecutors’ offices, clerks of court, and jails to create new internal procedures to implement these new laws. Unfortunately, very few of these governmental agencies have created such processes here in Summit County. From what we are hearing, there has been no guidance offered as to how to logistically and systematically create a process to include all aspects of the criminal justice system within one’s jurisdiction.
We look forward to and welcome meetings with any government entity seeking a victim’s perspective when determining how to accomplish both the needs of the government entity and Summit County victims.
What would you do if tragedy struck either at your place of business or in the life of one of your employees or co-workers?
While most people are trained in what to do in case of a fire or an active shooter, not everyone knows what to do when tragedy strikes for someone in the workplace. To help bridge this gap, VAP is excited to announce the NEW Corporate Essentials course, which will train corporations on how to support their employees in the midst of a crisis and during the aftermath.
Throughout this 12- to 15-hour course, you will learn from trauma-informed care experts who will help you transform your workplace culture with crisis-informed conversations.
You will no longer have to ask the question, “What do I say?” but instead you and your team will be equipped with the right tools to properly care for those around you.
Rebekah Chapman, VAP board member and supervisor for FirstEnergy Corp., says:
“Trauma and crisis are not something we can just put in a box. That’s why it’s so important for us to have a culture that is prepared to support and address our employees when they’re in crisis.”
Don’t wait until a crisis happens to prepare your team. Sign up for our SVAA Corporate Essentials Training today by emailing Dr. Williams at ewilliams@victimassistanceprogram.org and give your team the tools they need to respond to any crisis situation!
Still want to learn more about the training? Watch this video featuring Dana Zedak, SVAA’s Essentials Coordinator and Rebekah Chapman, First Energy supervisor and VAP board member.
Thank you for your support! You enable Victim Assistance Program to provide 24-hour crisis intervention, advocacy, education, and compassionate follow-up to victims of crime and trauma and the professional community who serves this population.
Please give generously today … to keep restoring lives impacted by violence or crime and to continue strategic collaboration with the police, prosecutors, the courts, and others.
Your partnership ensures healing and hope are on the horizon for thousands of people around Summit County!
