Get documents about "Wisconsin Victim Witness Professionals
Document Sample
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
Summer Edition – September 2012 Serving the interests of crime victims in Wisconsin since 1990
In This Issue From the President….
Friends,
From the President
Well . . . this is the last letter
Taking Care of you will get from me as
Ourselves President as I hand the gavel
over to Laurie Anderson.
WVWP Board Meeting Welcome Laurie, and I hope
Minutes you enjoy yourself as much
as I did as President.
Getting to Know Us
Thank you for your patience
WVWP Credential as I blundered along these
Program last few years. All in all, I can
say that I enjoyed myself,
Elections learned a lot, and got to know
more of you on a personal
At Our Fingertips: level. It was harrowing
Resources for Victim earlier this year as politics heated up, and hopefully I met the challenge
Service Providers as best I could. I think we can be proud of our organization (I know
that I am) for continuing to carry the sword for victims and victim rights.
Calendar of Events There was some good work done this year by members of the board,
and members of WVWP on behalf of victims. And still a lot of work to
Remembering Cathie do, the restitution issue for one.
Welcome new members to the board. There are some new faces ready
and willing to take the extra time it takes from their busy schedule to
serve as a member of the board; and others of you who are willing to
give of yourselves to continue as a board member for another term.
Thank you.
I will remain on the board as a Regional Representative for the
Southwest Region, and continue to serve as a member of the Crime
Victim Council. As a member of the council we work on issues
concerning victims and victim rights, one of them being the restitution
issues. Sometime within the next year we hope to make
recommendations to the Attorney General on how to make that process
more economically successful for victims, either by best practices and/or
legislative changes. I invite your comments and suggestions on this
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
issue. Please email them to me so I can take them back to the Council. We have ideas from
other states that have implemented successful ways of collecting restitution, and hope to
come up with some good recommendations for the Attorney General to consider.
You are on the front lines with victims. You are their voice when they can’t speak for
themselves. Restitution is a major concern for them, one of the many that will make them
whole again (that’s an oxymoron!). Another oxymoron (at least to me) is that judges need to
consider a defendant’s ability to pay when ordering restitution at sentencing. Who considered
the victim’s ability to pay for the crime perpetrated on them by the defendant?
Thanks again for letting me preside as President of this wonderful organization. It’s all of your
hard work and dedication that made it rewarding for me to serve, and I leave with mixed
emotions.
Thank you for what you do, and continue to do what you do best,
Gayle M. Patraw
This newsletter is a publication of the Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals, providing information and resources to victim service
providers in Wisconsin. This publication will always strive to help maintain our professionalism and the quality of victim services in our
state.
www.wvwp.net
WVWP Newsletter 2 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
Taking Care of Ourselves
This will be an on-going column focusing on this topic and how to combat the stresses we
encounter in this profession.
Conflict Management
(This section is from Stress Management: How to Handle
Life’s Challenges, published by Great Performances in
1995, but has been adapted to address stress for victim
service providers.)
“Conflict” describes a situation in which the
concerns or interest of two or more parties
appear to be incompatible. This simple definition
clearly characterizes a number of situations that
are common to victim services. Conflicts can
occur within individuals in an organization,
between two different agencies, and/or among
the many entities that seek to promote public
safety and victim assistance.
Traditionally “conflict resolution” has been a goal of individuals and entities that need to
work together in order to resolve the situation and achieve mutual success. There is a new
trend, however, toward “conflict management” and learning to work within conflict (which
recognizes that while not all conflicts can be resolved, most can be managed with positive
results and success for all involved parties.)
The American Association of University Women identifies five ways that people deal with
conflict:
Compromise: Each party gives a little and gets a little in seeking a resolution.
Competition: One party gets all his or her needs met, while the other gets nothing.
Accommodation: One party gives in, and another gets everything.
Avoidance: Neither party confronts the conflict, and neither gets their needs met.
Collaboration: A problem-solving process where the problem/issue is redefined to
WVWP Newsletter 3 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
find a “win-win” situation where all parties involved get what they need.
Conflict Management:
The criminal justice system is an entire world of conflict; the system is set up that way to uphold the ideals of
justice.
But sometimes that conflict gets in the way of providing services and much needed help to crime victims –
because we can have conflict with the very victims that we work with; we have conflict with co-workers; and
even our conflicts in our personal life (at home) can affect us.
So, in reflecting the thought of learning to work within conflict, here are some strategies I found researching
online:
CONTROL YOUR EMOTIONS
The best conflict management approach (click on this link, it takes you to some great additional information!)
to take on during fights and other conflict that arises is to remain calm at all costs. Nothing is served by
responding in kind to the other person’s contentions, and such incidents will quickly spiral out of your control.
Mastering your emotions takes practice, and preparation, and considerable mental focus on your part,
especially in the face of rising tensions and possible insults and anger from another person.
DON’T MAKE IT PERSONAL
Whatever the conflict, the most crucial approach to resolving conflict is to keep whatever the problem is
confined to the problem itself, and never make it personal. Never allow the conflict to devolve into insults
and personal attacks or character assassination.
Conflict is often a very short-term, explosive affair, but you will likely have a relationship with the other
person long after it is over. Don’t make it worse by allowing you or the other person to make a conflict about
the personal rather than the problem that started it in the first place. Keep the problem and person separated
when you communicate.
ALWAYS BE COURTEOUS
No matter how hot under the collar you get, no matter how high tensions rise, always be courteous to the
other person, always treat them respectfully, even if that respect is not reciprocated. Often simple courtesy
will go a long way to diffusing tense and angry situations, and help all people concerned to come down, walk
back their tensions, and allow everyone a moment to breathe and analyze the situation.
GIVE THE OTHER PERSON TIME AND SPACE IF THEY NEED IT
If the person who has a problem insists on making a huge conflict out of the issue and it seems they need to
blow off some steam, or if they need a little time to themselves to decompress or to mentally regroup, it is
absolutely crucial that you allow them to do so. This is the most effective way to resolve conflict as it allows
everyone to calm down and try to figure out the best way forward to conflict resolution.
In the next newsletter, this article will continue to focus on the subject of Managing Conflict.
WVWP Newsletter 4 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
Contact Us WVWP Board Meeting Minutes
Online Meeting, December 5-9, 2011
WVWP Board Officers
Present: Gayle Patraw, Sue Burr, Llonda Thomas, Nancy Hahn, Michele
Officers
Mehne, Cori Hildebrandt, Jen Dunn, Karn Winberg, Glenna Davis, Holly
Gayle Patraw, President Clappes, Gwen Horton, and Amanda Anhalt
Phone: (608) 326-0299
gayle.patraw@da.wi.gov
Called to order by President Gayle Patraw at 8:53 A.M.
Laura Moffit, Vice President
Phone: (608) 355-3281 Minutes from the previous meeting were approved and carried.
laura.moffit@da.wi.gov
Llonda Thomas, Secretary Treasurer’s Report
Phone: (920) 849-1461
llonda.thomas@da.wi.gov Report as of Dec 2011 was given. Current checking and savings
balances were given. Motion made to approve; Carried.
Sue Burr, Treasurer
Phone: (608) 685-6236
sue.burr@da.wi.gov
Committee Reports
Nancy Hahn, Historian
Phone: (715) 532-2173 I. Conference
nancy.hahn@da.wi.gov a. Update from Jen D. - Anne Seymour has agreed to present. Just
waiting for further details from Anne.
b. Glenna D. reported that David Lisak is available but REALLY
expensive. Llonda T. suggested waiting to see if the OVC grant would
cover him. If not, Steve Dykstra from Milwaukee? Gwen H. and Cori H.
also recommended him and it was agreed we need to keep him in mind
for future conferences if we don’t use him this year.
c. Llonda also noted a speaker that Laura Moffit had suggested, Russell
Strand, US Army. Amanda A. and Jen D. mentioned Dr. Celia
Williamson from Toledo, OH who speaks on Human Trafficking.
d. Sue B. discussed conference gift (windbreaker…will need to indicate
size on registration forms). Also, she’s looking at a boat cruise and
Recently, WVWP had board wine tours for the activity.
representative elections
that will take effect in II. Newsletter/Media
October. We welcome our
all our new and returning a. Update from Nancy H. - Newsletter to go out in January.
board members and look b. Next project will be adding the job description to the forum.
forward to another
productive year. III. Membership
Election results are posted a. Sue B. reported that we are currently receiving membership for2012.
later in this newsletter.
WVWP Newsletter 5 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
New Business
Gayle P. spoke on the reduction to sexual assault victim grants and the reduction of the Part A
surcharge. She mentioned that maybe we need to do a similar campaign as what SAVS is doing.
She would like some thoughts and comments.
Jen D. accepted a position on the Fox Valley Tech Planning/Steering Committee for the State
Victim Assistance Academy and offered to represent WVWP as well.
Jen wrote a grant in October for funds for Crime Victims Rights Week.
Glenna Davis reported on the DOC Crime Victim Advisory Committee, per Shelly Sturdevant. She
indicated they’ve discussed restitution issues and would welcome any concerns to bring back to
that group.
Meeting was adjourned approximately 9:27 A.M. on Dec. 12, 2011 by President Patraw.
Respectfully Submitted,
Llonda Thomas, Secretary
WVWP Newsletter 6 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
Getting to Know Us
Featured Member:
Glenna Davis,
Vilas County V/W Coordinator
Years in Victim/Witness Profession: 17 ½ years
Most fulfilling experience as an advocate:
Receiving thank-you’s from victims. Especially after
those really tough cases finally end.
Most challenging experience as an advocate:
Probably the change of venue Sexual Assault/Enticement, trial that took place 3 counties
away. Very long hours for a week straight. The witnesses had to travel at least 2 ½ hours
every day. And, there were several out of state witnesses to jockey around. Not fun.
Advice to fellow advocates (wisdom, quote):
Never make promises to victims, unless it is something ‘you’ have control over
Last book you read: The Omnivores Dilemma
Last movie you saw: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (TV)
(Inspired from James Lipton’s interviews on “Inside the Actor’s Studio”)
What is your favorite word? Loquacious
What is your least favorite word? Can’t
What noise or sound do you love? My children laughing
What noise or sound do you hate? Knives being sharpened
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? Personal Chef
What profession would you not like to do? Accountant
If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly
Gates? Welcome!
WVWP Newsletter 7 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
WVWP Credential Program –
Renewal and New Applicant Time Period
This is a little early, but since the next newsletter won’t be out for a few months…..
The WVWP Credential Program will be accepting new and renewal credential applications from
November 1st through December 28th, 2012. Much of the application process may be accomplished via
email, if you wish.
Now that the grandfather period for applying for the WVWP Credential has expired, all new credential
applicants must complete 20 modules of a basic victim assistance online course as one of the
credential requirements. Those applying for renewal credentials or upgrading to the next level of
credential will NOT need complete the 20 required modules.
If you already have a credential, please look in the lower right-hand corner to check if your credential
needs to be renewed. (If it says "This credential is effective through December 2012" -- you need to
renew your credential.)
All applications/renewals must be received by Friday, December 28th, 2012.
No late applications will be accepted.
Please return credential applications/renewals to:
Nancy Hahn
Email: nancy.hahn@da.wi.gov
Mail: Rusk County VW Program, 311 East Miner Avenue, Suite L327, Ladysmith, WI 54848
Fax: (715) 532-2267 (but please email if you fax, because the fax goes to a different office and need to
watch for it to come in)
Questions?
Phone: (715) 532-2173 from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM and (715) 532-8510 from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Credential Application:
http://www.wvwp.net/wvwpstandardscomm.html
Please note, these forms may need some updating. So if you find any areas where deadlines have not
been updated, please disregard and refer to the dates located in this article.
A past of recommended Core Training Areas is located at this link on the WVWP Website:
http://www.wvwp.net/wvwpcoretrainingareas.doc and this should provide some pretty good historical
guidance on what IS and what ISN’T a training topic suitable to support your application. Please note;
this is not a comprehensive list, we are aware that as many counties have been stretched thin
financially, their training budgets have been slashed to the bone. In order to be as accommodating as
possible we are including any local workshops or symposiums or seminars/webinars that members
might have been able to take advantage of. Of course, we may not necessarily KNOW what was on
the agendas for those events, so we have left the Core Training Area history up on-line for comparison
and guidance, but it is no longer regularly updated as it is only to provide examples of what kinds of
WVWP Newsletter 8 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
topics are acceptable. If you attended the WVWP Spring Conferences, the conference agenda and
certificate of attendance both break down the training sessions by hours for the credential application.
Another thing to note is that the credential renewal fee is WAIVED if you are a paid WVWP member…
and if you are renewing a credential you should have already completed the questionnaire at the end of
the application. Since this information is not likely to change from year to year, there really isn’t any
reason to fill it all out again… however… if you do have suggestions, ideas, or trends in the profession
you would like to highlight for the WVWP credential committee, you can ALWAYS attach those ideas
and insights. They do get read and often go into formulating the agenda for the next WVWP Spring
Conference.
For renewals, if you have been unable to obtain the 20 hours of training required every two years, these
are some alternatives to consider:
OVC Help Web Forum
http://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ovcproviderforum/
Victim Assistance Online Training
https://www.ovcttac.gov/views/TrainingMaterials/dspOnline_VATOnline.cfm
Identity Theft Victim Assistance Online Training, Supporting Victims Financial and Emotional
Recovery
https://www.ovcttac.gov/views/TrainingMaterials/dspOnline_IdentityTheft.cfm
Webinars through Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
http://bjatraining.org/category/webinars/
Podcasts through Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/podcast.html
If you are a larger office, if Coordinator goes to training and then comes back and holds a
training for the rest of VW office, this can been counted as training. Just have VW Coordinator
from your office document the training, what training they attended that this was based on, date,
and hours.
Possible trainings over the last two years have been (but are not limited to):
Regional Meetings with OCVS
WVWP Spring Conference in May of 2011 and 2012
Wisconsin Serving Victims of Crime Conference, August of 2011 and 2012
Wisconsin Drug Endangered Children Conference, 2011 and 2012
Multi-State Conference in Dubuque, Iowa in May of 2012
WVWP Newsletter 9 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
WVWP Elections
Every year, we have elections to fill
openings on the Wisconsin Victim
Witness Professionals Board of
Directors. Regional representatives
as well as President, Vice
President, and Secretary are
elected by the association for two-
year terms. A board member
cannot serve more than two
consecutive two-year terms.
As election time rolls around each
year, we ask all members of the
association to give serious thought to nominations for regional representatives. If
you have always wanted to be on the WVWP Board, this is your chance. Put your
name down on the nomination form.
The board meets approximately four times a year at a central location in the state.
2012 Election Results:
WVWP is pleased to announce the results of our recent elections for the WVWP Board. These
individuals will start as board representatives in October:
President: Laurie Anderson, Jefferson County Victim/Witness Coordinator
Secretary/Treasurer: Llonda Thomas, Calumet County V/W Coordinator
Northwest Regional Representative: Belinda Cash, Polk County V/W Coordinator
Pam Bellrichard, St. Croix County V/W Coordinator
Southwest Regional Representative: Gayle Patraw, Crawford County V/W Coordinator
Southeast Regional Representative: Jennifer Dunn, Waukesha County V/W Coordinator
At Large Representatives: Tammy Fee, Washburn County Victim/Witness Coordinator
Darla Adams, Grant County Victim/Witness Coordinator
WVWP Newsletter 10 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
Taking time to serve on the WVWP Board takes a personal commitment from each person.
There are many times that board meetings and projects take up some of the limited time we all
have during the day. The entire association should value those that serve on our board –
those individuals have been concerned with our organization receiving quality training topics,
serving as resource points, professionalizing victim/witness, and tracking key legislative efforts
around the state regarding victims.
The WVWP Board would like to thank outgoing board members for their dedication and time
devoted to this organization. Your contributions were truly appreciated and we hope to see
you on the board again in the near future.
WVWP Newsletter 11 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
Contact Us At Our Fingertips:
WVWP Board Members Online Resources for Victim Service
Northwest Region
Providers
(Open)
Karn Winberg, St. Croix County
karn.winberg@da.wi.gov
Sign up for the 2013 National Crime Victims Rights Week (NCVRW)
Guide and Poster. 2013 National Crime Victims Rights Week will be
Northeast Region observed April 21 – 27, 2013. Sign up by November 30, 2012 to receive
Glenna Davis, Vilas County a free copy of the 2013 NCVRW Resource Guide and theme poster.
glenna.davis@da.wi.gov
Jean McSherry, Outagamie County Follow this link:
jean.mcsherry@da.wi.gov
https://puborder.ncjrs.gov/Listservs/Subscribe_NCVRW.asp
Southwest Region
Pela Steiner, Adams County
pela.steiner@da.wi.gov
(Open)
Southeast Region
Jennifer Dunn, Waukesha County
jen.dunn@da.wi.gov
Gwendolyn Horton, Milwaukee County
horton.gwen@da.wi.gov
At Large
Amanda Anhalt, Dodge County
amanda.anhalt@da.wi.gov
Holly Clappes, Sheboygan County
holly.clappes@da.wi.gov Thought for the Day:
Michele Mehne, Juneau County
mehne.michele@da.wi.gov
“The secret of success is constancy of purpose.”
(I just got this in my fortune cookie yesterday--
Nancy Hahn)
WVWP Newsletter 12 Summer Edition – September 2012
Wisconsin Victim/Witness Professionals
Newsletter
2012
Calendar Remembering Cathie Schroeder
03-13-1954 --- 08-04-2012
of Events
We lost a long time member of our organization and a devoted
Victim Witness Coordinator for Door County when Cathie
September Schroeder passed away suddenly on August 4, 2012. We keep
25th -National Day of her family and friends in our thoughts and prayers.
Remembrance for Murder Victims
www.pomc.org
9th -15th National Suicide
Prevention Week You can shed tears that she is gone,
www.suicidology.org or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she'll come back,
National Campus Safety Awareness or you can open your eyes and see all she's left.
Month
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
www.securityoncampus.org
or you can be full of the love you shared.
National Youth Court Month You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
www.youthcourt.net or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.
You can remember her only that she is gone,
Crime Stoppers Month or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
www.c-s-i.org You can cry and close your mind,
be empty and turn your back.
October Or you can do what she'd want:
21st – 27th America’s Safe smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
Schools Week
www.schoolsafety.us
By: David Harkins
Domestic Violence Awareness
Month
www.ncadv.org
National Crime Prevention Month
www.ncpc.org
National Bullying Prevention
Awareness Month
www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org
November
November-December Tie One on
for Safety (MADD)
http://www.madd.org/local-
offices/co/tie-one-on-for-safety.html
WVWP Newsletter 13 Summer Edition – September 2012
