VOICES

SURVIVOR TO “THRIVER”: A CELEBRATION OF RESILIENCE

On June 24, 2021, more than 175 DVS supporters gathered virtually for the annual Spring Gala/Celebration, “Survivor to Thriver: A Celebration of Resilience”. The Celebration raised over $85,000 to support DVS programs and services.

The event featured a keynote conversation with former Pittsburgh Steeler William Gay, who lost his mother to domestic violence homicide at an early age and has channeled that experience into activism to support survivors. We also honored the journeys of several local individuals who survived abusive relationships and now are thriving in the lives they have designed for themselves and their families.

At the event, DVS presented the 2021 Catalyst for Change Award to Linda Gort, CRNP. In her over 30 years as a Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner at Union Community Care and other healthcare settings, Linda has touched thousands of lives and connected as many victims of intimate partner violence to the care and help they needed to survive – and thrive! Tremendous gratitude to our 2021 Spring Celebration Sponsors:

Visionary ($10,000) Sharon Hargrave

Dreamer ($5,000) Peg Brown, UPMC Health Plan

Benefactor ($2,500) Tony & Sherry Chivinski, Linda Gort & Lenny Walton, Fran & Mike Kane, Mutual of America

Friend ($1,000): Angie’s Custom Cleaning LLC, EHD, HDC, Highmark, McNees, Wallace & Nurick LLC, Office Basics, T.W. Ponessa & Associates, Shumacher, PDT, Tenfold, Union Community Care Patron ($500) Alegre Events, Anonymous (CAP BOD), Forrest & Kitty Collier, DavCo, Kate & Steve Duke, Fulton Bank, Giant, Alan R. Jacobs, Lefevre Funk Architects, Barbra & Tom Smithgall

Thank you to all the donors of our Live and Silent Auction items…and to Baker’s Uprising for providing delicious dessert boxes for our watch parties.

Christine Gilfillan, Vanessa Phibert (CEO), Kristy Aurand (CDO)

Vanessa P. interviews William Gay

Top left: Linda Gort with friends Bottom left: Dana G. Sarah G. & Kristen M. with friends Bottom right: Angela K. & Earldine T.

From the Director Christine Gilfillan

Dear Friends of DVS,

As I write this letter, summer is winding down, and a new school year is beginning. At the same time, COVID continues to impact our immediate environs and the world in a profound way. DVS remains committed to providing the full range of our services and resources with the recommended precautions in place.

Certain things have changed about the way we deliver our services and many of those changes may be permanent. For example, delivering our Community Counseling services remotely has resulted in a 25% increase in clients served from fiscal year 2019-20 to 2020-21, easing COVID concerns, transportation concerns, and providing better access to the service. Our attorneys continue to hold PFA consultations over the phone, which is more convenient for most of their clients. In the future, we may offer both options.

There were many other successes this year! On June 24, DVS held its second successful all-virtual Spring Gala/Celebration, raising over $85,000 to support our services and programs. We interviewed former Pittsburgh Steeler William Gay about how domestic violence changed his life and honored a “healthcare hero” and long-time DVS supporter, Linda Gort, CRNP with our 2021 Catalyst for Change Award. Please see our Gala recap in this issue.

DVS’ Team affirmed our commitment to growth and organization-wide culture change by embarking upon an 18-month initiative to earn a trauma-informed certification by working with the Traumatic Stress Institute (TSI) of Klingberg Family Centers. TSI is an internationally-recognized leader in field of trauma-informed care and envisions a world where organizations and service systems fully embrace and embed trauma-informed care (TIC) so that ALL trauma survivors who enter their doors heal and thrive.

To accomplish this, in Spring 2021 DVS formed a TIC Leadership Team and Task Force, hosted Risking Connection, a three-day foundational trauma training, for all staff, and credentialed three DVS team members as Train-the-Trainers to sustain the initiative. Scientifically-based program evaluation will track our outcomes, including our progress at developing the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs and ultimately, the practices to implement TIC.

We look forward to recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), shining the light on this critical issue that impacts so many individuals, our neighborhoods and workplaces, and our communities. Our DVAM committee is hard at work planning a slate of events featuring the Silent Witness Project and Speaking Witness, which honor survivor’s lives and stories. Together we will celebrate the journeys of those who have moved from survivor…to “thriver.”

Thank you for your commitment to DVS and to domestic violence survivors. We are so grateful for your continuing support over this past year! We couldn’t do this without you.

Wishing you love, safety and peace in your homes…

DVS provides trauma-informed direct services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and their children in Lancaster County, as well as community awareness, education, and prevention programming. Direct services include 24-hour hotline and text line, Safe House/emergency shelter, Counseling, Children’s Programming, the Domestic Violence Legal Center (DVLC), and Bridge House/transitional housing.

In 2020, DVS provided services to 1,788 victims and survivors of domestic violence.

1,331 were served by the DVLC; of these, 417 were represented by DVLC attorneys, and 491 were accompanied to court. 136 survivors received Community Counseling services.

188 adults and children resided in the DVS Safe House for a total of 8,195 “shelter nights” 18 families, including 25 children, resided at DVS’ Bridge House transitional housing.

Counselor/Advocates answered 693 hotline calls and texts. Legal advocates drafted 85 Protection From Abuse (PFA) petitions. Volunteers provided 1,290 hours of direct service.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

“DVS is a catalyst to end domestic violence in Lancaster County through direct service, advocacy, and social change.”

DVAM is an opportunity to reach further, to all parts of the Lancaster County community, and let people know that we’re here, and celebrate those who were empowered to change their lives with support of DVS.

This year we invite you to join us in recognizing those in our community who have walked through the darkness of abuse in their relationships to create a life in which they thrive: Survivor to Thriver: A Celebration of Resilience. Follow us on Facebook. Make a donation. Join us for a DVAM event (details at: www.caplanc.org/dvam). Get trained to volunteer with us. • 10/1: Kickoff media event at Ware Center, downtown Lancaster • 10/1: Silent Witness Display at Ware Center for

First Friday 6-8p • 10/22: Wear Purple! #EndDV • 10/25: Ephrata Public Library Book Discussion: The Invisible Bruise • 10/27: Survivor Speak Out virtual event • 10/28: Eastern Lancaster County Library Book

Discussion: The Invisible Bruise

Throughout the Month: • The Silent Witness Project will be at the Ware

Center, Ephrata Public Library, local colleges, and other selected sites throughout Lancaster

County • Business partners (locations listed at: www. caplanc.org/dvam)

Living the American Dream

Survivor Story

Pursuing the American Dream

As I said good-bye to Ahn this morning, I thought about how courageous and resilient she has been and continues to be. Several years ago she came to United States alone to make a new life for herself and pursue the “American Dream.” At that time, she spoke no English and knew no one. She did not realize how challenging this move would be. She was vulnerable and victimized by people who took advantage of that vulnerability. She was forced to work in shady businesses to survive, with long hours and poor wages. Even in the face of this adversity, she blossomed! She fell in love and married.

We met Ahn after a neighbor called the police when they heard her screams. Her husband was beating her again. She broke free and ran outside. The police arrived, arrested her husband and phoned the DVS hotline. When I met Ahn on Sunday morning she was bruised and fearful. Using the free interpretation services provided by the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center (PIRC) I was able to explain our services and identify her immediate needs. Beyond safe housing, we connected Ahn with our Legal Center for a Protection From Abuse Order and proceeding with a divorce. As we came to know her at DVS, we learned she is a wonderful cook. While at the Safe House she made dishes from her native country to share with fellow residents and staff. We enjoyed her bright smile and caring ways as she healed from the abuse she had suffered – from the person that she believed loved her.

Days and weeks passed and although Ahn was safe, warm, and with others in the Safe House, there was no one who shared her language and she continued to feel lonely and isolated. She decided to move to a larger city to see if she could find housing, work, and a larger community with her native language.

Although Ahn’s story doesn’t end here, it is a success story. She is free of the abuse and now has the resources she needs…to move from survivor to thriver and live her American Dream.

## This story was told by a Domestic Violence Advocate ##

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call DVS’s 24/7 hotline: 717.299.1249 or text SAFE to 61222.

DVS LAUNCHES TRAUMA-INFORMED INITIATIVE

According to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA), “Knowledge about the prevalence and impact of trauma has grown to the point that it is now universally understood that almost all of those seeking services in the public health system have trauma histories.” DVS supports trauma survivors – both adults and children - every day. Trauma-informed care is within our area of expertise and we are leaning even deeper into this in 2021.

DVS has partnered with the Traumatic Stress Institute of the Klingberg Family Centers to enact a “cultural shift,” utilizing a Whole Systems Change Model, to increase the efficacy of our trauma-informed services. This shift provides DVS with the opportunity to provide necessary training for staff and to create policies and procedures that better support our work with survivors.

Christine Gilfillan, DVS Director, has prioritized the TSI Whole Systems Change because, “it provides a framework and context for what survivors have experienced and for their varying responses to the ‘helpers’ that try so hard to engage with them. Simply put, it helps us to understand. It will also help us to fully recognize and mitigate the vicarious trauma experienced by our team members, and that is one of our priorities at DVS.”

“To heal, a traumatized person must risk connecting with caring helpers who are different from those of their past. Over time people can learn to put their trust in helpers and move beyond the wounds of the past.”

-Traumatic Stress Institute

DVS is also proud to be part of “Trauma-Informed Lancaster,” a community-wide initiative dedicated to understanding the impact of trauma, supporting trauma survivors, and equipping organizations to do this important work.

Amber Wolf Millersville University

MEET THE INTERNS

Allison Young Lancaster Bible College

Jennie Annese Millersville University

Kim Webb Millersville University

Emily Meler Millersville University

DVS is pleased to work with Master’s and Bachelor’s level interns from colleges and universities from throughout the area as well as on-line schools each semester. Interns receive specialized training and work alongside direct services staff to provide counseling, case management, legal advocacy, and other critical functions at DVS. For internship inquiries, please contact Angela Keen, AKeen@caplanc.org.

Alisha

Welcome to the Team

Meet Alisha & Nelida

Nelida “Nelly”

DVS is excited to have Alisha and Nelly join our team and share their rich experience with those we serve in the community. Alisha and Nelly serves as Counselors and Advocates.

Alisha is an Empowerment Counselor/Advocate who will support safe house and community counseling clients through: empowerment counseling, finding housing, connecting to community resources and answering the 24-hour hotline.

Alisha joined DVS in June 2021. She was drawn to DVS and the services we offer because she has friends and family who have been affected by domestic violence and wants to offer support to others in similar situations. In her role, Alisha hopes to help clients realize their value and worth and to help them learn to break the cycle of violence in their relationships.

Alisha connects her work with clients to the DVS values: Empowerment and Compassion. “I truly believe that when you believe in yourself, you can change your whole life. That your self-respect determines how you allow people to treat you and behave in your presence. Having the clients realize and build back up their self esteem is super important to them and to me. And you have to have compassion in this work. It needs to be your driving factor.”

Outside of work, Alisha enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking her dogs, reading, watching documentaries, cooking, and crafting. Nelly is part of our Direct Services Team at the Safe House as an Empowerment Counselor/Advocate. In this role, Nelly will work with Spanish-speaking safe house residents working towards goals of: economic stability and safe housing and offering empowerment counseling and supporting the 24-hour hotline. Nelly will also offer support and counseling to clients who are participate in the DV Transitional Housing Program we have in partnership with the Factory Ministries in Eastern Lancaster County.

Nelly joined DVS in June 2021. Her lifelong belief that women support women and commitment to equal rights drew her to the DVS opportunity. She comes from a family of survivors, including her own experience of surviving an abusive relationship. Nelly reflected on that experience: “It took me some time to recognize that what happened within my relationship was absolutely not ok. Reconciling the idea that someone who I thought loved me, could do such terrible, destructive things to me (and to themselves) was difficult to understand.”

Nelly learned to advocate for herself and hopes to positively impact the lives of all victims/survivors with her humanitarian values of compassion and respect, walking alongside them and helping them navigate difficult processes.