Photo By Staff Sgt. Raquel Birk | Members of 5th Armored Brigade Sexual Harassment Assault Response and Prevention teams...... read more read more
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – Members of 5th Armored Brigade Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention teams attended the 49th Annual National Organization for Victim Assistance Training Conference to enhance the unit’s commitment to serve and resource sexual assault survivors here July 31- Aug. 3.
The national conference boasted various subject-matter experts and workshops to enhance skill sets and foster networking between the more than 2000 attendees consisting of U.S. military SHARP professionals and their counterparts across other government agencies, victim advocates, and crisis responders.
“As a victim advocate, I found the NOVA conference to be a great opportunity to brainstorm with other professionals in the field during the workshops,” said Sgt. 1st Class Stephanique J. Jones, victim advocate with TF Viper, 2-364th TSBN. “Our goal is to provide the best support and care to survivors and help them make an informed decisions, so the more we learn from others, the more we can offer.”
NOVA also serves with credentialling through the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Advocate Certification Program (D-SAACP), which was established to standardize sexual assault response to victims and professionalize victim advocacy roles of Sexual Assault Response Coordinators and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Victim Advocates through continued skill-based education.
““I joined NOVA to grow my knowledge of D-SAACP and help new and credentialed victim advocates navigate the process of credentialing,” said Alisa M. Winchester, NOVA D-SAACP manager and human resources first lieutenant with 85th U.S. Army Reserves Command. “My work as a victim advocate for TF Viper, 2-309th Training Support Battalion, 5th AR Bde. last year set the foundation for helping others which I hope to continue by advancing the field of victim advocacy and connecting to a leading professional network in education, training, and development with the NOVA community.”.”
This year’s NOVA conference theme, ‘the power of connection,’ resonated with attendees.
“This was the most beneficial conference to me in my five years serving as a victim advocate because I was able to connect with other victim advocates within the command and across our nation,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jackie E. Holland, D-SAACP certified victim advocate with Task Force Conquer, 1-289th Training Support Battalion. “Additionally, we were able to learn more about the Independent Review Committee findings and changes that are being made. I discovered that President Joe Biden had just signed an executive order designating a Special Trial Counsel for sexual assault cases removing the decision to prosecute away from commanders.”
On July 28, just days before the conference kicked off, President Biden signed an order removing key-decision making power from commanders and transferred to independent military prosecutors.
“The changes that are projected to take place this December include adding more full-time civilian personnel to the SHARP Program,” said Loquitta Collier, 5th Armored Brigade victim advocate. “In theory, I believe this makes it easier for uniformed personnel to come forward with a sexual harassment or sexual assault report to someone who is not a member of their chain of command. The NOVA conference revealed new changes to the SHARP program taking effect next year, which is a step towards positive change, and I look forward to the program’s progression.”
Guest speaker Mayra Guillen, founder of the I am Vanessa Guillen Foundation and policy reform advocate, highlighted the timeline of major events that led to historic reform to the uniformed code of military justice.
“Advocacy has led to an executive order by President Biden establishing sexual harassment as a military offense Jan. 26, 2022, which will protect our service members and give justice and accountability to silenced victims,” said Guillen. “My sister Vanessa [Guillen] was a very kind-hearted, determined person and I know that she would of wanted me to keep going… so for us to be here today, with just this past Friday, one of the greatest reforms was signed by President Biden which transfers key decision-making authorities from commanders to specialized, independent military prosecutors in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, and other serious offenses by amending the UCMJ, I hope she is proud of everything we have been able to do in her honor.”
The U.S. Army's SHARP Program is the Army's integrated, proactive effort to end sexual harassment and sexual assault within our ranks. Sexual harassment and sexual assault have no place in the Armed Forces. For more information on the SHARP program, please visit www.safehelpline.org or call 1-877-995-5247.
| Date Taken: | 08.09.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2023 16:26 |
| Story ID: | 451076 |
| Location: | NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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