No group of West Virginians better exemplifies real courage than the network of child advocacy centers across our state. Since the start of April—Child Abuse Prevention Month—we’ve been sharing some of the remarkable work each of the 21 CACs have done over the past year. Throughout 2020, each center grew, stretched, and remained firmly rooted to ensure that every child received the very best care in a time of unprecedented need. Our CACs SHINE, and for that reason, and so many more, we are proud to honor them as Centers of Courage in the West Virginia Child Advocacy Network. Join us in thanking them for their courage and dedication to WV kids and families! ... See MoreSee Less
📣 2021 Visionary Voice Award 📣At a time when many agencies and businesses were either closing or focusing on reducing their services because of the pandemic, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia staff stepped into action over their concern for how victims would access protective orders during that stressful time. The outcome is the piloting of virtual services for victims in four of the most highly populated areas of the state, enabling victims to both file protective orders and participate in virtual hearings from the safety of their local rape crisis center. Recognizing that the need for safety will extend past COVID-19, such services will be expanded if the pilot project substantiates the anticipated outcome that such services will increase both access and support for victims. The focus on protective orders brought to the forefront the lack of electronic access by law enforcement to the confidential sexual assault and stalking protective order. Plans are underway to statutorily address that gap, which puts victims at risk. Simultaneously, a long-awaited revision to the sexual violence bench book was implemented, with the coalition given the opportunity to review the entire document and offer suggestions for consideration. Planning also began for a series of coalition-facilitated webinars for the state’s magistrates and judges in mid-2021. Many of these were ‘bucket list’ items for the coalition, which collectively demonstrate the Court’s efforts to fully address the needs of sexual assault victims in West Virginia. Thank you, Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia! ... See MoreSee Less
*CONTENT WARNING: Sexual Assault Statistics*April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Here are some statistics from RAINN about how often sexual assault occurs in the United States: ... See MoreSee Less