Who should attend?

This training is intended for anyone who wishes to further their knowledge on the dynamics of domestic violence and the impact that it has on our community, children, friends, and family.

Training Topics:

• Overview of Domestic Violence
• Lethality & Risk Assessment
• Effects of Exposure to Domestic Violence on Children
• Neuropsychology of Trauma Exposure
• Forensic, Court and Law Enforcement Perspectives

Click here to download registration form: IPV Registration Form

Registration must be received no later than June 3, 2013.

For more information, please contact Amanda Holcomb at (540) 985-0131 ext. 110 or amandah@councilofcommunityservices.org.

For more information about the Family Violence Coordinating Council, click here.

Volunteer patches lives a bit at a time

Brian Wilson’s been refurbishing old computers and giving them to kids, schools and nonprofit agencies for four years. So far hes refurbished over 100 computers! Way to go Brian!

We’re feeling totally inspired! Are you? If so, we can help! HandsOn Blue Ridge (a program of the Council of Community Services) can connect you to volunteer oppportunities right here in our community.

“Every year, HandsOn Blue Ridge links several thousand area residents with roughly 70 nonprofit agencies. It helps the agencies figure out ways to use volunteers’ help more effectively, and can help people find just the right way to pitch in, said director Alison Jorgensen.” – Ress, David. “Volunteer patches lives a bit at a time.” Roanoke Times 1 Mar. 2013 http://roanoke.com/news/1736372-12/volunteer-patcheslives-a-bit-at-a-time.html

HandsOn Blue Ridge has a new website, http://www.handsonblueridge.org/, where nonprofits can post their needs and volunteers can connect to them!

Norfolk Southern Foundation received a record number of grants for 2013 funding, requesting over $15M. $2M funding dollars were available. The foundation stated that this was by far the most competitive year. We are honored to have been chosen!

The foundation also noted that next year’s application process will move online next July. Details should be available beginning in June for online applications. Online applications will only be accepted in the future. http://www.nscorp.com/nscportal/nscorp/Community/NS%20Foundation/.

As you may have heard, our President, Pam Kestner is leaving the Council of Community Services… but it’s only temporary. Pam has been selected by Governor McDonnell to fill a new position as the Homeless Outcomes Coordinator within the Office of the Secretary of Health & Human Services. Pam is excited about her new role and is eager to assist the Governor in achieving his goal of reducing the incidence of homelessness throughout the Commonwealth.

The Council’s Board of Directors has appointed Dan Merenda to serve as President during Pam’s twelve month sabbatical. Dan has been with the Council for 6 years as Vice President of Planning & Consultation. Dan comes to the position with an extensive experience in nonprofit management.

With excited changes comes much press! Click below to read some of the featured articles from the Roanoke Times.

6/23/2012: Kestner appointed to state agency

6/24/2012: A shift in priorities on homelessness

6/25/2012: Fincastle man named interim president of Council of Community Services

If you’re looking for skills in specific areas of nonprofit management,
then explore what the NRC has to offer. Classes are open to everyone including
nonprofit management, staff, directors, volunteers, and other interested
individuals.

Click here for full course list.

Click here for registration!

By Sheila Ellis and Miranda Beck

The Roanoke Times

The heart-wrenching story of toddler
Aveion Lewis garnered national attention and inspired a gathering of child
advocacy groups and the Roanoke Valley community to discuss child abuse
awareness and resources Tuesday night.

About 100 parents, teachers, elected
officials and child care professionals joined in on the conversation titled
“It Takes a Valley: A Community Forum on Child Protection.”

The event at Patrick Henry High
School was partly sparked from concerns surrounding the Aveion case, said
Shannon Brabham with the Roanoke County Department of Social Services.

“There was a lot of need to
educate the community in the roles different people and organizations
played,” Brabham said. “But also how they work together.”

The panel addressed how to report
child abuse and the roles each panelist and their organization or institution
have in the process to protect children.

The panelists were Jane Conlin,
Roanoke Department of Social Services; Janice Dinkins Davidson, Children’s
Trust of Roanoke Valley; Robin Haldiman, CHIP of Roanoke Valley; Dr. Don Kees,
pediatrician; Sgt. Tim Spence, Roanoke Police Department; and Philip Trompeter,
Roanoke County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court judge.

They explained child abuse is
divided into four types: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional
maltreatment.

Every 84 minutes in Virginia, a
child is abused or neglected, and every eight days a child dies from abuse or
neglect, according to the Virginia Department of Social Services.

Haldiman discussed shaken baby
syndrome and new specialized training that is being offered showing parents the
effects on an infant’s brain when they are shaken.

Many people are afraid to report
child abuse, said Sammi Rader of the Family Violence Coordinating Council.

“It’s one of those things we
talk about and read about in the paper, but a lot of people don’t understand
the procedures [to report child abuse],” said Kristy White, a guidance
coordinator at Patrick Henry for 10 years. “The main thing here is
prevention.”

All reports are confidential and
names are never released, the panelists emphasized.

“We need the community to call
us and not be afraid to call us,” Brabham said. “I don’t think that
fear is always the reason, I think sometimes people don’t know what information
to give us.”

In order for a report to the
Department of Social Services to not be screened out, the abuser has to have a
caretaking relationship with the child (otherwise the abuse is considered
assault), and there must be “something that’s happening that is
detrimental to the child,” Conlin said.

Kees said part of his job is
figuring out if a child’s injury is accidental or intentional.

He said some abuse is hard to
diagnose, like if a child is being fondled or forced to watch pornography.

“None of that leaves a physical
mark,” he said.

Among the attendees were Gail Warren
and her daughter, Melissa Brown, with Blessed Assurance day care in Roanoke. As
child care providers, they’re required to keep up with training, 12 hours a
year, and this community forum provided some of that.

“I think it helps us to be
aware what facilities are available and to keep up with our children’s
rights,” Warren said.

Carilion is partnering with Roanoke Valley organizations to conduct a comprehensive health survey. Please take time to complete the survey. The survey will take less than 15 minutes to complete.
The information you provide will be confidential and your name and address will not be linked to any of the information collected.

Click the link below to access the survey. Thank you.

http://inspired.cc/rvhs