Domestic and Sexual Violence in Virginia - Virginia Attorney General

a Basic Child and Youth Advocacy training curriculumfor domestic violence advocates.In 2007 and 2008, the partnering domestic violenceprograms implemented, tested and evaluated the newservice enhancement strategies in their shelters andcommunities. They also created guidelines for otherdomestic violence programs to enhance services tochildren and their non-abusing parents.The Art of SurvivingIn April 2007, VSDVAA launched The Art of Survivingexhibit, a powerful exhibit of artwork and poetry createdby survivors of sexual violence. In 2007, the Artof Surviving exhibit included a 4-part lecture seriesin Charlottesville entitled “Sexual Violence, ArtisticExpression, and Spirituality: The Connections,” as wellas a traveling exhibit that was shown at various locationsin Virginia, including at the Virginia Foundation for theHumanities, at a meeting of the Governor’s Commissionon Sexual Violence, and at the Hopewell Public Library.In 2008, VSDVAA worked with MettaKnowledge forPeace and the University of Virginia (UVA) Library torequest funding from the Virginia Foundation for the“As an incest survivor, I have managed to forgiveand continue with my life anyway. I am very happyand finally at peace with the world. All of mylife experiences have helped mold me into a veryoptimistic being. My paintings reflect the joy ofbeing alive and still in awe of what life can bring.”“Rapture” by Gerry MitchellHumanities to create an Art of Surviving website andonline digital exhibition. The UVA Library professionallydigitized all of the artwork for the online exhibit,which can be viewed at www.artofsurviving.org.The Red Flag CampaignOne in five college studentsreport violence by a currentdating partner. The Red FlagCampaign is an innovativebystander intervention campaigndesigned to address andpromote the prevention ofdating violence among collegestudents. The campaignfeatures a series of posters, anonline resource center (www.TheRedFlagCampaign.org), and an extensive Red Flag Campaign Campus PlanningGuide.The campaign poster series depicts racially and ethnicallydiverse students, as well as students in same-sex relationships,and addresses a wide spectrum of indicators for datingviolence, including stalking, jealousy, isolation, sexualassault, emotional abuse, victim-blaming and coercion.The online resource center offers college students helpfulinformation related to preventing dating violence,the hallmarks of healthy relationships, and how to accesssupport and crisis services, if needed. The Campus PlanningGuide provides concrete suggestions to colleges anduniversities for using the campaign to enhance currentcampus programming.The campaign was created collaboratively by VSDVAA,college students and campus personnel, and communityvictim advocates, in partnership with the Verizon Foundation.The campaign has been recognized nationally,including as a model “Innovative Coalition to AddressSexual Assault and Dating Violence” by the United StatesDepartment of Education’s Center for Alcohol and OtherDrug Abuse and Violence Prevention. The campaign’sevaluative components were also featured as in an articleon VAWnet (Violence Against Women Net-November2007) that highlighted promising practices in evaluatingpublic awareness campaigns.Used with permission from the Virginia Sexual and DomesticViolence Action Alliance26