Request for Proposals Culturally Specific Sexual Assault Services & Prevention Activities The Office of Crime Victims Advocacy (OCVA) is announcing a competitive request for proposals (RFP) to support efforts to provide culturally specific services for people affected by sexual assault. Eligible applicants must be by and for the communities they serve. This is a competitive RFP process with funding available from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027. Applicants may…
As many of you know, OCVA has welcomed several new staff over the past few months, and we have seen some folks promote into new roles. We are excited to share a few updates. New Faces Name and pronouns: Mikah Semrow, they/them/theirs Current role at OCVA: Section Manager, Sexual Assault Services Previous role or a bit about your background: I’ve worked in many different types of grantee organizations related to sexual assault,…
Labor trafficking is occurring in our state. It intersects with domestic and sexual violence, and it affects individuals, families and communities.
Dulce Zamora (she/her) has recently joined OCVA’s Victims of Crime (VOC) program as a Program Coordinator. In this role, Dulce will be monitoring grants to ensure programs are achieving goals and objectives, will assist with the development of applications and request for proposals, and will develop financial documentation and tracking systems. Dulce will also participate in program planning and the development of processes, projects, and policies. Dulce was interested in…
Jorey Stine (she/her) recently joined OCVA’s Violence Against Women (VAWA) program. Jorey is the Domestic Violence Legal Advocacy (DVLA) program manager. In this role, Jorey will focus on ensuring grantees are fulfilling the needs of survivors in their communities in trauma-informed methods that use best practices, including robust community responses to gender-based violence. Jorey was drawn to OCVA because she wants to continue being engaged in crime victim advocacy and…
Senate Bill 5395, passed by the legislature and Washington voters in 2020, requires all public schools to provide comprehensive sexual health education by the 2022-23 school year. Instruction must be age-appropriate, medically and scientifically accurate, and inclusive of all students, using language and strategies that recognize all members of protected classes. Implementation requirements vary by grade. See OSPI’s website for additional information about the law’s requirements. The curricula must include…
Introducing Jodi Honeysett, the New Section Manager for OCVA’s Violence Against Women (VAWA) Program
We are excited to share that Jodi Honeysett (she/her) is the new Section Manager for the Violence Against Women Program (VAWA) within the Office of Crime Victims Advocacy. Above is a picture of Jodie wearing her crime fighting uniform. She states “I don’t really enjoy fighting evil, but it does give me an outlet for all the energy that coffee gives me.” – Jodi Jodi steps into this role with…
The Crime Victims Fund will soon have additional revenues thanks to the passage of H.R. 1652 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021. This is commonly referred to as the VOCA Fix. President Joe Biden signed the VOCA Fix on July 22, 2021. Passage of the VOCA Fix is a monumental victory for the future of victim services nationally and in Washington…
The statewide facility and courthouse dog family is growing! We are pleased that VOCA Child Advocacy Center Initiative funding supports these trained canines who provide compassionate support to child and adult victims and witnesses. This post is an update to a blog post we published in January 2020 about courthouse dogs and the work they do. Not only is it fun to look at pictures of dogs, but OCVA helps…
The 2021 Washington state legislative session is in the books! Despite things looking different this year, with most sessions and hearings being held virtually, there are bills that passed that will have a positive impact on crime victims in Washington state. A few of these bills, which specifically impact OCVA, are summarized below. HB 1315 Creating a task force to identify the role of the workplace in helping curb domestic…