Victim Services Division
Webinars
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Victim Services Division (VSD) Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) hosts a webinar series designed for criminal justice professionals, victim service professionals and victims. Webinar topics cover a wide range of victim related topics. To register for currently scheduled webinars or to view recordings of previously hosted webinars, please visit the link listed for each session you wish to attend and enter your data.
Upcoming Webinars
Coerced Debt – what is it and why does it matter?
Date:Thursday, September 19, 2019
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Presented by:Ann Baddour, Carla Sanchez-Adams, Angela Littwin, representing the Texas Coalition on Coerced Debt
Description: In this webinar, we will define what coerced debt is, when and how it occurs, and how to help victims of coerced debt.
Registration Link: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/e57tfn268pzo/event/registration.html
Access: The webinar registration link will send you through a process that will prompt you to create a one-time login ID and password and gathersome basic information from you for grant purposes. Adobe Connect will send you an email confirming your registration and include a link to the webinar. This link is only active the day of the webinar. You can use the Adobe Connect ID and password you createdon all future TDCJ VSD webinars.
Implementing a Tree of Angels ®
Date: Thursday, August 22, 2019
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Presented by: Verna Lee Carr, Executive Advisor of People Against Violent Crime
Description: The Tree of Angels is a meaningful Christmas program specifically held in memory and support of victims of violent crime. The Tree of Angels allows your community to recognize that the holiday season is a difficult time for families and friends who have suffered the crushing impact of a violent crime. This special event honors and supports surviving victims and victims’ families by making it possible for loved ones to bring an angel ornament to place on a Christmas tree. The first program was implemented in December 1991 by People Against Violent Crime (PAVC) in Austin, Texas. Over the past 28 years, the Tree of Angels has become a memorable tradition observed throughout Texas in many communities, providing comfort, hope, support, and healing. This webinar will discuss how to implement a Tree of Angels event.
Registration Link: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/eh1ya696itxv/event/registration.html
Access: The webinar registration link will send you through a process that will prompt you to create a one-time login ID and password and gather some basic information from you for grant purposes. Adobe Connect will send you an email confirming your registration and include a link to the webinar. This link is only active the day of the webinar. You can use the Adobe Connect ID and password you created on all future TDCJ VSD webinars.
Previous Webinars
You will need Adobe Flash Player to launch the previously recorded webinars. If you don't have the latest version, download it here: Adobe Flash Player download.
ASK about Suicide to Save a Life
Presented By: Merily Keller and Lisa Sullivan
This webinar will provide an overview of the basic epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior, including risk and protective factors. Participants are trained to recognize warning signs—behaviors and characteristics that might indicate elevated risk for suicidal behavior—and how to intervene with a person they think might be at risk for suicide. Attendees are also trained to gather more information about a person’s risk and take action consistent with that risk if they identify a person who is not acutely suicidal.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® - Programs and Services
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (“NCMEC”) is a non—profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. Since 1984, NCMEC has served as the national clearinghouse and resource center for families, victims, private organizations, law enforcement and the public on issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children. This presentation will provide participants knowledge of the free resources provided by NCMEC in cases of missing or exploited youth.
Children's Advocacy Centers: Comprehensive Services for Families Impacted by Child Abuse
Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) support and coordinate the efforts of the multidisciplinary teams that investigate child abuse cases. In addition, CACs offer free, comprehensive, trauma-focused services to child victims and their families. This webinar will focus on what CACs do, the services they provide, and their role within a community.
Comparing Juvenile & Adult Probation
Both Juvenile Probationand Community Supervision and Correction Departments (Adult Probation) are correction agencies and supervise offenders. Yet, both systems differ in their approach. This webinar will explore these differences, and review how juvenile offenders can transferto the adult system.
Each year, between 140 and 160 officers are killed in the line of duty with an average of 11 to 15 of those being from Texas and their families and co-workers are left to cope with the tragic loss. C.O.P.S. provides resources to help them rebuild their shattered lives. There is no membership fee to join C.O.P.S., for the price paid is already too high. With Texas covering more than 268,000 square miles, we currently have 4 Chapters to serve its survivors. These Texas Chapters help with filing for benefits after a Line Of Duty Death (LODD), assist families during the Texas State Memorial and National Police Week as well as helping them get to a Hands On Program that are administered by the National Office in Camdenton, Missouri. During this presentation we will not only talk about C.O.P.S., who we are and what we do but how the Texas Chapters of C.O.P.S. are here for you and your agency as well as your families after a Line of Duty Death.
Crime Victims' Rights and Services: Prosecution
This webinar will discuss crime victims' rights, mandates and best practices regarding victim services in the prosecution phase with focus on the Victim Impact Statement and managing expectations.
Domestic Violence & Community Outreach
Presented By: Elizabeth Knapp - Victim Service Coordinator - Cedar Park Police Department
This webinar will discuss community outreach and awareness for domestic violence. Topics include how to plan, who to involve, the effects of community outreach, how to help reach the underserved population of victims, and more. By attending this webinar, professionals in community outreach programs will have the opportunity to increase and share their knowledge and experiences on hosting community events.
The webinar will provide participants with tips and techniques for working with victims of crime to ensure they are treated with compassion and respect. The webinar will focus on communication that is victim sensitive both over the phone and in person.
Go Purple! Survivor Centered Safety Planning Honoring Texas Victims
Every year, the Texas Council on Family Violence tells the stories of the women killed by their male intimate partners in Texas. This is the way for us as a state to honor those women, hold offenders accountable, and challenge our communities to continue to improve domestic violence systems and services. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and TCFV’s Honoring Texas Victims Report for 2016 is being released. This webinar will delve into the trends and issues highlighted in the 2016 report and offer a deep dive into safety planning techniques that advocates can do collaboratively and supportively with survivors and their families.
Victim Services Providers recognize that the holiday season is particularly difficult for families in which someone has died by homicide. This seminar will offer practical suggestions for reaching out to these families appropriately and effectively.
Date Presented: March 21, 2019
Presented by:
Victoria Walker, Outreach Manager with National Center for Missing and Exploited Children(NCMEC), Texas Regional Office
Description: While it is difficult to quantify accurately the number of children currently victimized through child sex trafficking, Texas has the second highest number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. One in six reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) were likely the victims of sex trafficking, and 86% of those victims were in the care of social services or foster care when they went missing.
NCMEC is committed to preventing child sexual exploitation and trafficking, both online and offline. This presentation will aid participants in identifying: 1) vulnerable youth; 2) indicators of child sex trafficking; 3) lures that traffickers use to groom and recruit victims; and 4) resources available for preventing the foster care to commercial sex trade pipeline. NCMEC is committed to preventing child sexual exploitation and trafficking, both online and offline. This presentation will aid participants in identifying: 1) vulnerable youth; 2) indicators of child sex trafficking; 3) lures that traffickers use to groom and recruit victims; and 4) resources available for preventing the foster care to commercial sex trade pipeline.
Link to recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/pmvle66lzmrd/
Interstate Compact, what is it and how does it work?
Presented by: Tina Balandran and Jocelyn Angton of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Interstate Compact Office
Description: This webinar will help you understand the Texas Interstate Compact, why it exists and explain the process. The mission of the Texas Interstate Compact is to successfully facilitate the transfer of adult offenders placed on probation and parole whose supervision needs to be transferred to a state or territory other than the state or territory of conviction
Recording Link: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/pjrokllm7k1t/
Introduction to the Integrated Victim Services System - IVSS
Date: May 15, 2019
Presenter:
Mary McCaffity, Deputy Director for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division
Description:The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Victim Services Division (VSD) has migrated to a new Integrated Victim Services System. This system utilizes current technology to provide automation and modernization of VSD notifications and programs. The webinar will discuss notifications, resources, and the new victim and criminal justice online portals. The victim portal allows for individuals to register for notifications on TDCJ offenders, update their profile and notification preferences, and search for local resources and access VSD services. In similar function, the criminal justice portal allows professionals to register for notifications, submit activity reports, update their resource directory listing, and request publications and trainings from VSD.
Link to the recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/p7lqobuk4jq8/
Mothers Against Drunk Driving: Victim Services
Presented By: Julio Mendoza, Manager of Victim Services at the Mothers Against Drunk Driving Texas State Office and Central Texas Affiliate and Carmen Castro Victim Services Specialist with Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Last year, the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization provided more than 160,000 supportive services to drunk and drugged driving victims to help them cope with the devastating impact of substance-impaired driving crashes. This webinar will focus on the programs and services provided to crime victims by Mothers Against Drunk Driving and their role within the community.
An Overview & Update of the 85th Legislative Session
In this webinar, the Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse along with the Texas Council on Family Violence and the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault will provide participants with an overview of what occurred during the 85th Legislative Session. The team will provide information about the impact of certain legislation on topics related to a new victim notification, family violence, and victims of sexual assault.
Post-Conviction Safety Planning
Presented by: Brooke Ellison
Safety planning is crucially important for crime victims. This training will discuss how criminal justice and victim service professionals can assist victims with safety planning concerns post-conviction. Topics addressed in this webinar include tips on how to assist victims with applying for protective orders as well as information regarding address confidentiality and no-contact laws.
Link to Recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/pvk8k7k6ts97/
A protective order is a civil court order issued to prevent continuing acts of family violence, sexual assault or abuse, trafficking or stalking. This webinar discusses the different types of protective orders, extension of protective orders, frequently asked questions, and explains the impact of recent legislation.
Providing Sensitive Service to Victims
This webinar will discuss useful and tactful techniques developed by Victim Services Division Notification Hotline staff for providing the highest level of sensitive care for victims who call for information and assistance.
Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
Child abuse is an epidemic that all communities must face. As more parents, professionals and community members learn about the realities of child abuse the effort to combat this serious problem gains strength. The Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse seminar teaches the signs and symptoms of all forms of child maltreatment. Professionals will learn the facts about child abuse, how to recognize the physical and behavioral signs of the varying forms of abuse/neglect as well as many other important details for how to report abuse if you suspect it. Presented by Autumn Williams is the Curriculum Specialist at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC).
Regional Victim Services Coordinators – RVSCs, The Real Story
Date: June 18, 2019
Presented by: Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division: Becky Garcia, Lubbock Regional Victim Services Coordinator; Chris Jenkins, Dallas Regional Victim Services Coordinator; Janice Sager, Huntsville Regional Victim Services Coordinator; Rose Treviño, Corpus Christi Regional Victim Services Coordinator
Description: TDCJ Regional Victim Services Coordinators, their role and services they provide. This workshop will introduce the RVSC's of TDCJ's VSD and provide a description of their areas and their functions. It will detail the direct services available through them to crime victims, as well as training they provide to criminal justice professionals and victim advocates. Additionally, the information will assist those who are working with crime victims whose offenders are sentenced to prison or who are on parole, to be informed of their post conviction rights and to make referrals to TDCJ VSD so that they may exercise those rights.
Link to recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/pf0hn0b8vsp4/
SAFE! Issues Affecting Today’s Teen and How You Can Help
We all want to keep our teens safe. In this presentation, you’ll learn to:
- Recognize signs of distress in teens
- Promote brain health
- Foster resiliency and strong coping skills
- Safeguard teens against internet dangers
- Know the warning signs of suicidal behavior
- Find help for a struggling teen
- Implement protective measures to keep teens SAFE!
The mission of the TDCJ Victim Services Division is to provide a central mechanism for crime victims to participate in the Criminal Justice System. The TDCJ Victim Services Division provides mandated services to crime victims, witnesses, and concerned citizens when the offender is incarcerated in the TDCJ Correctional Institutions Division (adult prison system) or on parole/mandatory supervision. This training will discuss available services including notifications, processing of Victim Impact Statement (VIS) Forms, Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue and assistance during the parole review process. Additionally, the TDCJ Victim Services Division Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) also provides, information, and accompaniment and referral services for victims as well as information, referrals and training opportunities for victim service and criminal justice professionals.
Sexual Assault Awareness: What Advocates Need to Know
This webinar will provide information about the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault programs and services, the dynamics of sexual assault, and crime victims’ rights related to sexual assault. Wende Hilsenrod, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault Training Director, will be presenting this webinar.
Sexual Assault Victims’ Statutes and Rights
Date Presented: April 17, 2019
Presented by: Texas Advocacy Project: Amanda Elkanick Oder, Survivor Services and Training Director, and Sneha Patel, Supervising Attorney
Description: In this webinar, we will identify how trauma affects survivors of sexual assault and the way they respond and report the crime. We will explore different civil legal remedies available to survivors of sexual assault including housing protections, protective orders, financial remedies, and campus response. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the laws governing consent and crimes including sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Link to recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/pscu73leuse3/
Sexual Victimization on College Campuses: Awareness and Prevention
Presented By: Dr. Brittany E. Hayes, Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology and the Assistant Director of the Crime Victims’ Institute at Sam Houston State University.
This webinar covers awareness and prevention of sexual assault on college campuses. Particular attention will be given to the measurement and prevalence of sexual assault. This will include a discussion of campus crime statistics, including statistics reported under the Clery Act, findings from surveys of college students and the expanded use of campus climate surveys. Current prevention strategies, including bystander intervention, will be reviewed. Ways to raise awareness will be provided.
Presented By: Amanda Vasquez, Deputy Director of the TDCJ Reentry and Integration Division
An overview of the TDCJ-Reentry and Integration Division services available to criminal justice involved persons in the Reentry and the Texas Correctional Office for Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments (TCOOMMI) programs. In order to reduce recidivism, the Reentry and Integration Division provides a three-phased Reentry Program to releasing adult offenders in conjunction with TCOOMMI which coordinates the mental health and medical continuity of care needs of both juvenile and adult offenders under supervision through established partnerships and targeted state resources.
The Victims’ Rights in the Parole Review Process
This webinar will discuss the victim's right to participate in the parole review process, which includes: information, notification, tips on writing a protest letter, meeting with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Board accompaniment.
Victim Impact Statement Recommended Processing Procedures
Presented By: Cynthia L. Jahn, Bexar County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, Director of Victim Services
This webinar discusses the legal statutes, suggestions and tips regarding processing the VIS. Topics covered will include: providing victims with a VIS; processing a VIS after completion by the victim; how the VIS is used within the criminal justice system; and how the VIS is used by other agencies.
Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue program
Presented by: Mark Odom and Gabriella Lucero
The Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue program provides an opportunity for victims or surviving family members of violent crime to initiate an in-person meeting with the offender responsiblefor their victimization. The process offers offenders and opportunity to express remorse, admit guilt and take responsibility for the full impact of their behavior upon the victims, their families and their communities. Crime victims have expressed a senseof taking back control once they meet directly with the offender to describe the impact of their victimization and to receive answers to questions regarding the offense. By attending this free webinar, criminal justice professionals and victim advocates willincrease their knowledge and therefore, their clients’ knowledge, of crime victims’ rights, services available and be better equipped to respond to inquiries regarding the Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue program. This session will be presented by Mark Odom,Deputy Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services Division. Presented by Mark Odom, Deputy Director of TDCJ Victim Services Division.
Link to Recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/vomd_program/
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Victim Services Division Director, Angie McCown, will provide participants with tips and techniques for working with victims of crime to ensure they are treated with sensitivity and respect.
Victim Services in the Immediate Aftermath of a Crime
Presented By: A. Lisa Girouard, Counselor with the Austin Police Department, Victim Services Division
This webinar will discuss crime victims’ rights, mandates and best practices regarding victim services in the immediate aftermath of a crime.
Victim Services in the Military
Presented by: LT Thomas Bright, USN, JAGC – Region Legal Service Office Southeast - Branch
This webinar will focus on services available for crime victims who are military service members and their families. Attendees will learn about the Victim Witness Assistance Program (VWAP), options for reporting crimes, and programs focused on the intervention and prevention of family violence and sexual assault.
Link to Recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/pi3w7w8swkfj/
Victim Services in Law Enforcement
The “Victim Services in Law Enforcement” webinar will discuss crime victims’ rights, mandates and best practices regarding victim services in law enforcement. Derrelynn Perryman, the Arlington Police Department Victim Services Coordinator and faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington Adjunct Professor at School of Social Work will be presenting this webinar.
This webinar will provide an informational overview of the Victim Impact Statement: County Observation Study. The Victim Impact Statement (VIS) is an important tool that connects crime victims to mandated rights and services throughout the criminal justice system. Texas counties possess insight regarding effective procedures to ensure crime victims are informed of their right to complete a VIS, the purpose and utilization of the VIS, and best practices in processing the VIS to ensure that the victim’s voice is heard throughout the criminal justice system. The Texas Crime Victim Clearinghouse (TxCVC) developed the VIS County Observation Study in order to identify effective practices and procedures implemented within Texas counties and to share the best practices with criminal justice professionals.
When the Intersections of Cultural Identity and Victimology Collide: Looking Beyond the Mainstream
Presented by: Jose Juan Lara Jr., MS
This workshop will facilitate discussion on how the intersections of cultural identity and Victimology are systemic barriers that (potentially) bias and influence victim service professionals.Recognizing and respecting individual cultural differences are important to sensitive and effective work with victims. In addition, differences in concepts of suffering and healing can influence how a victim may experience the effects of victimization andthe process of recovery. Presented by Jose Juan Lara Jr., MS, National Trainer for Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network.
Link to Recording: https://tdcj.adobeconnect.com/cultural-identity_and_victimology_collide/