Page 24 - Desert Lightning News 6-3-16

24 June 3, 2016
DoD Sexual Assault Prevention certiFacebook.com/DesertLightningNews
Amaani Lyle
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 27, 2016
— e Defense Department’s cam-
paign to combat sexual assault is mov-
ing forward as reflected in the steady
submission of applications from sexual
assault response coordinators and sex-
ual assault prevention and response
victim advocates for accreditation
through the DoD Sexual Assault Ad-
vocate Certification Program, Penta-
gon officials observed recently at the
National Organization for Victim As-
sistance headquarters here.
Since 2012, NOVA has been con-
tracted with the department to man-
age the certification process. e
program professionalizes DoD sex-
ual assault victim advocacy by en-
suring that all response coordinators
and victim advocates are equipped
to provide victim-centered assis-
tance to survivors, from initial report
through case conclusion.
Dr. Margaret Harrell, executive di-
rector of the Office of Force Resiliency
in the Office of the Undersecretary
of Defense for Personnel and Readi-
ness, conducted a site visit at NOVA
on May 19. She met Richard Barajas
-- NOVA’s executive director, who is a
retired chief justice of the 8th District helping victims of sexual assault begin
Court of Appeals in Texas -- and DoD
Sexual Assault Advocate Certification
Program committee members, and
she toured an office humming with ac-
tivity as committee members reviewed
more than 3,000 applications received
that quarter from military members
and DoD civilians.
“Because the department takes so
seriously the need to provide high-
quality assistance to victims, it’s tre-
mendously important for us to ensure
that we have the right individuals as
SARCs and SAPR VAs and that they
are trained, credentialed, and certified
to the standards that are recognized as
the very best,” Harrell said.
Sexual assault response coordina-
tors and sexual assault prevention and
www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
response victim advocates certified
through the DoD Sexual Assault Ad-
vocate Certification Program join a
rising cadre of professional advocates
who uphold the highest standards of
care and privacy and are dedicated to
their path to healing, officials said.
Selection and Certification
All military and DoD civilian re-
sponse coordinators and victim advo-
cates must be certified through DoD’s
certification program to provide sexu-
al assault victim advocacy services.
roughout the process, sexual
assault response coordinators and
sexual assault prevention and re-
sponse program managers serve as
key sources of information and guid-
ance, even assisting applicants to
ensure accuracy and completion of
their application packages.
Applications are collected on a
quarterly basis, with the next submis-
sion deadline scheduled for July 31.
Advancing Victim Support
15% OFFMILITARY DISCOUNT
ALL FOOD AND SODA
Present Military ID
Valencia & 12th 889-0600 • 12th & Ajo 624-1111 • 22nd & Alvernon 790-4232
Oracle & Limberlost 888-5520 • Silverbell & Speedway 624-7475
5925 E. Broadway 886-5566 • 9545 E. Old Spanish Trail & Harrison 722-4400
Irvington & I-19 434-8000 • Ina & Thornydale 744-1111 • Oracle & Magee 575-0770
7131 E Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85710
(Broadway & Kolb)
(520) 296-6465
Open Daily 7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Breakfast & Lunch Served All Day
8 Kinds of Bacon • 6 Kinds of Bloody Marys
1 Awesome Maple Bacon Donut
Desert Lightning News
cations grow
Hughey said she has noticed a
tidal change in the candor and open
discussion about sexual assault, dia-
logue she said has shed much-need-
ed light on the issue.
“We’re seeing people share stories
and even singers – such as Lady Gaga
– write songs about their experienc-
es as sexual assault survivors. is is
creating a greater impetus for orga-
nizations and people to get involved
and come alongside victims of sexual
assault,” Hughey said. “Certified vic-
tim advocates can be the voice for a
survivor when that person may not
yet have the strength or the courage
to speak up.”
Hughey said she hopes that vic-
tim advocacy can become more
commonplace.
“If I was talking to you at a party and
you asked me what I did and I replied,
‘I’m a victim advocate,’ you would know
exactly what that means,” Hughey said.
“It would be as if I said I was a nurse or
a social worker or a doctor.”
LUNCH BUFFET
Monday-Friday • 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
$649Per person $4.49
Kids 10 & Under
Kids 2 & Under
eat FREE
Military
Discount
20% Off
Present Military ID