Taking Flight: April 2020

24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 208.343.7025 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline: 208.345.7273 (RAPE)

The BeaLine (YouTube video)

Bea Black, Executive Director

April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Normally, WCA staff would be making preparations for various outreach, prevention, and awareness events out in the community, but given the current situation, that will not be the case this year. However, you can find us online for our Facebook Live events every Monday and Wednesday at noon and stay connected through our other social media channels. Later in the month, on April 29th, we raise awareness about consent and victim-blaming through Denim Day. While we cannot get together in-person, we encourage everyone to put on some denim that day and post pictures to social media to start conversations and raise awareness that sexual assault is never your fault.

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Our Doors Are Open

You Are Not Alone.

While we understand the necessity of continuing to follow social distancing guidelines to slow the spread of COVID-19, we also recognize that home is not a safe place for everyone.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve tried our best to keep the community updated with any changes to our operations or services. The most important thing to know is that our doors are open. If you or someone you know is in an unsafe domestic situation, especially now that they may have even more limited access to outside resources, please call our hotline at (208) 343-7025. If it is not safe to make a call, our Crisis Center at 720 W. Washington Street is still open Monday-Friday 8:30-4 p.m..

To read more about our response to COVID-19 and executive director, Bea’s latest messages, click here.

YOU Can Make a Difference

Our organization is built on the drive, passion and commitment that supporters like you display daily. Now, more than ever we need you to take action to preserve our services.In response to the financial deficit and decreased visibility of our organization due to the COVID- 19 Pandemic, This Thursday, April 16th will be The WCA Day of Action: 24 Hours of Changing Lives.

This day will be a day when we encourage our supporters to take action in one of 24 ways. From sharing our social media posts to displaying your support of the WCA publicly to making a donation- there is a way for everyone to take action! We hope to not only raise $100,000 but also we hope to raise awareness and increase visibility in our community around domestic abuse and sexual assault. More information will be shared on Thursday, but we are excited to bring the community together.

Stay tuned for more information or contact our Philanthropy Manager, Laura Honn.

Mark Your Calendars for Denim Day!

Denim Day 2020 is on April 29th. While we won’t be having any events out in the community due to the necessity of continuing social distancing, you can participate with us virtually by wearing some denim on that Wednesday and posting to social media with #DenimDay!

We will also be going live at noon on Facebook for a special Denim Day edition of “Live at Lunch!”

Denim Day was created to raise awareness for Sexual Assault Awareness Month after a woman in Italy was sexually assaulted by her driving instructor. The Italian Supreme Court ruled that it could not have been a rape, because they claimed jeans she was wearing were too tight for the instructor to take off without her help. Denim Day is a statement against victim-blaming and an opportunity to talk about consent and show support for survivors of sexual assault.

Staff Spotlight

Meet our new Clinical Services Manager, Francesca Barbaro!

How long have you been with the WCA?

I started as the Clinical Services Manager on February 3rd, so a little over 2 months now!

What does your position cover?

I manage a team of four clinicians, provide clinical supervision on a weekly basis, carry a caseload of clients, collaborate with the other departments within the WCA, provide training/outreach to increase awareness of prevention and how to better work with this population from a trauma-informed lens. All four of the clinicians on my team are working towards their clinical license (LCSW and LCPC) which is amazing!

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Thanks to Our Corporate Pillars

These have indeed been very difficult times for our community. We thank our Corporate Pillars for their support and understanding, especially with the postponement of the TWIN Awards luncheon. The TWIN Awards luncheon is rescheduled for September 1, 2020.

Check out our website here for a full list of the 2020 TWIN honorees! We are excited to see you all in September.

If you have any questions about TWIN or Corporate Pillars, please contact Lisa at [email protected].

Supporting Our Clients

Our community is constantly giving back and supporting our clients on their journey to safety, healing and freedom. We would like to highlight just a few special cases that have happened recently.

Our work is only possible through the support of our community.

There are simply too many companies, families, and individuals to list. Check out our Facebook page for more fun photos and stories!

Wish List

Due to the Governor’s statewide ‘Stay at Home’ order, we will not be accepting donations of any kind at our office at this time.

However, gift cards for grocery and gas can be still purchased online and emailed to [email protected].

The Philanthropy Files

Laura Honn, Philanthropy Manager

The Philanthropy Files: A Little Helps A Lot

The Tale of Mushkil Gusha

In the tale of Mushkil Gusha, a woodcutter goes out every day to gather wood to sell so he and his daughter could survive. Despite their hardships, they always found a way to share what they had and help others in need. This tale of their life is usually told on a Thursday evening to remind us all to be grateful and share what we have with those in need. In the words of the story teller, “Mushkil Gusha is the remover of all difficulties, and we must always be grateful. Every Thursday evening we must give thanks or give a gift to the needy, in the name of Mushkil Gusha”.

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The Compassion Project

Rebecca Rodack, Outreach Coordinator

A few weeks into practicing social distancing and self-isolation, and I don’t know how you feel, but I’m exhausted. Waking up every day knowing that when I checked the news it probably was not going to be great took its toll on my mental strength, and I found myself becoming more anxious, getting less sleep, and generally feeling out of whack during the day.

How do we show compassion for others and ourselves during a time like this, when we have limited physical contact with friends and loved ones?

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Shareable Content

How to Get Involved SAAM

History of SAAM

Domestic Violence and COVID-19

Upcoming Events

Denim Day
Mark Your Calendars!
April 29, 2020

Wear jeans with a purpose, support survivors, and educate yourself about sexual assault. If you’d like to learn how to make Denim Day awareness ribbons, check out the tutorial here.

Watch our website and social media for more info!

Live at Lunch!
Check out our “Live at Lunch” series every Monday and Wednesday at noon on FB live!