Virtual Trauma Training Coming in January 2008

Interested in learning more about trauma and trauma-informed care (TIC) without having to leave your home or office?

Witness Justice is launching a virtual trauma training program in January 2008. The first training will be held Thursday, January 24, 2008 from 1:00-2:00 pm eastern time, and the cost is only $75 per person.

TIC is becoming increasingly recognized as essential not only to effective crime victim services but to the entire spectrum of health and human services. This dynamic training session will help you to build an understanding of trauma as a common experience for survivors of violence, abuse, neglect, disaster, terrorism, and war, focusing on trauma awareness and promoting the healing process through proven trauma-informed approaches and practices.

Witness Justice is a nationally recognized authority on trauma and provides trauma trainings to government agencies, service providers, and others across the country. The organization also serves on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Center for Trauma-Informed Care.

For more information or to register, e-mail training@witnessjustice.org.

WJ Awarded USDOJ Grant to Assist Domestic Violence Victims

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women has awarded Witness Justice a technical assistance contract to develop an innovative web-based training and education program to address key concerns of domestic violence survivors and service providers.

Under the 2-year contract, Witness Justice will join forces with the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a wide range of other domestic violence and related issue experts to create a service provider training forum with three initial free courses. The courses will be designed to help providers respond to critical and emerging domestic violence concerns, such as understanding trauma and creating trauma-informed services, assisting undocumented survivors, and cultural competency.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Center for Trauma-Informed Care will provide consultation on curriculum development as part of a cross-agency collaboration.

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Team Heal Trauma Sprints Toward Success at Marathon Debut

Among the 20,000+ runners who crossed the Marine Corps Marathon finish line in October 2007, Team Heal Trauma (THT) may not have broken any records in its debut race -- but the charity team proved a real winner in raising awareness and funds for Witness Justice's national advocacy work.

"Team Heal Trauma's participation in the race was an uplifting and empowering experience," said Helga West, president and chief executive officer of Witness Justice, who also finished the marathon as a member of THT. "We made great strides in raising awareness and raised more than $8,000 in funds that will be used to further our federal advocacy efforts to address the impact of psychological trauma that affects so many.

"Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX), Co-chair of the Congressional Victim's Rights Caucus, was among the team's many supporters. "As a lifelong advocate for victims and founder and co-chair of the Victim's Rights Caucus, I am proud to be a part of this dedicated team to draw attention to the impact that trauma has on the lives of survivors," Poe said. "Being supported in the aftermath of violence should be a right of every American - and trauma-informed care gives us hope that the many crime victims will find health and wellness again."

Others who came from across the country to join West as team members or volunteers were Nicole Berlucchi, Patrick Elmore, Colleen France, Jeni Gamble, Pamela Gilmore, Annabelle Goodwin, Ruta Mazelis, Daniel McGinley, and Lisa Holgate.

"I was excited about running with the team for my second marathon but after meeting Helga and hearing about her work with Witness Justice, I strongly felt like I was fortunate to be a part of something big," noted Goodwin, who traveled from Oregon to participate with the team. "I was able to meet a neat group of people and as far as the actual run went, I finished in my goal time. Success all around!

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WJ Board Member's New Book May Put Readers to Sleep

While most authors want to avoid putting their readers to sleep, Barry Krakow, MD, wrote his latest book with the goal of sending people off to slumber. A specialist in Post Traumatic Sleep Disturbance who serves on Witness Justice's Advisory Board, Dr. Krakow's work, Sound Sleep, Sound Mind: 7 Keys to Sleeping Through the Night will be of interest to many trauma survivors.

The book targets the critical mental, emotional, and physical factors that destroy sleep quality. Dr. Krakow's 7-step treatment program, known as "Sleep Dynamic Therapy," aims to help troubled sleepers learn that complaints of stress and light sleep are merely tips of the iceberg when it comes to understanding and curing insomnia.

Through a deeper, yet common-sense, analysis of sleeplessness, insomniacs can see that they can change the way they think and feel about sleep problems and find a long-term cure.

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Gift Cards for Charity Make Holiday Season Brighter

We're all aware of Santa's Naughty and Nice list, but did you know you can buy a "Good Card?"

All you have to do is visit www.networkforgood.org, the Internet's leading charitable giving resource, and purchase a gift card for charity. You pick the amount and your recipients donate to their favorite cause - like Witness Justice - in their own names.

The cost is just $5 per card and 100 percent goes to charity. Plus, your purchase is tax-deductible.

You can send the Good Card by regular mail, perfect fit for a stocking, or via email -- a boon to last-minute shoppers! So what are you waiting for? Buy a Good Card today and get on St. Nick's nice side.

Case Foundation Launches Holiday Giving Challenge

Are you passionate about trauma-informed care and victim's rights? If so, you're ready to take the Giving Challenge and help Witness Justice receive $50,000 to support our programs and services.

In the spirit of the holiday season, The Case Foundation is partnering with Parade magazine, Network for Good, Global Giving, and Causes on Facebook to launch America's Giving Challenge on Parade.com and the Causes Giving Challenge on Facebook.

Through these two pilot programs, The Case Foundation will award a total of $750,000 to the nonprofits that inspire the most people to "take the challenge." Visit our challenge page and click on the giving challenge of your choice for instructions on how to help Witness Justice receive a $50,000 grant. Two secure online giving portals -- Network for Good and Global Giving -- will process donations made during the challenge starting at 3:00 pm on December 13, 2007 and running through January 31, 2008.