Keepin' It Teal
By LaFASA
Keepin' It TealMar 14, 2024
Madison Brooks and Her Legacy
LaFASA talks with Ashley Baustert, mother of Madison Brooks, the LSU sophomore who was sexually assaulted and left on a dark highway without a cell phone. Ashley talks about who Madison was and how she continues to make a difference in the lives of others through the Madison Brooks Foundation. LaFASA is always impressing the point that prevention lies in stopping the power imbalances that result in assault. However, that doesn't diminish the importance of by-stander intervention. Bystander intervention is in real-time prevention efforts. For information about how you can help as a bystander, visit LaFASA's page here.
A beautiful reading of poetry by the author, Zoe Fay-Stindt
Zoe Fay-Stindt's poetry has appeared in museum galleries, on the radio, on the streets of small towns, in community farm newsletters, and other strange and wonderful places. Their work has also been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and has been featured in RHINO, Muzzle, VIDA, Southeast Review, The Florida Review, Ninth Letter, Poet Lore, and others as well as gathered into a chapbook, Bird Body, which won the inaugural Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize with Cordella Press.
Join us in this podcast and Zoe reads passages from Bird Body and we discuss the meaning of her words taken from the pages, Bird Body, a chapbook of her poetry written to heal from her own sexual assault.
You can find Bird Body at https://www.cordella.org/products/bird-body
Dogs are the best!! Service dogs are even better! :D
Dogs are the best. It's been shown that the friendship of a dog can decrease stress, increase endorphins, and increase our life expectancy. For those who have suffered trauma in some capacity, dogs are especially beneficial and Service Dogs can enhance their independence and healing process in ways other methods, such as counseling and therapy, can't. However, service dogs can be incredibly expensive (and rightly so) and without the help of grants or loans, many are not able to experience that type of companionship. This poses a hurdle, that for some is too high to clear.
However, Dog Training Elite can make Service Dogs accessible to a much larger percentage of those in need. Their method is to train a dog and owner as a team to achieve the goal of the handler's own dog becoming their service dog. By using positive training methods, they empower both owner/handler and dog to be an outstanding team committed to each other.
One last note, if you have a dog, but you're not experiencing joy from your dog, it could be you just need a little help in recognizing what kind of training your dog needs. Betsy and Ed can assess your dog and offer suggestions so that you have the best relationship possible with your dog.
Betsy Feaster and her husband, Ed Erb, are veterans with a passion for dogs and for helping the community. We invite you to listen to this conversation and find out about Emotional Support Dogs, Therapy Dogs, and Service Dogs and just how awesome dogs are in general.
Dog Training Elite Southeast Louisiana
SELouisiana@dogtrainingelite.com
September is Service Dog Awareness Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Maintaining Dignity: A Talk with Hope Ministries
Did you know that most government programs cannot help prevent homelessness? They are structured to help someone who has already received an eviction notice. While government programs can be a safety net, the primary goal is prevention. Hope Ministries is an organization with amazing and dedicated people who want to help people from becoming homeless. This is important in the sexual assault movement because when people are put in compromised situations, such as facing homelessness or being on "the streets," they are in survival mode which can lead to actions that result in sexual assault, among other victimizations. Hope Ministries has programs in Baton Rouge as well as statewide, that promote human dignity by empowering people with resources and programs that give the skills necessary to maintain employment and housing and present a solution to generational poverty. You'll definitely want to learn more about this amazing organization and the programs they offer by listening to this episode.
If you're interested in finding out more about Hope Ministries go to HopeBR.org or call 225.355.0702.
Below are some of their programs and workshops:
The Way to Work© is a client-centered program that provides a structured environment to help participants achieve and maintain employment, housing, financial and family stability. HOPE’s Success, Financial, and Career coaches work with participants to identify issues that lead to crisis and contribute to instability, then formulate a plan to overcome barriers to employment.
Going Beyond© is a workforce training program. This workshop series educates employees on the workplace fundamentals and expectations of their employers, including the importance of attendance, attitude, conflict resolution, critical thinking, communication, and much more.
Understanding your Workforce© is a customized professional development training for companies’ executive, mid-level, and line supervisors to help employers increase retention and productivity.
Understanding the Dynamics of Poverty© is HOPE’s professional development training. It is a six-hour interactive training for social workers, teachers, clergy and anyone who wants to understand how generational poverty impacts our community.
Louisiana now has statewide text-based crisis intervention!
LaFASA has added text-based contact for crisis and general assistance to it's Helpline. This is amazing and adds another dimension to the ways that survivors can get help. In this podcast we talk with Katie Boleware, the program's coordinator, and her intern Courtney, about how the program got started, was formed, the volunteers, who we encourage to call, and how things are going. Below is information on how to contact the Helpline.
LaFASA offers free and confidential support to all survivors and their loved ones statewide through our helpline.
We encourage you to contact us in the manner that is most comfortable and works best for you.
I would like to speak with an advocate: 1-888-995-7372 (english & spanish) 24 hrs/7days per week
I would like to text an advocate: 225-351-SAFE (7233) M-Th 12N-8PM (not available on holidays)
I would prefer to chat online with an advocate. Click Here. M-Th 12N-8PM (not available on holidays)
Trained crisis support specialists are available for immediate intervention, general support, or to give information in finding long-term support.
The Benefits of Being Grateful
Being grateful has some pretty awesome side effects. Let's talk about those things.
How helping survivors of DV with their pets is a good decision for everyone
LaFASA recently spoke in a podcast with Mark Medina from Metro Centers for Community Advocacy, one of LaFASA’s dual member centers. We talk about how important it is to consider all family members, including pets, who are affected by domestic violence. Local DV agencies and advocates can also help those in need to create an action or safety plan when someone is considering escaping a dangerous situation. The AWI and National Domestic Violence Hotline have published safety plan resource pages on their websites that include pets. Anyone who works with pets will empathize with this topic and conversation.
Sexual assault is being addressed in the Louisiana Film industry
Virginia Tucker is the writer and director of the 9 minute short film "Touched," a film that addresses sexual assault and the after effects it has on survivors.
It is one of 20 finalist films competing September 30 thru October 1 at PrizeFest in Shreveport, La. LaFASA sits down with Virginia to discuss her film, what inspired it, and how it can impact sexual assault awareness. Find out all about the film and Virginia at https://linktr.ee/TouchedFilm or attend on site or virtually through prizefest.com/tickets
If you are a survivor in our state in need of assistance, please contact LaFASA's helpline through talk, text or chatline services. Talk with someone at 888-995-7273 24/7 or starting October 1, 2021 Text M-F 12pm to 4pm at 225-351-7233 or chat at LaFASA.org
Introducing SAFE to the LaFASA Family
SAFE - SOUTHEAST ADVOCATES FOR FAMILY EMPOWERMENT
We talk with Nnenna Minimah, Executive Director of SAFE and get a proper introduction. If you're in the Tangipahoa, St. Helena, or Livingston Parish area and you are in need of help, please find help or contact them at https://www.safelouisiana.org.
Natalie Herndon Talks about Kindness Rocks
LaFASA is working with Natalie Herndon, Senior Marketing Specialist at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady North American Region, to promote compassion and kindness in Baton Rouge and throughout the state. Finding a creative and beautiful rock painted with a positive message can brighten anyone's day.
To watch this interview on youtube, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUTOkSAHKJA&t=321s
A Survivor's Story Told Through Poetry
Nadia Khansa is a survivor who found her path to wholeness through writing poetry and drawing. After experiencing war, sexual violence, and intense hardship with mental health, "Breathing in Spring" is the story of healing. The book is divided into 4 chapters, Dying, Haunting, Resurrecting, and Breathing, and take the reader on a journey through the intensity of pain and trauma, and the tranquility of coming out on the other side. Our conversation exudes the hopefulness that she wants other survivors to experience.
You can find "Breathing in Spring" through https://linktr.ee/nadiarashakhansa
Art Therapy for Survivors with Karis Bouillon
Art therapy is a technique rooted in the idea that creative expression can foster healing and mental well-being. Art, either creating it or viewing others’ art, is used to help people explore emotions, develop self-awareness, cope with stress, boost self-esteem, and work on social skills.
Karis Bouillion is a counselor with STAR in the greater baton rouge area. Karis has her masters in clinical mental health counseling from John Brown University. In her practice, she utilizes a variety of interventions and techniques in counseling, from art therapy to trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy and play therapy for younger survivors. She’s also fluent in Spanish so that she can be of service to our Hispanic communities and immigrants.
Making Your Case: Legal advocacy for survivors
Can you have legal representation if you don't report to the police? Can you get a restraining order without reporting to the police? Also, did you know that it's incredibly important to have a knowledgeable attorney assist when petitioning for a restraining order or to represent your needs during a trial? These are all topics that we discussed when talking with LaFASA's staff attorney, Sean Cassidy. Often survivors are not able to retain legal services because they cannot afford the cost, they are intimidated by the justice system, they're worried about re-traumatization, and/or they are not aware of their rights. LaFASA’s legal program answers the call of survivors in need of legal assistance. If you're into the criminal and legal side of advocacy or if you watch L&O:SVU, we encourage you to listen to this podcast. You won't want to miss it! Go to our website for information about the rights of survivors here: http://lafasa.org/main/publications_and_resources
Is Safety on Campus an Illusion? - Let’s Talk Campus LIfe part 2/Discussion with Samantha Sheppard and guest Josef Canaria
In light of February being Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, our talk will center around campus sexual assault and safety. Safety means different things to different people. What are the perceptions of campus safety to students? What is true campus safety? This conversation highlights what students should actually do to promote a safe campus. Supplemental information for students and students at HBCUs provided.
Survivors Organizing for Criminal Justice Reform with Katie Hunter-Lowrey from The Promise of Justice Initiative
Every survivor has a different idea of what accountability looks like after a sexual assault. While some may want to pursue the traditional criminal legal response, others may be more wary of these systems. What does accountability look like for a sexual assault survivor who does not support the current iteration of the criminal justice system? Can survivors and criminal justice reformer work together to make a more just, equitable system? What does a world look like where both those survivors and those who cause sexual harm are treated holistically and given space to heal. Join Brittany Hunt, LaFASA’s Justice System Coordinator, and Katie Hunter-Lowrey, the Crime Survivor Organizer with the Promise of Justice Initiative, as they discuss these questions and more. https://promiseofjustice.org/
The Poetic Process as an Instrument for Healing with Malaika Albrecht and Dr. Kristie Cato
There is no single approach that has been proven to be the most effective when treating survivors of incest, CSA, and sexual assault. In our experience, by using empathy as the main motivator, poetry and narrative therapy approaches can be integrated by survivors to not only allow them to process and reauthor their story of abuse, but also to provide a support system among others who have also faced similar experiences. There are numerous websites that publish survivors’ creative arts and many poetry books and anthologies published by survivors and their allies. We will give an overview of poetry therapy and then a practical guide to adding this unique approach into practice, whether as a counselor or as a survivor or a loved one of a survivor.
The prompt discussed in the podcast is here: http://www.georgeellalyon.com/where.html
For excellent supplemental resources, visit the LaFASA webpage: http://lafasa.org/main/lafasa_podcasts
Empower Yourself through Martial Arts
Working through aspects of Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) using self-defense can be helpful to many survivors of violence find new joy in life. Feeling in control and empowered is the goal when you train in martial arts, especially according to David Vincent. Anybody, regardless of your physical ability or your emotional status, can train in this discipline. Listen to this incredibly interesting take on self "offense" and why this type of training can help people be the best they can be.
Information regarding self defense can be found here.
Supplemental information that supports the trauma survivor thought process and martial arts can be found at the following links:
Link 1
Link 2
If you have any questions regarding self defense, regardless of where you live, David Vincent will be happy to help you. Please contact him at either 225-766-5181 or sarah@dvmafit.com.
Jillian Guinta, Healing oppression and bad behaviors with yoga techniques
This podcast details a Trauma-informed perspective on:
- Understanding privilege and how stress and damage to one’s psyche impedes connection
and, therefore, empathy
- Privilege as different types of "wealth" and "currency”
- Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
- How trauma impacts the brain and nervous system
- How trauma becomes cyclical -- trauma creates bad behaviors and bad behaviors create trauma
- All bad behaviors stem from a need to soothe a dysfunctional nervous system
Coping with Personal Finance Obstacles
Survivors of sexual assault, and trauma in general, often will experience tertiary effects due to trauma. Tertiary effects are long-term effects that are set off as a result of a primary event. These kinds of changes in behavior can include loss of concentration skills, lack of ambition, but also a loss of ability to maintain financial stability. Adults who experienced violence as a child may not even recognize their lack of ability to manage money as a tertiary effect. In this podcast, LaFASA talks with finance expert Crystal Campbell about this issue. Crystal gives simple and easy to follow advice on how to grow financially and maintain financial security. Her knowledge can be applied by anyone.
The Added Trauma of Natural Disasters
Jessie Nieblas, Brittany Hunt, and Kelli Knight of LaFASA discuss the unique challenges that survivors face in the aftermath of a disaster. In light of Hurricane Laura ripping through Louisiana, we understand survivors of sexual assault have the added trauma and PTS that comes into the recovery equation. This is a great conversation that delves into challenges presented by residing in shelters or with family members (who could potentially be the perpetrator), social inequalities, responding to a survivor who discloses an assault during recovery, and never forgetting self-care.
The Lighthouse Program is a Beacon for Students at LSU
NOTE: This podcast was recorded prior to the Corona pandemic.
The 2020 Fall Semester is going to look very different at colleges across the state as attempts to keep everyone safe and healthy are being made, however - at LSU - Lighthouse services are still available to students. In this podcast, LaFASA talks with Susan Bareis with the Lighthouse program at LSU as well as Summer Steib who is Director of the Women's Center at LSU. The Lighthouse Program provides free and confidential interpersonal violence prevention, support, and advocacy to the LSU campus community. The program assists student-survivors of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, stalking, and harassment.
Discover Yoga Therapy for Trauma Recovery with Jillian Guinta
Join us as we talk with Jillian about trauma recovery for the mind and body. Traumas are emotional events that overwhelm us and our ability process and move through them. As a result, a traumatized person can feel that they are at the mercy of the world around them. In this workshop, we will explore the impacts that traumas have on the mind, body and spirit as well as the most relevant research-based practices for mind-body healing and integration.
Using trauma-informed yoga and somatic experiencing, we will cultivate a skill set that allows us to reacquaint ourselves with our bodies, practice making choices and have new experiences — some of the natural, life-affirming comforts that are taken from us when traumatic events occur. This program is open to all — including those whom have an interest in trauma, navigated the challenging journey of recovering from traumas of various kinds as well as professionals that wish to hone their skills in mind-body practices.
You'll discover that ANYONE can practice her tried and true techniques.
Let's Talk About Louisiana: Monica Taylor and Wanjennia Atkins of the La. Attorney General's office
Check out our conversation with Monica Taylor and Wanjennia Atkins of the Louisiana Attorney General's office. How is the AG taking on the sexual assault issues in our state? A special department was created to specifically address sexual assault and domestic violence. Monica (LaFASA board member) and Wanjennia want you to know they are on our team representing survivors in our state. Listen to this great conversation that includes discussion about rescue laws and Gwen's Law.
Justin Boardman Talks Neurobiology / Trauma to the Brain PART 2
We continue our discussion about how trauma affects the brain and why it is so important to include this science when conducting sexual assault investigations.
Retired Detective Justin Boardman was in Law Enforcement for 15 years. For seven years, he was been assigned to the Special Victim’s Unit. During his first year in Investigations, Justin was awarded Investigator of the Year, conducted nearly 300 forensic child victim interviews, and 140 adult sexual assault victim interviews.
Justin co-authored (along with Donna Kelly, Utah Prosecution Council) a Trauma-Informed Victim Interview protocol for adult victims of sexual assault. This new protocol uses the Neurobiology of Trauma to gain additional information to be used in the investigation. This process has been studied and has shown to increase prosecutions along with procedure changes.
If you are interested in having Justin provide training to your law enforcement or justice systems agency, please find him at https://justinboardman.com.
Justin Boardman Talks about Trauma Informed Interviews
Retired Detective Justin Boardman was in Law Enforcement for 15 years. For seven years, he was been assigned to the Special Victim’s Unit. During his first year in Investigations, Justin was awarded Investigator of the Year, conducted nearly 300 forensic child victim interviews, and 140 adult sexual assault victim interviews.
Justin co-authored (along with Donna Kelly, Utah Prosecution Council) a Trauma-Informed Victim Interview protocol for adult victims of sexual assault. This new protocol uses the Neurobiology of Trauma to gain additional information to be used in the investigation. This process has been studied and has shown to increase prosecutions along with procedure changes.
His podcast with LaFASA discusses the details and the "why" it's so important to implement this science into forensic interviews. Justin is awesome, warm, intelligent, and very informed. This interview is great for anyone! If you are interested in having Justin provide training to your law enforcement or justice systems agency, please find him at https://justinboardman.com.
Exploring the Forensic Exam After Sexual Assault
Cassandra Billiot is a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) who works with the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office in Louisiana. You may not know much about what happens and why during an evidence gaining exam, but Cassandra is here to give the details that set your mind at ease. Exams don't have to be scary, and if you are worried about who gets involved, she can set the record straight. She's in the real life of forensics and what you'll hear is pretty cool!
Jody Plauche Discusses Why Gary Why
During this episode we talk with Jody Plauche'. He has written a book that has been recommended by many to any parent with minor children. Recounting his own experiences, he brings light and insight into the way predators gain trust and can take advantage of children.
Mark Schettler with Shift Change
Shift Change is a non-profit in the New Orleans area vested in promoting education and visibility in regards to sexual harm reduction and sexual harassment. Mark Schettler is the co-founder and tells his story and why this organization is so important to have in our community.
Let's Talk Campus Life: Part 1
In August, Kelli and Josef visited LSU's main campus to discuss what Title IX is and how it affects students and faculty. They talk with Jennie Stewart who is LSU's Title IX Coordinator working with their 9 campuses statewide.
Episode 2: LaFASA at NSAC interviewing Suzanne Estrella
Meeting new people at conferences is one of the highlights of attending them. LaFASA caught up with PCAR's staff attorney and had a great conversation.
Introducing "Keepin' It Teal!"
Meet some of the members of Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault as we explain how we fit into the support and prevention scene and explore the theme "I ask."