One Huge Victory for Survivors

March 31, 2008--Dallas, Texas

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Lift Every Voice Family and Community Development Project will unveil its newest campaign supporting survivors of sexual violence, The IV Pillars; Help, Hope, Healing and Justice. These are elements all necessary for holistic recovery of the survivor and those that love and support them in every aspect of life. The IV Pillars Campaign is based upon the ecological model by A. Loftquist which shows the nexus between the aspects of sociological involvement and life-long recovery for victims of violence.

The campaign also represents a shift in paradigm. We have traditionally taught our children to be weary of strangers. This method of prevention needs to be turned on its head as research has shown that people are most often victimized by an aquaintance or family member opposed to strangers. 1 in every 100 person victimized is hurt by someone in the family. Join Lift encouraging loved ones to "tell the secrets...Break the cycle...and become the Griot." Your silence doesn't protect you, it more than likely will protect those that hurt you. SPEAK OUT!!!

July 15, 2008

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson will present a panel discussion on WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS and DNA EXHONERATIONS. The panel will feature: U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Chairman John Conyers, Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis, Dallas District Attorney Craig Watkins and Jeff Blackburn of the Innocence Project of Texas.
Time: The event will be held from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Date: July 19, 2008
Place:Cedar Valley College Performance Hall, 3030 North Dallas Ave, Lancaster, TX. 75134.
This event is free and open to the public. For additional information please contact Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's District Office at 214-922-8885.


July 15, 2008

ONE HUGE VICTORY FOR SURVIVORS---The Texas Medical Association has decided they will offer CME training on Sexual and Domestic Violence Screening.

This is medical first for Texas and it has been a long time coming but we are very grateful for the support of all our partners in the fight to bring help, hope, healing and justice to survivors and secondary victims. According to Gayle Love, Media Relations for the Association, they are also recommending to the Editorial Board of the TexMed Journal that they do an article on the importance and benefits of screening. We can look for these new developments to take place the first of next year. Lift submitted numerous examples of universal and global screening assessment tools which we asked the Association to utilize as a guide in the development of assessments used by Health Care Professionals in Texas. In response to the need they will be developing an independent screening tool. According to Mrs. Love, the Texas Medical Association understands the need for the assessments and their actions are in response to that need. This is a big victory! Please call the Texas Medical Association and let them know how much you appreciate their heart and the work of their hands.

Texas Medical Association

Josie R. Williams, MD, President
3833 South Texas Ave., Suite 150Bryan, TX 77802-4016
(979) 862-5005; Fax (979) 862-5015
president@texmed.org

William H. Fleming III, MD, President-Elect
7777 Southwest Freeway, Suite 900Houston 77074-
1-812(713) 772-4600; Fax: (713) 981-4310
whfsail@aol.com