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I’ll be at the NAC most of the week, so postings may be spotty. Hopefully, you caught the updates to a couple clinical guides (and I’m taking suggestions for new ones). We had a pretty social weekend here, so I was unplugged for much of it. But here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

There will always be more work

Even in Canada…

I can’t even wrap my head around this posture

How Medicaid helps trafficking victims

Love this

Apparently, North Carolina has some work to do

This whole piece was fascinating

For all my nonprofit peeps

Important reminder that we are only a small sliver of the response to trauma victims–and that much work will keep happening long after our involvement

As the Chair of IAFN’s Government Affairs Committee, one of my favorite opportunities is being on the Hill, talking with legislators and staffers about the issues important to clinicians, our patients, and the profession in general. This year’s Lobby Day saw its biggest draw (thanks, in part, to the inaugural Leadership Day that preceded it), so I know I’m not alone in enjoying the process. However, we have fielded questions about lobbying for people who work for nonprofit agencies and/or receive federal grant dollars, and saw a few people not come because of concerns. So I was really pleased to see VAWnet has a new special collection on legislative advocacy for nonprofit organizations that target these specific issues. If you are considering joining us for the 2018 Leadership and Lobby Days here in DC (dates to be announced), or thinking about participating in another lobbying opportunity, I would encourage you to check out the information to make sure you (and your organization’s leadership) understand the left and right limits of your advocacy.

The Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center has a webinar coming up, Addressing the Impact of Trauma When a Mass Violence Incident Occurs. The session will be held July 26th at 2pm ET. From the announcement:

Incidents of mass violence and terrorism present unique challenges to the communities in which they occur. These incidents require a coordinated, cross-sector approach among federal, state, local, and tribal governments; private entities; and nonprofit organizations to drive an effective response. This session will address how to create and maintain partnerships, address resource gaps, develop victim assistance protocols, and use the protocols after an incident of mass violence or terrorism.

Register here.

Hope all of my Canadian readers had a lovely Canada Day; and a happy 4th to US FHO readers! We will be eating (and drinking) with our Army friends and possibly finishing the evening watching fireworks on the docks where our neighbors keep their sailboat. While today was meant to be a work day, turns out, not so much. But I did spend time surfing the web; here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

The voices of genderqueer and nonbinary survivors

The title of this article could be enough

Marine Corps, trying to find a way past their toxic masculinity issues

Save free speech from the trolls

You know I love me a good packing guide

I can’t recall why I initially clicked on this, but I”m glad I did

Thinking about all the 1st responders in the Bronx last week

Related: no surprise his past includes violence against women

#Seriously (aka, the view from DC right now)

Bookmarked for my nights on the road when jetlag is kicking my ass

The National Research Center on Hispanic Children and Families published a guide this spring, Developing Culturally Responsive Approaches to Serving Diverse Populations: A Resource Guide for Community-Based Organizations (PDF). There’s a lot packed into this relatively brief resource; the active links alone are worth downloading it, regardless of the setting in which you work. As you consider how to best serve all members of the community, this guide can move you closer to your goals.

This weekend was a whirlwind of family–my parents were in town, my kid got here for the summer, and my Aunt and Uncle celebrated 50 years of marriage–so I was entirely consumed with lovely things. Last night, after the dust had settled, I had a chance to see what was happening in the world, and catch up with my social media feeds. Here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

I testified on the Hill on Friday in front of the Congressional Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. You can see the full proceedings here. I look *very* serious; also my folks and kid are visible in the background 🙂

Cosby mistrial: NSVRC’s statement

Also: I believe Cosby

And: what it tells us about power in America

The stories we tell, and the stories we don’t

So here we are: America, 2017

Out of darkness, a glimmer of something lovely

Pray for peace for her family

Father’s Day–not everyone is so lucky

Anne Lamott is my spirit animal:

It was DC Pride this weekend, so I confess to lots of playtime, and very little work. Particularly because this weekend marked the beginning of my slow season, when I make the conscious choice to spend more time with my family, and less time on the road, eating sad hotel dinners alone, I ended up being pretty slothful. No courts martial for the next few months, and only a couple teaching gigs, which means more time for personal projects, like the stuff I do here at FHO. Still, last night I played catch up on social media, and there was plenty to read. Here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

We went to Pride Shabbat services Friday night and I was so glad our rabbi honored the memory of the victims of the Pulse shooting one year ago today. And here, honoring the survivors.

New study on tonic immobility

Colorado exploring new payment options for sexual assault exams

I love everything about this, except that it’s necessary in the 1st place

I’m pretty sure many of us had the same thought

Yet another reason I switched to Lyft

A husband for home, a wife for away 

Man, this whole situation–our worst nightmare as healthcare providers

“Optimal lives are designed not discovered”

A long read, but an important one: America’s Hidden HIV Epidemic

So, you may have noticed it was pretty quiet on FHO last week. What can I say–trial weeks are sometimes like that. This week I’m signing on from Wichita, KS, where I am looking forward to a lively workshop with the SANEs in this state today. And then it’s on to Boulder, where I’ll be teaching for the Army at my alma mater (go Buffs!), with all my favorite military law nerds. Believe it or not, that will do it for travel for a month (at least work travel), since we are headed into the summer, when my kiddo is home and I take very little work on the road while she’s there. Still, I was in airports this weekend, and there was plenty of time to surf. Here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

Have you seen it? Seems like we could use a hero right about now.

Related

Starting tomorrow…

Just in time for Pride

On a day when I needed a break from racist/islamophobic bullsh*t on the interwebs, this saved my soul

Man, this is so hauntingly beautiful

Gross.

Enjoying StoryCorp’s Justice Project

Greetings from Ft Sill, OK, where I have been working all weekend. Not much time online, with the exception of hanging around in airports. Still, plenty to read when I checked my feeds– some uplifting, some bleak. And I see that many of you are at Crimes Against Women in Dallas. Hope you all enjoy yourselves, that’s an enjoyable one. For everyone else, here’s what’s caught my eye since last we spoke:

Decidedly not good news for crime victims

We should have listened to the broken teenagers...

No surprise, this

Who should you listen to on abortion?

The impact of poverty on a life (the title alone…)

A deeper dive on the crisis of gun violence (and IPV)

The impact of the current healthcare bill on the lives of children

All I have is heartbreak and rage (and bewilderment that this story isn’t even bigger)

Finally, animation about how early trauma impacts a child’s brain:

I am working on the new session I am doing in Kansas next month (subtitled: Preparing for the Unknown and the Unknowable), and in looking for a particular resource, I somehow stumbled upon this TEDEd video, An Animated Tour of the Invisible. Thinking about what we do know in our own work (and honestly, what really is unknowable), I found this short cartoon absolutely fascinating, with the very last statement in the piece bringing it all home. Since it’s Friday, and I am prepping for a week on the road starting tomorrow, I leave you with it so you, too, can ponder the great mysteries of the world. Enjoy.

The Tribal Forensic Healthcare project has an upcoming webinar, Forensic Photography. The session will be held June 14th at 2pm ET. CEUs are available for this session. From the announcement:

This webinar will cover general photography methods, forensic aspects of photography, and specific methods which should be applied in SANE cases. The specific methods will include scale photography of injuries, the use of forensic light sources for revealing latent evidence, and depth-of-field/lens/focus concerns with intra-cavity photos (including photography related to the use of a speculum). 

Ryan Rezzelle will be the featured speaker.

Happy Monday–I’m sitting in the United Club at DCA as I post this, waiting to board a flight to Nashville (well, to ORD and then Nashville, since my original flight got cancelled. But hey, I get to eat at my favorite airport eatery in the US, so all good). Looking forward to teaching smart, interesting colleagues this week, so even though I will hit 3 cities by week’s end, I’m thoroughly looking forward to what’s ahead. And since I’m traveling, you know I have some time for surfing–here’s what’s caught my eye since last we spoke:

Happy nurses week to all my friends and colleagues. IAFN is offering a freebie for members, and it’s a good one.

Feelings at work…

Seriously, our job announcements are dreadful

Still so much work to be done. (Related)

This is perfection

Definitely a lesson for providers

Guilty (got to stop this)

What a lovely bubble he must live in

Also, this (rolls eyes, lights hair on fire, considers which part of Canada I might enjoy living in most)

FGM–what does it do to a woman?

So that whole full week at home for the first time since mid-February stuff that I mentioned last week? Yeah, that didn’t happen. Unexpectedly found myself on a tiny commuter plane with literally no notice on Thursday (seriously–got the call, plane was leaving in 2 hours and I was still in pajamas). So that meant I ended up working all weekend. But I’m home now; not entirely certain what life looks like *this* week (may have some work for the military, may not), but no matter what, I’m home. Speaking of travel, I’ve got a few gigs coming up over the next 5 weeks, and I’m hoping I’ll see some of you there–I’ll be in Tennessee next week (the 9th, with the super smart and hilarious Leslie Hagan) talking testimony, and I’m coming to Kansas June 5th for an advanced SANE day that focuses on a few different things. Looking forward to both. In the meantime, let’s talk about what I’ve been reading as of late, shall we? Here’s what’s caught my eye since last we spoke:

Several of you posted this piece about ERs (much could be applied to forensic programs, too)

No surprise, this

Emergency contraception, still not a guarantee for sexual assault patients

Outing a sexual harasser

This was a lovely read

An alternative to reading about the first 100 days

Thoroughly enjoyed watching this

The realities of climbing out of poverty

I was an English major, so yeah

Always nice to see one of our own rise to the top

Finally, a little humor for your Monday morning

Happy Monday, all (or as we like to refer to it in my house, Happy 1st Full Week at Home Since Mid-February). The trial I had in the great north went away, so here I am, in my pajamas, eating breakfast not from a sad hotel buffet. It’s glorious. It’s going to be an odds and ends kind of week here–still so much writing to get done, and sadly, a million other things to distract me. Like the interwebs–let’s see what’s caught my eye since last we spoke:

I did not make it to the science march, did you?

Related (I heart Neil deGrasse Tyson)

Great op-ed

Why are men terrible at apologizing?

Guns in abusive relationships–a problem even when they’re not fired

(Full-text of the aforementioned study)

FGM, here in the US

[Sigh]

Shuffling offenders from one gig to the next (have you been tracking this story?)

Disheartening, but not surprising (like so much of our world)

Strides we’ve made in the military are facing some significant threats from the top

Funny and not (also like so much of our world)

Cannot ignore the impact of history on health

Finally, a little levity…

I love receiving questions and requests from FHO readers via my Contact page, and I am more than happy to answer. However, if you want me to respond, it has to include more than just a subject (e.g. “sexual assault injury” or “child abuse statistics”). I won’t respond to requests like that (one, it’s an enormous topic area, and two, it helps to know the specifics of what you need and how it’ll be used so I can tailor appropriately).

Additionally, as I think most people know, FHO is my hobby, not my job. So if you send me a request that has multiple parts, and much of it can be found on this site, I will most likely refer you back here first, and then if you can’t find what you’re looking for, assist from there. Again, this is for the sake of expediency. As you might guess, I receive a lot of requests and questions every week, so I need to be as efficient as possible in answering. This isn’t me complaining (FHO readers have always been shy in posting comments, so most of what I hear from you all is via email), but it is about making sure I am both responsive to FHO readers while also managing my hectic schedule.

Finally, if you want me to contact you for some reason, you will need to be pretty specific. Generally speaking, I don’t respond to blind requests for calls and emails.

Thanks and have a lovely weekend {I plan on it–I’ll be home in DC puttering in my garden 🙂 }

OVC has just published a vicarious trauma toolkit, and there’s a lot here that may be useful to you in both your work as forensic healthcare providers and in other aspects of your clinical life. I have only just started to work my way through it, and there are some things that appear to be absent (healthcare providers other than EMS don’t get specific focus, and that’s unfortunate), but there are definitely tools that are valuable, as well (see, for instance, the organizational readiness guide or their compendium of resources). Worth your time.

These last 6 weeks make me feel like I have been neglectful, so it’s great to be back among my FHO readers. London was a blast, albeit a fast one, and I definitely feel recharged and ready to return to my previously scheduled life. Which is good, because I hit the ground running. Many of you are in Orlando this week at EVAWI, but alas, I cannot join you there; I’ll be in Philly with many of my favorite lawyers, teaching for the Army. In any event, time off affords one the ability to peruse the interwebs at length, so here’s what’s caught my eye since last we spoke:

Cleveland, my heart breaks

Love seeing our colleagues’ good work in the news

The One-Sided Gun War of the Sexes

Marine Corps needs to address their misogyny problem

Good for DC

Giving new meaning to moble clinics

Also, Nevada

This totally resonated with me (for obvious reasons)

“Calculated misery”

Finally, one of the best things we did in London was catch the West End production of Kinky Boots (and were lucky enough to have the Olivier-winning actor who plays Lola still in the cast). If you have the opportunity to see it, I highly recommend. We all *loved* it. This was one of the best numbers by far:

If you are playing along at home, this month I have been at Ft Drum, Ft Bragg, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and now Ft Sill, with a trip to San Antonio (not on post, but still for the Army), tossed in there for good measure. I will round out this marathon with 18 hours in CLE to see my girl child perform as one of the leads in her high school musical and then I am home for a week. Really looking forward to all of you coming to DC for the Leadership and Lobby Day (and dinner at my house!)–a perfect way to re-enter polite society and spend quality time with people who are not lawyers.

This was one of the only full weekends I had with my wife, so I stayed pretty unplugged. However, an almost 4 hour layover at DFW gave me time to catch up on the events of the world. Here’s what caught my eye since last we spoke:

My wife is baffled by how many of us wear these (I will never give them up)

I can’t tell you how much I hate that science is political

Good–seems like we need her now more than ever

My entire professional life is a side-hustle

Is this a surprise to anyone?

I really value how much we try not to let this hierarchy play out in our clinic

#MissingDCGirls

Best tweet I read this weekend:

Oh the irony that Donald Trump and Paul Ryan have no Plan B

— Margarita Noriega (@margarita) March 24, 2017