What does it really mean to strengthen advocates and why does it matter for survivors? In this episode, we sit down with Elyse McConnell, Executive Director of the Ohio Victim Witness Association (OVWA) to talk about the systems, standards, and support shaping victim advocacy across Ohio. We also break down the Ohio Advocate Network (OAN)—what it is, who it’s for, and how the credentialing process works.

If this episode was helpful, share it with a colleague or someone new to the field. And if you’re thinking about taking the next step in your advocacy work, consider exploring OAN and what credentialing could look like for you.

Resources & links

• Learn more about OVWA: https://ovwa.org
• Explore the Ohio Advocate Network (OAN): https://ovwa.org/oan
• Follow OVWA on social media: @Ohio Victim Witness Association
• Interested in training? Check out:
  • OAESV Training Institute
  • ODVN Domestic Violence Advocacy Fundamentals
  • Summit County Victim Assistance Academy

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by the Rape Crisis Trust Fund, administered by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

What does it really take to communicate about hard things in a way that actually connects? In this episode, Laurie, OAESV's Resource & Engagement Manager, takes you inside her experience at Create Good, a conference for nonprofit communicators, and unpacks what it means for those of us working in sexual violence response and prevention.

From burnout and “doing more with less,” to storytelling that centers dignity (not pity), to navigating AI, social media shifts, and internal expectations, this episode is a frank reflection on the future of nonprofit communications and how we show up in it. If you’ve ever wondered if communications work really matters in nonprofit spaces, this conversation will remind you: it does.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by the Rape Crisis Trust Fund, administered by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.

Can AI ever be trauma-informed? Never in a million years did we think we'd ask that question. Artificial intelligence is already shaping the lives of survivors and the work of advocates. In this episode of Teal Talk, Laurie sits down with Chad Sniffen, Director of Digital Experience and Safety at me too. International, to explore the impact of AI on the anti-violence movement.

This conversation is both practical and philosophical, offering advocates guidance on drafting policies, protecting survivor data, and navigating a rapidly evolving digital landscape. AI isn’t going away. The question is: how do we engage with it responsibly?

Two of many trauma-informed ChatBots referenced by Chad are Ruth and Aimee Says.

Follow OAESV on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@oaesv. And remember, we’re here to help. Feel free to call our resource line at 888.886.8388 during regular business hours, or the Ohio Sexual Violence Helpline 24/7 at 844.644.6435.

This publication was supported by the Rape Crisis Trust Fund, administered by the Ohio Attorney General's Office. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ohio Attorney General's Office.