A South Dakota academic program that enhances training for those who respond to child abuse and neglect cases is gaining momentum. In the past couple of years, the University of South Dakota has seen its first groups of students earn certificates for Child and Adult Advocacy Studies. Participants get a deeper understanding of child maltreatment and how to respond. .
Sunday is World Day Against Trafficking in Humans, and in Iowa state officials are calling on residents to do more to help. Reports of trafficking are up, and so is the prevalence of the crime. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said Iowa isn t alone in seeing a dramatic increase in human trafficking cases. .
Advocacy groups say a $20 million statewide funding increase will help rebuild community domestic violence services after years of budget cuts. Since 2019, more than 40-percent of its member programs reported having to reduce or eliminate services to children, and more than a quarter turned away survivors seeking assistance with a protection order due to lack of available staff, the Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported. After several attempts, Christa Hullaby left an abusive relationship in 2004, and had a restraining order against her ex-partner for 15 years, until his death. .
Sexual assault survivors in Ohio can now access short-term emergency housing through a new program run by the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence. Research shows more than 90% of women experiencing homelessness report having suffered severe physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives. The Alliance s Survivor Coordinator Shelley Lieber said there are currently few emergency housing options available for survivors of sexual assault. .