Re: Legislative Advocacy and Survivors

[lisa fontes <lfontes@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

What a great topic! I think you're going to have to go to "alternative" sources
of info on this one, since there isn't a lot of research. Some ideas:
* examine literature on other people SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER such as victims of
sexual harassment (I'd start w Anita Hill's book by that name). look at the
literature on corporate Whistleblowers
* consider the literature on speaking before truth commissions about war crimes
and crimes of the state, the importance of truth commissions for survival and
recovery (e.g. Argentina, South Africa, Guatemala).
* consider the substantial literature on the importance of public retelling for
Holocaust survivors
* look at the literature on "testimonio"--Central Americans recounting their
experiences of state violence.
I worked for an organization in the 80's where mothers of survivors of sexual
abuse banded together and ended up doing educational sessions for judges,
social workers and others. I believe they also testified in the state
legislature. The WAY they went about deciding to testify and defining their
terms probably partially determined why they found this so empowering. They
were united, knew each other, engaged in a web of support. I have a video where
they discuss their work together, including testifying (and ropes courses,
writing a newsletter). The agency is no more but you could try contacting its
former director, Richard Baldwin, at:
ibald@crocker.com

I am reminded of a saying in Spanish: La verdad no mata pero incomoda (truth
doesn't kill but it creates discomfort).
Good luck with your important project!
Lisa Fontes

"Julie Steen, MSW" wrote:

>  I am beginning the first stage of creating a dissertation topic.  I have
> an idea of what I would like to focus on but am unsure if there is any
> knowledge base in the literature to build a dissertation upon.  I am not
> finding any literature that is directly related to my research question.
>
> My research questions are based on the following.  I have worked in the
> field of legislative advocacy and have seen people testify before
> legislative committee, where they recount their experiences of domestic
> violence and child abuse.  I have two primary questions:  Is this traumatic
> or empowering for these survivors to testify before the legislature?  What
> factors make this testimony more or less traumatic?  Would you say that
> this type of testimony is similar to the testmony in court, in terms of
> trauma experienced by the person testifying?
>
> I am hoping that through this research, the field of advocacy can gain
> insight into how advocacy can be successfully accomplished without
> sacrificing the emotional health of survivors or other consumers of social
> serives.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas of where I can go to get information on this
> topic?  If you have information on how to do advocacy while actively
> involving other consumers, such as families affected by disabilities,
> mental illness, or poverty, that information might also be helpful.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Julie Steen
> Florida State University