WV SAFE is requesting that all service providers in Ohio, Marion and
Preston Counties take this survey before 5-15-08
   
  Thank you!
   
  SUBJECT: WV S.A.F.E. Partnership - MAXIMIZE YOUR INFLUENCE
   
  You should recently have received an invitation to participate in the
WV S.A.F.E. Partnership’s Internet-based survey focusing on sexual
abuse among women with disabilities. The purpose of this survey is to
identify ways to improve services to women with disabilities and Deaf
women who are survivors of sexual assault.  If you and your staff and
volunteers have already responded to the survey thank you for your
time.
   
  If you or your staff/volunteers have not had a chance to log on and
complete survey, please take a couple of minutes to log on to the survey
at  
  http://surveys.surveynetwork.com/wvsafe/main.php   and ask all you
staff and volunteers at all relevant offices/divisions to do so as well.
   
   
  Why is this Research Effort Important? - The survey effort is part of
a cutting edge grant through the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S.
Justice Department focusing on identifying local solutions to local
problems among an elite group of pilot sites around the country.  West
Virginia is one of 15 sites out of some 90 applicants to have received
the honor of an award under this grant program. The results of this
survey will be used to identify ways to serve all women with
disabilities and Deaf women better -- thus enhancing the effectiveness
of organizations like yours.
   
  DISTRIBUTE WIDELY -- The Success of the Survey Depends on Obtaining
Input from All Staff and Volunteers at Organizations Like Yours -- Given
that it is difficult to predict to whom a person with a disability may
choose to disclose an incident of sexual assault, we all need to be
prepared for such an event. As a result, the survey is open to everyone,
at every level within your organization. The more individuals that
complete the survey, the more accurate information we will have for your
service area. We strongly encourage you to make the survey available to
all staff and volunteers by providing the link to the survey to them via
your internal communications systems.  
   
  How Long the Survey Takes to Complete and Confidentiality - The
survey takes about 20 minutes to complete and is completely
confidential/anonymous. There is no need to consult records of files in
order to complete the survey. The respondents best estimate or
perception is fine (even if the answer to a particular question is
don’t know) and will allow them to complete the survey in the
shortest time possible.
   
  Please do your part to help make this effort a success by completing
the survey and forwarding the above link to others you believe could
provide valuable input. 
   
  If you have any questions about the survey please feel free to
contact Steven C. Rioux
  (Project Coordinator) at [log in to unmask] or by phone at 304-457-3337
or 856-451-5564.
  Thank you for your time and that of your staff and volunteers on this
very important research effort.