Sherry Rhodes – Victim Advocacy and Wellness

Session Description:

Who helps the helpers? While peer support has emerged as an effective standard of care for the law enforcement community, victim advocates may not be included in the group or individual interventions offered after a crisis. This presentation will delve into the need for a more formalized approach to crisis intervention for victim advocates, with the goal of building resiliency, mitigating burnout, and fostering a sense of belonging. Informal support may often occur organically between victim advocates, but peer support has a specific purpose and structure, with established confidentiality protocols and a “shared” language. A healthy peer support system values this confidentiality, while building trust and meeting the needs of the unique culture of victim advocacy. The presenters will share some of their own experiences utilizing the ICISF (International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc.) techniques used during peer support interventions, and encourage further discussion on the need for more victim advocates to be certified in these skills to build an effective peer support network.

BIO:

Sherry Rhodes serves as a Program Manager in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Division of Victim Services, responsible for managing the division’s victim notification section, as well as the statewide automated victim information and notification system, known as SC VINE. She is a 27-year veteran of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, with over 14 years’ experience working in the Agency’s IT division.

Ms. Rhodes is also certified by the International Incident Stress Foundation in Critical Incident Stress Management and a member of the SCDC’s Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Peer Team, helping to provide crisis assistance to both individuals and groups within the Agency. She is also a member of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Victims Advocate Association (SCLEVA), serving as a conference committee planning member, and recently completed training as a National Victim Offender Dialogue Facilitator. She has a passion for helping victims in navigating the criminal justice process, as well as helping to equip fellow advocates. Ms. Rhodes holds a B.A. in Psychology and has completed Master’s Level work in Criminal Justice.