MOmentum for Change: Voices of the Missouri Movement

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In our efforts to provide holistic, comprehensive services, advocates often respond to survivors of domestic and sexual violence who have pets. There are many opportunities for advocates to support survivors around issues of pets, pet care, and advocacy. In this episode of MOmentum for Change, Claire Coughlin, the Director of the Companion Animal Program at the Animal Welfare Institute and Kitty Lawrence, the Director of Community Programs at the Animal Protective Association of Missouri discuss these opportunities, as well as additional intersections between animal welfare and gender-based violence. 

 Notes: 

• The Animal Welfare Institute: https://awionline.org/ 
• The Animal Protective Association: https://apamo.org/ 
• AWI’s Directory, Safe Havens for Pets: https://www.safehavensforpets.org/ 
• Abuse of Pets Power and Control Wheel: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.theduluthmodel.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Abuse_of_Animal_M_Wakeham_Bristol_Uni.pdf Don't forget the Pets: https://dontforgetthepets.org/ 
• RedRover: https://redrover.org/ 
• Safe Escape grants: these grants must be filled out by an advocate and will cover the cost of boarding for a short time so a pet parent can get to safety. They also offer grants for building spaces to house pets and have presentations about converting unused space into a kennel area for pets. 
• Purina's Purple Leash Project: https://www.purina.com/purple-leash-project 
• Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI): https://habri.org/ 
• DV and Pets: https://awionline.org/content/including-pets-domestic-violence-protection-orders-missouri 
• AWI Safety Planning: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/awi-safety-planning-pets-factsheet.pdf 
• AWI Safety Planning in Spanish: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-Safety-Planning-Pets-Spanish.pdf 
• AWI Signs of Animal Abuse: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-Signs-Animal-Abuse-Neglect.pdf 
• AWI Signs of Animal Abuse Spanish: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-Signs-Animal-Abuse-Neglect-Spanish.pdf 
• AWI Asking Children About Pets: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-Asking-Children-About-Pets.pdf 
• AWI Asking Children About Pets Spanish: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/AWI-Asking-Children-About-Pets-Spanish.pdf 

Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. 

Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. The opi

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Survivors of sexual abuse may choose to seek justice through the civil courts. In this episode of MOmentum for Change, Reed Martens, Attorney at Monsees & Mayer in Kansas City, discusses trauma-informed representation, the civil process, and his work to pursue justice for survivors.  

Notes:

• Find more information about Monsees & Mayer at https://monseesmayer.com/

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Domestic violence advocates are in a unique position to connect survivors of domestic violence with care and supportive resources related to partner-inflicted brain injury. The UMKC Institute for Human Development hosts OBISSS, a screening tool to assess individuals for brain injury. Join Beth Dauber, the Project Coordinator for Health and Aging at the UMKC Institute for Human Development and MOCADSV staff, Cara Jones, Member Services Specialist and Ashlea Whaley, Partnership Development Specialist, for a discussion of brain injury, OBISSS, and promising new resources available to support survivors. 

Notes: 

• Contact Beth Dauber, Project Coordinator - Health & Aging at The UMKC Institute for Human Development: [email protected]
• February 2024 MOmentum for Change Season 3, Episode 2: Teen Dating Violence and Strangulation with Cara Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UbGbaY0Lss&t=123s
• The National Association of State Head Injury Administrators: https://www.nashia.org/
• The UMKC Institute for Human Development Brain Injury Education Course (free): https://umsystem-umkc-ihd.catalog.instructure.com/browse/ucedd/courses/braininjuryeducation
• The Alliance for Hope Training Institute on Strangulation Prevention: https://www.allianceforhope.org/training-institute-on-strangulation-prevention 
• The Ohio Domestic Violence Network’s Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury: https://www.odvn.org/brain-injury/
• The Medical/Forensic Show Me ECHO: contact Cara Jones at [email protected] for more information
• The Missouri Brain Injury Advisory Council: https://health.mo.gov/information/boards/braininjury/advisory.php
• Register for The Missouri Brain Injury Stakeholder newsletter at https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/2016070/1900882/
• The Brain Injury Association of Missouri: https://www.biamo.org/
• The Missouri DHSS Adult Brain Injury Program: https://health.mo.gov/seniors/shcn/abi.php

Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. 

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.

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In this “back to school” episode of the podcast, MOCADSV is joined by Margo Leitschuh, the Prevention and Implementation Team Lead from Missouri Partners in Prevention. Margo discusses her passion for public health, effective strategies for violence prevention, and opportunities to partner with campus communities to support student health, safety, and wellbeing.

Show notes: 

• Missouri Partners in Prevention Reading List: https://www.mopip.org/pip/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PIP_Reading_List.pdf.

Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. 

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.

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The First Regular Session of the Missouri 103rd General Assembly ended this spring and new laws go into effect on August 28, 2025. Join members of the MOCADSV Public Policy Committee, Jessica Woolbright and Lisa Fleming, with the MOCADSV Chief Public Affairs Officer, Matthew Huffman, for a discussion of the legislative session, new laws that impact survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and MOCADSV’s policy efforts at the national level. 

Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. 

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.

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DeafLEAD is available to provide empowering, trauma-informed advocacy services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence who are Deaf. They are also available to provide support and information to advocacy organizations who serve these individuals. In this episode of MOmentum for Change, DeafLEAD Advocates, Tozzie Smith and Rachel Ebner, talk further about DeafLEAD, their empowerment-based approach, and a new ASL course they have developed to bridge the gap between service providers and survivors who are Deaf. 

Episode notes: 

Find more information about DeafLEAD at https://deaflead.org/. 

Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services.

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.

A transcript of this episode can be found at the following link

MOmentum for Change Season 4 Episode 7 Transcript

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Elizabeth Herrera is a visionary, a leader, and a true trailblazer for women. In this episode of MOmentum for Change, Elizabeth talks about the veteran’s program for women that she leads at Stephens College, her efforts in Puerto Rico to connect young women with educational opportunities, and how her commitment to women’s empowerment and positive social change has inspired her ongoing service to the community.

Find information about Mission Promise Kept at https://live-stephens-college.pantheonsite.io/life-at-stephens/center-of-excellence-for-veteran-student-success/. 

 Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. 

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.

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Domestic and sexual violence, pregnancy, and mental health are deeply connected issues. Join Dr. Melanie McKean, a Reproductive Psychiatrist with the Maternal Health Access Project, for a discussion about perinatal psychiatry and how domestic and sexual violence advocates can connect survivors with mental health services before, during, and after pregnancy. 

Episode notes: 

• To register for the Maternal Health Access Project, visit: https://redcap.umkc.edu/surveys/?s=PRLLH4W3WLWTWH8A.
• Enroll in the online training that DHSS provided in partnership with MOCADSV, Responding to Domestic Violence with Pregnant and Postpartum Patients at https://mocadsv.coalitionmanager.org/eventmanager/onlinetraining/details/2588. 

 Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. 

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.

Send us Fan Mail

The Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault (MOCSA) is celebrating 50 years of preventing sexual assault and supporting survivors in both Kansas and Missouri. In this episode of MOmentum for Change, MOCSA’s current President and CEO, Julie Donelon and former CEO, Palle Rilinger join MOCADSV for a discussion of the history of the organization, progress that has been made, and their hopes for the future of the anti-rape movement. Find more  information about MOCSA at https://mocsa.org/.

Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. 

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.

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In recognition of Women’s History Month, Becky Vermeire and Jennifer Hill discuss their involvement in the Missouri domestic and sexual violence advocacy movement. They reflect on earlier days of providing services, their involvement with statewide efforts, and the important role that humor has played in sustaining their work. They also talk about other women in the movement who have inspired and supported them and how these relationships have been foundational to much of the positive social change that has taken place here in Missouri.  

Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conversations that include content and descriptions of domestic and sexual violence, which may be alarming or activating for some listeners. Please take care and visit the MOCADSV Directory to connect with supportive services. 

The opinions in this podcast are based on the knowledge or experiences of the author and guests, and should not be used in place of actual legal or financial advice. You should seek appropriate counsel regarding the implementation of the ideas expressed.