On the Job 

As the victims’ rights movement has become more robust in Ohio, the Two Days in May Conference on Victim Assistance has grown exponentially.

This year, Two Days in May celebrated its 25^th anniversary in a new, larger venue.

The annual gathering of victim advocates on May 23-24 took place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, which offers more room and easier navigation.

The attendance speaks volumes about Ohio’s victims’ rights movement, said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. “It is a very energized and advanced movement.”

Since 2011, DeWine has been participating in the event. Meanwhile the Attorney General’s commitment to crime victims has grown.

For example, a 2013 review of the state’s sexual assault response capabilities found that only 36 counties offered direct, comprehensive services for sexual assault survivors and eight had few or no services.

In 2013, the Attorney General’s Office launched the Sexual Assault Services Expansion Program and set a five-year goal of making direct, comprehensive services available statewide. Today, the program is ahead of schedule: 77 counties provide all core services, 11 provide some services and no counties are without core services. To be considered as a core services provider, a county has to have at least six programs to directly help sexual assault victims and five administration components.

 “Quite frankly, we wish no one would ever have to use these services, but when someone is sexually assaulted, it is critical that survivors can find help close to home,” DeWine said.

Through the years, Attorney General DeWine has participated in various Two Days in May symposiums that have helped advance topics of concern such as elder abuse research, foster youth care, and crime victims with disabilities.  

This year, 1,200 people registered to attend Two Days in May.

Venica Miller, deputy director of Support and Outreach Services in the Ohio Attorney General’s Crime Victim Services Section, organizes the annual event and strives to make it a high-quality conference. “In fact, we are recognized nationally,” she said. National groups have asked to unite with Two Days in May, and other states have tried to copy its format. One state even pays homage with a Two Days in June event.
Miller, who has been a part of Two Days in May since 2004, said “A lot of people who attend Two Days in May have been to all 25 conferences. It has a major following,” she said. “The advocates in Ohio are very passionate about the training and networking opportunities.”

At the heart of the conference are the workshops, Miller said. Social workers, victim advocates, nurses and attorneys earn continuing education credits. “They come for the credits and wind up being wowed,” Miller said. “We have some great workshops.”

The conference is also a time for giving, Miller said. This year, attendees collected new journals, children’s books and stuffed animals to donate to the Ohio Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers to be distributed to 27 centers throughout Ohio.

“We reached out to the Children’s Advocacy Centers, and they told us this is what they need,” Miller said. “These items are for comfort and healing.”