MOmentum for Change: Voices of the Missouri Movement

Send us Fan Mail Patty Prewitt spent almost 40 years in prison for a crime that she has always maintained she did not commit. One of Patty's attorneys described the challenge of getting out of prison when innocence is your only defense, as "trying to catch lightning in a jar". Patty finally caught lightning in 2024 when she was released from prison and recently published two books d...

Send us Fan Mail Elder Abuse is closely related to domestic and sexual violence, and many advocacy organizations encounter it regularly in their services to survivors.  In this episode of MOmentum for Change, Jessica Rooks, an Attorney with The Rooks Law Firm and Catherine Vannier, Special Victims Resource Prosecutor at the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services, talk about the nature and dynamic...

Send us Fan Mail Join MOCADSV for a conversation with Jessi Bixler, author of the memoir, The Story We Share: How One Sexual Assault Rippled Through a Family and Their Fight for Healing. Jessi shares insight on her process of healing from trauma, the impact on secondary victims, and her ongoing efforts to support survivors and increase awareness of sexual assault.  Notes:  Jessi's Website: ww...

Send us Fan Mail In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Attorney, Grant Boyd from The O'Brien Law Firm , joins MOCADSV for a discussion about the civil legal system. Grant discusses the impact of his work and shares insight on how his legal practice has provided empowerment, accountability, and justice to survivors and their families.  Some episodes of MOmentum for Change have conv...

Send us Fan Mail Pioneering social worker, educator, and life-long activist, Fran S. Danis joins MOmentum for Change for a discussion of her recent book series, Origin Stories from the Movements to End Domestic Violence .  These compelling books highlight the unique narratives of changemakers who have taken action on behalf of survivors of domestic violence at local, state, and national levels, ov...

Send us Fan Mail Relationship safety education provided to youth is an effective approach to preventing teen dating violence. However, domestic and sexual violence advocacy organizations often face difficulties in their efforts to build relationships with local school districts. In this episode of MOmentum for Change, Katie Hobeck, Violence Prevention Educator at the Safe House of Southeast Missou...

Send us Fan Mail Advocates have been responding to cyberstalking, and the general use of technology to perpetrate abuse, increasingly for years now. In recognition of National Stalking Awareness Month, this inaugural episode of Season 5 brings State Senator Tracy McCreery and MOCADSV’s Member Services Director, Heidi Coleman, together for a discussion about the Stop Cyberstalking and Harassment Ta...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Inst...

Send us Fan Mail 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/

Send us Fan Mail 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 Dev...

Send us Fan Mail 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:    M...

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail 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 empow...

Send us Fan Mail 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 on...

Send us Fan Mail 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 r...

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 mad...

Send us Fan Mail 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 h...

Send us Fan Mail Young people experience unique challenges that present advocacy programs with an opportunity to provide support and make a true difference. In recognition of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, this episode features a discussion of serving youth with Kristyn Young, Social Worker with the Youth and Family Advocacy Program at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Samantha Ghormle...

Send us Fan Mail Many domestic and sexual violence advocacy organizations regularly provide services to survivors of human trafficking. In recognition of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, MOCADSV is joined by Jordan Campbell and Libby Trammel from the Missouri Coalition Against Trafficking and Exploitation for a discussion of the nature and dynamics of trafficking, the current landscape of servic...

Send us Fan Mail In the final Episode of Season 3 of MOmentum for Change, we hear a compilation of voices from the Missouri Movement, interviewed at the MOCADSV Conference in Columbia on November 6-8, 2024. These conversations discuss highlights from the Conference, thoughts on advocacy and services, and confirms that, when we work together as a united movement, we truly can, and do, achieve more....

Send us Fan Mail In the final Episode of Season 3 of MOmentum for Change, we hear a compilation of voices from the Missouri Movement, interviewed at the MOCADSV Conference in Columbia on November 6-8, 2024. These conversations discuss highlights from the Conference, thoughts on advocacy and services, and confirms that, when we work together as a united movement, we truly can, and do, achieve more....

Send us Fan Mail Children’s book author, Angie Philips, joins MOCADSV for a conversation about her book Feather’s Matter, written in honor of her daughter, Hallie Phillips, who died as a result of an intimate partner homicide in 2022. In this episode, Angie also discusses red flags of abuse, her passion for women’s empowerment, and the need for more awareness of harm caused by emotional abuse.  Fi...

Send us Fan Mail Many individuals who have experienced domestic and sexual violence also have a history of military service. In recognition of Veterans Day, MOmentum for Changed is joined by Jess Asher and Michelle Vogt from Welcome Home, for a discussion of how service members are impacted by domestic and sexual violence and what resources are available to provide trauma-informed support and serv...

Send us Fan Mail MOCADSV will host a Biannual Statewide Conference in Columbia, Missouri on November 6-8, 2024. The Conference brings advocates and allied professionals together to build relationships, strengthen networks, and learn innovative approaches to supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Join MOCADSV members and Conference presenters Jessica Hill, Emily Stoinski, and Andrea...

Send us Fan Mail The Children's Division of The Missouri Department of Social Services launched their Family-Centered Services program to connect families with resources and prevent children from being placed in foster care, when possible. On this episode of MOmentum for Change, Judge Darrell Missey, the Director of Children's Division, talks about the state of child welfare that inspire...