TIMES NEWSLETTERS DIRECTOR CHANGES UPDATE

Closed sexual assault-related Peace Corps OIG recommendations,* including:.Any person interested in the work of the agency can subscribe to Inside Peace Corps. To date, two issues of the newsletter have been distributed to the Peace Corps network and posted online ( Issue 1 and Issue 2 ). Shared updates the agency has made to its systems, processes and procedures in a public e-newsletter, Inside Peace Corps.The firm will present its findings to the agency in Spring 2022. Selected an external firm to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the overall effectiveness of the SARRR program and its structure.The SAAC will submit its report, which will be made publicly available, before the end of the year. Requested that the Sexual Assault Advisory Council (SAAC) – an independent team of subject-matter experts and former volunteers responsible for reviewing the Peace Corps’ policies and procedures related to sexual assault risk reduction and response – review and provide guidance on the progress made toward SAAC recommendations from the last five years.To ensure procedural compliance, field-based Peace Corps Safety and Security Officers will review all orientations, and incorporate any proposed modifications as requested by posts. This includes expanded guidance around unwanted attention, violence prevention and bystander intervention. Updated safety and security instructions to bolster host family and counterpart orientations.Improved standardized operating procedures for vetting and selecting host families to ensure that this vetting occurs in a systematic and consistently documented manner.The agency is also creating a Quality Assurance Specialist position at each post to oversee the collection, filing and review of all site management and site history file documents to ensure that systems and processes are followed and all required files are complete and up-to-date. In addition, Country Directors will attest that all sites have been reviewed and properly vetted for security incidents. Standardized the process for maintaining and using site history files and information stored in SIMS to ensure that all safety and security incidents that occur at a volunteer’s site are documented and reviewed prior to future volunteers being placed at that specific site.After reviewing this information, invitees will have an opportunity to request consideration for another country placement. Data regarding these topics can be found on individual post webpages. Made publicly available country-specific health, safety, volunteer satisfaction and early termination information.All regions and offices required to use the system have been trained on it. Through SIMS, staff will categorize crimes, record support services provided to volunteer victims of crime and monitor related criminal proceedings. Implemented a new Security Management System (SIMS) to better document, track and analyze the agency’s response to crimes, including sexual assaults.Today, the agency confirmed that it has fulfilled the pledges made in April and May: In the spring, the Peace Corps committed to making specific, systemic improvements to sexual-assault-related policies and procedures prior to volunteers’ return to in-person service overseas. Peace Corps staff care deeply about the safety of our volunteers and, as an agency, we are continuously learning, wholeheartedly dedicated to reducing risk, wherever possible, and committed to providing victim-centered, trauma-informed care.” “This deep, structural work involves upgrading all of our systems, including and especially those related to sexual assault risk reduction and response. “When I stepped into the role of Acting Director, I called for all Peace Corps staff to examine how our agency can better meet our service commitments to both volunteers and the community members we work alongside,” said Peace Corps Acting Director Carol Spahn.

TIMES NEWSLETTERS DIRECTOR CHANGES UPDATE

WASHINGTON – Today, the Peace Corps provided an update on the agency’s progress to strengthen its volunteer safety, and sexual assault risk reduction and response efforts over the last six months.

Times newsletters director changes