Within DV agencies the word "advocacy" has come to often be used as a catch-all term for any type of direct service or case management. However, genuine advocacy for survivors means partnering with them to represent their rights while linking them to the resources, protections, and opportunities they need to achieve their self-defined goals. This kind of broad-based advocacy has been shown to be effective in increasing survivors’ safety, wellbeing, and quality of life. Yet, this type of advocacy has…

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Thoughtful implementation of accessible technology during our COVID-19 response can permanently transform advocacy for survivors with disabilities and Deaf survivors. In this webinar, the National Network to End Domestic Violence’s Safety Net Team will review best practices for using technology to ensure that it is safe, accessible, and confidential for all.

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This webinar will provide attorneys, advocates, and courts with information on the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Self-Petition.  The VAWA Self-Petition allows battered immigrants to confidentially file their own application for legal status without relying on abusive U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident spouses, parents, or adult children to apply on their behalf. Faculty will discuss the requirements, how to screen for VAWA Self-Petition eligibility, the importance of identifying VAWA self-petitioning eligible victims in family court, and best practices for…

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Join researcher and practitioner presenters to learn about a new tool developed to measure service outcomes for human trafficking. This user-friendly, Excel-based tool measures changes in feelings of safety, wellbeing, social connectedness, and self-sufficiency. The tool is applicable to diverse settings, and it is relevant to programs serving minor and adult victims of sex and labor trafficking. It is also being made available to service providers at no cost. This webinar will: Describe how the tool was developed and used…

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The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased danger for survivors of domestic violence in the past few months. Governmental “stay at home” orders have forced many survivors and their children into isolation with abusive partners, while abusers, not surprisingly, have used threats of infection with COVID-19 to control their intimate partners and other family members. In a time of pandemic, survivors have far more limited access to shelter services, financial assistance, law enforcement responses, and court protections, leaving them without the…

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This webinar will provide a basic overview of autism and how it relates to wandering/elopement behaviors. Attendees will learn the reasons behind wandering, how to respond when a child with autism is missing, and the do’s and don’ts of searching for – and interacting with – this population.  

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Human trafficking victims often experience several forms of abuse, such as domestic violence and sexual assault. These survivors may be afraid to disclose information to obtain relevant legal assistance, thereby remaining vulnerable to traffickers. To address this issue, attorneys and advocates must have the knowledge and tools to understand human trafficking, identify victims, and recognize the legal needs of these survivors. This webinar will examine the complexities of human trafficking and the challenges survivors face when deciding whether or not…

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In this interactive webinar, the VRLC will discuss the various ways that minors arrive on campuses, and the legal impact of their minority on any gender based violence they experience. This presentation will take a closer look at jurisdiction-specific laws like mandatory child abuse reporting, alongside education laws that affect minors on campus (such as The Jeanne Clery Act and Title IX). Finally, we will look at any specific considerations to take when serving minors in an OVW-funded victim services…

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