Advocates

Survivors face a variety of economic barriers to accessing justice in courts. They also face barriers that inhibit their ability to receive economic justice in courts. These barriers have only been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty will engage with participants to discuss these barriers and strategies for overcoming them. This session will include issues like cultural responsiveness of courts/court staff and language access in virtual hearings. Attendees are highly encouraged to come ready to share questions, experiences, strategies, and models they may be aware of.Faculty: Nida Abbasi and Jenna Smith, Center for Court Innovation; Rosie Hidalgo, Casa de EsperanzaAudience: Non-attorney legal advocates

Over the years, research has emphasized the importance of implementing a risk-needs approach when working with general offender populations, wherein programming responds to both the risks and needs of each offender. When it comes to domestic violence offenders, most communities have only one level of community-based abusive partner intervention program and often struggle to address offenders' many needs including past trauma, parenting after violence skills, employment barriers, substance use, and lack of hope. Debate continues related to how and when assessments should be used to inform decisions and who should conduct them. As program referrals typically come directly from the court or probation without risk information, programs are often left in the dark about the various needs of the offender and whether their program is the right fit for them.

While domestic violence risk tools (e.g., Domestic Violence Risk Needs Assessment (DVRNA)) are starting to be utilized in jurisdictions across the country, comprehensive assessment strategies may also incorporate questions about hope and past trauma and address these issues in turn. Presenters, Cheryl Davis, formerly of the Colorado Domestic Violence Offender Management Board, and Terri Strodthoff, Executive Director of the Alma Center, will share promising practices related to utilizing comprehensive assessment strategies to inform abusive partner intervention programming. They will also address emerging strategies for comprehensive assessment in light of COVID-19.

As a result of this webinar, participants will be better able to: describe the risk, needs, responsivity framework; define the differences between various assessment tools; identify trauma-informed approaches to assessment and program implementation; define best practices related to collaboration and information-sharing of assessment results; and discuss emerging strategies for comprehensive assessment in light of COVID-19.

Immigrant survivors often encounter many additional barriers when trying to access safety and support. Additionally, abusive partners and perpetrators of crime often seek to exploit victims’ dependent or uncertain immigration status. This session is focused on helping advocates develop a more comprehensive understanding of the various risks that immigrant survivors may encounter (abuser-generated risks, life generated risks, and systems generated risks), while also developing a strengths-based approach to supporting survivors and enhancing their access to safety and well-being. This session will provide information and resources so advocates can enhance safety-planning with immigrant survivors, help them develop a better understanding of their rights, assist them in accessing potential VAWA remedies, and improve access to services and support.   Faculty: Rosie Hidalgo, Casa de Esperanza; Sarah Khan, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence   Audience: Non-attorney legal advocates

Advocates for survivors of violence in a legal setting face many harrowing challenges and frustrations. It is difficult to see the impact of violence, watch survivors struggle with poverty, lack of resources, and isolation. Working in the court setting can also cause advocates to feel powerless at times. How can advocates remain healthy in this context, especially during Covid-19 isolation?  Many of us have been told to breathe or take a bath when we are stressed out, but these can feel like tiny solutions to a larger problem. This session will help advocates envision what it would look like to work towards sustainable, healthy advocacy and work to create meaningful, evidence informed strategies to reduce the impact of secondary trauma even while socially isolating. The workshop will also explore how organizations can increase meaningful support and shift policies and procedures to increase advocate sustainability and will address the impact of power and cultural practice in “self-care”. Attendees will work with peers to create two personalized healthy advocacy calls to action. Faculty: Katie VonDeLinde; Sarah Khan, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence Audience: Non-attorney legal advocates

Advocates for survivors of violence in a legal setting face many harrowing challenges and frustrations. It is difficult to see the impact of violence, watch survivors struggle with poverty, lack of resources, and isolation. Working in the court setting can also cause advocates to feel powerless at times. How can advocates remain healthy in this context, especially during Covid-19 isolation?  Many of us have been told to breathe or take a bath when we are stressed out, but these can feel like tiny solutions to a larger problem. This session will help advocates envision what it would look like to work towards sustainable, healthy advocacy and work to create meaningful, evidence informed strategies to reduce the impact of secondary trauma even while socially isolating. The workshop will also explore how organizations can increase meaningful support and shift policies and procedures to increase advocate sustainability and will address the impact of power and cultural practice in “self-care”. Attendees will work with peers to create two personalized healthy advocacy calls to action. Faculty: Katie VonDeLinde; Sarah Khan, Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence Audience: Non-attorney legal advocates

Advocates working in rural areas face a variety of unique challenges while assisting survivors of DV and SA. Join this Peer Exchange Call to share how COVID 19 has exacerbated challenges related to securing economic and physical safety and share strategies with other rural advocates on ways to alleviate these challenges. Advocates who are used to working in remote or isolated conditions can share their techniques and promising practices with those who are experiencing distancing for the first time.