Confidentiality rules are meant to put survivors in the driver’s seat, empowering them to seek support by ensuring they maintain control over their personal information. In practice, VAWA, FVPSA, & VOCA regulations can be challenging to implement in a survivor-centered manner. Do you have questions about obtaining digital written consent to share information? How to maintain confidentiality in your community partnerships? Other confidentiality-related questions? This is the session for you! Our long-time partner Alicia Aiken, Director of the Confidentiality Institute at the Danu Center for Strategic Advocacy, will join us to answer your confidentiality questions.

Join MNCASA and other anti-violence advocates to address stigma and misconceptions, expand narratives about men and masculine victims/survivors, and explore how victim service programs can better meet their needs.

This year's symposium will be an all-day virtual event.

This training will allow participants to:

• Develop an understanding of the impact of historical trauma on American Indian and Alaska Natives peoples

• Recognize why approaching families with cultural humility is critical

• Assess their practice of cultural humility

• Increase your own cultural awareness to work in and with American Indian and Alaska Native communities

“It’s not always as simple as one person having power and control over another with the aggressor only using physical force.  Sometimes it is one person trying to exert power and control over the other with force and the other is using force to fight back. 

- Dr. Ellen Pence (1948-July 6, 2012) 

With this in mind, it becomes challenging for Law Enforcement to arrive on a scene and find both parties with injuries and their own versions of what took place. Law Enforcement is then asked to identify a Dominant Aggressor. 

Strangulation impacts all professionals working on sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking cases, in particular. Today, we know unequivocally that strangulation is one of the most lethal forms of domestic violence. Unconsciousness may occur within seconds and death within minutes.

Did you know that at least 50% of the time strangled victims will have no visible injuries from being strangled while their assailants will likely have visible injuries from victims trying to defend themselves up to 65% of the time? One strangulation study found 13 out of 20 suspects (stranglers) had injuries upon examination, including scratch marks to their face and hands. (Harm, 1981).

During this 90 minute webinar, Casey Gwinn, Michelle Morgan, and Joyce Bilyeu will discuss lessons learned, best practices, new research, and resources available for family violence and sexual assault professionals. This webinar is designed through case studies to provide ideas on how to identify the Dominant Aggressor. The unique challenges of non-fatal strangulation assaults that may leave only minor to no visible injuries are discussed along with factors to be considered.

Identifying the true dominant aggressor is never an easy task in any domestic violence case. Professionals cannot rely on visible injuries alone. There are at least 10 important factors to consider – join us to find out more. This webinar will help professionals identify the dominant aggressor not only in domestic violence cases but also non-fatal strangulation cases in particular.

The relationship between TBI and intimate partner violence (IPV) is increasingly evident and alarming, as physical abuse often focuses on the head, neck, and face. This webinar highlights the framework necessary to understand and approach TBIs that originate from IPV.

Distinct from athletics or warfare related TBI, the cognitive, somatic, and emotional symptoms of TBI from IPV can also interfere with self-care, caring for families, and strategies to leave an abusive relationship. The presentation will cover the scope of the epidemic, opportunities to educate service providers, and considerations for assessment and intervention. Dr. Lifshitz will specifically discuss ongoing epidemiological studies and laboratory results on the topic. One published study reports the state-wide epidemiology of concurrent concussion and domestic violence, where the results point to infant boys and child-bearing-age women at the greatest risk. A laboratory study of TBI during pregnancy (gravida TBI) in mice evaluated the effects on the neurological development of the offspring, and a subsequent study to describe the state-wide epidemiology on 300,000 pregnancies, with ~30,000 TBI/IPV events during pregnancy.

Through this webinar you will:

• Learn about Start by Believing, a public awareness and action campaign, dedicated to changing the way we respond to disclosures of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking.

•  Recognize the dynamics of domestic violence disclosure and reporting

• Explore how criminal justice professionals, service providers, even loved ones can improve their responses to disclosures of assault and abuse. 

• Gain access to over 2,000 victim service provider resources through the VINE Service Provider Directory.

TRAINING OBJECTIVES: 

• Learn to identify ethical codes or other sources that may guide a forensic interviewer when facing an ethical conundrum.

• Learn to recognize situations where the ethical codes of various MDT members may conflict and, when that happens, develop a process for resolving the situation.

• Receive practical guidance to prevent ethical violations or, when they do occur, to limit potential damage in responding to an allegation of child abuse.

Join us on Tuesday, September 26th, 3:00pm - 4:30pm ET, for part two of the six-part DV RISC webinar series, "Foundational Building Blocks for IPV Risk Assessment Implementation," focusing on Partnerships.

Partnerships are an integral part of implementing intimate partner violence (IPV) risk assessments. Assessing lethality and recidivism factors and scoring individuals will lead to services/programming being used to support the needs of the survivor and those who cause harm. Therefore, jurisdictions should have strong, collaborative, buy-in partnerships, not only with system players, but also with community partners who can support the implementation or enhancement of an IPV risk assessment or model.
 

The learning objectives for this webinar will focus on the following:

• Identify strengths and opportunities in your community for collaboration, engagement, and buy-in.

• Demonstrate engagement opportunities to increase survivor safety and offender accountability.

• Illustrate the importance of risk assessments and community partnerships to ensure long term well-being in the community.

• Develop partnership strategies to increase participation among community agencies, especially those representing culturally specific populations.

Over the past decade, rough sex behaviors have become increasingly prevalent and normalized among many young adults in the U.S. and internationally. The most striking change has been in relation to non-fatal strangulation, which is almost universally called “choking” by the people who engage in it as well as in mainstream media and in pornography. Today, there is a growing awareness about and alarming concern with strangulation during sex being used in consensual sexual practices, violent pornography, and dangerous adolescent “choking games” leading to similar health consequences and death.

In this evidence-based presentation, Dr. Debby Herbenick (a Professor at the Indiana University School of Public Health, an internationally recognized sexuality researcher, and author of the forthcoming “Yes Your Kid: What Parents Need to Know About Today’s Teens and Sex”) will share her team’s groundbreaking research on how choking/strangulation has rapidly increased in prevalence, both as part of consensual sex and in connection with college campus and community sexual assaults. dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. 

TRAINING OBJECTIVES: 

• Gain a foundational understanding of "disability"

• Discuss the risk factors and perceived vulnerabilities facing disabled child survivors

• Adopt new skills to serve disabled child survivors

• Leave with a new lens with which to practice equity and inclusivity

When many of us hear the word “concussion,” our minds immediately jump to football and sports. This session will explore an under-recognized cause of concussions—domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse. We will discuss brain function and what a concussion is, as well as identify some of the unique characteristics of concussions caused by domestic violence. We also will provide guidance on raising awareness on this issue with survivors of violence, as well as the evidence-based CARE framework to assist you in integrating knowledge of concussions into your services.

While anyone can be a victim of financial fraud, exploitation, and abuse, tribal communities are often targeted. According to the Federal Trade Commission, tribal members are more likely to be the victims of scams and are less likely to report scams than any other group. For service providers working in or supporting individuals in tribal communities, it is imperative to understand the risk factors for victims, how risk can be mitigated, and culturally appropriate responses to working with victims of financial fraud, exploitation, and abuse.

Important note: This webinar is free, but capacity is limited. Only the first 1,000 registrants who sign on when the webinar starts can view it live. *All* registrants, however, will later receive a recording of the webinar, along with any relevant documents from the presentation.

US law enforcement is often unable to accurately identify and or recognize human trafficking when they encounter it in the field. This is not because law enforcement is lazy or doesn't care, they often have not been provided with the most accurate up-to-date training. Most agencies supply the "bare minimums" of or "outdated" human trafficking training nationwide during basic academy or in-service type training. And nationwide staffing shortages often lead to minimizing time on the scene, going further into questioning, or even looking deeper during investigations related to other crimes that may be related to human trafficking. It is estimated that there are more than 400,000 human trafficking victims in the US alone. During this webinar, two experienced investigators will discuss multiple examples where they failed to recognize human trafficking during their time working in drug and gang-related cases.

This workshop provides an overview of compassion fatigue, secondary trauma, and vicarious trauma as it relates to victim service providers including prosecutors. Participants will learn about key findings relating to research on prosecutors' experiences with secondary trauma and emotional labor in working sex crimes. The presentation will also include strategies to mitigate secondary trauma from an individual and organizational standpoint.

Join the Sexual Violence Justice Institute for our monthly virtual meetings/discussions focused on addressing the current needs of sexual assault response teams (SARTs) and connecting SART leaders. We provide customized training and technical assistance to Rural, ICJR, and STOP grantees across the US and territories. 

There are now powerful, effective, evidence-based approaches to preventing homicide and gun violence.  This session will address:

• Preventing group violence;

• Preventing violence by individual violent offenders;

• Preventing intimate partner violence;

• The role of police and other criminal justice agencies in launching and sustaining these efforts.

During this 1 1/2-hour virtual workshop, you'll learn about the unique and specific needs of LGBTQ survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and best practices for providing interventions, support, and healing. IPV is one of the largest and most critical health issues confronting LGBTQ people.

This webinar is free but capacity is limited. Only the first 1,000 registrants who sign on when the webinar starts can view it live. *All* registrants, however, will later receive a recording of the webinar, along with any relevant documents from the presentation.

This webinar will cover the fundamentals of what anyone serving survivors of domestic violence should know. It will feature presentations from Gail Pincus, Executive Director of the Domestic Abuse Center in Los Angeles, California, and Caryn Burton, Homicide Reduction Coordinator with the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Trauma-informed leadership is the key to building organizations that are productive, resilient, and cohesive. Balancing the needs of employees, clients, and the organization with compassion and skill is not always easy, however. This session discusses the importance of trauma-informed leadership and covers the practical steps we can take to build a trauma-informed culture through shifts in the ways we lead our organizations and ourselves. Through commitment and dedication, we can build a trauma-informed culture for a stronger organization, more productive teams, and a healthier workforce.

Injuries sustained during domestic violence incidents are an ever-increasing problem for law enforcement. The number of incidents reported to law enforcement increases every year. This increase in domestic violence leads us as law enforcement officers to have more contact with victims who have injuries. The more accurately officers can assess domestic violence injuries, the better these officers will be able to assist our victims. The successful collection of evidence of these injuries will lead to the successful prosecution of domestic violence offenders.

Join the National Organization for Victim Assistance team as we welcome presenters Dr. Elizabeth "Gizzy" Gray, LCSW, CAC, CA and Darren Mitchell, J.D. for a comprehensive discussion on how firearms being present in Domestic and Dating Violence cases increase ones risk and lethality, how to eliminate identified training gaps as it pertains to firearms, and keys to success moving forward.

Attendees will be provided a resource list with several Department of Defense Instructions, examples of forms addressed throughout the webinar, and other useful links and information.

As a result of this webinar, participants will be better able to:

(1) Advocate for the implementation in their communities of the key components of an effective firearms surrender program in civil protection order cases, including those involving military-connected families.

(2) Contribute to a collaborative military-civilian response to firearms in domestic violence cases, providing a pathway to safety for victims and moving beyond an honor system for respondents who have access to firearms.

A certificate of completion will be provided to all attendees.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH YOUR CHILDREN IN AN AGE OF DISCONNECTION

By Ralphie Jacobs from Simply on Purpose 

In this presentation you will learn 3 simple guiding principles for how to connect with your children and proactively fill their emotional needs. Having lots of positive interactions will not only prevent many frustrating behaviors in the future, it also leads to great trust which is essential when helping each other through a complex world.

HOW PREDATORS TARGET OUR CHILDREN ONLINE AND WHAT WE CAN DO

 By Casey Jones, Outreach Manager, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Kids growing up today have so many new risks to contend with online--sexting, sextortion, cyberbullying, online solicitations, and inappropriate images to name a few. Using examples and strategies from NetSmartz, we will empower parents, guardians, and communities to be more comfortable developing age-appropriate open

communication with their children about online safety. These bite-size strategies will equip parents with teachable moments in their daily lives to build critical thinking and decision-making skills in their children.

Strangulation is a terrifying and terrible crime, with research showing the connection between strangulation and lethal levels of violence. While the conversation around strangulation has focused on response in the immediate aftermath, this training will expand to include a long-term consequence of strangulation—brain injuries that can impact survivors for months, years, and decades. You will learn about brain injuries from strangulation and learn about a framework to raise awareness on this issue and better support survivors on their path towards healing.

WHAT EXPERTS WISH PARENTS KNEW ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

By Detective Mike Yarina,
Dr. Jed Walker,
Jill Anderson, LCPC,
& Principal Mike Rice

This panel presentation features a child crimes detective, an emergency room physician, a therapist, and a middle school principal. As “boots on the ground,” each of these professionals knows the risks of technology, and has something to share with parents in order to help them put protective factors in place.

Sex trafficking of minors is a real and significant threat in our communities across the United States. Traffickers must be prosecuted and held accountable, and victims must be met with a trauma-informed approach.  This presentation will provide investigators, prosecutors, probation officers, and victim advocates with insight into the culture and dynamics of domestic minor sex trafficking.  These cases come with significant hurdles to overcome such as a lack of corroborating evidence or “compliant” victims.  Ms. Micflikier will incorporate case studies and real-life examples of trafficking prosecutions to provide the audience with a basic understanding of trafficking culture, terminology, and the unique circumstances involved in the trafficking of minors for sex.

Sex trafficking of minors is a real and significant threat in our communities across the United States. Traffickers must be prosecuted and held accountable, and victims must be met with a trauma-informed approach.  This presentation will provide investigators, prosecutors, probation officers, and victim advocates with insight into the culture and dynamics of domestic minor sex trafficking.  These cases come with significant hurdles to overcome such as a lack of corroborating evidence or “compliant” victims.  Ms. Micflikier will incorporate case studies and real-life examples of trafficking prosecutions to provide the audience with a basic understanding of trafficking culture, terminology, and the unique circumstances involved in the trafficking of minors for sex.

The 2023 Parent Empowerment Speaker Series will take place every Tuesday in April, noon to 1pm. Registration is free at mediasafety.org.
This is a webinar series featuring local and national experts who present on critical issues currently affecting youth. This year we will have the following sessions:

• Mitch Prinstein, Chief Science Officer at the American Psychological Association will speak on "Social Media Side Effects: Addressing Rising Rates of Mental Illness in Our Youth"

• Casey Jones, Outreach Manager for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children will speak on "How Predators Are Targeting Our Children and What We Can Do"

• Ralphie Jacobs, from Simply on Purpose will speak on "Connecting With Our Kids in an Age of Disconnection"

• and a panel of "boots on the ground" local professionals consisting of a detective, a physician, a therapist, and a middle school principal (all from Montana), will speak on "What Experts Wish Parents Knew About Technology."