On-Site Training

At this training, we will provide training on topics including but not limited to domestic violence and trauma; the criminalization of survivors; the Justice for Incarcerated Survivors program structure; related law in Georgia; and trauma-informed interviewing strategies.

 

This training is aimed towards domestic violence advocates who are interested in volunteering with the Justice for Incarcerated Survivors project. Volunteer meetings and opportunities often take place during the traditional working hours on M-F, although there may be occasional opportunities for volunteer opportunities outside of those times.

 

Our program volunteers are highly recommended to participate in our volunteer training sessions. If you miss this session, the next JFIS Volunteer training will take place in Q3 of 2025.

 

 

 

From cellphones to social media, technology is often maliciously misused by abusive partners to harass, intimidate, locate, or  harm survivors. Safety planning around technology can be challenging for advocates who don't consider themselves "tech savvy" or feel under informed about technology facilitated abuse. This training will explain how to create a Technology Safety Plan with survivors who are actively experiencing tech-facilitated abuse, as well prevention suggestions to minimize a survivor's vulnerability to this type of abuse.

This virtual training is the second in our 2025 Safety Planning Essentials Series where we will learn, discuss, and practice our safety planning skills around five potentially challenging survivor situations. Done in a "lunch and learn" style with a 60 minute presentation, no camera or microphone required, followed by an optional 30 minutes at the end for group discussion, scenarios, and role plays. 

Register for the upcoming sessions, every 4^th  Wednesday, May – June, 2025:

·        Session 3: Survivors Living with Disabilities

·        Session 4: Survivors Who Stay

·        Session 5: Survivors With Pets

 

Stalking is a prevalent, dangerous, and often misunderstood crime that frequently co-occurs with physical violence – including homicide. This session explores the dynamics of stalking, focusing on the highly contextual nature of the crime by discussing common tactics used by perpetrators and the co-occurrence of stalking with domestic and sexual violence. Using a case study example, this session also highlights the Stalking & Harassment Assessment & Risk Profile (SHARP) and explores strategies to promote victim safety, focusing on documentation strategies and safety options for victims and survivors.  

 

GCADV is excited to partner with national subject matter experts, The Stalking, Prevention and Awareness Rescource Center (SPARC), to bring this training to Georgia's advocates! 

 

By the end of this presentation, participants will be better able to:

 

• Identify stalking behaviors and dynamics
• Recognize the intersection of stalking with other crimes
• Assess danger in stalking cases
• Consider tools for enhancing victim safety

People living with disabilities have a higher likelihood of experiencing all types of abuse, including intimate partner violence. Along with increased risk, people living with disabilities often face unique barriers to getting and staying safe and accessing services.  Join us as we talk specifically about safety planning with survivors living with disabilities.   

This virtual training is the third in our 2025 Safety Planning Essentials Series where we will learn, discuss, and practice our safety planning skills around five potentially challenging survivor situations. Done in a "lunch and learn" style with a 60 minute presentation, no camera or microphone required, followed by an optional 30 minutes at the end for group discussion, scenarios, and role plays. 

Register for the upcoming sessions, every 4^th  Wednesday through June, 2025:

·        Session 4: Survivors Who Stay

·        Session 5: Survivors With Pets

 

 

This 6-hour introductory-level Motivational Interviewing (MI) training will introduct participants to the spirit, processes and principles of MI and will address how MI methods can add to the tools in our trauma-informed advocacy toolbox. 

During this in-person training, participants will explore new ways to connect with and listen to the survivors they work with using MI tools to notice client language (Change Talk: client language in the direction of change; Sustain Talk: client language about not changing). Particpants will discover how to respond to change talk to increase motivation to change using various skills including Open Questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries (OARS). In this highly interactive training,  participants will be guided through exercises, demonstrations, and practice role plays to increase thier comfort level in using these new skills in thier advocacy work with survivors.  

 

 

There a many reasons survivors may be forced to or choose to stay or return to an abusive partner. Safety planning with a survivor who is currently living with an abusive partner is a critical skill for domestic violence advocates. Advocates often focus safety planning efforts when survivors are actively leaving or have left the abusive partner and miss the practical ways safety planning could help mitigate future harm for survivors who stay. 

This virtual training is the fourth in our 2025 Safety Planning Essentials Series where we will learn, discuss, and practice our safety planning skills around five potentially challenging survivor situations. Done in a "lunch and learn" style with a 60 minute presentation, no camera or microphone required, followed by an optional 30 minutes at the end for group discussion, scenarios, and role plays. 

Register for the upcoming sessions, every 4^th  Wednesday through June, 2025:

·        Session 5: Survivors With Pets

 This training is designed to provide new advocates and domestic violence program staff the basic principles of working with victims of domestic violence.  A variety of topics are addressed including:

• Dynamics of domestic violence

• Barriers faced by victims

• Cultural humility

• Lethality indicators

• Safety planning

• Crisis intervention and crisis line work

• Advocacy foundations such as empowerment, ethics and confidentiality

This interactive training is provided by GCADV staff utilizing lecture, small group activities, role-plays, audiovisuals, and exciting discussion. The training is an excellent opportunity for new advocates to gain a thorough understanding of domestic violence advocacy or for experienced advocates looking for a “refresher” on core knowledge and skills.  

Up to 48% of survivors say they delay leaving a dangerous situation due to not being able to ensure their pets would be safe as well. Including pets in our safety planning increases the likelyhood that a survivor will be able to leave. As advocates, are we aware of the needs and resources availalble for survivors with diffrent types of pets?  GCADV is excited to welcome and learn from the experts at Ahimsa House, a GA nonprofit dedicated to helping human and animals experiencing domestic violence reach safety together, as our guest trainer for this important session. 

This virtual training is the final in our 2025 Safety Planning Essentials Series where we will learn, discuss, and practice our safety planning skills around five potentially challenging survivor situations. Done in a "lunch and learn" style with a 60 minute presentation, no camera or microphone required, followed by an optional 30 minutes at the end for group discussion, scenarios, and role plays. 

 

 

 This training is designed to provide new advocates and domestic violence program staff the basic principles of working with victims of domestic violence.  A variety of topics are addressed including:

• Dynamics of domestic violence

• Barriers faced by victims

• Cultural humility

• Lethality indicators

• Safety planning

• Crisis intervention and crisis line work

• Advocacy foundations such as empowerment, ethics and confidentiality

This interactive training is provided by GCADV staff utilizing lecture, small group activities, role-plays, audiovisuals, and exciting discussion. The training is an excellent opportunity for new advocates to gain a thorough understanding of domestic violence advocacy or for experienced advocates looking for a “refresher” on core knowledge and skills.  

 This training is designed to provide new advocates and domestic violence program staff the basic principles of working with victims of domestic violence.  A variety of topics are addressed including:

• Dynamics of domestic violence

• Barriers faced by victims

• Cultural humility

• Lethality indicators

• Safety planning

• Crisis intervention and crisis line work

• Advocacy foundations such as empowerment, ethics and confidentiality

This interactive training is provided by GCADV staff utilizing lecture, small group activities, role-plays, audiovisuals, and exciting discussion. The training is an excellent opportunity for new advocates to gain a thorough understanding of domestic violence advocacy or for experienced advocates looking for a “refresher” on core knowledge and skills.