Advocate in the Making
Tips and stories from my victim advocate certification journey
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There is a wall in my home office that tells a certain story about me. My bachelor’s degree, with high honors. My law degree. Certificates for Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Delta Phi… Copies of law review volumes with my name printed inside as chief articles editor. A pro bono service award. Most days, these things…
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My first SART call came on my sixth shift. Five shifts of waiting — of sitting with my phone, mentally rehearsing, wondering what I would say and how I would say it — and then, finally, the call. I drove to the hospital in the dark with my heart doing something complicated in my chest.…
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A companion piece to “Stepping Into the Training Room: My Journey to Becoming a SART Volunteer Advocate“ I did it!!! After weeks of evening sessions, full Saturdays, skill practices that made my heart race, and more than a few moments of wondering whether I was truly ready for this — I walked out of the…
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Understanding the Roots of Violence Against Women Week 1 of Crisis Intervention Training at the Center for Community Solutions I sat in the training room on the first night of my Crisis Intervention Training, watching the presenter click through a PowerPoint slide that traced reproductive rights history in the United States. The timeline marched forward:…
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I have some exciting news to share: my application to volunteer with the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) at the Center for Community Solutions has been approved! After navigating a couple of rounds of interviews, I’m now preparing to begin the formal training that will equip me to support survivors during one of the most…
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Last week, I explored public speaking as a tool for victim advocacy and confronted my complicated feelings about sharing my own story of intimate partner violence publicly. This week in my journey toward becoming a certified victim advocate, I’m taking that exploration a step further: activism. If public speaking is about using your voice, activism…
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In Week 3 of the OVC TTAC Pathways in the Victim Services Field training program, I explored a path I hadn’t fully considered before: public speaking as a form of victim advocacy. This week covered how survivors and advocates can use their voices to educate communities, influence policy, motivate change, and provide hope to others…
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In Week 2 of the OVC TTAC Pathways in the Victim Services Field training program, I learned about the different career paths available for aspiring victim advocates. This week covered systems-based versus community-based advocacy, essential skills for victim advocacy work, and how trauma-informed practice can transform the legal field. As someone coming from a legal…
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After finishing the Basics level of the OVC TTAC VAT Online training, I was eager to move into the Core Competencies and Skills section. This is where the training shifts from understanding the landscape of victim services to building the actual skills advocates use every day in their work with victims. I’ve now completed all…
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When the government shutdown abruptly cancelled my OVC TTAC Pathways in the Victim Services Field training after just one week, I was devastated. But I quickly realized that dwelling on what I couldn’t control wouldn’t help me—or the future victims I hope to serve. Instead, I pivoted to what was still available: the self-paced Office…