victim advocacy
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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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I finished Isabel Wilkerson’s “The Warmth of Other Suns” weeks ago, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. I closed the book, set it on my nightstand, and just lay there staring at the ceiling for what felt like an hour. Six million people. Six million Black Americans left the South…
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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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What happens when government shutdowns cancel victim advocacy training and cut $72 million in survivor services? What does it mean to pursue victim advocate certification while democratic institutions erode and funding for trauma-informed care disappears? On October 18th, I wore yellow and stood with millions of others across the country at the No Kings National…
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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 I started my journey toward becoming a credentialed victim advocate, I knew I’d be learning about trauma. I knew I’d be studying crisis intervention, legal systems, and support strategies. What I didn’t expect was how much I’d be learning about grief—and how much of my own grief I’d finally be able to name. The…
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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…
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Understanding the stages of trauma recovery can transform your healing journey from feeling lost to having a clear roadmap forward. Whether you’re healing from childhood abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, or other traumatic experiences, recognizing where you are in established recovery models helps you trust the process and be patient with yourself. This post explores…