Workshop 1 | Strengthening Crisis Support: Addressing the Unique Needs of Individuals With Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities and Brain Injury

• Erica Harris, MS, CHES, ADAC, University of Cincinnati’s Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
• Doug Jackson, 988 Administrator (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
• Brei Miller, Program Director, Ohio Brain Injury Program

In 2019, an estimated 7.39 million people in the United States had an intellectual or developmental disability, with many of those individuals also having a mental-health condition. People with disabilities are overrepresented at all stages of the criminal-justice system, from jail and prison to probation and parole. Forty percent of state prison inmates have a disability, compared with 15% of the general U.S. population. There are also high rates of co-occurring mental-health conditions and involvement in the criminal-justice system for people with brain injuries and other cognitive disabilities.
This presentation provides an overview of intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities and brain injury, and includes a brief discussion of accommodations, communication, behavior and crisis prevention. The session also explores various initiatives and training resources available to law enforcement officers as a way of continuing to improve police response and support before, during and after a crisis.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Victims' Rights, Underserved Populations, Crisis Response, Law Enforcement

Workshop 2 | Empowering Survivors: Creating Safe and Ethical Storytelling Spaces

• Breana Griffin, Access to Care Manager, Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center of Summit and Medina Counties
• Megan Vermillion, Director of Survivor Services, Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center of Summit and Medina Counties

This training will provide an overview of Hope and Healing’s mission and the impactful role storytelling plays in the healing process for survivors of trauma. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Speaker’s Bureau Program, which empowers survivors to share their experiences to foster healing, awareness, and advocacy. The session will also highlight Stories of Strength, sharing examples of survivor journeys to illustrate resilience and recovery. Additionally, guidance will be provided on how to establish safe spaces for survivors to learn how and when to share their story, followed by a Q&A segment to address participant questions and provide further clarification.
• Intended Audience: Agency Nonprofit
• Tags: Survivor Stories, Victims' Rights, Ethical Storytelling

Workshop 3 | Domestic Violence, Stalking, Dating Violence and Sexual Violence: Legal and Legislative Updates

• Lisa DeGeeter, Senior Director of Policy and Prevention, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
• Alexandria Ruden, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland

This presentation provides an overview of state and federal legislative, statutory, rule and policy changes affecting domestic violence, stalking, dating violence, and sexual-violence law and services. Also discussed are significant case-law developments, statutory law, and relevant changes to Ohio's court and administrative rules.
• Intended Audience: Other - all professionals: LE, prosecutors, probation, advocates, attorneys, not DV101
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Legal/Legislative

Workshop 4 | Critical Partnerships With Faith Communities to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

• Glenn Harris, Director of Prevention, Ohio Domestic Violence Network/Ohio Men's Action Network
• Darlene Hills-Clinkscale, M.S. Ed., Founder and Faith-Based GBV Preventionist, Stop It Before It Starts
• Phadra Z. McCray, M. Ed, MSW, LISW, You Matter Staff Support Clinician, Nationwide Children's Hospital

Faith communities can play a crucial role in the lives of people experiencing gender-based violence, yet they tend to be the missing component in community efforts to end such crime. A person's place of worship is often where a victim goes first to report abuse, making it vital that partnerships be formed to share information, prevention strategies and resources — which will greatly expand a community’s ability to support survivors. This workshop discusses the importance of partnerships, barriers to partnerships, and ways to form and maintain partnerships to assist a community’s most vulnerable members.
• Intended Audience: Other - New & Experienced Advocates, and Faith communities
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Other - Partnering with Faith Communities

Workshop 5 | Ohio Crime Victims Compensation Program | An Overview

• Deborah Miller, Director of Crime Compensation, Crime Victim Services Section, Ohio Attorney General’s Office
• Candice Suffren, Senior Assistant Attorney General and Unit Coordinator, Crime Victim Services Section, Ohio Attorney General’s Office

The Ohio Crime Victims Compensation Program reimburses qualifying victims of crime for out-of-pocket expenses that directly result from their victimization. This overview of the program covers eligibility requirements, the application process, and ways to connect victims to the Victim Information and Notification Program (VINE).
• Intended Audience: Advocates, Law Enforcement
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Legal/Legislative

Workshop 6 | Successful Community Partnerships

• Rachel Dye, Shelter Manager, Haven House of Pickaway County
• Lisa Johnson, Executive Director, Haven House of Pickaway County

In serving victims of domestic violence, the Haven House of Pickaway County succeeds with the help and support of the community. This workshop examines what it takes to develop effective community partnerships, including the need to identify the people, businesses and agencies that can be of assistance as well as the benefits of these collaborations. Also discussed is the importance of establishing connections — specifically, knowing the right people to contact to get the help you’re looking for — and ensuring that your agency becomes known and respected in the community for the services it provides to victims.
• Intended Audience: Agency Nonprofit
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Victims' Rights, Crisis Response

Workshop 7 | When Caregivers Doubt: Navigating Ambiguity, Disbelief and Healing in Child Sexual Abuse

• Cody Tatum MSW, LSW, Harcum House Child Advocacy Center

A caregiver’s responses to child sexual abuse can significantly affect children — in both the short and long term. In discussing some basic principles of child sexual-abuse disclosure, the presenter focuses on the spectrum of reactions to abuse discovery and explores dynamics such as ambiguity, disbelief and re-traumatization. In addition, practical tips are offered on how to navigate these barriers and promote the best holistic outcomes.
• Intended Audience: Experienced Advocates
• Tags: Sexual Assault, Youth Advocacy, Crisis Response

I am not attending this workshop block.

Workshop 8 | Reporting Barriers for Victims with Disabilities

• Amy Hayden, Advocate, Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services
• Brittany E. Hayes, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati
• Amanda Simmons, Associate Professor, University of Cincinnati

Members of this University of Cincinnati research team have identified gaps and brainstormed ‘fixes’ to support victims with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in reporting sexual assaults. In their work, the team connected with professionals (law enforcement, victim advocates), individuals with IDD, and the community (caregivers, support personnel). The group discusses barriers to communication, current policy and available accommodations to support individuals with IDD, as well as areas for training.
Individuals with IDD are often missing from data due to, among other things, communication differences. The research team developed several tools — inclusive interview guides, visual schedules and social stories included — to help ensure that all voices are heard, especially those of survivors with IDD. The team shares these tools so that others might be more intentional about making sure that individuals with disabilities are centered in decision-making

Workshop 9 | Technology-Facilitated Stalking and Tracking Devices: Practices and Policies to Improve Survivor Safety

• Leah Stone, Training Director, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
• Kar’mell Triplett, Survivor
• Maria York, Policy Director, Ohio Domestic Violence Network

When crime victims suspect that their location is being tracked through GPS or Bluetooth technology, there are some effective safety strategies that advocates can turn to. Workshop participants learn how to identify and address the risks associated with technology-facilitated tracking and become familiar with practical tools and techniques to assess risk, enhance survivor safety and document concerns for potential legal intervention. Also covered in the session are recent legislative changes and advocacy initiatives aimed at addressing non-consensual location-based tracking. The presenters use videos created in collaboration with law enforcement as well as scenarios and physical examples of tracking devices to help victim advocates respond more effectively to technology-facilitated abuse directed at the victims they serve.
• Intended Audience: Other - both new and experienced advocates
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Legal/Legislative, Other – Stalking

Workshop 10 | The Medical and Legal Implications of Strangulation

• Jane Bryan, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Cleveland Clinic
• Alexandria Ruden, Supervising Attorney, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
• Heather Wilde, Director of Education for Forensic Nursing Network

This overview of the medical implications of strangulation encompasses relevant statistics in exploring why strangulation is so lethal. It also addresses the legal implications, including Ohio's new strangulation law, and significant legal challenges. Expert-witness testimony — including qualifications, the rules of evidence and report writing — are also discussed, with a focus on handling strangulation cases in the context of relevant case law. Attendees learn about emerging best practices, new research, case law, and ways to approach cases and save lives.
• Intended Audience: Other - all professionals, prosecutors, LE, medical, defense, attorney, probation, advocates
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Medical

Workshop 11 | Lost But Not Forgotten: Advocacy for Families of Missing Persons in Marginalized Communities

• Alma Diaz, Spanish-Bilingual Advocate, Community Refugee and Immigration Services
• Lara Downing, Program Manager, Community Refugee and Immigration Services

What happens when a person goes missing? And how can authorities determine who the victims are — the missing person, that person’s family, both or neither? Using real-world case studies involving marginalized communities, this session examines the challenges posed by language barriers, immigration status, cultural differences and discrimination – all of which can hinder a family’s ability to seek help and find resolution.
Participants engage in critical discussions about how advocates encounter missing-person cases across diverse circumstances and the unique ethical challenges faced by advocates (including balancing confidentiality, cultural considerations and legal obligations) as well as the emotional toll of working on missing-person cases. Attendees leave with culturally responsive, trauma-informed strategies to better support families, foster trust, and navigate the legal and systemic complexities surrounding missing persons.
• Intended Audience: Experienced victim advocates, social workers, law enforcement, and professionals who encounter missing person cases in their work
• Tags: Survivor Stories, Underserved Populations, Other – Families of missing persons

Workshop 12 | A Unique Insight Into Law Enforcement and Victim Advocate Collaboration

• Mark Elliott, Lieutenant, Marion Police Department
• Aaron Marburger, Detective, Marion County Sheriff Office
• Courtney Rittenour, Coordinator and Victim Advocate, Marion Victim Assistance Program

The Marion Victim Assistance Program partners with the Marion Police Department and Marion County Sheriff Office to provide victim-centered services, crime prevention and programs aimed at strengthening the community. Using the highly successful Unarmed Self-Defense Program as an example, this workshop demonstrates how teamwork benefits law enforcement, advocates, survivors and the community as a whole. The Unarmed Self Defense Program addresses situational awareness, individuals rights and responsibilities regarding self-defense, physical defense, and use of community partnerships.
• Intended Audience: Other - Advocates & Law Enforcement
• Tags: Procedural, Self-Care, Crisis Response

Workshop 13 | Ethics in Victim Advocacy, (Part 1 of 2. Note: Both parts must be taken to receive credit)

• Elyse McConnell, Executive Director, Ohio Victim Witness Association (OVWA)
• Rachel Ramirez, Director of Health and Disability Programs and Founder of Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
• Wendy Ricks Hoff, Program Director, OVWA

This interactive presentation focuses on the importance of community and system-based advocacy that serves crime victims in an ethical manner. Advocates have a duty to learn and operate within a code of ethics that protects both the advocate and the crime victim and instills best practices to ensure effective and supportive advocacy service.
Participants learn about the National Organization of Victim Advocacy’s code of ethics for advocates and how practical application of advocacy skills through an ethical-service lens can lead to exceptional victim services. The session examines the intersection of personal ethics, biases and values, and takes a deep dive into advocacy boundaries and confidentiality. Active participation is encouraged, so attendees are asked to familiarize themselves with the NOVA code of ethics to prepare questions ahead of the workshop.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Other: Victim Advocacy Ethics

Workshop 14 | Building Resilience in High-Risk, High-Need Youth

• Suzanne Barker, Staff Attorney, CASA of Franklin County
• Sarah Brown, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney - Specialty Dockets/Juvenile Division, Franklin County Prosecutor's Office
• Michelle Mumaw, Staff Attorney, CASA of Franklin County

Have you ever wondered what trauma-responsive care looks like in a specialty-docket setting for youth who are at high risk or who have been sex-trafficked? Many youth involved in the justice system are often linked with multiple community child-welfare agencies, but some still manage to fall through the cracks. The session presenters discuss methods for collaborating among agencies and stakeholders to achieve improved outcomes for high-risk, high-need youth. They examine how continuing education, meeting frequency, streamlined communication, incentives, consistency and flexibility all aid in creating a supportive and effective specialty-docket environment.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Youth Advocacy, Legal/Legislative, Crisis Response

I am not attending this workshop block.

Workshop 15 | Unmined Data: What State Agencies Already Collect That Can Help Serve Victims and Survivors

• Mallory Minter-Mohr, Social Science Research Specialist, Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services

Various state agencies collect a range of data that shows which Ohio communities are most affected by violent crime, including homicide, sexual assault and domestic violence. In this workshop, attendees learn how to find and access relevant data and how their agency can use the data to improve grant applications, inform program development, illustrate the prevalence and impact of crimes in their communities, assess program effectiveness and raise awareness. The discussion focuses on data from the Ohio School Safety Center and the state departments of Public Safety, Health, Education and Workforce, and Mental Health and Addiction Services. Data sources include self-reported experiences from students, reports from school administration, and law enforcement incident reports.
• Intended Audience: Agency Nonprofit
• Tags: Agency/Nonprofit Management, Other - Data; Grant Writing & Reporting

Workshop 16 | Beyond the Horizon: Triumphs and Trials of Rural Survivors

• Nicole Kass Colvin, Director of Coordinated Community Responses, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence
• Shelby Lieber, Survivor Coordinator, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence

Rural communities have unique barriers, strengths, and attitudes around sexual violence. Following a three-year project centered on rural Ohio communities, the Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence shares an overview of the resulting statewide needs-assessment data and survivor stories. The discussion focuses on what rural is; the geographical, infrastructure and cultural barriers faced by rural survivors; the successes and failures in the alliance’s collaborations in rural communities; the need to increase services in rural areas; and the need for ethical storytelling to both change community culture and empower survivors.
• Intended Audience: Other - Any advocate, agency/nonprofit directors, SART stakeholders, fundraising staff
• Tags: Sexual Assault, Survivor Stories, Other: Rural Communities

Workshop 17 | Victims' Rights: Case Law Update

• Latina Bailey, Senior Staff Attorney, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center
• Morgan Galle, Senior Staff Attorney, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center

Since Ohio’s “Bill of Rights” for crime victims (Marsy’s Law) took effect seven years ago and the law’s implementing legislation (House Bill 343 and Senate Bill 16) two years ago, Ohio’s appellate courts and Supreme Court have decided more than 100 cases interpreting these laws. This session covers this case law, helping attendees to understand the big-picture takeaways of court interpretation of victims’ rights laws, including the crucial rights to privacy, restitution and appellate review.
• Intended Audience: Attorneys, Judges, Magistrates
• Tags: Victims' Rights, Legal/Legislative

Workshop 18 | Stronger Together: Addressing Violation Behaviors and Supporting Victims

• Kristen Arapp, Victim Advocate, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
• Aretha Gamble, Victim Advocate, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
• Jennifer Pribe, Chief Hearing Officer, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

This session examines the Adult Parole Authority violation hearing process for those under Post Release Control and Parole supervision, and discusses how crime victims can play an intricate part in the process. Under Senate Bill 201 (the Reagan Tokes Law), the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction can address rule-infraction behavior by imposing additional prison sanction time. Attendees learn how this process provides a safe environment for prison staff, incarcerated adults, and victims. In addition, the Office of Victim Services provides a snapshot of its services, including how the office can help crime victims at violation hearings.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Victims’ Rights, Legal/Legislative, Other - Adult Parole Authority (APA) Supervision

Workshop 19 | Understanding Elder Financial Exploitation and Working With Law Enforcement

• Teri Ruslander, Elder Services Coordinator and Retired Detective, Grove City Division of Police

Elder financial exploitation is an ever-growing and devastating societal problem that hurts not only victims but also their families and the community at large. This workshop examines the complexity of elder financial exploitation, the legal mechanisms available to resolve particular cases, and the need to respond to elder exploitation with a multidisciplinary approach. The audience is educated about the roles and responsibilities of a victim's advocate/Adult Protective Services compared with those of criminal investigators. Participants gain a greater awareness of the various types of elder financial exploitation and how they can intervene to protect their clients from such crimes.
• Intended Audience: Experienced Advocates
• Tags: Victims’ Rights, Crisis Response, Self-Care

Workshop 20 | Ethics in Victim Advocacy, (Part 2 of 2. Note: Both parts must be taken to receive credit)

• Elyse McConnell, Executive Director, Ohio Victim Witness Association (OVWA)
• Rachel Ramirez, Director of Health and Disability Programs and Founder of Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
• Wendy Ricks Hoff, Program Director, OVWA

This interactive presentation focuses on the importance of community and system-based advocacy that serves crime victims in an ethical manner. Advocates have a duty to learn and operate within a code of ethics that protects both the advocate and the crime victim and instills best practices to ensure effective and supportive advocacy service.
Participants learn about the National Organization of Victim Advocacy’s code of ethics for advocates and how practical application of advocacy skills through an ethical-service lens can lead to exceptional victim services. The session examines the intersection of personal ethics, biases and values, and takes a deep dive into advocacy boundaries and confidentiality. Active participation is encouraged, so attendees are asked to familiarize themselves with the NOVA code of ethics to prepare questions ahead of the workshop.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Other: Victim Advocacy Ethics

Workshop 21 | The Intersection of Child Support and Domestic Violence

• Jonathan Abram, Case Support Officer, Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency
• Katherine Kausek, Manager of SAVES Grant, Office of Child Support, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
• Maria York, Policy Director, Ohio Domestic Violence Network

One of the primary reasons that survivors of domestic violence stay with their abuser — or return after leaving — is the lack of financial resources to live independently. The core purpose of the child-support program — ensuring that families receive reliably consistent support — is ideally aligned to promote survivors’ ability to safely leave violent relationships and establish safe, independent living situations for themselves and their children. For those who work with survivors who have questions about child support, this session provides an overview of Ohio's child-support program, including the role of county child-support agencies and the work being done at the state and local levels to make the program safer for survivors of domestic violence through the Safe Access for Victims' Economic Security (SAVES) grant.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Sexual Assault

I am not attending this workshop block.

Workshop 22 | Under Investigation: How Can We Ensure Victims’ Rights are Protected in Initial Stages

• Cierra Davis, Advocacy Director, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center
• Morgan (Keilholz) Galle, Senior Staff Attorney, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center
• Valerie Hooper, Supervisor of Victim Services and Offender Watch Unit, Delaware County Sheriff's Office

Ohio law regarding crime victims’ rights has changed significantly in recent years. Yet, as with any other new laws, practical application within law enforcement agencies, prosecutor’s offices and courtrooms can lag behind the effective dates of statutory changes. This workshop offers concrete tips regarding advanced advocacy techniques to ensure that a victim’s rights are protected throughout a criminal case. Specifically, the session focuses on the investigation stage, with guidance provided by an experienced advocate who works within law enforcement on best practices and strives to maintain productive relationships with officials in the criminal-justice system — all in an effort to best serve victims.
• Intended Audience: Experienced Advocates
• Tags: Procedural, Victims’ Rights, Other: Cross Disciplinary Collaboration

Workshop 23 | Victim-Centered Approach to Responding to Human Trafficking Survivors in Juvenile Justice

• Chelsea Gaffey, LSW, Juvenile Justice Trafficking Liaison, Ohio Department of Youth Services
• Jodi Stanton, Safe Harbor/Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator, Hamilton County Juvenile Court
• Anna Travis, Ph.D., Safe Harbor Coordinator, Delaware County Juvenile Court

This session examines how to develop Safe Harbor response procedures, adopt diversion programs to better serve exploited youth, and increase identification of youth experiencing trafficking in the juvenile justice system. Participants broaden their understanding of how to engage community partners in establishing a coordinated multidisciplinary-response protocol for addressing child trafficking and providing the most helpful, supportive care possible.
Participants learn about the Ohio Department of Youth Services’ Human Trafficking Screening Tool, a validated nonproprietary tool intended to screen for high-risk indicators of sex and labor trafficking. Presenters explain the implementation of this tool in Ohio’s statewide juvenile justice system and the holistic response to identified victims. The session also examines the challenges associated with providing whole-person support, employing best-practice standards, and ensuring that youth are active participants in identifying their needs and the resources needed to meet those needs.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Victims' Rights, Youth Advocacy, Legal/Legislative

Workshop 24 | Addressing Invisible Injuries: Strategies for Working With Crime Victims Impacted by Concussions and Strangulation

• Kasey Holderbaum, Health and Disability Project Coordinator, Ohio Domestic Violence Network
• Rachel Ramirez, Director of Health and Disability Programs and Founder of Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury, Ohio Domestic Violence Network

Many victims of domestic violence experience traumatic physical violence involving blows to the head or face and/or strangulation. Brain injury caused by violence is rarely identified and is almost never treated immediately, leading to both short- and long-term physical, emotional and cognitive harm that can affect all areas of a victim’s life, including the victim’s ability to access and participate in social services. This session explores the complex and nuanced intersection of victimization, trauma and brain injury. Also discussed are opportunities for collaboration in understanding violence-related brain injury and responding to brain-injured victims.
• Intended audience: Experienced Advocates
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Crisis Response

Workshop 25 | How to Better Support Teen Mental Health and Resilience in this Post-lockdown Era

• Mae Bennett, Manager, Domestic Violence Services, Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland
• Riane' Robinson, KNOW Abuse and Prevention Specialist, Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland

In this workshop, advocates who work with youth learn about new tools to support young people in the post-COVID lockdown era. The presenters emphasize what it means to “meet youth where they're at” in 2025. Since the pandemic lockdown, teens and tweens are experiencing increased levels of anxiety, disengagement and emotional struggles, which correlate with increased isolation and developmental delays. The session covers the neurobiology of the teen brain and how trauma, including trauma stemming from the lockdown, has affected their functioning. To address these challenges, the presenters emphasize the importance of healthy behaviors, including emotional regulation; self-care; and a safe, supportive environment for teens.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates (Designed for prevention advocates, shelter advocates, court advocates, or those who regularly interface with youth)
• Tags: Youth Advocacy

Workshop 26 | Applying Harm-Reduction and Trauma-Informed Care to Systems-Based Advocacy

• Delia Brennan-Parks, Direct Services Advocate, Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center
• Katie Howell, Advocacy Services Manager, Hope & Healing Survivor Resource Center

As survivors interact with a variety of systems during and after their victimization, the complexities of these systems can compound their trauma. In addition to the direct harm caused by their perpetrators, many victims face additional barriers — including, in some cases, subsequent arrest — by the systems intended to protect them. This session follows a survivor through a process that can encompass jail/community-based correctional facilities, a courtroom and community re-entry. Although traditional advocacy training focuses on court advocacy for crime victims, this workshop identifies the nuances of criminalized survivorship, emphasizing best practices for advocates when navigating these systems through a trauma-informed, harm-reduction lens.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Sexual Assault, Victims' Rights, Underserved Populations

Workshop 27 | Reducing Risk of Homicide in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence

• Erin Becker, Coordinator, High-Risk Domestic Violence Court, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court
• Suehad Husien, Victim Advocate, Cuyahoga County Witness Victim Services
• David Schlegel, Sergeant, Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department

Team members from the Cuyahoga County High-Risk Domestic Violence Court detail their multidisciplinary model aimed at reducing the risk of homicide in cases of intimate-partner violence. They share how the team collaborates to identify and reduce risk, citing cases in which their communication and coordination helped improve victim safety and offender accountability. They also provide risk-reduction strategies that attendees can incorporate into their work.
• Intended Audience: Other - Law Enforcement, Probation, Advocates
• Tags: Domestic Violence

Workshop 28 | Aligning Narratives: Ethical Sexual-Violence Storytelling

• Elliott Fullenkamp, Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence

Ethical storytelling cannot begin and end with survivor speaker bureaus. As victim-assistance professionals, we use storytelling in every aspect of our work, including education, training, outreach, prevention and fundraising work. The stories we share should contribute to a narrative that supports all survivors, not one that further marginalizes and traumatizes them. This workshop explores the pedagogical strengths and ethical considerations of sharing stories about the people and populations we serve. It presents a strategy for aligning educational storytelling practices with the ethical standards, values and objectives of the victim-assistance field.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates, Other: Anyone who facilitates training or outreach efforts
• Tags: Sexual Assault, Survivor Stories, Underserved Populations

I am not attending this workshop block.

Workshop 29 | Empowering Community Through Compassion

• Loretta Craddock, MPH, MSW, OSU STAR Advocate and Outreach Relations Specialist, OSU STAR Program
• Dontae Reynolds, OSU STAR Advocate and Outreach Relations Specialist, OSU STAR Program
• Christy Walters, LPCC, Manager and TRC Psychotherapist, OSU STAR Program
This workshop explores how collaborations and connections can help foster a culture of community compassion. By understanding the transformative power of empathy and kindness, participants learn how to create supportive environments that lift individuals and strengthen community ties, increasing efficacy and decreasing burnout. The presenters promote a fuller understanding of compassion and its role in community building and equip participants with practical tools and strategies to cultivate compassionate connections in their daily lives. They highlight current collaborations of the OSU STAR Trauma Recovery Center, including field-immersion experiences with the Columbus Police Department to encourage participants to address community challenges through compassionate actions.
• Intended Audience: All
• Tags: Agency/Nonprofit Management, Self-Care, Other: Community Collaborations

Workshop 30 | Finding Balance: Supporting Survivors When You Need Help, Too

• Talacia Coleman, Assistant Director, YWCA of Northwest Ohio
• Rachael Gardner, Director of Victim Services, YWCA of Northwest Ohio
• Elizabeth Robertson, Outreach Advocate, YWCA of Northwest Ohio
• Iesha Watkins, Rape Crisis Advocate, YWCA of Northwest Ohio

Direct-service advocates and supervisors discuss how they navigate a helping profession when they themselves need support and services for health, mental-health, and/or trauma-related issues. The audience is invited to join the conversation on balancing flexibility with accountability, giving with receiving, and support from colleagues with needing professional support outside of work. The YWCA team facilitates this dialogue.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Victims' Rights, Agency/Nonprofit Management, Self-Care

Workshop 31 | No, Yes, & Everything in Between: Let’s Talk About Consent

• Kara Keating, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Ohio Attorney General’s Office
• Erik Spitzer, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Ohio Attorney General’s Office
• William Walton, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Ohio Attorney General's Office

Did you know the Ohio Revised Code doesn’t even define consent? Using humor as their coping mechanism and pulling from real-life examples, these Special Victims Prosecutors will discuss how media portrayals of consent and rape myths have impacted how jurors see consent. The session encourages participation from attendees, who will take away a much clearer understanding of the law versus the public’s perception or ideas of what the law might be.
• Intended Audience: All
• Tags: Sexual Assault, Legal/Legislative

Workshop 32 | Advancing Justice: Cold-Case Investigations and Community Partnerships in Action

• Michael T. Curtis, Director of Cold Case Fellowship, Tiffin University

Tiffin University’s Cold Case Fellowship is spotlighted in this session, with an emphasis on the program’s approach to cold-case resolution, community engagement and victim advocacy. The presentation explores key themes in justice work, including successful multidisciplinary partnerships, the unique challenges of cold cases, and the value of families sharing their stories in impactful ways. Also addressed are advanced strategies and tools tailored to the needs of seasoned professionals in the fields of cold-case investigation and victim advocacy. The session aims to bridge academic innovation and practical solutions, fostering collaboration and advancing justice for all stakeholders.
• Intended Audience: Experienced Advocates, Law Enforcement
• Tags: Domestic Violence, Survivor Stories, Legal/Legislative

Workshop 33 | Grand Love

• Melissa Antry, Program Advocate, Family Advocacy Center
• Connie Roe, Executive Director, Family Advocacy Center

The Grand Love program serves grandparents who are raising grandchildren. Many of these families have been victimized by Ohio’s challenges with the opioid epidemic and the mental-health crisis. The agency’s work exemplifies how advocates can help to stabilize such families to enhance the children’s chances for future success.
• Intended Audience: New Advocates
• Tags: Survivor Stories, Youth Advocacy, Crisis Response

Workshop 34 | Leveraging MDT Partnerships to Increase Collaboration and Reduce Burnout

• Celeste Prince, Director of Operations and Programming, Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers
• Kevin White, Programming and Outreach Coordinator,
Ohio Network of Children's Advocacy Centers

Children's advocacy centers and multidisciplinary teams play a vital role in fostering collaboration across disciplines to effectively address child-abuse cases. This presentation provides an overview of both, exploring their structure, purpose and proven effects on outcomes, based on key data. It also highlights the causes and effects of pervasive burnout among professionals in this field. Participants learn evidence-based strategies for multidisciplinary teams to enhance collaboration and mitigate burnout, along with practical tools for individual self-care to maintain resilience. The session is designed to empower professionals to strengthen their partnerships, sustain their well-being and continue delivering exceptional care to the children and families they serve.
• Intended Audience: All
• Tags: Self-Care, Procedural

Workshop 35 | Holistic approaches: Survivor Identification and Healthcare screenings for Human Trafficking Survivors, and How to Better Care for their Front-Line Advocates

• Arianna Galliger, LISW-S, Stress, Trauma and Resilience Program at the Ohio State University
• Dr. Rebekah Richards, MPH, Associate Professor, the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center – Department of Emergency Medicine

The needs of human trafficking survivors are often complex and not met in an emergency setting alone. In order to gain stability, a holistic approach is needed to include crisis intervention, material support and emergency shelter, case management, legal advocacy, and access to transportation, substance-abuse disorder treatment and many other things. The needs are complex, and this workshop will help to focus on those in an emergency basis, and also to help advocates on the front lines in those situations better care for themselves.
• Intended Audience: New advocates
• Tags: Crisis response, procedural, human trafficking and self-care

I am not attending this workshop block.