Advocacy

About Advocacy Training

This training meets the 2023 Victim Advocacy Standard for Accreditation set forth by the National Children’s Alliance (NCA).

An investigation of alleged child abuse and potential legal proceedings can be stressful for families. The process can be confusing and frightening, and a family advocate can provide much-needed support and information. We train advocates across the nation on the First Witness Child Advocacy Center (CAC) model and perspective of family advocacy.

This training encompasses:

• Society, Beliefs, and the Impact of Advocacy
• 6 Core Principles of Social Change Advocacy
• Child Sexual Abuse Dynamics
• MDT and Child Advocacy Centers
• Victim Rights and Compensation
• Trauma Informed Services
• Crisis Assessment and Intervention Skills
• Risk Assessment and Safety Planning
• Active Advocacy
• Advocate Credibility
• Boundaries and Ethics
• System Change
• Prevention Messaging in Work with Families
• Cultural Responsiveness and Addressing Explicit Biases
• Caregiver Resilience
• Domestic Violence and Polyvictimization
• Referral Methods

Through hands-on practice, participants will learn how to put advocacy principles into action, including conducting a focus group to improve programming, changing organizations, and systems, and creating programs and interventions that meet victims’ needs.