Level 1 (30 hours)
Advocacy~Integrating a Victim-Defined Approach
Introduction
1. Domestic Violence and Victim-Defined Advocacy
2. Risks Victims Face
3. How Women Form Perspectives From Priorities
4. Victim in Contact with Children
5. Trauma, Mental Health, and Substance Use
6. Advocate Role with Violent Partners
7. Victim-Defined Advocacy Environments
8. Victim Defined Policy Advocacy, Ethics, and Coaching
9. Domestic Violence and the Work Environment, and Coaching Applications for Business and Organizations
10. Core-Competencies and Coaching and Victim-Defined Advocacy Coaching
The impact of domestic violence is far-reaching and can be passed inter-generationally within families; therefore we now have broadened the scope to consider "family violence." There are numerous reasons why women stay in relationships with intimate partners who are violent (IPV), these risks can be viewed from two main categories: batter-generated risks, and life-generated risks. Various addictions can result in episodes and cycles of violence, some predictable and some impulsive incidents. Trauma can result from the experience of exposure to violence that can result in PTSD, and/or inter-generational and vicarious trauma.
As most victims experience an increased risk upon attempting to leave their efforts at developing a career are disrupted or thwarted, and for those that are employed they may experience increased health risks that interfere with job performance. The coach can be very beneficial in assisting the client in developing advocacy skills to improve communication and their relationship within the business or organization in which they are training or are employed. A comprehensive review of IPV and non-battering IPV, harm to children, and adult violence not IPV will be examined from the perspective of: identification, and reporting of abuse, a look at the residual repercussions of involvement with the legal system, the impact of abuse on children, links to substance misuse and domestic violence, an exploration of the variety of physical, emotional, and spiritual injuries that can result from exposure to domestic violence, an examination of why people stay in violent relationships, the New Choice Model; and the development of resiliency and healthy families. Advocacy for victims of domestic violence has been the cornerstone of the movement to create change for families.
Domestic violence occurs across every socio-economic status, age group, and providing the "victim" a voice from their unique perspective will make a difference. Victim-defined advocacy can be achieved in five basic steps: prepare, think, plan, act, and monitor. Coaches can partner with victims to empower, create options that clearly consider batter and life-generated risks, promote choice, and improve advocacy through applying a step-by-step systemic approach to change!