Building Empathy and Advocates: Domestic Violence Foundations Training Returns
A powerful partnership between the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) and the University of Illinois School of Social Work brought an intensive and deeply meaningful training to campus in Spring 2024. The training is scheduled to return Sept. 19-Oct. 10
Over four Fridays in March and April, participants gathered at the School of Social Work to complete the 20-hour in-person portion of the Domestic Violence Foundations 40-Hour Training. Designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and empathy needed to serve survivors of domestic violence, the training fulfills the state-certified requirement to become a domestic violence victim advocate under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act.
Led by an expert team from ICADV, including Emily Hinrichsen, Chloé McMurray, Samantha Dickens, Rachal Glenn, and Ariana Speagle, and presented in partnership with Dr. Rachel Garthe’s Violence Prevention Research Lab, the sessions offered more than professional development. They provided space for reflection, deep listening, and critical conversations about safety, cultural humility, teen dating violence, and children’s issues.
“We are so grateful for the partnership with ICADV. They are phenomenal trainers who brought a wealth of information and resources for our social work students and campus community,” said Professor Rachel Garthe. “Participants left the training with increased knowledge in domestic violence and advocacy work. We look forward to continuing to deliver this training to our students.”
The 40-hour training consists of two components: 20 hours of self-paced online modules and 20 hours of in-person instruction. Topics include the dynamics of domestic violence, working with survivors with complex needs, legal frameworks, safety assessment, and more. Upon completion, participants meet Illinois certification requirements and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges survivors face and how to support them with compassion and clarity.
Participant feedback highlighted the training’s impact:
“Please keep this training as a continuous offering for students here at the School of Social Work. It covers such a large learning gap in our program curriculum. I’ve walked away with such important information and a wealth of resources.”
“Please host again. I don’t plan to work in domestic violence specifically, but my therapy practice in the future will benefit from this information.”
“Absolutely would recommend to anyone in the social work field.”
This training is essential not only for those pursuing careers in social work, counseling, victim advocacy, medicine, or law enforcement, but also for anyone seeking personal growth or looking to better support survivors in their communities.
Twenty Continuing Education Units (CEUs) were available for attending the full training. Participants will be able to request CEUs during registration for the upcoming event. Registration details can be found by clicking the registration button above.