Beyond Abuse: DV, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Image Based Abuse

Supporting Survivors Through the Stages of Change, Trauma-Informed Advocacy, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act Hotel Scholarships available see below Supporting survivors requires understanding their experiences, recognizing barriers to change, and providing compassionate, trauma-informed advocacy. This training will explore the Stages of Change, the impact of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) on survivors, practical strategies for survivor-centered support, and the TAKE IT DOWN Act's role in addressing the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images. Participants will gain valuable insights and tools to strengthen their advocacy efforts while promoting survivor safety, autonomy, and empowerment. Key topics include: • Understanding the Stages of Change and their application in victim advocacy. • Applying trauma-informed, survivor-centered approaches to supporting individuals experiencing abuse. • Recognizing the signs and impacts of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in survivors and adapting advocacy practices to meet their needs. • Understanding Technology-Enabled Sexual Abuse (TESA) • Understanding the effects of the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a landmark federal law that was written to prevent and address TESA Meet our Speakers Rachel Ramirez, Founder and Director of The Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury a project of the Ohio Domestic Violence Network. Rachel Ramirez, LISW-S, RA. The Center on Partner Inflicted Brain Injury provides statewide, national, and international leadership to raise awareness on the emerging area of brain injury caused by domestic violence. The Center increases collaboration among systems, and provides training, technical assistance, consultation, research, and resource development for researchers and direct service providers. For the past 13 years at ODVN, Rachel has led multiple initiatives on trauma-informed approaches, mental health and substance use, with a recent national focus on partner inflicted brain injury. She co-authored Trauma-Informed Approaches: Promising Practices and Protocols for Ohio’s Domestic Violence Programs, which was originally published in 2010 and revised in 2019, as well as peer reviewed academic journal articles in the Journal of Family Violence and the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. Rachel is a bilingual licensed independent social worker with graduate degrees in Latin American studies and social work and is a registered advocate with senior standing in Ohio. RAINN (Rape Abuse Incest National Network)-Is the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and operator of the National Sexual Assault Hotline. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country. Since 1994, RAINN’s multi-disciplinary team has helped millions of people affected by sexual violence through work to expand prevention, ensure justice, and provide healing to create safer communities. As the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and operator of the National Sexual Assault Hotline, RAINN’s mission is to stop sexual violence by supporting survivors, holding perpetrators accountable, and creating safer communities. RAINN shares knowledge and shapes public understanding about prevention and response, and inspires a commitment to act. We change minds by educating the public through media, entertainment, and direct outreach. We inspire people to take action to create safer communities. PAYING BY CHECK If you need to pay by check click on the "Order Now" button. Fill out the registration information and then when you get to the payment method, there will be a drop-down box with options of payment method. There you can select "Pay By Check" this will allow you to register without paying at this time. However, payment must be received 3/17/27. No one will be allowed to attend the training without payment unless approved by the Project Director, Connie Chapman. You can contact Connie at (602)-421-9354 or e-mail at [email protected]. Checks can be sent to: **AVAA P.O. Box 25859 Tempe, AZ 84285 WHEN REGISTERING Please ensure that your current e-mail address, position title along with your name is included in the registration information. Many agencies have accounting personal and/or supervisors who register for them, so be sure you enter your name and e-mail address when registering. REFUNDS A full refund minus registration site fees can be received by requesting it 3/17/27 by going through the Eventbrite system or emailing [email protected] IS MY REGISTRATION TRANSFERABLE? You may transfer a registration from one person to another by 3/24/27 by contacting Connie Chapman at [email protected]. HOTEL INFORMATION Hotel scholarships are available. You can request one by emailing Connie at [email protected]. It is on a first come first serve basis and subject to hotel availability. Hotel Room block - If your agency would like to pay for the hotel rooms themseves, ACVS has a block of rooms reserved for this training at the Hilton Homewood Suites Airport South. You can reserve them by asking for the "Desert Willow Rate". DO NOT reserve one of the rooms if you are requesting a scholarship, follow the instructions above.