Dr. Ludy Green is one of the world’s foremost experts on violence against women and children. She speaks regularly in national and international venues on the importance of financial autonomy in breaking the abusive patterns that hold captive victims of violence and human trafficking, and she is a contributing writer on women’s issues for the Huffington Post as well as the author of Ending Domestic Violence Captivity: A Guide to Economic Freedom.The methodology pioneered by Dr. Green has been validated by the work of the non-profit organization she founded in 2001, Second Chance Employment Services. Second Chance’s innovative program has been uniquely successful in helping hundreds of survivors attain lifelong freedom from domestic violence and human trafficking through financial and emotional independence.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Working with clients who have had to endure extremely difficult challenges and traumas presents unique challenges to clinicians. There is nothing quite as rewarding as walking beside them on their journey toward post-traumatic growth as they transform from victim to survivor. Join Becky Ivory as she shares her unique experience, as both survivor and therapist, of walking that sacred road.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Pets are family – no one should have to choose between safety and their pet. Numerous studies have shown the link between the abuse of animals and violence against people. Nearly 50% of domestic violence victims report delaying their abuser out of fear of harm to their pets, and pet abuse is one of four predictors of domestic partner violence. Participants will learn how to save more lives by supporting pet families affected by domestic violence, as well as supporting the human-animal bond and its role in the healing process.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Over the last decade, American Fork Police Department has had a strong relationship with the city prosecuting attorneys and their victim advocates. Together they have created a multi-disciplinary Domestic Violence Representative team. Through this team, each branch has a say in what happens to the suspect, the best outcome for the victim, and the likelihood of success at trial. This team approach has proven to be very effective. Team members will express the benefits they have witnessed and review the benefits to be found in this approach. Join the team as they share the trials and tribulations that come from officers on scene and what can happen when the initial information isn’t gathered properly, or when the victim is uncooperative; the importance of keeping the lines of communication with the victim, law enforcement and prosecutors; and the difficulties of prosecuting domestic violence cases.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Join Mary Crafts as she shares her personal experience with domestic violence. She will share her journey, and what she learned along the way from surviving to thriving. On the way, she found specific tools and emotional learning needed to step into a better life. She will discuss the critical steps she discovered that helped her to move from living a fear-based life to a love-based life. She hopes to help participants realize that nothing is impossible and it’s never too late to discover joy.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Ms. Nubia Peña, JD is the Senior Advisor on Equity and Opportunity to Governor Cox and the Director for the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs where their mission is to promote an inclusive climate for Utah's growing diverse community through training, outreach and youth leadership development. Ms. Peña is a proud former member of the zealous team at the Utah Juvenile Defender Attorneys where she advocated for youth rights during detention and delinquency proceedings. She is certified by the National Juvenile Defender Center as a Juvenile Training Immersion Program facilitator. Ms. Peña has actively sought to bring awareness to issues of violence and systemic oppression. She has a decade of experience assisting survivors of domestic abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, and violent crimes as a Law Enforcement Victim Advocate. Since 2007, Ms. Peña has served as the Training and Prevention Education Specialist at the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA). Ms. Peña received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law in May 2016.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Many factors can discourage survivors of sexual assault from reporting their assaults. Even for those survivors who disclose, their reporting experiences may not leave them feeling empowered, or that they have received adequate support to begin the healing process after disclosure. Join Megan as she explores the responses some survivors may experience that promote isolation and self-blame – and how to help overcome them.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Domestic Violence is a complex epidemic of past and current generations. Its trauma has rippled into generations of families and communities, with high correlations to other violent crimes, drugs and alcohol abuse, suicide, and an individual’s present/future health. Research shows one in four women and one in ten men will experience intimate partner violence some time in their life. With one in fifteen children exposed to domestic violence each year, and 90% of these children are eyewitnesses to this violence. This begs the question: How do we combat Domestic Violence? Join Celeste as she explores the physical, psychological, emotional, and social effects on children in domestic violent households, and how trauma affects one’s brain not only from acute trauma, but also chronic trauma. From sharing awareness, providing trauma informed care, and advocating for policy changes for victim assistance we will also explore potential solutions that have proven to be helpful in combatting the negative impact of domestic violence.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Imagine a world where families effected by domestic violence don’t have to pack up and leave their homes, schools, friends and neighbors to escape the danger of intimate partner violence. Imagine if the abuser could go to a safe, warm home where professional interventionists would help them to be kind, involved partners and parents. Imagine if those people who have used violence had a support team to help them navigate the shame of being accountable for their hurtful actions and the awareness of making changes. A place where they could talk about wanting to be a peaceful person who can let a relationship dissolve without spiraling into fear and self-blame, A place where they can learn how to be a gentle parent. A place where they can learn about what it means to grow out of violence. If you can imagine that, you have imagined My Aunties’ House. My Aunties’ House is a residential program based on a model from Israel where men who have used violence learn from their mistakes and are kept safe from perpetrating more violence, while their families heal and decide if they want their father and partner back in the home. It is world acclaimed program that has been called a “program of promise” by the United Nations and World Health Organization. The presenters will discuss the idea of starting this program in Utah, the struggles, the miracles and the future of how we approach rehabilitation from violence in Utah.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Join Detective Kevin Mallory as he discusses the role law enforcement officers play in responding to domestic violence. Kevin will provide a better understanding of what law enforcement can and should do when responding to domestic violence calls, as well as what law enforcement cannot do. The presentation will discuss common barriers that law enforcement encounters when responding to and investigating cases of domestic violence, such as training limitations, the high-risk factors for law enforcement, dealing with emotional and dynamic situations, and understanding the difference between evidence based investigations versus relying on intuition.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
Join The UVU Office of the Dean of Students as they present a special showing of the 40-minute film The Last Drop, followed by a discussion and Q&A. The Last Drop is a short sci-fi film about relationship abuse inspired by the memories of real survivors, executive produced by the One Love Foundation and The Safe & Together Institute. During a Q&A, featuring the film writer/director and producer, students will join conference participants as they explore spotting the often subtle early signs of abuse such as digital abuse, emotional abuse, and isolation tactics; increase understanding of the survivor’s perspective; and learn how to be a supportive partner to survivors in a way that respects their timeline, validates their concerns, and empowers them as a decision-maker.
This session is appropriate for all audiences.
In this presentation, Kristen and Brooke will explain the importance of referring victims of domestic violence to legal and community resources (i.e. free legal services, housing, utility assistance, food assistance, childcare, therapy, support groups, etc.) and an array of services available throughout the state. They will highlight statewide services and organizations aimed at helping victims of domestic violence and low-income clients, as well as resources specific to each of the judicial districts throughout Utah. They will share survivor’s stories regarding the impact such resources had on their experiences.
*This session will be of particular interest to those who work directly with victims of domestic violence.
