We Are the Movement: 2026 WSCADVSA Conference

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), more than one-half (53.6%) of the Black women surveyed experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking that was committed by an intimate partner during their lifetimes. Black women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) face unique challenges, often shaped by the intersecting identities of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more. IPV within this community also occurs within a "web of trauma," which includes historical trauma, family violence, structural violence, institutional violence, cultural violence, and community violence. Black survivors also disproportionately experience reproductive coercion, non-fatal strangulation, and domestic homicide, with many also coping with IPV-related PTSD and depression.

To address these complex issues, Dr. West and Ms. Doris O’Neal developed the 4-part National Resource Center on Domestic Violence’s Technical Assistance Guidance Series: Serving Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (see https://drcarolynwest.com/publications/).

Based on these guides, this interactive presentation will give participants the tools and practical strategies to identify, reach, and effectively serve Black women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) by providing survivor-centered, culturally-responsive, trauma-informed, strengths-based care. Additionally, presenters will explore effective strategies for addressing the unique challenges Black survivors face when navigating systems of support.

Washington State is one of the top 5 wealthiest states in the country. And yet, programs that support survivors are being slashed, our own programs are stretched to the limit, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle cry poverty when balancing our state budget. Make it make sense! This workshop will help you better understand our state budget, what it funds, and why safety net programs are the first to be cut. We will also learn about why such a wealthy state has a big revenue problem and more about the movement to change that. Join us for a big picture discussion and how you can be a part of the change in your community.

This workshop is for advocates, directors, and anyone who wants to get nerdy about revenue!

Many people who are incarcerated have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault prior to system involvement. This training will provide context for how survivors become criminalized, explore advocacy approaches across different court systems, and share strategies for building effective relationships with defense attorneys and therapeutic courts. Participants will also examine organizational barriers that may limit support for survivor-defendants and identify opportunities for more inclusive legal advocacy. 

This workshop will provide an overview of the new statewide Tele Forensic Program. Participants will learn about the program's structure and services, explore the types of support available, and gain an understanding of the advocate's role within the Tele Forensic model. 

Housing advocacy plays a vital role in helping survivors achieve safety and long-term stability. This workshop will focus on integrating trauma-informed, survivor-driven advocacy practices throughout the housing search process, ensuring survivors' choices, strengths, and goals remain at the center of every step. Participants will explore common barriers survivors face when accessing housing, effective strategies for navigating those challenges, and best practices for building collaborative partnerships with landlords. The session will also provide an overview of survivor tenant rights and practical advocacy tools to help survivors secure and maintain safe, stable housing. 

• Examine common myths and facts about commercial sexual exploitation and the definitions that shape our responses.
• Explore exploitation across generations, including the experiences of youth, young adults, and adults.
• Consider how adultification, racial bias, grooming, and responses to missing Black youth affect prevention and intervention.
• Learn from the expertise of survivors/experiencers, advocates, families, and communities.
• Identify opportunities for community engagement, healing, and approaches beyond the current service paradigm.

Finding safe, stable housing is a critical step toward long-term survivor safety and stability. This workshop will explore the full continuum of survivor housing options, from emergency shelter and transitional housing to permanent housing solutions. Participants will learn strategies for helping families secure affordable rental and permanent housing opportunities while gaining a better understanding of how to develop and operate housing resources.

Presented by Angie Pacheco of DVSBF, this session will share the organization's experience developing and operating survivor-centered housing programs, highlighting practical lessons learned, innovative approaches, and real-world success stories. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for overcoming common housing program development and operation barriers, strengthening housing pathways, and supporting survivors in achieving lasting housing stability.

When teacher misconduct and boundary violations came to light at Vashon Island’s only high school, the community faced a choice: react with blame or respond with intention. This case study traces how the Vashon Island School District and The DOVE Project built a multi-stakeholder workgroup grounded in restorative and transformative justice. With this work, producing four concrete pillars of change: district-wide training, redesigned reporting systems, community reparations, and a long-term cultural change plan.

The DOVE Project’s years of comprehensive prevention programming embedded in Vashon schools and built on trusted relationships across every stakeholder group uniquely positioned DOVE to step into this support role. Prevention organizations bring something no outside consultant can: existing credibility and trust with students, families, and staff. That foundation is what made neutral facilitation possible, and what made the community willing to come to the table.

This session makes the case that prevention programs across the region are not peripheral to addressing harm that youth experience in schools, but rather they are essential to it. When districts face harm, the organizations already doing daily prevention work are best positioned to help rebuild trust, center youth voices, and move toward lasting safety through youth-centered policy and practice reform.

Have you wanted to use your voice to help leaders and legislators better understand what survivors truly need? Are you unsure whether your staff can engage in lobbying? This session will help answer those questions and learn how!

Whether you are new to policy advocacy or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will explore the fundamentals of public policy, the differences between education and lobbying, and the important role domestic violence and sexual assault programs play in informing policy decisions.

Building beyond the basics, participants will take a deeper dive into lobbying laws and permissible advocacy activities. Learn effective strategies for engaging local, state, and federal policymakers, preparing for legislative meetings, building long-term relationships with decision-makers, and identifying opportunities to influence policy year-round. Attendees will leave with a stronger understanding of both the "why" and the "how" of policy engagement, along with practical tools to confidently navigate public policy work within their professional roles.

Who is the primary audience for this workshop? (I am not sure of the norms how this is answered or if there are specific categories) Anyone interested in public policy

Mandated reporting has caused real harm to survivors — and a lot of that harm comes from over-reporting. This training provides context around challenges and problems within our current system that create harm for families seeking support and get practical about what domestic violence advocates are actually required to report (spoiler: it's less than you think). Liz and Trina will walk through how to recognize what falls outside your scope, how to safety plan effectively, and how to show up for survivors in the rare moments when a report is truly required. Come ready to question assumptions and leave with clearer boundaries and more confidence in a survivor-first approach.