Event Details
TCFV is excited to host the 2024 Statewide Conference for domestic violence advocates and allied professionals working to promote safety, justice, and prevention. The conference aims to elevate calls to action identified in TCFV’s annual intimate partner homicide report: Honoring Texas Victims. The event brings meaningful opportunities to network and engage in learning opportunities. This is our first in-person Statewide Conference post COVID. All presenters and attendees will be in-person; we will not be offering a hybrid option.
Registration Closes: October 29, 2024
Registration Fees: TCFV Member: $215, Non-Member: $255
Agenda
TCFV Statewide Conference 2024
11AM-5PM:
Registration/Check-in
11AM-1PM:
Refreshments with Exhibitors
1PM-1:30PM:
Welcome
(Conference Room)
1:30PM-2:15PM:
Plenary #1
(Conference Room)
Session Title: Journey from Child Victim to Adult Advocate
Session Description: I have graciously been asked to briefly share my story as a victim of childhood domestic violence, drug addiction, and sexual abuse that led to a bitter life of prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation that lasted decades and even shaped the lives of my children, one being the son of my trafficker. Without hostility, I reflect on how inept the social service systems were in truly seeing me as a child victim and providing comprehensive care that would have addressed at least some of the areas of abuse and vulnerability that I was experiencing at that time. I then go on to celebrate the power of awareness, personal well-being, and authentic service because it was the power of a few who ultimately helped me change the course of my life.
Speaker: Rev. Yevette “Vette” Christy
2:15PM-2:30PM:
Break
2:30PM-3:45PM:
Workshop #1
(Conference Room)
Session Title: Transforming the Movement: Actualizing Racial Equity in our Work
Session Description: For the past eight years, NRCDV’s Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) has been committed to racial justice as an essential part of our work. The Racial Justice Initiative has helped NRCDV understand that to truly end domestic violence we must address all systems that generate and sustain it and that working in solidarity across issues of justice is the only way to bring out meaningful social change. This presentation will share learnings from NRCDV’s journey to becoming an antiracist organization, tools to engage in conversations about race, and strategies to develop and implement programming that focuses on equity versus equality.
Speaker: Ivonne Ortiz
2:30PM-3:45PM:
Workshop #2
(Inspiration A)
Session Title:Shifting the Paradigm: The Evolution of Child Welfare Systems and Family Advocacy at a Local, State and National Level
Session Description: This session will take an historical look back on key benchmarks addressing the intersections of domestic violence and child welfare, including the release of the Green Book over 25 years ago, the Nicolson v. Scoppetta case 20 years ago, and the passage of SB 434, creating a task force in Texas close to 15 years ago. We’ll explore how these events served to disrupt rigid perspectives and practice and propelled more progressive systems and family advocacy responses. Participants will learn about the evolution of this work and potentially replicable approaches of Denton County Friends of the Family as well as the work and support available through National Center to Advance Peace for Children Youth, and Families (NCAP), the FVPSA funded resource center on child protection and custody.
Speakers: Krista Del Gallo, Donna Bloom, & David Almager
2:30PM-3:45PM:
Workshop #3
(Inspiration B)
Session Title: Immigration Relief for Victims of Crime
Session Description: Participants will learn the different types of immigration relief available for victims of crime during investigations and prosecutions, including U-visas, T-visas, and VAWA self-petition. They will learn about non-adjustment status that can be used to secure the lawful presence of victims during investigations and prosecutions of crime.
Speaker: Rosie Martinez
2:30PM-3:45PM:
Workshop #4
(Transformation)
Session Title: Providing Specialized Support to LGBTQ+ Survivors of Domestic Violence
Session Description: This workshop covers best practices around providing support services and domestic violence shelter access for LGBTQ+ survivors that meet the complex and unique factors that domestic violence service providers face, providing culturally responsive care to LGBTQ+ survivors, and providing tangible skills building and guidance.
Speakers: Dinyar Mehta & Noah Castro
6:00PM-9:00PM:
Documentary Screening + Panel Discussion
(Alamo Drafthouse-South Lamar at 1120 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704)
Documentary Title: Survivor Made
Session Description:
Set in Los Angeles during the holiday season, SURVIVOR MADE invites you into the lives of six dynamic survivors, each on their own unique healing journey. Follow them as they navigate big entrepreneurial dreams, balance a rich family life, and strive toward a collective holiday sales goal. Discover the abundant potential that emerges when we invest in survivor wealth and healing.
On October 28, 2024, join TCFV and FREE FROM for a sneak preview of the film and a talkback with the cast and crew—all survivors themselves.
Your ticket includes a curated craft cocktail or mocktail, a movie snack, and several opportunities to celebrate survivors. Add your voice as we flip the script on gender-based violence—from stories of pain to stories of possibility.
Speakers:
Drew Denny, Director Survivor Made
Sonya Passi, CEO FreeFrom; cast member Survivor Made
Cherry Morse, Sales and Marketing Manager, Gifted; cast member Survivor Made
Moderator:
Gloria Aguilera Terry, CEO, TCFV
7:30AM-5PM:
Registration/Check-in
8AM-9AM:
Breakfast
9AM-9:30AM:
Welcome
(Conference Room)
TCFV Staff
9:30AM-10:15AM:
Plenary #2
(Conference Room)
Session Title: Firearm Policy and Domestic Violence Response
Session Description: In this presentation, Dr. Zeoli will discuss the intersection of firearms and intimate partner violence, focusing on risks to safety and unequal distribution of risk by race. She will also discuss intimate partner violence-related firearm restriction laws and what research finds about their effectiveness. Finally, she will cover current issues surrounding the constitutionality of these laws and their implications for safety.
Speaker: April Zeoli, PhD, MPH
10:15AM-10:45AM:
Break
10:45AM-11:45AM:
Keynote #1
(Conference Room)
Session Title: Uplifting Survivors Voices in Your Community’s Efforts to Reduce and Prevent IPV Homicides
Session Description: Criminal Justice professionals often seek to implement strategies and/or risk assessments with the intent of decreasing intimate partner violence cases and preventing homicides. However, if survivors’ voices are not included in the strategic planning process, critical opportunities to learn, build relationships, establish partnerships, and discuss important issues such as confidentiality, safety and healing may be missed. Survivor voices are essential when deciding if a specific risk assessment or homicide prevention strategy should be implemented. Intentionally engaging with survivor insights and experiences can ensure a thorough and proactive discussion of potential unintended consequences, and better avoid further re-traumatization and further harm within the intervention process. This workshop will examine how survivors’ voices can be uplifted in a community’s response to intimate partner violence, address how lethality and recidivism factors can be used to create safer communities, and discuss strategic ideas for survivor engagement.
Speakers: Michelle Toledo-Cainas & Sarah Colome
10:45AM-11:45AM:
Keynote #2
(Inspiration AB)
Session Title: An Introduction to the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence
Session Description: The National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which was launched by the White House last May with the participation of 15 federal agencies, provides an important framework and blueprint to establish and strengthen a “federal coordinated community response” to prevent and address gender-based violence (GBV). Attendees will learn about the comprehensive, government-wide approach that aims to prevent and address gender-based violence across the United States through seven strategic pillars: Prevention; Support, Healing, Safety, and Well-Being; Economic Security and Housing Stability; Online Safety; Legal and Justice Systems; Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Response; and Research and Data. In this session, representatives from the federal government who worked on the plan will introduce and share insights into its key components, as well as discuss how communities can actively engage with the plan’s initiatives and implement their own state or local strategies to combat GBV.
Speakers: Linda Phan, Deputy Director of Policy, Communication, and Strategic Engagement, Office of Violence Against Women and Catherine Pierce, Senior Advisor, Office for Victims of Crime
11:45AM-1:15PM:
Lunch
1:15PM-2:30PM:
Workshop #5
(Conference Room)
Session Title: Assaulted By the System
Session Description: Explore the Vitality of Embracing Survivor-Led Support Groups: Amidst the arduous journey for justice within the legal realm, survivors frequently confront daunting obstacles. In the sanctuary of survivor support groups, we delve into the profound emotional toll of systemic injustices, offering a haven for individuals to voice their narratives and discover solace. These groups serve as nurturing spaces wherein mutual support cultivates resilience, empowering individuals amidst the intricate quest for safety within diverse systems.
Speaker: Lisa Pous
1:15PM-2:30PM:
Workshop #6
(Inspiration A)
Session Title: Abusive Partner Intervention Programing and Intimate Partner Violence Risk Assessment: Survivor Safety and Participant Accountability
Session Description: The criminal justice system uses Abusive Partner Intervention Programs (APIP) for those who cause harm through intimate partner violence (IPV) and enhance survivor safety and accountability. APIPs have begun to include IPV risk assessments during their work with those who cause harm to measure either the risk of recidivism and lethality and further center survivor safety and accountability for the person causing harm. IPV risk assessments are frequently used by first responders and advocates but at least two risk assessments have been identified to be used by APIP providers. Although the primary objective of the APIP programs is to work with the person who causes harm, enhancing survivor safety is central to their work. This workshop discusses the risk assessments best suited for APIPs, illustrate examples of programs using them and how to best identify an assessment for the community for the opportunity to elevate survivors’ voices during the process of holding the person accountable.
Speaker: Michelle Toledo-Cainas & Gene Johnson
1:15PM-2:30PM:
Workshop #7
(Inspiration B)
Session Title: Implementing Firearm Transfer Protocols
Session Description: To most effectively promote survivor safety and reduce lethal risk, sustainable and effective firearm transfer protocols are essential. Yet there is very little infrastructure to support firearm transfer practices and it falls on local community leaders to develop and implement policies and procedures to enforce firearm prohibitions. Dr. April Zeoli and Jennifer Becker, Esq. will discuss strategies for engaging community leadership in holding domestic violence offenders accountable through enforcement of firearm prohibitions and implementing firearm transfer protocols as a crucial component of a coordinated response to domestic violence.
Speaker: April Zeoli, PhD, MPH and Jennifer Becker, Esq.
1:15PM-2:30PM:
Workshop #8
(Transformation)
Session Title: Office on Violence Against Women Listening Session: Enhancing Support for Communities to Implement the Violence Against Women Act
Session Description: Conference attendees are invited to participate in a listening session hosted by the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW). OVW is a component of the U.S. Department of Justice that implements the provisions of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and provides grants to support communities’ responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. OVW’s Deputy Director of Policy, alongside other OVW staff, looks forward to a discussion to garner firsthand insights from service providers and criminal justice partners regarding the successes and challenges encountered in implementing VAWA provisions and protections.
Speaker: Linda Phan, Deputy Director of Policy, Communication, and Strategic Engagement, Office of Violence Against Women
2:30PM-2:45PM:
Break
2:45PM-4PM:
Workshop #9 (Lightning Rounds)
(Conference Room)
General Session Description: Join us for an engaging lightning round session focused on innovative engagement practices in intimate partner violence services and community education. In this dynamic session, four expert speakers will each deliver a 15-minute presentation showcasing unique approaches and strategies within the field. These lightning rounds will cover a range of topics, from community-based interventions to technological advancements and cultural competence in service delivery.
Following the lightning rounds, participants will have the opportunity to engage directly with the speakers during a 15-minute Q&A session.
Round 1 Title: A Tale of 3 Congregations
Round 1 Description: A case study on the responses of three different congregations to survivor experiences with domestic violence. Many survivors struggle to find support in their faith communities after disclosing abuse. They feel that justice is denied as they encounter misinformation and judgment, or have their faith used against them. Others find significant healing and recovery in supportive faith environments. Still others receive mixed messages, leaving them confused and unsure about how to navigate their spirituality in the confusion. Risk factors can be mitigated, and protective factors can be enhanced, allowing faith communities to improve their support and provide much-needed community connections. Includes a discussion of the speaker’s recently published research on the topic of congregations and domestic violence.
Speaker: Geneece Goertzen
Round 2 Title: Empower Through Education: The A.R.T. of Building Healthy Relationships to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence
Round 2 Description: We aim to improve the quality of life for communities affected by domestic violence through the empowerment and education of sharing the “A.R.T. of Building Healthy Relationships.”
Speaker: Jamie R. Wright
Round 3 Title: Accountability Walk: Taking Responsibility for Our Actions and Ending Violence
Round 3 Description: Similar to “In Her Shoes®,” “Accountability Walk” is a powerful interactive activity that simulates the experience of domestic violence offenders and their journey to rehabilitation. Participants are assigned a fictional character and are asked to make decisions and navigate through different scenarios based on that character’s experiences. This activity helps raise awareness and also allows participants to reflect on their attitudes and behaviors towards domestic violence and how they can support victims, prevent abuse, and, most importantly, provide resources to offenders to break the cycle and make positive changes.
Speaker: Kenneth Scott
Round 4 Title: Small Group Success: Running Effective Prevention Groups on Teen Dating Violence
Round 4 Description: We know that one in three adolescents is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. Reaching these teens in a meaningful way is crucial to prevention of such abuse. In this interactive lightning session, presenter Amy Dossett will lead a discussion on best practices for setting up, implementing, and running engaging small groups for teens – with the ultimate goal of prevention of dating violence and the promotion of healthy relationships.
Speaker: Amy Dossett
2:45PM-4PM:
Workshop #10
(Inspiration A)
Session Title: IPV – Prevention: Community Action Planning Session
Session Description: Attendees will engage in a brainstorming session where all participants will collaborate to develop actionable plans for implementing IPV prevention strategies within their communities, workplaces, or schools. This session will provide an introduction and framing to community action planning, encourage creativity and innovation to ensure all voices are heard, help to identify priorities and challenges while troubleshooting solutions. By engaging participants in a collaborative action planning process, we can harness the collective wisdom, creativity, and commitment of the community to develop meaningful and sustainable IPV prevention initiatives.
Speakers: Mona Kafeel & Jyoti John
2:45PM-4PM:
Workshop #11
(Inspiration B)
Session Title: Building & Engaging Critical Connections: Community Partnerships to Enhance IPV Risk Assessments
Session Description: Effective and sustainable implementation or enhancement of an intimate partner violence (IPV) risks communities – in the midst of their efforts to help. Furthermore, true partnerships require buy-in, collaboration, and engagement. When strong, these interdisciplinary partnerships can lead to assessment demands a collective approach, but where to start? Diverse partnerships are essential to this process; often, system stakeholders may not have essential community partners at the table to ensure IPV risk assessments do not cause further harm to victims of crime – particularly those within marginalized o shared sustainability, survivor-centered responses, and offender accountability. This workshop will highlight the importance of not just creating partnerships to address intimate partner violence, but practical strategies to maintain these relationships to bolster sustainability when using IPV risk assessments in the community.
Speakers: Michelle Toldeo-Cainas & Sarah Colome
2:45PM-4PM:
Workshop #12
(Transformation)
Session Title: Cultural Responsiveness for Coordinated Community Response Teams
Session Description: Homicides affect women of all ages and races, but young minority women are disproportionately impacted. This session will explore the vital roles and purposes of high-risk teams and domestic violence fatality review teams and the need for a culturally specific lens when reviewing these cases. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of their differences and similarities and how they both work to reduce domestic violence homicides. We will discuss the importance of effectively collaborating in coordinated responses to mitigate domestic violence fatalities
Speakers: LeTesha Davis Pyke & Carvanna Cloud
8AM-10AM:
Registration/Check-in
8:15AM-9:30AM:
Breakfast & Networking
8:15AM-9:30AM:
Exhibitors
8:45AM-9:30AM:
Affinity Group Meetings
9:30AM-10:30AM:
Keynote #3
(Conference Room)
Session Title: Implementing Flexible Financial Assistance Programs as a Promising Strategy to Prevent Homelessness among Survivors: Considerations for Community-based Agencies
Session Description: Across the United States, the flexible funding model is gaining national popularity as an emerging solution to increase safety, housing and economic stability among domestic violence survivors. As diverse institutions and communities seek to implement this intervention, a shared understanding of the guiding principles and core components of the flexible funding model is needed to promote implementation fidelity and yield the best outcomes among survivors. To this end, this session will present information about the guiding principles of the flexible funding model, discuss core considerations for agencies and communities seeking to implement the model, and conclude with an overview of preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the flex funding model.
Speakers: Oyesola Oluwafunmilayo “Funmi” Ayeni & Lavon Morris Grant
9:30AM-10:30AM:
Keynote #4
(Inspiration AB)
Session Title: The Person: What Lies at the Core of Culturally Specific Care
Session Description: Cultural specificity is critical to the discussion of equity, inclusivity, and justice in domestic violence response and prevention. However, when responders approach culturally specific care through the lens of “competency”, we are taught that an outsider’s view of an entire people is “competence”. But given that DV response is founded upon the principle of empathy, this concept collapses upon considering one simple question. How do you decide how much empathy for marginalized and oppressed peoples is “competent”? In this session, responders will explore the failures of “cultural competency” and the approach of culturally specific care by a culturally specific organization.
Speaker: Lul Mohamud
10:30AM-10:45AM:
Break
10:45AM-11:30AM:
Plenary #3
(Conference Room)
Session Title: Thank You for Your “Why”
Session Description: Jamie Wright, a survivor and advocate, shares her journey to advocacy. Through her passionate narrative, Jamie will shed light on the realities of domestic violence, the power of a supportive community, and the importance of faith and resilience. Advocates will gain insight into the critical role they plan in empowering survivors and driving lasting change.
Speaker: Jamie R. Wright
11:30AM-11:45AM:
Closing Remarks
(Conference Room)
TCFV Staff
TCEA Conference Center
3100 Alvin Devane Blvd, Building B
Austin, TX 78741
Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Airport
3201 Caseybridge Court
Austin, Texas 78744
Rate: $149.00 (Cutoff Date: Oct. 7)
Complimentary Breakfast 6:30 am – 9 am
Complimentary Parking
Free WiFi
Complimentary shuttle to and from the airport
Check in time: 4:00 pm – Check out time: 12:00 pm
Holiday Inn Austin Airport
6711 Ben White Blvd
Austin, Texas 78741
Rate: $169.00 (Cutoff Date: Oct. 7)
Complimentary parking
Free Wifi, No free breakfast
Complimentary shuttle to and from the airport
Check in time: 3:00 pm – Check out time: 12:00 pm
Food Accomodations
Unfortunately, we are unable to honor any food restrictions accomodations for registration made after October 20th. To ensure your food accomodations, please register before October 21st.
Refunds, Cancellations, and Transfers:
Cancellation requests can be made through the cancellation link in your confirmation email, and must be made at least four weeks prior (no later than September 30, 2024) to the conference date to be refunded. All cancellations and refunds will be processed in the same manner as original payment. If paid by credit card, the refund will be issued to the card on record. Payments made by check will be refunded as a check and may take up to 30 days after the meeting to process. If you have any questions or concerns, please email: statewide@tcfv.org.
*No refunds will be made for cancellation requests received less than four weeks before the event. *
**If you wish to transfer your registration to someone else within your agency, please follow the instructions on Coalition Manager for transferring.**
Continuing Education Units:
CEUs: 8.5
8.5 total hours of Continuing Education Units for Social Work, Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists, and TDCJ-CJAD (BIPP: 1.50/Family Violence: 7)
*Please note that CEU certificates are individual to you. If you have multiple individuals from your agency participating, have each person register.
Venue Information:
TCEA
3100 Alvin Devane Blvd, Bldg B
Austin, Texas 78701
PARKING:
Limited on site parking, additional offsite parking TBA.
LODGING:
Lodging accommodations are available only off site. TCFV will not be reserving any room blocks for conference attendees. You will responsible for securing your lodging.
QUESTIONS:
If you have any questions, please email statewide@tcfv.org.