Advocates to the Front! 2024 WSCADV Conference

En honor a “Advocactes to the Front”, WSCADV tiene el honor de presentarles un panel de intercesoras latinas que han tenido un profundo impacto en sus comunidades a través de su pasión y dedicación a este trabajo. Agradecemos a nuestras panelistas Rosalinda Álvarez, Celia Guardado y Brandi Belgarde por todo el trabajo que han realizado para apoyar a los sobrevivientes latinos. Este taller se presentará en español con interpretación al inglés.

In honor of “Advocates to the Front”, WSCADV has the honor to present you with a panel of strong Latine advocates who have made a profound impact in their communities through their passion and dedication to this work. We are grateful to our panelists Rosalinda Alvarez, Celia Guardado, and Brandi Belgarde for all the work that they have done to support Latine survivors. This workshop will be presented in Spanish with English interpretation available.

This dynamic workshop will cover two important programs at the YWCA: Survivors FIRST and the Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI)

Women represent the fastest growing incarcerated population, and those charged with crimes are overwhelmingly survivors of gender-based violence. Research highlights that the traditional criminal justice approach often fails to address the unique needs and experiences of Black women and women of color who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Few resources exist to provide diversion, services, and pathways to healing for criminalized survivors.

Survivors FIRST is the pioneering program from the YWCA and King County Prosecuting Attorney addressing this critical gap, and it has now become the national model. This program aims to identify victims of gender-based violence facing criminal charges and offer alternative pathways to address trauma and provide support by connecting survivors with culturally relevant community providers and services. This portion of the workshop will discuss survivor-centered diversion, showcase Survivors FIRST, and discuss how prosecutors and victim advocates can work together to break the cycles of abuse and victimization

The second half of the workshop will provoke your thought process to identify biases and shift your understanding about the intersection of violence of Black women in marginalized communities. We will provide information to empower and educate you about structural racism and the frameworks fostered by YWCA RSJI. The Race and Social Justice Initiative is YWCA’s expression of its commitment to eliminate racial disparities, raise up the voices and experiences of Black women, and achieve racial equity and social justice.

This workshop will cover important updates to gender-based violence statutes that legal advocates need to know as they navigate working with survivors.

Come learn about the evidence-based Domestic Violence Housing First (DVHF) model, focused on getting survivors of domestic violence into stable housing as quickly as possible, and then providing the necessary support as they rebuild their lives.

Join us for an insightful breakout session exploring the phenomena of secondary trauma as a form of countertransference, focusing on how these experiences can serve as a mirror for self-discovery and personal growth. Participants will learn to identify and understand various autonomic physical and emotional reactions that arise when working with stories of trauma, and gain valuable insights into their personal strengths and vulnerabilities. Together, we will develop practical strategies for leveraging these insights to enhance personal well-being, improve case management, and strengthen professional resilience.

Our panelists, Rokea Jones, BLK MAMAS Collective, Jamie Lovato, Spokane Tribe Indigenous Birth Justice and Jessica Houseman-Whitehawk, Ttáwaxt Birth Justice Center, are combining their expertise as doulas and birth justice advocates, while utilizing holistic, healing, plant, and cultural knowledge in their support of birthing families and training of doulas. They focus on dismantling oppressive systems and fighting for healthcare equity for Indigenous, Tribal, and Black birthing families. We invite you to join in on our discussion, facilitated by Andrea Garcia Brown, on what birth justice means to us and how it connects to our advocacy work.