Advocates to the Front! 2024 WSCADV Conference

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.

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.

For many survivors who use substances, it is a way to cope with the trauma of abuse, while some are also coerced into using by their abusive partner. Let’s come together and learn how to support survivors experiencing this challenging intersection.