Racial and Gender Equity in Victim Services Symposium

Coalition for Victims of Child Abuse is hosting a one-day symposium.

“The Racial and Gender Equity in Victim Services symposium aims to bring child and family service leaders together to discuss how racial and gender equity impact the services that our organizations provide to families. Participants will learn mechanisms of historical trauma and institutional racism within the context of critical race theory, how poverty, education, and other previous trauma contribute to racial inequity and will gain resources and best practices for developing more equitable victim services while also being able to network with others in the field.

Sessions:

Historical Trauma & Institutional Racism: The objective of this interactive workshop is to provide:

• a working definition of intergenerational transmission of trauma, historical trauma, racial trauma, and other relevant key terms
• an outline of the mechanisms of historical trauma and institutional/systemic racism within the context of critical race theory and the socio-ecological model
• effective strategies to assist practitioners in addressing and mitigating historical and racial trauma in children and families

Racial Equity in Victim Services: A look beyond Race: Have you ever asked yourself why Black and Brown people are more prone to victimization and trauma? Often the issues lie within the environment that shape their realities. In this discussion, researcher Storm Ervin will explore contextual factors – such as poverty, education, mental health, and previous trauma – that contribute to racial inequity in victimization experiences and how practitioners can be both aware of and address them.

Creating a Culture of Belonging: Recognizing Bias and Inequities in the work of Trauma Informed Care: Working with families who have been traumatized can have a significant impact on the service provider. Supporting our families is rewarding and can also cause its own challenges within us (the service provider). This work requires a Trauma Informed approach both for the family and ourselves. We must not only recognize our own trauma but also biases that may keep us from providing effective services, all while caring for ourselves. The work within our agencies to address policies and practices that further traumatize our families is also a part of this impactful work. Intentional communication keeping in mind cultural needs, bias, and the effects of trauma can be one of the effective tools for goal setting and problem-solving. In this session, participants will recognize biases within themselves that keep them from doing their work. They will also understand and learn the policies and practices that may retraumatize the families they are serving.”

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