Description
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Build foundational skills to understand trauma, communicate with empathy, and support survivors in exercising their rights.
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Learn essential crisis intervention, de‑escalation strategies, and basic safety planning across multiple crime types.
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Strengthen conscious communication and apply inclusive, culturally responsive, and disability‑inclusive practices.
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Gain foundational knowledge of the justice system, confidentiality, victim compensation, and California victim‑rights law.
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Develop practical self‑care strategies to prevent vicarious trauma and support long‑term wellness
Registration will close two weeks prior to the start date, or when capacity is reached.
Registration does not cover hotel, transportation, or meals. Organizations are encouraged to use their VW grant funds to support staff travel to training. CCVAA is also proud to offer limited travel scholarships to organizations experiencing hardship and in need of support for travel related costs. Please reach out to Katiegilbertson@rivcoda.org for assistance with completing a scholarship request.
Objectives
40-Hour Basic Victim Advocacy Training Agenda
Day 1: 8:15am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)
1. Setting the Stage Kick off the training by establishing group agreements, reviewing the training structure, and connecting learning goals to participants’ roles. This module sets expectations for a safe, respectful, and engaging learning environment.
2. History of Victim Services and Victims’ Rights Explore the evolution of the Victims’ Rights Movement, the core responsibilities of victim advocates, and key victims’ rights. Learn how these milestones shape modern victim services.
3. Role of the Advocate Distinguish the unique role of victim advocates from allied professionals and identify the primary services provided by Victim Witness Assistance Centers.
4. Neurobiology of Trauma Understand how trauma affects the brain and body, including common neurobiological responses and differences between typical and trauma-affected processing.
5. Trauma-Informed Advocacy Define trauma-informed advocacy, its core principles, and best practices that support survivor safety, choice, and empowerment.
6. Vicarious Trauma & Self-Care Recognize the signs and impacts of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Develop a self-care plan to support personal wellness in advocacy work.
Day 2: 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)
7. Communication Skills (Parts 1-3) Build foundational communication skills, including rapport-building, empathy, crisis intervention, de-escalation, and survivor-centered communication strategies.
8. Creating Accessible Services for All Learn how violence impacts victims with disabilities, identify barriers to access, and apply strategies for inclusive and accessible victim services.
Day 3: 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)
9. Inclusive Outreach and Advocacy Services Examine discrimination and intersectionality in victim services, identify barriers faced by marginalized communities, and develop inclusive outreach strategies.
10. Overview of the Criminal Justice System Gain an understanding of the criminal justice process as it relates to victims and the advocate’s role throughout.
11. Overview of CALVCB Victim Compensation Review eligibility and application steps for California Victim Compensation to better support survivors’ financial needs.
12. Power & Control: Interpersonal Violence Explore the dynamics of domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking, including best practices for survivor-centered advocacy and safety planning.
13. Safety Planning Apply trauma-informed, survivor-led techniques for both crisis and long-term safety planning.
Day 4: 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)
14. Crime Dynamics: Sexual Violence Examine the power-based violence model, dynamics, and impacts of sexual violence, and survivor-centered advocacy strategies.
15. Ethics, Boundaries, and Confidentiality Identify ethical principles, best practices for boundaries, and analyze issues involving confidentiality and privacy in advocacy.
16. Crime Dynamics: Child Abuse Define child abuse, best practices for supporting child victims, and special considerations for working with children and families.
17. Round Robin Role Plays Engage in practical role-play scenarios to apply advocacy skills in realistic situations.
Day 5: 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)
18. Misuse of Technology Identify ways technology is used to harm or support victims, and learn how to address technology-related safety concerns.
19. Victim Services and California Legislation Review key California laws, including Marsy’s Law, and learn how to apply legal requirements in advocacy practice.
20. Paper to Practice: Small Group Work and Review Apply training concepts to real-world scenarios, demonstrate trauma-informed and ethical decision-making, and reflect on advocacy approaches.
21. Return to Our Own Wellness Reflect on personal wellness, update self-care plans, and commit to ongoing wellness practices to sustain effective advocacy.
This comprehensive training covers the essential knowledge, skills, and ethical foundations needed for effective victim advocacy in California.
Certificate
By completing/passing this course, you will attain the certificate Advocate Training - Entry 2026
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