All you Need to Know about Legislative Advocacy Day 2023
2023-01-31 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Virtual
Join us for this webinar to learn about all of our priorities and strategies heading into Legislative Advocacy Day. Things that are on our radar are:

Fund the phones – help us sustain Virginia’s Statewide Hotline!
Ensure the safe and lawful transfer of firearms for those subject to protective orders and those convicted of domestic violence!
Close the dangerous loophole in Virginia’s strangulation statute!
Repeal Virginia’s discriminatory Constitutional ban on LGBTQ marriage!
Expand economic supports for women and families
Prioritize victim/child safety over “shared parenting time”
Defend Trans and LGBTQ youth in Virginia
Protect Reproductive Freedom and abortion access for all survivors!

You can join the webinar here: https://bit.ly/VSDVALAD2023Webinar

Legislative Advocacy Day 2023
2023-02-02 08:00 - 13:00 | Virginia Credit Union League, 108 N. 8th Street, Richmond, VA, 23219, United States
2023 Legislative Advocacy Day!
We’re excited to have sexual and domestic violence advocates from across Virginia join us in Richmond for our annual Legislative Advocacy Day on Thursday, February 2, 2023! And this year is a big one…..with the fall of Roe v. Wade and ongoing political attacks on LGBTQ youth, it’s important that we take a stand and defend the right of all Virginians to determine their reproductive futures and to be treated with dignity and respect.
Policy leaders want to hear from you about these hot topics that impact survivors, families, young people, and sexual and domestic violence advocates across the state:

Fund the phones – help us sustain Virginia’s Statewide Hotline!
Ensure the safe and lawful transfer of firearms for those subject to protective orders and those convicted of domestic violence!
Close the dangerous loophole in Virginia’s strangulation statute!
Repeal Virginia’s discriminatory Constitutional ban on LGBTQ marriage!
Expand economic supports for women and families
Prioritize victim/child safety over “shared parenting time”
Defend Trans and LGBTQ youth in Virginia
Protect Reproductive Freedom and abortion access for all survivors!

Check out our schedule for the day – if you are planning to join us for the breakfast reception, please note that in your registration choice:

8:00-9:00AM Breakfast reception and legislative briefing, held at Virginia Credit Union League, 108 N. Main Street, 23219. Light breakfast, coffee, and refreshments provided
9:30AM – 12:00PM Visits with legislators (Pocahontas Building 900 E. Main St, Richmond, VA 23219). Be sure to make appointments with your legislators in advance! You can find your legislator(s) here: http://ow.ly/tCG330mRiwW
9:30AM – 12:00PM space available at the Virginia Credit Union League to connect with Action Alliance staff, take breaks, debrief visits, and recharge
12:00PM Sexual & Domestic Violence Advocates gather in Capitol House Gallery to be recognized by the VA House of Representatives
1:00PM Join a Committee meeting (TBD). Support/watch the bill process, meet with Legislators, connect with advocates, and/or enjoy lunch nearby

If you can’t make it in-person for Legislative Advocacy Day, don’t worry, we’ll send you everything you need to participate in virtual legislative actions that are happening statewide! Just make sure you select “Virtual Legislative Advocacy ONLY” in your registration choice.
Please note that scheduling visits with your legislators is done on your own and in advance! You can begin reaching out to schedule visits now. The earlier the better. To find out who your state representatives are, or to find their contact information, please click here.
In addition, we will be holding a Legislative Advocacy Day Webinar on January 31 from 2:00 – 3:30 PM to help you understand our top priorities and answer all of your questions. Please make plans to attend that. https://bit.ly/VSDVALAD2023Webinar
Need help reaching out to your representatives? Looking for a script? Refer to our handy Legislative Advocacy Guide for answers to these questions and more!

ECHO@Edu: Campus Violence Prevention
2023-02-09 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual- Zoom
Do you feel like you’re on a prevention island at your campus? Join us for the following sessions to build your prevention network, connect over challenging cases, and stay on top of the best practices in sexual and intimate partner violence primary prevention, all from the comfort of your office.
ECHO@Edu will be held on the following Thursdays from 10:30 – 12:00 pm:

February 9, 2023
April 13, 2023
June 8, 2023
August 10, 2023

To register for the upcoming clinics, please register here: https://bit.ly/ECHOedu
Do you have a challenge that you’d like to brainstorm about with other preventionists? Or would you like to present a new idea for feedback? Consider presenting a case! You can access the case presentation form here: https://bit.ly/ECHOeducase

Quarterly Finance Training Series- Tips for Tracking Grant Expenses
2023-02-13 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Are you a leader or staff member who has responsibility for tracking grant expenses? We’ll explore key elements of tracking expenses to help you stretch your agency budget and ensure that you have all of the documentation you need as you prepare regular invoices, financial statements, and grant reports.
This training is part of a series. Please register at the below link. The Zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

New Member Orientation
2023-02-15 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual
If you are new to the Action Alliance or just want a refresher of all of your membership benefits and insight into the Action Alliance, please join us! Here at the Action Alliance, we are here to help you so join us to find out how we can help you and your organization.

ReStoryation, Open Virtual Session
2023-02-23 09:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Over the past 2 years, we have all navigated significant and sometimes overwhelming crises. As advocates, that has meant responding to the needs of survivors in addition to caring for ourselves, our families, and others who are dear to us. What we’ve come to know as normal has changed. Whether the past 2 or so years has brought us sorrow, fear, joy, new opportunities, grief, overwhelm, new beginnings, or a combination of all of the above…it has brought change to all of us.
When life puts us through challenges, nature can help us make sense of what is happening and guide us through. Nature tells stories of trauma, healing, and regeneration. Learning from nature and using story can help us remember, process, and integrate our experiences.
We can look to the story of mycelium that spreads across the forest floor and underground to create a network. Or to the root system of trees that go deep and wide to communicate to other trees around them how to find resources and avoid threats. These systems depend on the health and needs of the collective so that the whole system can thrive.
We invite you to reconnect with advocates across the state through the practice of storytelling. Much like mycelium, we hope this space will foster connection and restoration through storytelling, art, food, and community. The past 2 and a half years have made many of us feel isolated, but the truth is that we are still very much connected, we just need the space to find that again.

Advocacy Outcomes and DOW
2023-02-24 13:00 - 14:30 | Virtual- Zoom
How do we know our services are making an impact? Join the Action Alliance for a facilitated discussion on the outcomes of advocacy services, Documenting Our Work (DOW) and other tools, and how evaluation can help us stay grounded in our values.

ACCESSIBILITY INFO: Our events are in spoken and written English. While we recommend that participants use a device on which Zoom is installed, they can also join through their browser without having to install an app. Live captioning will be provided courtesy of Virginia Relay. We do our best to provide audio descriptions of visual content, summarize chats, and prompt attendees to provide feedback. We encourage attendees to utilize the chat and meeting reactions when participating. We review our slides to ensure that they contain alt text for images, use type that is in 14-point font or larger, and have high-contrast color options.

If you have any questions or concerns about the accessibility of our online trainings, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via training@vsdvalliance.org. We look forward to sharing virtual space with you soon!

State and Local Partners Meeting
2023-03-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Virtual- Zoom
This invitation is open to advocates, preventionists, and other partners serving survivors and/or supporting community education on healthy relationships. Our time together will be spent learning from each other and from speakers, discussion on statewide issues, resources, etc.
The following sessions will be virtual from 10:00 – 12:00pm : March 2 (Valley Region), September 14 (Northern Region), December 7 (statewide session)
The following sessions will be in person from 10:00 – 2:00 pm: April 4 (Southwest Region), October 5 (Tidewater Region)

On the Docket with JPT
2023-03-03 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual- Zoom
Join the Justice Projects Team for open hours to discuss and learn about topics ranging from confidentiality to firearms laws to reproductive freedom for survivors and everything in between. This will be a semi-structured learning space combining traditional training with open conversation, peer learning, and program sharing. Bring your expertise and your curiosity!
This space is a occurs the first Friday of every month from 12:00 – 1:00 pm.

Flexible Foundations for Shelter Support and Beyond
2023-03-16 15:00 - 16:30 | Virtual
Between the pandemic, climate catastrophes, tensions about human rights, and high costs for basic needs, survivors’ service needs feel more complex than ever. Join the Action Alliance and Tori Wynecoop, Training and Technical Assistance Manager at the National Center on Domestic Violence Trauma and Mental Health (NCDVTMH), for three virtual trainings about collaborative and flexible approaches to address complex service needs. In this 3-part training for shelter staff and other front line advocates, participants will examine their expectations around crisis intervention; explore how to promote shared responsibility in shelter; and use the ‘stages of change’ model to support survivors’ goals.
• March 16th, 2023, 3:00 to 4:30 PM EST: Navigating Conflict and Change
Register for March 16 here: bit.ly/flexfound3

Working with Immigrant Survivors
2023-03-22 10:00 - 16:00 | Action Alliance, 1413 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
Working with Immigrant Survivors
Domestic violence is a serious, pervasive, and complex issue that affects people from all walks of life. Immigrant survivors of domestic violence face unique challenges and barriers that require specialized knowledge and attention. Susheela Varky, Esq. Director of the Center for Family Advocacy and Legal Assistance for Victim Immigrants of Domestic Abuse (LA VIDA), and Ruth Micklem, Action Alliance Community Initiatives Manager, will be presenting this in-person training that covers the basics for working with survivors of violence who are immigrants.
The training will cover basic types of relief such as U-Visas, T-Visas, VAWA Petitions and more, as well as an overview of barriers to coming forward for help and additional resources that are available.
Who should attend: sexual and domestic violence advocates, legal aid professionals, non profit professionals, and private professionals who work with and provide resources to immigrant survivors.
Cost: $35.00 for Action Alliance Members, $60.00 for non-members and agencies

Advocacy Outcomes and DOW
2023-03-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual

State and Local Partners In Person Southwest Region
2023-04-04 10:00 - 14:00
This invitation is open to advocates, preventionists, and other partners serving survivors and/or supporting community education on healthy relationships. Our time together will be spent learning from each other and from speakers, discussion on statewide issues, resources, etc.
The following sessions will be virtual from 10:00 – 12:00pm: September 14 (Northern Region), December 7 (statewide session)
The following sessions will be in person from 10:00 – 2:00 pm: April 4 (Southwest Region), October 5 (Tidewater Region)
**IN PERSON LOCATIONS TBD**

ECHO@Edu: Campus Violence Prevention
2023-04-13 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual

Basic Domestic Violence Advocacy Training
2023-05-01 09:30 - 16:30 | Training Center, 1413 W. Main St., Richmond, VA, 23220
This training is designed for advocates in their first year of work in the field if Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence Advocacy. Participants will be able to identify and define domestic and intimate partner violence; learn the building blocks for a trauma informed response and broaden their understanding of risk assessment and safety planning. Participants will also learn about resources in VA for supporting survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence.
$35.00 for SDVA, Professional, and Lifetime Members
$60.00 for Basic and Non-Members

Basic Sexual Violence Advocacy Training
2023-05-02 09:30 - 16:30 | Training Center, 1413 W. Main St., Richmond, VA, 23220
Basic Sexual Violence Advocacy Training
This training is designed for advocates in their first year of work in the field of Sexual Violence Advocacy. Participants will learn how to recognize sexual violence, it’s root causes and its impact on individuals and communities; they will learn about the Cultural Context that supports sexual violence and an advocate’s role in changing that culture. Participants will also learn about the building blocks for a healing centered approach to sexual violence and be able to identify resources in VA for an effective response.
$35.00 for SDVA Members, Professional, and Lifetime Members
$60.00 for Basic and Non Members

On the Docket with JPT
2023-05-05 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join the Justice Projects Team for open hours to discuss and learn about topics ranging from confidentiality to firearms laws to reproductive freedom for survivors and everything in between. This will be a semi-structured learning space combining traditional training with open conversation, peer learning, and program sharing. Bring your expertise and your curiosity!
May 5th: Protective Orders and Firearms Restrictions in Virginia
This space is a occurs the first Friday of every month from 12:00 – 1:00 pm.

Quarterly Finance Training Series- Promoting your Mission and Vision as you Develop an Agency Budget
2023-05-08 10:00 - 15:00 | Action Alliance, 1413 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
The annual budget process is an exciting opportunity to put your agency mission, vision and values to work as you shape the income, spending and savings paths for the upcoming year. Join us for this in person training as Executive Director, Kristi Van Audenhove, and Associate Director, Angela Blount, give you tips and tricks to take back to your agency.
$35 for members/$60 for non members
Register for the sessions at the below link.

Sexual and Reproductive Coercion: What Advocates and Healthcare Providers Need to Know
2023-05-11 10:00 - 16:00 | Training Center, 1413 W. Main St., Richmond, VA, 23220
This training is open to advocates, reproductive health providers, and clinic staff. Through this training, participants will become familiar with the dynamics of sexual and reproductive coercion and learn the value of taking a trauma-informed, universal education approach to interactions with clients and patients. Participants will increase their comfort and general understanding of reproductive health services available to survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence and walk away with an understanding of the importance of building partnerships between sexual and domestic violence agencies and reproductive health providers.
Please only register for this training if you can stay for the whole thing.
Lunch will be provided. Please dress comfortably as this is a long training.

Trauma Informed Lawyering Spring Series
2023-05-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Trauma-Informed Lawyering, Spring Series
A trauma-informed legal practice helps to reduce re-traumatization and recognize the role trauma plays in the lawyer-client relationship. Integrating trauma-informed practices provides lawyers with the opportunity to increase connections to their clients, improve advocacy, and client outcomes. Training lawyers to be trauma informed in their approach will lead to improved services for survivors. Lawyers who attend this training will also gain an increased understanding of trauma and its impact on individuals and themselves.
This 2-part series is geared towards lawyers working with survivors of domestic and/or sexual violence. It will be hosted virtually on May 12 and May 19 from 12-1pm. The event is CLE approved.
$25.00 for SDVA’s, Lifetime, and Professional Members
$45.00 for Non Members and those members with Basic Memberships
**Virginia CLE approved

Joyful Sexuality
2023-05-17 09:30 - 16:00 | Action Alliance, 1413 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
In this interactive and engaging training, advocates and prevention staff will gain a more holistic understanding of joyful sexuality and its relevance to our work in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence. Participants will be introduced to the six components of sexuality: sensuality, intimacy, sexual orientation and gender identity, sexual and reproductive health, sexual behaviors and practices, and power and agency. Participants will identify and explore the many ways that a joyful sexuality lens can be applied to prevention and advocacy work in sexual and domestic violence agencies. Participants will leave this training with an action plan to integrate joyful sexuality and reproductive justice into their work.
*Please only register if you can stay for the entire training.*
Registration starts at 9:30. Please leave yourself time to park so we can start promptly at 10:00 am.
This is a long training so please dress comfortably.
$35.00 for SDVA, Professional, and Lifetime Action Alliance Members
$60.00 for Basic Action Alliance Members and Non Members

On the Docket with JPT
2023-06-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join the Justice Projects Team for open hours to discuss and learn about topics ranging from confidentiality to firearms laws to reproductive freedom for survivors and everything in between. This will be a semi-structured learning space combining traditional training with open conversation, peer learning, and program sharing. Bring your expertise and your curiosity!
June 2nd: Best Practices in Confidentiality for SDVA Advocates
This space is occurs the first Friday of every month from 12:00 – 1:00 pm.

ECHO@Edu: Campus Violence Prevention
2023-06-08 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Do you feel like you’re on a prevention island at your campus? Join us for the following sessions to build your prevention network, connect over challenging cases, and stay on top of the best practices in sexual and intimate partner violence primary prevention, all from the comfort of your office.
ECHO@Edu will be held on the following Thursdays from 10:30 – 12:00 pm:

June 8, 2023
August 10, 2023

To register for the upcoming clinics, please register here: https://bit.ly/ECHOedu
Do you have a challenge that you’d like to brainstorm about with other preventionists? Or would you like to present a new idea for feedback? Consider presenting a case! You can access the case presentation form here: https://bit.ly/ECHOeducase

Action Alliance Retreat
2023-06-21 - 2023-06-23 | Eastern Mennonite University, 1200 Park Rd, Harrisonburg, VA, 22802, United States
For the first time since 2019, gather with advocates, preventionists, and community leaders around the state to connect, heal, and build skills at the Action Alliance training retreat. Join us at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg from June 21-23, 2023 to…

REFLECT: Honor the challenges in doing this work, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic;
RESTORE: Rebuild connections among advocates/preventionists in a comforting, affirming environment; and
RESET: Be inspired to rekindle joy and curiosity for social change work.

We hope all sexual and domestic violence agencies will plan for a group of staff, volunteers, and interns to attend. Allied professionals and community partners are also welcome, since the retreat is an opportunity to strengthen relationships with sexual and domestic violence providers across the state.
REGISTRATION CLOSES JUNE 7

On the Docket with JPT
2023-07-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Join the Justice Projects Team for open hours to discuss and learn about topics ranging from confidentiality to firearms laws to reproductive freedom for survivors and everything in between. This will be a semi-structured learning space combining traditional training with open conversation, peer learning, and program sharing. Bring your expertise and your curiosity!
July 7: Tech Facilitated Abuse
This space is occurs the first Friday of every month from 12:00 – 1:00 pm.

Basic Domestic Violence Advocacy Training
2023-08-01 09:00 - 16:00 | Training Center, 1413 W. Main St., Richmond, VA, 23220
This training is designed for advocates in their first year of work in the field of Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence Advocacy. Participants will be able to identify and define domestic and intimate partner violence; learn the building blocks for a trauma informed response; and broaden their understanding of risk assessment and safety planning. Participants will also learn about resources in VA for supporting survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence.
$35.00 for SDVA, Professional, and Lifetime Members
$60.00 for Basic and Non-Members
This training will be held on August 1 from 9:00 – 4:00 with a required Zoom follow up training on August 8 from 10:00 – 11:30 am. The Zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

Basic Sexual Violence Advocacy Training
2023-08-02 09:00 - 16:00 | Training Center, 1413 W. Main St., Richmond, VA, 23220
Basic Sexual Violence Advocacy Training
This training is designed for advocates in their first year of work in the field of Sexual Violence Advocacy. Participants will learn how to recognize sexual violence, its root causes and its impact on individuals and communities; they will learn about the Cultural Context that supports sexual violence and an advocate’s role in changing that culture. Participants will also learn about the building blocks for a healing centered approach to sexual violence and be able to identify resources in VA for an effective response.
$35.00 for SDVA Members, Professional, and Lifetime Members
$60.00 for Basic and Non Members
This training will be held on August 2 from 9:00 – 4:00 with a required Zoom follow up training on August 9 from 10:00 – 11:30 am. The zoom link will be sent to you after registration.

ECHO@Edu: Campus Violence Prevention
2023-08-10 10:30 - 12:00 | Virtual
Do you feel like you’re on a prevention island at your campus? Join us for the following sessions to build your prevention network, connect over challenging cases, and stay on top of the best practices in sexual and intimate partner violence primary prevention, all from the comfort of your office.
ECHO@Edu will be held on the following Thursdays from 10:30 – 12:00 pm:

August 10, 2023

To register for the upcoming clinic, please register here: https://bit.ly/ECHOedu
Do you have a challenge that you’d like to brainstorm about with other preventionists? Or would you like to present a new idea for feedback? Consider presenting a case! You can access the case presentation form here: https://bit.ly/ECHOeducase

Quarterly Finance Training- The Joy of the Annual Audit
2023-08-14 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Preparing for an audit can be tedious and anxiety provoking. Let’s talk about how we can balance that out by making audits work for us through building helpful relationships with our auditors, cultivating curiosity throughout the process, and noticing the moments worthy of celebration.
$20 for members, $40 for non members
Please register for this session by clicking on the following link.

Joyful Sexuality
2023-08-16 09:30 - 16:00 | Action Alliance, 1413 W. Main Street, Richmond, VA, 23220, United States
In this interactive and engaging training, advocates and prevention staff will gain a more holistic understanding of joyful sexuality and its relevance to our work in the movement to end sexual and domestic violence. Participants will be introduced to the six components of sexuality: sensuality, intimacy, sexual orientation and gender identity, sexual and reproductive health, sexual behaviors and practices, and power and agency. Participants will identify and explore the many ways that a joyful sexuality lens can be applied to prevention and advocacy work in sexual and domestic violence agencies. Participants will leave this training with an action plan to integrate joyful sexuality and reproductive justice into their work. Lunch and snacks will be provided!
Please note that registration is from 9:30 – 10:00 with the training starting promptly at 10. Please leave yourself time to arrive and park so we can start on time. This is a long training so please feel free to dress comfortably.
$35.00 for SDVA Member Agencies, $60.00 for Basic and Non Members
