There is a great deal of misinformation regarding what sexual violence is, what consent looks like, and how to talk about sexual assault. In this interactive workshop, we will explore the continuum of sexual violence and define important terms. Drawing examples from current events, pop culture, and historical understandings of sexual violence, we will discuss common myths associated with sexual violence, while exploring surprising statistics. Participants will be challenged to recognize realities of sexual violence and empowered to create change in their community. This program is recommended for all audiences.

We take a look at how various forms of violence are portrayed in pop culture through advertising, television, movies, music, and social media. We help participants understand the impact the media has on the way we view sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking and provide tools for students to think critically about the media they consume. Leaving time for discussion throughout, this engaging workshop provides a starting point for palatable conversations on these difficult topics. This program can be tailored to all audiences but is specifically recommended for high school and college audiences.

This training uses a bystander intervention training model to empower participants to be active in responding to and preventing sexual violence. Participants will learn useful tools to challenge a range of negative behaviors, from comments that trivialize sexual violence to witnessing acts of violence unfolding. The goal of the program is to create conversation around cultural norms that support sexual violence and for participants to recognize their ability to challenge negative behaviors and create a community where everyone is safe and respected. This program is recommended for all audiences.

There are a number of state and federal policies related to sexual violence on college campuses, and these policies are constantly evolving. This workshop will focus on current state and federal policies pertaining to sexual violence on campuses. We will discuss both on and off-campus resources and responsibilities, how you can partner with Sexual Assault Crisis Service, and specific policies, such as Title IX and the Clery Act, amongst others. This program is recommended for Title IX Coordinators, Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART), and Campus Resource Teams (CRT).

Many students find themselves unprepared for the transition from high school to college. We will have an open and honest discussion about consent, sexual violence, alcohol-facilitated sexual assault, and bystander intervention. We will also discuss laws related to sexual violence on college campuses and resources available to students. This program is recommended for high school seniors and/or first-year college students.

The first person to respond when a survivor discloses that they have experienced sexual violence often sets the tone for that person’s healing experience. This workshop looks at the “do’s” and “don’ts” in responding and helps attendees understand the impacts negative responses can have on survivors. We will also discuss the options available to survivors of sexual assault. Participants will practice positive responses and understand the importance of responding in a trauma-informed, survivor-centered manner. This program is recommended for parents, counselors, teachers, mental health professionals, and/or college faculty, staff, and administrators.

Conversations about consent and healthy relationships can (and should!) start at a young age, but it can be daunting to think about talking to young children about serious topics such as sexual violence. This workshop will explore ways to encourage children to develop a healthy understanding of empathy, boundaries, and consent. This program is recommended for parents, caregivers, and/or professionals who work with children

How can the advocates of Sexual Assault Crisis Service assist you at your agency? We will discuss the many ways we can work together to help survivors at your agency who have been impacted by sexual violence. We will also discuss how we can work with your staff to understand sexual violence and how it impacts your clients. This program is recommended for non-profit staff, community agencies, and/or mental health professionals.

In this program, we discuss state and federal sexual harassment law, the different forms of sexual harassment, and steps to take as a coworker or supervisor if someone is being sexually harassed. Participants will discuss appropriate behavior and ways to intervene if they witness someone being sexually harassed. This program is recommended for professionals.

This 1.5 to 2-hour training was developed by the Governor’s Task Force on Justice for Abused Children and designed to provide further training to mandated reporters on best practice when responding to a child who has disclosed sexual abuse. To minimize trauma, a child who has disclosed child sexual abuse should be interviewed once by the person conducting a forensic interview. However, to ensure a child’s safety, some information may need to be obtained directly from the child. The goal is to gather minimal facts in a manner that will not jeopardize the integrity of the forensic interview and investigation, or cause further trauma to the child. The Governor’s Task Force has partnered with the Connecticut Children’s Alliance, the Department of Children and Families, State’s Attorney’s Office, the CT State Police, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, local police departments, multidisciplinary teams, forensic interviewers and other stakeholders across Connecticut to develop comprehensive minimal facts trainings. This program is recommended for mandated reporters.

This training explores the realities of sexual abuse and the impact of sexual abuse on children. Through a combination of lecture, discussion, case studies, and scenarios, participants will learn about the dynamics of child sexual abuse, including the grooming process often used by offenders, and the impact of trauma on children. They will understand best practice for responding to a child who discloses abuse and will be able to identify the barriers children face in disclosing abuse and accessing resources. The training concludes with a discussion about sexual abuse prevention, including examples of successful prevention efforts and conversation about how to implement prevention efforts in youth-serving organizations. This program is recommended for K-12 faculty and staff and other youth-serving professionals. This is a condensed version of our full day professional development training.

YWCA SACS accepts applications for our Counselor Advocate Training classes throughout the year.  This in-depth training covers the dynamics of sexual violence and its effects on survivors and their loved ones.  This class is for anyone interested in volunteering on our 24-hour crisis hotline and may also be taken for professional development.  Once the course is completed, we ask volunteers to commit to one year of volunteering two shifts per month.

Contact our Volunteer Program Manager, Lindsey Jones (ljones@ywcanewbritain.org) to learn more

Please get in touch with our Prevention Education team at prevention@ywcanewbritain.org or 860-225-4681 ext. 521