October is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month which makes it a natural time of year for the annual Domestic Violence conference for professionals throughout the Basin. This year’s annual conference was held
on Friday
at the Uintah Conference Center where hundreds of professionals including law enforcement officers, DCFS, mental health professionals and more, gathered for a day of training that took a personal turn. The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Bouncing Back: Building Resiliency within Yourself and your Clients.’ Addressing the group, Victim Advocate Program Director Alisha Gowan explained the importance of self care and awareness in order to help others. “Each of you are a helper in your own agency…Where are you[at personally]? You need to build resiliency within yourself so that you can then help others.” When the conference first started years ago it was held only as a training for law enforcement. Over the years it has expanded to include professionals including those within the courts, medical profession and even schools who serve those in the community often most vulnerable to domestic violence.
Friday’s
conference was considered a great success.
