Coordinate with local partners, professionals, and community members in Tennessee to develop training programs focused on primary prevention, bystander intervention, and supporting victim-survivors. We center and provide expertise related to gender and sexuality, disability, and cultural relevancy to work towards ending sexual violence through education and advocacy. We offer consultation services to create customized curricula and training content to meet the specific needs of individual community partners, in addition to a standardized list of trainings available publicly and to individual organizations.
In partnership with the Office of Criminal Justice Programs (OCJP), the Sexual Assault Center provides regularly training and support for professionals working with survivors of sexual assault, including dual domestic/sexual violence programs, clinicians and counselors, law enforcement, college and university staff, and other community partners. Utilizing data and trends from the field’s most up to date research, trainings are developed to address the specific needs of your group or agency. These trainings are free of charge.
Note: Due to grant restrictions, we can only provide trainings and facilitate retreats for organizations located in the state of Tennessee. This project was supported by Award No. 2019-V2-GX-0043 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice through the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice or the Office on Violence Against Women or the State of Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs.
For more information or to schedule training, please fill out the form below or contact Tia Freeman, Statewide Training Director at tfreeman@sacenter.org.
Form: Request a Training from SAC
Sexual Assault 101 (1 CEU available)
An introductory overview of sexual assault definitions, statistics, and dynamics, including information on rape culture, consent, and how to support survivors in your community.
Sexual Assault 201 (2 CEUs available)
This training offers a deeper exploration of concepts and frameworks that can be used by those providing support to survivors of sexual violence. Participants will get a better understanding of how sexual violence intersects with many other forms of trauma and experiences.
Child Sexual Abuse 101 (2 CEUs available)
In this training, participants will be equipped with introductory information about child sexual abuse (CSA), focused on statistics and prevalence; intersecting social contexts; insight on risk factors and signs; intro-level neurobiology; offender statistics and groomer dynamics; how to handle a disclosure of sexual abuse; how to legally fulfill reporting duties as a Tennessee mandatory reporter; community resourcing; and an introduction to trauma exposure response.
Child Sexual Abuse 201 (2 CEUs available)
This is a psychoeducational training focused on signs, symptoms and trauma-based reactions to CSA, including PTSD presentations; case examples; relationship building with victim-survivors; therapeutic interventions; and a brief Introduction to typical sexual development and problematic sexual behavior.
Sexual Development 0-18: Behaviors, Identity, and Trauma (2 CEUs available)
This training explores the dynamics of childhood sexual development from ages 0 – 18. We will discuss how traumatic experiences can “flip the switch” and influence sexual development resulting in experiences and behaviors that are commonly misunderstood by professionals working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Responding to Disclosures (no CEUs currently available)
In this training, participants will learn the basics of how to respond to disclosures of sexual assault. We will cover the basics of the neurophysiology of trauma, how to support survivors, and the importance of responding in ways that re-establish power and control for the victim/survivor.
Vicarious Trauma & Caregiver Resiliency (no CEUs currently available)
This training explores how vicarious trauma manifests in direct service support environments. We will cover topics like compassion fatigue, burnout, and boundary setting as a way to minimize the effects of trauma exposure.
Sexual Assault & The Brain: The Neurobiology of Trauma (1.5 CEUs available)
The physiological components of trauma, including neurobiology and nervous system dysregulation, are the main focus of this training. We will discuss how traumatic experiences can alter brain function, resulting in experiences and behaviors that are commonly misunderstood by professionals working with survivors of sexual assault. Participants will leave with an understanding of brain development and functioning as it relates to sexual assault as well as common, involuntary responses to sexual assault, and how to apply these concepts to increase safety and care for survivors.
Exploring Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care (1.5 CEUs available)
This training discusses the importance of self-care, particularly for those working in mental health-related fields. Participants will explore the effects of trauma exposure, and how this impacts the way we relate to and experience self-care. We will also discuss the limitations of the current mainstream concepts of self-care and offer ways to reframe self-care practices.
Continuing education units (CEUs) are offered through National Association Social Workers - Tennessee.
Recognizing that the disabled community is disproportionately impacted by sexual violence, we will work collaboratively to develop trainings that address the specific needs of disabled victim-survivors and educate the community on how to best support disabled populations. This initiative is in partnership with the TN Disability Coalition, OVW, and the Hispanic Family Foundation. We are currently assessing the community's needs, and more information on how to get involved will be available soon!
The SAC Training Team hosts a virtual, annual, free, three-day conference geared towards professionals working with survivors of sexual violence. Each year, we select a theme that reflects our team’s interests and community needs, as well as the most pressing and relevant national trends in victim-survivor support. We invite speakers with varied expertise and curate a schedule of topics relevant to the selected theme and the requests of our community members and attendees.
Topics range from art therapy and therapeutic BDSM to vicarious trauma among professionals in this field and working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. We always select conference themes and session topics based on feedback from previous attendees and current trends in the sector. Each year, we send early registrants a self-care package to use throughout the conference, provide a virtual healing space, and record and share as many sessions as possible. We are continuously working to make this conference as accessible as possible for attendees through the use of contracted ASL and Spanish language interpretation services.
Available in half-day or full-day options, these retreats are geared toward individuals and teams doing direct-service work. The day is aimed at creating a space of rest, reflection, and connection in the midst of doing difficult work. Concepts of self-care, vicarious trauma, and community care are explored at a gentle pace.
Note: No CEUs currently available. Due to grant restrictions, we can only provide trainings and facilitate retreats for organizations located in the state of Tennessee.
For more information, or to schedule training for your group, please fill out the form below, or contact Tia Freeman, Statewide Training Director at tfreeman@sacenter.org.
Form: Request a Training from SAC