Workshops E (3:45 PM - 5:15 PM)
Athena F
The Importance of Asking About Pets: The Link Between Animal Abuse and Human Abuse
Jessica Rock
Are you asking about pets? If not, you may be missing an opportunity to gain information about family dynamics. Asking
about pets can be a non-threatening approach for engaging those who may otherwise be resistant to talking about violence
to themselves. Studies show that domestic abusers often intentionally target pets to exert control over their partners — over
50 percent of pet-owning women entering domestic violence shelters report that their abusers threatened, harmed or killed a
family pet. Pets may play an influential role in both victim safety and the progression of violence. Offenders harm pets as a
tactic of domestic violence — to gain power and control or to intimidate or coerce victims to stay. Animal abuse can also be
an early warning sign of concurrent or future violence. A victim’s concern about the safety of household pets can delay or
even prevent her escape from an abusive relationship. This workshop will give you additional tools to reduce barriers and
keep both victims and their pets as safe as we can.
Athena G/H
Racial Justice and White Aspiring Allyship in the Domestic Violence Movement
Alexis Champion and Michelle Goodloe
Complex barriers to leaving an abusive relationship are significantly increased for victims of domestic violence who are
people of color. According to the Violence Policy Center’s 2018 report, Black women were killed by a male offender at a rate
twice as high as White women in 2016. In addition to this alarming statistic, there still remains a lack of representation of
people of color in leadership positions throughout the domestic violence movement. In order to best meet the needs of
people of color who are victims of domestic violence, those of us who strive to be White allies must be willing to look at the
intersections of racism, oppression and victimization in our work.
Athena I/J
Engaging Teens in the Work to Prevent Dating Violence
Mary Haddon, Samantha Macedo and Lizeth Montoya, Brooke Pearson and Ethan Young
This workshop is a facilitated panel discussion that addresses engaging teens in the work to prevent dating violence.
Panelists will include a former member of Partnership Against Domestic Violence’s Teens Against Dating Violence Advisory
Board, a former Project Safe, Inc. Breaking Silence Teen Textline Operator, and a teen volunteer from Family Haven who
assists with their outreach efforts to students in the high school setting. Topics covered will frame the issue of Teen Dating
Violence and include themes and trends related to dating relationships from a teen perspective. An opportunity for
audience Q & A and open discussion will conclude the session.
Olympia 2
Georgia Division of Child Support Services Overview: Understanding the Process
Kristi Stone and Erica D. Thornton
Join us as we explore the world of the Division of Child Support Services (DCSS).This session is being delivered based on
feedback from domestic violence advocates that they would like to better understand the child support process in Georgia.
Better understanding the child support procedures will assist advocates in supporting survivors who may navigate this
process. DCSS provides appropriate services to all qualified applicants in accordance with state and federal laws, rules and
regulations. We will explore services that include locating the alleged father or noncustodial parent, establishment of
paternity, establishment and enforcement of a support order, establishment and enforcement of medical support and review
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