Whatever past you came from, you don’t have to go back.
~Chanel Miller - Know My Name
Dear Survivor & Supporters,
Let’s talk advocacy.
You might be searching for answers on how to advocate for yourself or someone you care for. Or you might be a survivor who now wants to become an advocate for others as a profession.
Anyone can advocate. There many different ways to advocate and many paths to becoming an advocate. Without knowledge and training you can do more harm than good regardless of your intentions.
Always on your side,
Christy
I am a credentialed advocate, certified domestic violence and sexual assault counselor, certified facilitator of child sexual abuse prevention, and certified trauma-informed specialist. It is important to seek advocacy support from someone that has professional training. Lived experience is very important but no enough. I’ve witnessed too many people acting as advocates who do not have formal training and they can do more harm than good. Especially when it comes to legal matters.
To become a Credentialed Advocate, I had to meet a long list of requirements including: a minimum of 3900 hours of field professional experience (I have over 14,000 hours), plus 32 hours of CEUs training annually (I take about 60 hrs annually), and a supervisor review is required and verified through the National Organization for Victim Advocacy, National Advocate Credentialing Program. My credential has to be renewed every two years by completing the verification process over again. In addition to my credential, I have advocacy training from the Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center, and a very long list of organizations.
Not sure how to advocate for yourself or others?
You’ve come to the right place
What Does An Advocate Do?
The role of an advocate is to offer independent support to those who feel they are not being heard and to ensure they are taken seriously and that their rights are respected. It is also to assist people to access and understand appropriate information and services.
An advocate will ensure a person has the tools to make an informed decision; it is not about making the decision for the person. It is also about supporting the person to say what they want even if other people consider that they are making an unwise decision.
An advocate does not represent their own views but amplifies that of the person they are supporting. An advocate should also empower the person to advocate for themselves wherever possible. An advocate is not an advice worker but will support the person to gather, understand and process the information and advice they are given by others.
Your Words Matter
“Thank you for all you do and I can hardly wait to see how you change the world one day at a time.”
“Thank you for all you do to protect children, empower women, and fight rape culture”
Your Path, Your Choice.
Learn more about your Prevention, Advocacy, Training, Healing (PATH) options by clicking the links below.