By Rachel Bauldree, Communications Manager, CCAW
“The Ripple Effect” emphasized by the Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW) reaches far beyond the four days of sessions. CCAW doesn’t conclude when the event ends, you get to take the knowledge you gained back to your organizations and communities to create a lasting impact.
Don’t believe us? Read below from 2025 CCAW attendees who wrote about what they will be taking away from conference and implementing into their professional practice:
Victim Advocate:
I learned about the importance of implementing a comprehensive strangulation form and check sheet for law enforcement, as well as an enhanced lethality form. I also reviewed our in-house policy on law enforcement domestic violence when officers are offenders and began exploring the idea of reestablishing a Domestic Violence High-Risk Team (DVHRT) and strengthening collaboration between the District Attorney’s office and law enforcement.
Legal Advocate:
I will be taking back the “In Her Shoes” training to train my entire organization.
Executive Director:
This is our 8th year sending a multidisciplinary team. We added a DVHRT, added strangulation supplement, added a soft interview room at the police department, and launched AFI programming. This conference has catapulted solutions for our community.
Forensic Nurse Examiner:
I learned the importance of asking more in-depth questions about my patient’s history of domestic violence rather than focusing solely on the acute episode I’m treating. I also gained insight into how to ask better questions to understand the dynamics between my patient and their same-sex partner, as well as which specific stalking behaviors to ask about during assessments.
Legal Program Manager:
I plan to join a Fatality Review Team to gain a better understanding of the gaps in services within our community and how those gaps are affecting my current clients. I’m also joining a Domestic Violence High-Risk Team and exploring new ways to address my clients’ mental health needs as they relate to the trauma they’ve experienced from domestic violence.
Legal/Outreach Advocate:
I intend to spread greater awareness about the services we provide to the Hispanic community through outreach efforts such as posters, commercials, and other materials. I also plan to have more conversations with judges and law enforcement to emphasize the seriousness of the cases we handle, particularly those involving stalking. Additionally, I recognize the need to gather more background information about the clients I work with in order to build stronger cases for them when pursuing Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs).
Public Health Nurse:
I plan to ask more open-ended questions related to family support, injuries, and signs of depression or anxiety to better understand my patients’ overall well-being and safety.
SANE Coordinator:
I plan to implement changes to our strangulation protocol and documentation to improve accuracy and consistency in identifying and responding to these cases.
Crime Victim Coordinator:
I’ve learned the importance of recognizing and understanding the different stages a victim goes through when leaving an abusive relationship.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney:
I plan to discuss victims’ ancillary concerns more thoroughly and take a more holistic approach when seeking their cooperation. I also intend to further review and implement forfeiture by wrongdoing proceedings to strengthen case outcomes.
Licensed Professional Counselor:
I plan to bring back culturally informed resources to my clinic and have already begun reaching out to explore how some of the legislation from a sister state could be adapted in ours. I also intend to incorporate education and awareness about pregnancy coercion into my clinical practice.
Sexual Assault Program Specialist:
I will use the stages a victim experiences to develop more effective case plans. I also recognize the importance of thorough documentation and intend to prioritize this in all cases. Additionally, I will ensure that victims understand the dynamics of coercion, including the sources of abuse and the role of power and control.
Attorney:
I am going to utilize domestic violence assessments, explore potential human trafficking exposure among my CPS clients, and advocate for trauma-informed counseling for both children and adults involved with CPS.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney:
I intend to use re-enactment more in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of my cases. I also intend to examine the 911 calls more carefully to determine whether the language the caller is using is more focused on themselves or on the person they are seeking help for. I also intend to look at cases of strangulation and suffocation more broadly, understanding that there are multiple other ways, beyond the covering of the nose/mouth or placing pressure on the neck, to restrict an individual’s breathing which would still qualify as strangulation/suffocation. I also intend to share with my office what I have learned about Polyvagal Theory and how it applies to the fight/flight/freeze/fawn/appeasement reaction.
Detective Sergeant:
I plan to work closely with advocates, integrate different types of investigations, and maintain clear and consistent communication with the District Attorney’s office.
Forensic Nurse:
I will be avoiding asking “what happened next” when obtaining a patient’s history and learned about testifying effectively as an expert witness.
DV Shelter Manager:
I plan to be more mindful of the signs of trafficking and more attentive to the subtle cues victims may give when they are unable to provide full information due to the abuser being present.
Investigator:
I am going to reach out to other agencies, deepen my knowledge of law enforcement domestic violence, and improve my approach to working with and responding to domestic violence cases involving law enforcement families.
President of Transitional Living:
After touring the nonprofits offered, we will make changes to our facilities. We got some good ideas from those tours. We will allow more funds in our budget for conferences for all direct care workers.
Program Support Specialist 3/ACP Manager:
I plan to improve access to informational materials such as brochures and cards, participate in more training sessions, and advocate for amendments to the ACP statute.
Deputy:
I will be more thorough in documentation, pursue charging opportunities in every stalking case, and provide clearer explanations for forensic exams.
Lieutenant:
I will try to incorporate using the media more as a tool in missing persons cases. I will be able to use the technology resources a lot more efficiently and use genealogy accordingly on missing persons cases.
Court Liaison Officer:
I will always delve deeper into details no matter how small. I want to research thoroughly and act efficiently. I plan to communicate and care for victims of all cases and ensure that every one of their concerns are heard and prioritized with the utmost care until they are confident in their health and safety. I will never stop advocating for them, even if they can no longer advocate for themselves.
County Attorney:
I plan on advocating that my judges and probation office attend this conference annually. I will try to implement better case intake processes and interactions with victims.
Caseworker:
I plan to apply expert witness tips, use a different approach when working with clients involved in sex trafficking, and further educate myself on the Danger Assessment for same-sex couples.
SANE Nurse:
I am going to apply cultural sensitivity, identify risk factors and escalating behaviors in domestic violence cases, utilize available resources, and implement strategies for testifying effectively as an expert witness in court.
Assistant Municipal Attorney:
I will incorporate dispatchers into trainings, focus on trauma-informed interactions, and implement grounding techniques.
Bilingual Victim Advocate:
I plan to use the skills I learned to be more culturally sensitive to different backgrounds, including educating myself about tribal challenges. I also intend to explore the link between love and violence in each survivor’s experience, while focusing on strategies for healing and self-care for both my clients and myself.
Forensic Coordinator:
I intend to use gender-affirming pronouns, ask patients about their preferred name and language every time, and ensure they are as informed as possible about the status of their case.
SANE Nurse:
I plan to bring back the concept of dynamic consent, work on building stronger team connections within my community, and apply the insights I gained from observing how law enforcement and detectives approach cases, which helped me better understand their perspective and what they need for a successful investigation.
Detective:
I am going to work on being more mindful of how I say certain things in an interview and making sure I keep open lanes of communication with victims and helping agencies.
Program Lead and SART Coordinator:
I have new tools to help my clients understand how their trauma might be impacting their ability to process feelings and make decisions, a better understanding of technology and how abusers can use it to track them, and new contacts to help me when I’m stuck.
Sergeant:
I will act on cues now that I am more knowledgeable of the various intimate partner violence symptoms, and I will implement the lethality assessments each time (which I had no knowledge of before). I will work closer with our local advocates now that I know what they do and how important they are to the work. I will treat sexual assaults a little differently as a supervisor when assigning officers and making sure they handle things a certain way both before, and after contact with the victim.
Director of Victim Services:
I plan to approach victim interviews differently, identify risk factors related to animal abuse and stalking, and implement evidence-based prosecution strategies for my team.
Victim Advocate:
I am going to use open-ended questions, carefully observe both verbal and non-verbal communication from victims, and ask about symptoms or changes that affect their daily lives.
Victim Witness Coordinator:
I plan to utilize lethality forms for officers, rephrase my questions effectively when interviewing victims, and use an easel to help victims provide specifics about a crime when they have difficulty articulating details.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney:
I will request a domestic violence subject matter expert for all trial cases, reframe how I communicate with victims, approach stalking cases differently, and consider out-of-state incidents more thoroughly.
Security Officer:
I plan to focus on Title IX relationships, improve my understanding of the signs of domestic violence, and participate in more meetings with other departments.
Investigator:
I will apply technically specific methods for phone searches, use a human-centric approach to victim interviews, and incorporate the latest evidence-based practices into interviews and interrogations.
Registered Nurse:
I plan to carefully document strangulation versus choking, ask very specific questions, and ensure that victims have a safe place to go.
Detective in Persons Crimes:
I am going to improve documentation, review the victim statement form, and learn more about knot investigations.
FBSS Specialist:
I plan to exercise patience with clients and recognize that one approach does not fit all, requiring me to find ways to connect with each client to establish good or even respectful rapport.
Forensic Nurse:
I have learned the importance of taking more time for myself and preparing for the possibility of serving as an expert witness in addition to my current role, including creating and maintaining an up-to-date CV while I am still new in this position.
Victim Advocate:
I will incorporate more trauma-informed practices when interacting with victims to ensure they feel safe, heard, and supported. I will be more intentional about using empathetic interviewing techniques, including recognizing signs of trauma and responding in ways that validate victims’ experiences. I will apply language that meets clients where they are emotionally, using key words and phrases that help build trust and empower them during difficult conversations.
Chief:
I plan to use forfeiture by wrongdoing more frequently, incorporate a Voir dire example question that may resonate with my jury pool
Licensed Counselor:
I will educate clients about CTE and head injuries associated with domestic violence, increase my awareness of the unique needs of Black children and women, and improve my approach to working with antisocial and narcissistic clients.
Clinical Assessor:
I plan to utilize interpreters during assessments, expand my evaluation of post-separation abuse, and incorporate cultural and language considerations into victim interviews.
SANE Nurse:
I will recognize patients’ trauma responses during safety planning and assist them in complying with treatment, understand the differences between false reporting and recanting along with the possible reasons behind them, and learn about different types of narcissism to help restore empowerment to patients who are in relationships with abusers.
Assistant State’s Attorney:
I plan to revise policies for junior attorneys handling domestic violence cases, conduct surveys of survivors about their experiences with their consent, and train new attorneys on trauma-informed practices.
Police Officer:
I am going to create my own department DART unit, use trauma informed interviewing techniques, and be well educated with resources and advocates.
Probation Officer:
I plan to reconsider how I question why domestic violence victims do not leave and pursue further research into the connection between CTE and domestic violence, which was of great interest to me.
Senior Special Agent:
I plan to contact NGOs or advocates earlier in the investigative process, adopt a more victim/survivor centered approach, and engage more actively with regional NGOs.
Court Advocate:
I will provide training for law enforcement on community advocacy and collaboration, educate them on the neurobiology of trauma in victims, improve communication with survivors to gather information without re-victimizing them, and work on creating a multidisciplinary team (MDT) in our community by explaining the reasons and benefits to encourage other agencies to participate.
DV Coordinator:
I will look into other options instead of shelters being the first option for victims. I have found better ways to converse with victims after an attack and better questions to ask. I have learned that just because it doesn’t SEEM scary or threatening to the advocate, doesn’t mean that it’s not a threat.
Join us to make a difference in your community, career, and care for victims and survivors. Registration is open for CCAW 2026 and we would love to see you in Dallas to continue this ripple effect.
