Professional Training Objectives

Part of our advocacy and outreach effort is seeking out opportunities to educate and train people who will likely have an impact on the lives of those we serve. This includes:

• Parents and loved ones of survivors
• Law enforcement officers
• Attorneys
• Medical professionals
• Caregivers
• Teachers and school staff
• Grand juries

Through such training, we are able to offer an important perspective of the challenges faced by survivors of violence as they navigate various systems and situations following their trauma. This is essential to creating a seamless and accessible safety net in our community, and a vitally important part in preventing future violence from occurring.

Professional Training For Law Enforcement

Our law enforcement training is based on the belief that sexual assault survivors and the investigative process are best served by the thoughtful and timely intervention of law enforcement, mental, and medical health professionals.

Law Enforcement training is centered on the rights of victims as guaranteed by the following penal codes:

679.04: Inform the victim that he/she has the right to have a sexual assault victim advocate present at all interviews, court appearances, and forensic medical exams.

264.2 (b) (1): Law Enforcement shall immediately notify the local rape crisis center if a victim is being transported for a forensic medical exam whether or not a sexual assault victim advocate can be present with the victim.

If you are in law enforcement and are interested in this professional training to better understand how to work with sexual assault victims and to learn how Verity can assist, please contact [email protected].

Sexual Harassment Training

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that tends to create a hostile or offensive educational or work environment and is against the law.

Because of our awareness of the devastating impact of sexual harassment on the victim, and our commitment to preventing this serious problem, we have developed a professional training program to combat sexual harassment.

Our Sexual Harassment Awareness presentation provides information to middle school, high school and college students about the legal definitions of sexual harassment. Our focus is on teaching the importance of respect, acceptable school/work behavior and clear communication.

We emphasize this information is not based on personal opinions or values; rather we inform students that these are state and federal laws, as well as school district policies that protect all students, faculty and staff from having to tolerate sexual harassment. Students are taught how to recognize sexual harassment by looking for three types of behaviors: verbal, non-verbal, and physical.

To schedule a Sexual Harassment Awareness presentation, please call (707) 545-7270 or email [email protected].