Awareness

Events

Coalition Events & Training

On this list you will find in-person trainings, webinars, and meetings hosted by the Coalition. If you wish to submit an event for the list, or have questions about an existing training, please click here. As a perk of the Coalition membership, we encourage our member programs to request customized trainings and technical assistance as needed. You can complete your request using the button below.

Please note that registration opens on a rolling basis, roughly two months prior to each training.

Membership Benefits

Membership Benefits – Stronger Together

May 13th | 2026

Wednesday Webinar | From Theory to Practice: Trauma-Informed Care in Domestic & Sexual Violence Services

This webinar will present foundational principles of trauma-informed care, followed by a discussion of practical, real-world strategies for implementing these concepts in professional settings. Participants will gain both a conceptual understanding and actionable approaches to effectively support individuals impacted by trauma.

Join us May 13th at 10am CT for this live virtual training. Advance registration required.

May 20th | 2026

Wednesday Webinar | Legal Information or Legal Advice? Walking the Line

This TN Coalition live webinar, with guest facilitator from the Victim’s Rights Law Center, will explore the difference between legal information and legal advice, providing advocates with a framework they can use to identify activities that may constitute the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) in the state of Tennessee. Through case scenarios and examples, VRLC Attorney Maura Crossin will demonstrate how advocates can provide meaningful and creative assistance on cases involving gender-based violence without crossing the line into UPL. Attendees will also gain a better understanding of the ways providing legal advice as a non-attorney advocate can negatively impact a survivor’s case.

Join us May 20th at 9:45am CT for this live virtual training. Advance registration required.

May 31st-June 5th | 2026

In-person Senator Tommy Burks Victim Assistance Academy

The Senator Tommy Burks Victim Assistance Academy training is a Tennessee-specific 40-hour victim assistance course, designed to provide high-quality, foundational-level training to victim service professionals and enhance the field of victim services across Tennessee. Modeled after the National Victim Assistance Academy and approved by the National Advocate Credentialing Program for Provisional Advocate Certification, the Academy is designed for individuals working in victim advocacy programs, prosecutors’ offices, law enforcement, probation, corrections, emergency responders, domestic and sexual violence programs, child advocacy centers and other victim service agencies. The training is best suited for individuals with 5 years or less experience in the field of victim services.

The 2026 in-person Academy will take place May 31st – June 5th at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

A limited number of applicants are accepted to attend each year. Applications for the 2026 Academy are closed as of April 9th. Email mbatista@tncoalition.org with questions.

Ongoing Trainings

Online 40 hour training: Tommy Burks Victim Assistance Academy

The Senator Tommy Burks Victim Assistance Academy is a project of the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. The Academy is a comprehensive basic level training designed for victim service providers. The goal of the Academy is to improve services to crime victims by enhancing the knowledge and skills of victim advocates. This on-demand 40 hour virtual Tennessee-specific training is modeled after the National Victim Assistance Academy.