Addressing Violence, Abuse and Trauma
By Teresa Lass, executive assistant, IVAT; and Cindi Dang, publicity
chairwoman, IVAT Hawaii Planning Committee
Founded in 2005, The Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma (IVAT) is an international resource and training center at Alliant International University in San Diego. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals on local, national and international levels by sharing and disseminating information, improving collaborations and networking, conducting research, offering training, providing professional services, assisting with program evaluation and consulting to promote violence-free living.
Through the collaborative work of organizations, agencies and individuals over the past nine years, IVAT continues to present an annual conference that is a powerful resource for state-of-the-science information and cultural competency in working with Native Hawaiians and the people of Hawaii. We hope to continue to fill this great need through our training and presentations that focus on child abuse, intimate partner violence, and trauma impacting the health and wellbeing of Hawaii children and families. The conference also incorporates content that is specific to life in the Islands.
IVAT provides a unique opportunity for promoting alliances in developing a strong, integrated system for trauma-informed care. By continually working to improve practitioners’ skills and knowledge, through using tools for recovery and healing, the program strives to remain an economically accessible education and training venue.
Local professional Dana Charlin says: “Working in the field of violence, abuse and trauma is an exhausting pursuit where inspiration, a never-ending supply of hope and innovation are required to get the best outcome. Conferences such as this one are not only the booster shot needed, but provide a networking opportunity not found elsewhere where frontline workers and students can meet and directly learn from the experts themselves.”
The ninth annual Hawaii Conference on Preventing, Assessing and Treating Child, Adolescent and Adult Trauma kicked off yesterday (March 13) and continues through March 15. The conference features various panels, discussion sessions and workshops on a range of topics, including treating depression, addressing behavioral challenges and building healing communities. Walk-ins are welcome to register on-site, and attendees can participate in as few or as many sessions as they’d like.
For more information and a conference schedule, visit ivatcenters.org or call (858) 527-1860.
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