2008 Q&A for Advocates:

February 28 - March 1, 2008

To Register

• Registration for The 2008 Q&A Institute is currently full. If you're interested in being added to the waiting list please contact Shannon at 206-568-7777 or shannon@nwnetwork.org.

What is Q&A for Advocates?

Q&A (Queers & Allies/Questions & Answers) is a one-of-a-kind training and consultation project available to d.v. advocates and others who work with bisexual, trans, lesbian, and gay survivors of abuse. Through this project, the Northwest Network brings together advocates from across the country to:

• Develop assessment skills and experience;
• Share specialized info from LBTG survivors;
• Share information about unique issues and concerns facing our diverse LBTG communities;
• Problem solve around typical barriers that exist in shelters, advocate programs, anti-violence projects and queer resource centers;
• Integrate queer generated theories and information about domestic violence into work with survivors;

Topics include:

• assessing "who's who" in abusive LBTG relationships;
• supporting survivors' selfdetermination in advocacy;
• Trans 201 and domestic violence through a trans perspective;
• community
• outreach and engagement strategies;
• sex, sexuality and sexual abuse;
• safety planning in small communities, support group and counseling issues, basic and advanced domestic violence analysis.

In addition, Q&A participants have on-going access to NW Network advocates for technical assistance & consultation following the institute!

Who should come to Q&A?

With a strong focus on community-based and survivor driven responses to violence; advocates, activists, service providers, social workers, anti-violence program volunteers, program managers & therapists have found this institute very helpful. Participants build their critical thinking & practical skills to better support LBTG survivors of violence.

Here's what advocates from previous Institutes had to say about the Q&A Institute:

"This is the best training I've ever gone to in my 17 years of being an advocate!"

"Great trainers and exciting information...this training is giving me an entirely new perspective on anti-violence work."

"I'm coming away with amazing new tools...I want all my co-workers to attend next year!"

Why an Institute?

The NW Network provides training based on our experience working in LBTG communities to service providers & advocates from throughout the Northwest & the country. Consistently, advocates ask for opportunities for more indepth & sustained training about The NW Network approach to abuse in LBTG relationships.

In response, we developed our Q&A for Advocates project -- a 2 1/2 day training with limited registration to insure individual attention and in-depth work. In it's 6th year, Q&A for Advocates has provided training & ongoing consultation to over 250 advocates.

Who is the Northwest Network?

Established in 1987 by lesbian survivors of domestic violence, The Northwest Network increases our community's ability to support the self determination and safety of bisexual, trans, lesbian, and gay survivors of domestic abuse through education, organizing, and advocacy. We work with a broad liberation movement dedicated to social and economic justice, equality, and respect for all people and the creation of loving, inclusive, & accountable communities.

We provide support and advocacy for LGBT people of all genders who are survivors of abuse. Our services include support groups, individual counseling, legal advocacy, shelter referrals, safety planning, basic needs assistance, community education, classes, F.A.R. OUT, and community organizing.