This training was developed for CAC Victim Advocates to inform their responses to cases involving adolescent victims of statutory sex crimes, and what is more broadly termed compliant victims. The purpose of this training is to strengthen the capacity of CAC Victim Advocates to understand and respond to the needs of adolescent victims, their caregivers, and multidisciplinary team members to ensure more beneficial outcomes.
The training is entitled “Shifting Views” for two reasons. The first relates to the changing views of adolescents, their parents, and society overall. The second pertains to the Victim Advocates’ potential to shift views from biased or uninformed judgments to a more informed and beneficial perspective.
As adolescents are maturing into adulthood, their self-view is shifting. They have more agency over their lives and take greater personal responsibility for their choices. Yet, they are not adults, and the age for consent to sexual activity reflects that fact. Parents’ views about their children’s behavior are similarly changing, along with those of society. As victims become more mature, these shifting views may interfere with our collective capacity to respond with appropriate empathy and understanding of victimization dynamics. With education and understanding from this training, the CAC Victim Advocate can play a role in responding to biases and misconceptions on the part of the adolescent victim, the parents, and members of the multidisciplinary team.
This training will educate Victim Advocates about the research on who these victims are, how they perceive their experiences, and the range of traumatic effects experienced from compliant victimization. From the framework of research, this training will emphasize the importance of flexible thinking, reflective listening, acceptance of varying adolescent perspectives and education to confront misconceptions that may impair parental support or MDT response.
Victim Service Provider (VSP) credit is pending through the South Carolina Office of Victim Services Education and Certification.
Parking
Meeting attendees must park in the parking lot at the Whaley House which is located at 1527 Gervais Street. The parking lot is behind the Whaley House and accessible from Pickens street. You will need a parking pass which will be provided in your confirmation email.
Meeting Location
USC School Of Law Room 131
Enter the building through the Gervais Street Entrance (see map below)
