The following trainings are designed to meet the ongoing needs of advocates and activists, many of whom work for local domestic abuse programs.

Annual Teen Summit (Annual conference): This exciting annual conference delves into the topics of healthy relationships, teen dating, sexual violence, and how it affects youth. We invite teens, parents, and adult mentors from across the state to attend this educational and inspiring event!Each training in the series builds on the previous session to provide an overview and discussion of different aspects of family law, such as options under the family code – understanding the process; pleadings – beginning the process; considerations for children; monetary considerations; trials and post-judgment; and systems change options.

Foundations of Advocacy (Winter, Spring & Fall): Designed for new advocates for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault, this training offers an overview of topics such as movement history, dynamics of domestic abuse, trauma sensitive practices, community/self-care, crisis counseling, safety planning, housing, advocacy and systems, and legal advocacy. (Offered as a remote series or an in-person event.)

Family Law Institute Series: Each training in the series builds on the previous session to provide an overview and discussion of different aspects of family law, such as options under the family code – understanding the process; pleadings – beginning the process; considerations for children; monetary considerations; trials and post-judgment; and systems change options.

New Directors University (Annual cohort training): In this year-long workshop, new directors from WI domestic abuse programs discuss aspects of leadership and service provision such as working with boards, grant writing, budgeting and
finance, and community and organizational leadership. (Held remotely with occasional in-person meetings. Application required.)

Northern Training: Tribal and Rural Communities Addressing Gender Based Violence (Annual): American Indians Against Abuse and End Domestic Abuse WI co-present this annual gathering where advocates come together to learn and share about a broad range of topics related to domestic abuse and sexual assault in rural & tribal communities. Each year it is hosted by a different WI tribal community, most recently by the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Chippewa (2023), the Ho-Chunk Nation (2024), and Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (2025).

Providing Services for LGBTQ-Identifying Individuals Training Series (Annual): This ongoing webinar series provided in collaboration with Diverse & Resilient and the Department of Children & Families shares insights into serving LGBTQ survivors at domestic abuse programs. Past training includes topics such as understanding and affirming LGBTQ survivors, survivors from LGBTIQ and HIV-affected communities, root causes of anti-Trans violence, abuse in later life, and LGBTQ youth facing family violence.

Restraining Order (RO) Basics “Nuts & Bolts” Training (Spring & Fall): This online training reviews helping victims assess whether they want an RO, the process to obtain one, determining eligibility for different types of ROs, and assisting victims to complete petitions and prepare for court. RO Beyond the Basics Series: Each session takes an in-depth look at a different topic. End Abuse’s Legal Services Team developed this training based on advocates’ most common questions, including topics like domestic abuse and harassment injunctions; child abuse and individuals at risk injunctions; personal service and service by publication; and how multiple orders intersect.

Statewide Directors Meetings: Sexual assault, domestic violence, and tribal executive directors and/or their management-level designees gather to learn, share, challenge and enhance DV and SA services. Frequency and format of meetings vary according to participant needs. End Abuse co-sponsors the meeting with the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault and American Indians Against Abuse.

Supporting Families Who Have Experienced Trauma: This unique training for domestic abuse victim advocates focuses on the needs of parents and children, trauma-sensitive communication skills and techniques, ways to reduce stress, and promote more positive experiences within the family and the agency.

WE LEAD (Wisconsin Empowered! Leadership Enrichment and Ally Development) (Annual cohort training): This yearlong academy focuses on building new voices of leadership within the movement to end gender-based violence, with hands-on leadership development opportunities for survivors of violence and/or people from underserved/under-represented communities. (Application required.)

Every year we develop trainings to explore issues that have emerged as particularly relevant for survivors and advocates. Below are some examples from trainings offered in the recent past.

Community Coordinated Response (CCR) & Multidisciplinary Team Trainings: Throughout the year, End Abuse offers technical assistance and training to CCRs and other multidisciplinary teams to improve community responses to domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of oppression. (Ongoing, by request)

Housing Systems Overview and Advocacy: In this session we will root ourselves in Housing is Healing! Explore housing systems and initiatives throughout Wisconsin. Unearth innovative ways to explore co-advocacy with local housing programs while centering confidentiality and safety for survivors.

Keys to Writing and Completing a Strong Grant Proposal: Write successful proposals and report deliverables that demonstrate meaningful grant outcomes. This training discusses how to navigate a cumbersome request for proposals (RFPs), set timelines, draft a compelling narrative, write succinct goals and objectives, and polish the application before submission. Participants also consider follow-through after the award such as capturing high quality data and telling a story using data.

LGBTQ Training For member programs, this training provides a basic understanding of the LGBTQ community and how intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and hook up violence affect this community. The training builds on this foundation to discuss practical applications and next steps to support LGBTQ victims and survivors that agencies serve.

Supporting Survivors at the Intersections: Trauma, Mental Health, and SUD: In 2024, this five-session series was adapted from a comprehensive two-day training and approved by the Wisconsin chapter of NASW in 2023. The training for advocates focuses on skills and tools related to mental health and substance use disorder needs among domestic abuse survivors. 2024 sessions included polyvagal theory and practical application; substance use disorder; crisis prevention, intervention, & de-escalation; the distance between: understanding boundaries between survivors & advocates; and cultivating care practices for gender-based violence advocates.

The End Abuse Legal Team develops training to address emerging legal issues related to restraining orders, access to justice for underserved communities, family law, economic support, immigration law, trafficking and more. Issues emerge from new laws, case trends brought up by partner agencies, and legal TA requested by advocates and directors at survivor-serving agencies. Examples include:

Advocates as Expert Witnesses: Overview of serving as domestic violence expert witnesses in criminal and family law cases in Wisconsin, including presenting qualifications, preparing for, and serving as an expert witness.

Advocacy/Legal Solutions: Transnational Marriage Abandonment: Abandonment of a spouse in their country of origin without means to return to the US is a form of abuse examined in this training, which covered advocacy strategies, legal issues, and potential solutions.

Health Care Access for Survivors: Addressing specific advocacy issues related to health care access.

Immigration Options for Survivors: The basics of immigration law, and the most common remedies.

Legal Lens on Digital Abuse and Exploitation: Exploring the problem of technology, online grooming, trafficking, and crimes against children, and learning what can be done from a legal advocacy perspective.

Considerations for Working with Immigrant Survivors: Learn about legal issues affecting immigrant survivors, including language access, courtroom interpretation, public benefits, and impacts of immigration status in family law cases.

Decriminalization for Trafficking Survivors: This training discusses how survivors of human trafficking accrue criminal records due to their victimization, and the resulting barriers to employment, housing, family unity, and full empowerment. It also shares legal options that can help remove criminal records.

Disability Benefits for Survivors: SSDI is one protection that may be available to survivors who have experienced severe trauma. This training discusses how the law defines disability, how to navigate disability benefits, the process to apply, and what the requirements for disability benefits are.

Domestic Violence and Child Welfare Intersections: Review the stages of a CPS case, how a survivor might encounter CPS, assessing children’s safety when DV is suspected, and resources for supporting families who experience both DV and child welfare system involvement. Explore ways to improve collaboration between DV advocates and child welfare professionals.

GALs: What Every Advocate Needs to Know: Understand the Guardian ad Litem role in child custody or placement when domestic abuse is present. Learn how a GAL is appointed, GAL responsibilities and duties when investigating and reporting domestic abuse, and strategies a GAL can use to investigate abuse.

Identifying and Working with Trafficking Survivors: Learn about how domestic violence and sex trafficking are similar, different, and where they overlap, and how trafficking survivors may encounter and experience legal systems. Explore ways to foster more engaging and productive relationships with survivors.

Immigration Options for Afghan Arrivals: Learn about resources available to Afghans in WI through resettlement agencies, and discuss specific remedies, such as admission through parole, Special Immigrant Visas, asylum, and family-based options.

Wisconsin Peer Support Network and Change of Venue Law: Learn how to access this unique network for advocates. We will discuss Wisconsin’s change of venue law related to restraining orders, which allows advocates and other actors in the court system who are survivors of DV to apply for restraining orders outside their counties.