Collaboration is crucial in effective victim services. Co-advocacy is a shift to a more interconnected, collaborative, survivor-centered approach that involves intentional relationship-building and resource-sharing across both system-based and community-based victim service agencies and can invite additional community partners into the process to support survivor-identified outcomes.
The survivor-centered and survivor-informed aspect is particularly powerful, as it ensures that the victims’/survivors’ identities, needs, and preferences are at the forefront of the process. Moving beyond historical disagreements and territoriality, building a culture of co-advocacy strengthens the support system for victims/survivors and contributes to the overall effectiveness of advocacy efforts.
Co-advocacy, done well, is about recognizing that each agency involved brings something unique to the table, and together, we can achieve more—leveraging strengths, compensating for weaknesses, and working toward a common goal that serves the best interests of those affected by crime.
When collaboration with the victim/survivor is centered clearly, it moves our advocacy beyond individual advocacy to make “warm handoffs” to intentional relationship-building and resource-sharing within their communities to best meet victims’/survivors’ needs.
Join this session to learn effective ways to engage in essential conversations and nurture approaches that promote co-advocacy.
As a result of this training, participants will:
- Identify one strategy to help promote more robust collaboration across victim serving organizations.
- Describe how co-advocacy helps promote positive victim-centered outcomes.