Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II is pleased to announce that a new session of the free domestic violence response initiative, “Sanctuary”, will begin in February.
"Sanctuary" is an intensive, interactive 100-hour training program designed to equip community residents to provide crisis
intervention and outreach services to domestic violence related assault, sexual assault, child abuse, stalking, property crime
victims, as well as survivors of domestic violence-related homicide victims. The course is presented in two combined
formats: basic and advanced. Upon completion of both the basic and advance courses, volunteers who are members of
local churches, mosques, synagogues, municipal police departments and their response teams, social service and
emergency agencies, fraternal organizations, and other allied organizations located in greater Essex County will be able to
provide immediate, culturally sensitive outreach to domestic violence victims-survivors and their families within a 24-72 hour
period. Sessions will begin on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, and classes will be held weekly from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
BASIC COURSE TOPICS: the nature of catastrophe, assisting underserved victim populations (part I), crisis intervention
and crisis counseling, the spiritual dimension of trauma, cultural aspects of criminal victimization, crime victim/legal
advocacy, effective communication skills and supportive services, safety planning and threat assessment (part I), ethics and
professionalism, value clarification, the effects of trauma on an individual’s developmental stages, the intersection of
substance abuse, mental health, and victimization, trauma assessment, local area resources and networks, and the criminal
and family court processes.
ADVANCED COURSE TOPICS: emerging trends in crime victim advocacy, trauma informed
care, trauma bonding, captivity theory, and the science of attraction, the politics of power in intimate relationships, ritualistic
abuse, primary aggressor, the topology of battering behavior, social aggression and the bystander effect, the use of
technology as a means to stalk and terrorize, intimate partner violence-related workplace violence, working with the media,
assisting underserved victim populations (part II), safety planning and threat assessment (part II) and vicarious trauma,
spirituality and self-care.
Since its launch in 2012, more than 700 members of the Essex County community have completed the program and are actively supporting survivors of intimate partner violence.
“Domestic violence is a community issue. It is our hope that through education and collaboration, we can create a safer and more supportive environment for survivors in our county”, said Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II.
Registration starts on February 1st and ends on February 21st. Applications are available at www.njecpo.org under the “News” tab. For more information, please visit our website or call 973-621-4689 during regular business hours.
