Inside JFS Hope’s 40-hour Domestic Violence Training 

Each year JFS Hope, JFSLA’s domestic violence program, provides a 40-hour domestic violence certificate training course for social service providers, therapists, case managers, agency interns, and volunteers. The training is a state requirement for those hoping to work with survivors of domestic abuse.

The online training course developed by JFS Hope staff and facilitated by Kitty Glass, Community Outreach Coordinator, covers various topics required by the State of California and provides an extensive array of guest speakers and panels. Topics include understanding the dynamics of intimate partner abuse, the impact of domestic violence on children, trauma-informed care, navigating the legal system, immigration issues, the link between pet abuse and domestic violence, case management, and other important issues. Speakers have included JFS Hope staff, immigration and family law attorneys, religious leaders, the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center staff, and the president of the SPCA/LA, to name a few. 

“We had a speaker yesterday who discussed substance abuse and domestic violence and mentioned that she took our training course in 2010,” said Kitty Glass. “She told me, ‘You all really gave me my start. You provided the impetus to go into this field and I’m very grateful.’ JFSLA’s domestic violence training is highly recognized by other agencies all over Los Angeles. Many agencies wait until our training resumes because they want their staff trained by JFS Hope and that is a great endorsement.”

The training is available online for anyone in California who is interested. Upon completion, participants receive a certificate. Additionally, JFS Hope offers the training to JFSLA staff free of charge.

“I’m always delighted when other JFS staff take our course. It gives them a better sense of what we do and the population we serve,” said Kitty Glass. “I’m very proud of this training. We have an amazing group of clinicians and staff who are always ready and eager to participate.”  

For more information about the training, please contact KGlass@jfsla.org.