Fall Conference to focus on Prevention, Progress, and Innovation in Combating Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

For more information, please contact:

Rafi Khalid Hasan II, Director, Safe and Civil City Program, City of Bloomington, safeandcivil@bloomington.in.gov or 812.349.3559

Fall Conference to focus on Prevention, Progress, and Innovation in Combating Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Bloomington, Ind. - The Monroe County Domestic Violence Task Force is pleased to announce their third Fall Conference. The event will be held on Friday, October 9, 2015 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at St. Paul Catholic Center, located at 1413 E. 17th Street in Bloomington. Through a series of speakers and presentations about the prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault, the Task Force hopes to generate greater community awareness within a comfortable and educational setting.

Conference participants will have the opportunity to hear various speakers discuss topics such as the influence of technology on domestic violence, the impact of protective orders and a discussion on modern day slavery and human trafficking among others. Featured speakers include: Caryn C Burton, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence; attorney Alaina Hobbs from the Indianapolis law firm of Scopelitis, Garvin, Light, Hanson & Feary; and Tabitha G. Villarrubia from the Indianapolis law firm of Moreno & Villarrubia LLP.

"The fall conference provides a rare opportunity to learn about the local response to domestic violence, developments in the field across a variety of topics, and about issues, like sexual assault and trafficking that share many of the dynamics and consequences associated with intimate partner violence. Between 15%-50% of calls to local police are occasioned by spouse abuse. It behooves us all to learn all we can about the issue," said Toby Strout, Executive Director of Middle Way House, Inc.

Registration for this informative event is $30. Scholarships are available. The fee includes continental breakfast and lunch. In addition, attorneys will be able to receive seven (7) Continuing Legal Education Units, six (6) General and one (1) hour of Ethics credit. Please visit https://bloomington.in.gov/dvtf to download the registration form, or pick one up at the Community and Family Resources Department, 401 N. Morton St., Ste. 260. The registration fee must be received by Friday, Oct. 2, 2015 .

The Monroe County Domestic Violence Task Force is committed to improving the response to domestic violence issues through communication and coordination of services. Major projects of the Task Force include the implementation and monitoring of an audit of our community's response to domestic violence. Membership to the Domestic Violence Task Force is open to service providers, representatives from local communities of faith and other organizations concerned with the elimination of domestic violence in our community.

Questions and requests for more information should be directed to Rafi Khalid Hasan II, Director, Safe and Civil City Program, at safeandcivil@bloomington.in.gov or 812.349.3559.

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