Top Ten Moments at the 2015 National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2015 National Conference on Health and Domestic Violence! For those of you who were not able to attend, we have put together a list of the top ten highlights. Hope to see you in 2017!

10. The NCDHV Exhibit Hall

At this year’s Conference we had record numbers not only of attendees, but also organizations who joined us in the Exhibit Hall, making it one of the best we have had yet! We were so excited to have groups like Full Frame Initiative, Kaiser Permanente, and No More, as well as local DC organizations like DC SAFE! We had an equally outstanding turnout of interesting and quality poster presenters presenting on a range of topics, from health provider education programs to the intersection of HIV, IPV, and injection drug use.

9. New networking opportunities for career development

The 2015 NCHDV was the first FUTURES Conference to incorporate two excellent networking events for participants. Students, faculty, and activists gathered after the pre-conference institutes to network around work being done to end Campus Sexual Assault before heading to a screening of The Hunting Ground. This excellent event offered participants to connect and share their experiences organizing on campuses and featured a memorable Q+A session after the film screening with student survivors.

8. Health care providers learned about ways to better support LGBTQ survivors

In an in-depth pre-conference institute, providers and advocates heard from Kristin Tucker from The Northwest Network on ways to better support LGBTQ survivors. From this Institute, participants left understanding that “‘Safety’ is not the anti-dote to battering. Self-determination is,” and that “’surviving’ is all the ways that people resist objectification.” This frame-shifting approach to supporting survivors is a key innovation in movement that we are glad was represented.

 7. Healing from trauma through mindfulness 

Another exciting, new event that took place at the Conference for the first time this year was an
interactive workshop on the use of mindfulness as a way to address trauma. The lucky participants who attended this session walked away with actionable methods and tools to incorporate mindfulness into their everyday lives (and jam packed events like NCDHV!).  View the slides from this workshop.

6. DC Youth Slam Team

Members from the world champion DC Youth Slam team preformed at the Conference awards reception. Watch these amazing poets’ performances here.

5. The Belly Breathe

Everyone at the “Moving from Adversity to Awesome: Uncovering ACEs and Child Trauma” Plenary learned the importance of the Belly Breathe wit this fun video. Watch the full session. 

4. #NCHDV

The #NCHDV hashtag was trending! Speakers, attendees, and staff used Twitter to share information, quotes, and fascinating statistics with those who couldn’t be in the room that day. Including Vice President Biden!

3. Campus Activists in Action

We were joined by some amazing leaders of the movement to end sexual assault on college campuses. They shared their experiences anddiscussed the significant role health care providers can play. Thank you to John Kelly, Wagatwe Wanjuki, and Dana Bolger for your expertise and sage advice. Watch these amazing campus activists!

2. Social Determinants of Health

In a plenary panel on the Social Determinants of Health, experts including Dr. Anthony Iton gathered to discuss how social factors, including violence, can negatively impact a person’s health in serious ways.Watch the full session. 

“When it comes to health, your zip code matters more than your genetic code” – Dr. Anthony Iton

1. Vice President Joe Biden and the authors of the Violence Against Women Act

#1 highlight? A visit from Vice President Joe Biden and the authors of the Violence Against Women Act.  Watch his full speech now!