The Network

Working with distress and crisis is often a daily reality in advocacy programs, affecting both survivors and advocates during challenging or stressful moments. Over time, this can affect individual well-being and the overall health of a program. In this interactive webinar, we will explore how advocates and program leadership can strengthen responses before, during, and after stressful situations using an Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed (ACRTI) approach. Participants will be introduced to the Circles of Support framework and practical strategies across three core areas of the guide: program leadership support, wellness in advocacy, and supporting survivors.

Through reflection and scenario-based discussion, participants will consider how to strengthen crisis prevention and response planning; support advocate wellness before, during, and after stressful incidents; and respond to survivors in ways that center choice, emotional safety, and trust. The session will also highlight how advocates and leadership can use reflection, feedback, and follow-up after difficult situations to strengthen policies, supervision, partnerships, and team practices over time.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

● Describe the Circles of Support framework and how it can be used to strengthen responses to stress and crisis in advocacy programs.

● Identify concrete ways to strengthen organizational crisis response planning, advocate support, and follow-up practices after stressful incidents.

● Increase confidence in navigating stressful situations using trauma-informed, survivor-centered strategies.

Presenter Biography:

Amanda Lyon, LCSW is the Training and Technical Assistance Manager at the National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health. With a deep commitment to empowering survivors and their families, Amanda develops comprehensive training and technical resources tailored for behavioral health providers, domestic violence and sexual assault programs, hotlines, and coalitions. Their work aims to increase resource accessibility and effectiveness, ensuring survivors receive the support they need on their journey toward healing and empowerment.

Amanda has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. This commitment was strengthened through their prior role as a Rural Grant Specialist at the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, where they supported the development of integrated services for Alaska Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assaults.

Amanda’s holistic approach to healing extends to her 17 years of expertise as a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Ayurvedic Yoga Therapist, integrating trauma-informed principles, mindfulness, and compassion-based practices. In this role, they have served as the Ayurvedic Director for programs in California, Wisconsin, and Alaska, where they developed curriculum, trained practitioners, and supervised interns.