Simmons University Offering New Online Training for Healthcare Workers Who Deal With Sexual Violence

The School of Social Work at Simmons University in Boston announced that it is now offering a comprehensive online domestic violence and sexual violence training program to educate health professionals and prepare them for work with survivors, children exposed to violence, and people who engage in violence.

The online training, which takes about three and a half hours, is informed by the latest empirical evidence and best practices. It is designed to be easily accessible so health professionals can apply it in their work. The training is organized into four units and covers a variety of topics, including the health impacts of domestic and sexual violence, common physiological symptoms, the immediate and long-term impacts on survivors, the role of structural oppression in increasing risk and decreasing help-seeking, prevention strategies, reporting requirements, and a range of resources for people who are affected by domestic and sexual violence.

“Domestic and sexual violence is a pervasive problem that virtually every health professional will encounter at some point in their career,” said Kristie Thomas, associate professor of social work at Simmons University, and the training’s lead designer. “This new training is a crucial resource that provides essential knowledge and tools to social workers, nurses, physicians, and other health professionals so they can enhance care and better serve their patients impacted by sexual and domestic violence.”

Dr. Thomas is a graduate of St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. She earned a master of social work degree and a Ph.D. in social welfare at the University of Pennsylvania.