Violence Against Women Certificate (VAWC) Program Overview
DOW coordinates the Violence Against Women Certificate (VAWC) Program, which is a partnership between DCF and Rutgers University’s School of Social Work. The certificate program provides supplemental training for DCF staff with a demonstrated interest in and an aptitude for working with families where gender-based violence occurs. The program further develops DCF's capacity to employ best practices when addressing this type of violence.

Approximately 50 DCF staff attend eleven workshops over the course of 9 months in areas such as domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. VAWC graduates are expected to transfer the learning through activities like meetings, unit meetings, DVL Collaborative meetings, case conferencing, workshops, in-service training, and field consultations (coaching and mentoring peers).