Supporting Every Sexual Assault Survivor:
Myths, Barriers, and Suicide-Prevention Strategies
Live Webinar
April 27, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce, that in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month this April, registration is now open for the virtual training, “Supporting Every Sexual Assault Survivor: Myths, Barriers, and Suicide-Prevention Strategies.”
Participant Registration and Cost: This training is free for victim-serving professionals. Participants need to register in advance for the training. Click here to register.
Description:
Sexual violence is often surrounded by myths and misconceptions about what it is, who it affects, and how survivors respond. These misunderstandings can create real barriers to care. This training confronts common myths with evidence-based facts and offers practical guidance on applying that knowledge in everyday survivor support. We will explore the experiences of survivors who do not fit the stereotypical image of a sexual assault survivor and discuss the unique barriers they face, highlighting strategies for providing meaningful, inclusive support. The session will also focus on the mental health impacts of sexual violence, with particular attention to the connection between sexual trauma and suicide risk. Participants will gain critical knowledge related to suicide prevention and intervention while learning how to better recognize and respond to warning signs in the survivors they serve.
As a result of this training, attendees will be able to:
• Identify and challenge common myths and misconceptions about sexual violence and its impact on survivors.
• Apply inclusive, survivor‑centered strategies to better support individuals across varied identities and experiences.
• Discuss key principles of suicide prevention and intervention relevant to supporting survivors of sexual trauma.
Presenters:
Ashley Badgley (she/her) is a Licensed Therapist and the Director of Survivor Support at Survivors.org. She is an advocate who has worked in violence prevention and intervention for over 15 years. Based in Washington, DC, she has experience in direct and indirect services. Most of her work has been related to sexual violence, but she also advocates for suicide prevention and works with survivors of suicide loss. Ashley has a BA in Journalism from Columbia College Chicago, an MA in Gender Studies from George Washington University, and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of New Haven.
Elle de los Reyes (she/her) is the Director of Content Development at Survivors.org, where she has worked for five years directly and indirectly with the survivor community. In this role, Elle founded Survivors.org's annual Shatter The Red Zone Summit for college students, led the development of the Survivors.org website, and leads the monthly Trauma-informed Art Workshop. On behalf of Survivors.org, Elle also participates in grassroots advocacy work alongside other organizations in Southern California to protect the rights of survivors. Elle has her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Southern California (USC).
DCJS Contact Information:
Tricia Everetts
Tricia.Everetts@dcjs.virginia.gov