UC Davis Launches Statewide Pilot Training to Strengthen Domestic Abuse Response in California Public Assistance Programs
Free pilot series, developed in partnership with the California Department of Social Services, will help prepare county staff to better support survivors across California
DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s Human Services department has launched the statewide pilot of a new domestic abuse response training initiative designed to strengthen how California public assistance professionals support survivors. Developed in partnership with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and made possible through a $600,000 philanthropic grant from Blue Shield of California Foundation, the pilot series marks a major milestone in a two-year effort to develop updated, trauma-informed training for county staff serving CalWORKs, CalFresh, refugee assistance and other public assistance programs. The first virtual pilot session started Tuesday, July 21. The first in-person pilot session takes place Aug. 11–12 at the UC Davis Conference Center. The Aug. 11–12 session will include a special kickoff event with presentations from UC Davis, representatives from CDSS, Blue Shield of California Foundation and Parent Voices, as well as a domestic abuse survivor who helped shape the curriculum.
“We are excited to launch this important training to help county social services staff provide trauma-informed support to domestic abuse survivors,” said Alison Book, LCSW, MSW, associate dean of Human Services at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. “We’re honored to work in partnership with the Blue Shield of California Foundation and CDSS to advance statewide training for professionals so they are equipped to deliver responsive services to families navigating the complex challenge of domestic abuse.”
About UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education
For 45 years, UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education's Human Services department has advanced the university's outreach mission by equipping human services professionals and organizations with training, consultation and research. Through workforce development, it strengthens agencies' ability to support vulnerable communities, improving outcomes for children, adults and families throughout California and beyond.
For more than 65 years, UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education has combined the academic expertise of UC Davis with practical education designed to improve workplace performance. With nearly 60,000 annual enrollments, UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education serves lifelong learners across the Sacramento region, all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
Over the past year, UC Davis Human Services conducted a comprehensive statewide needs assessment to inform the new curriculum. More than 200 county professionals participated in a statewide survey, while 13 county listening sessions engaged more than 170 participants representing nearly 40 counties. Participants included county leaders, supervisors, training coordinators and frontline staff, as well as domestic abuse survivor advocates, helping ensure the curriculum reflects the lived experiences of survivors and promotes survivor-centered, healing-informed practices.
The curriculum was developed through collaboration with CDSS, Mathematica, Parent Voices California, the County Welfare Directors Association, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence and other statewide partners. Together, these organizations developed role-specific training that equips public assistance professionals with practical strategies for recognizing, responding to and supporting individuals and families experiencing domestic abuse.
“We are proud of this statewide effort to increase awareness about how public services can more effectively support survivors of domestic abuse,” said Jennifer Troia, director of the California Department of Social Services. “We are grateful for our partnerships with UC Davis, the Blue Shield of California Foundation, Mathematica, Parent Voices and our other partners, as we work to center the voices and experiences of survivors in this important work.”
In addition to the introductory sessions held virtually and in-person, the pilot series will include role-specific online learning modules. Feedback gathered throughout the pilot will be used to refine the curriculum before statewide implementation.