Proper training is critical to ensuring understanding of the full system response to domestic violence in your community, including how risk and lethality assessment tools can be used effectively and safely.
A training needs assessment can help your community learn about the current systems response to domestic violence, specifically the gaps and challenges, so you can plan training programs to address those issues. The focus of this tool should be around cross-system communication and collaboration regarding domestic violence risk and lethality. This tool can also help you gather information about the professional backgrounds of potential training participants, which can inform which training approaches are used and what types of content are most applicable to their roles, as well as logistical considerations such as scheduling and continuing education credit. While this tool is a practitioner survey, there are other ways to assess training needs, including stakeholder focus groups, survivor feedback, feedback from people who cause harm through intimate partner violence, collecting and analyzing systems data that may reveal gaps, and observations.