BELFAST— The University of Maine Hutchinson Center, in partnership with New Hope for Women of Rockland, will offer a professional development program, Intimate Partner Violence, May 9 and 10 at the Hutchinson Center in Belfast.

The two-day program, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, is designed for social workers, substance abuse counselors and other mental health professionals, as well as clergy, police officers and first responders. The fee is $135 per person; $60 per University of Maine student, with need-based scholarships available. A continental breakfast and catered lunch will be provided each day.

The program, which provides 12 contact hours, will include the following topics: foundations of domestic abuse, addressing the lasting impact of domestic abuse, intervention strategies of domestic abuse and trauma-informed and culturally competent responses to domestic abuse.

By Jan. 1, 2020, an applicant for social work license renewal must demonstrate a one-time successful completion of the equivalent of 12 hours of continuing education or coursework in family and intimate partner violence.   

Facilitators include Kelly O’Connor, Susanna Norwood-Burns and Jesse Lucas, all of New Hope for Women.

O’Connor is the education & outreach director for New Hope for Women where she oversees violence prevention programs.  She previously worked for the Carter Center in South Sudan, and Oxfam America in Boston, Massachusetts. O’Connor has a master’s degree in international human rights and humanitarian assistance from the University of Denver. Her specialties include South Sudan and sexual-gender based violence in armed conflict.

Norwood-Burns is the Waldoboro community-based advocate for New Hope for Women. She is a licensed social worker-conditional, and a certified alcohol and drug counselor. Norwood-Burns holds bachelor’s degrees in mental health and human services, and justice studies, both from the University of Maine at Augusta.

Lucas, the community-based advocate at New Hope for Women, is responsible for advocacy and outreach in Knox and Waldo Counties. She holds a bachelor’s degree in women and gender studies from the University of Southern Maine.  Lucas started her career as a helpline volunteer an intern at New Hope for Women.

For more information, to register, or to request an accommodation or scholarship application, contact Diana McSorley, (207) 338-8093; diana.mcsorley@maine.edu.  

The Hutchinson Center, an outreach center of the University of Maine, is committed to offering high- quality professional development programs to the greater Midcoast Maine community.