Domestic Violence Advocate and National Trainer Kit Gruelle was the presenter at a recent training session entitled

“Domestic Violence Basics: Understanding Domestic Violence and Its Impact” sponsored by the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence Training Institute. Staff from neighboring domestic violence shelters, as well as Polk County DSS and Steps to HOPE staff, attended this all-day Level 1 course. Lunch was provided by LaurelHurst and LaurelWoods of Columbus.
Training topics included:
• Dynamics and impact of domestic violence
• Abusive behavior and common tactics of abusers
• Understanding challenges faced by victims
• Supportive advocacy and active listening
• Legal options and resources for survivors.
Gruelle, herself a survivor of domestic violence, has worked as an advocate for battered women and their children for 26 years. She is a community educator who collaborates with law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals, health care providers, clergy, legislators, educators and other allied professionals to prevent family and domestic violence.
Gruelle is featured in several training films and has co-authored protocols for sexual assault and domestic violence first responders, public safety dispatchers and hostage negotiators. She is the producer of a feature-length film entitled “Private Violence: The Movement Against Battering in America,” which draws from more than 150 hours of interviews with domestic violence survivors and advocates, pioneering activists and vocal allies of the movement, including Vice President Joseph Biden.
Gruelle also serves as a commissioner for the North Carolina Crime Victims Compensation Commission.
Gruelle’s article “Healing From Within: Physicians Responding to Battered Women” was recently included in “The Physician’s Guide to Intimate Partner Abuse,” by Drs. Ellen Talliferro and Patricia Salber, published by Volcano Press.
– article submitted by Debra Backus