A Note about Terminology:
Victim vs. Survivor
Because domestic violence is a crime, the law refers to those who have been abused as “victims.” This term is typically used in the justice system but may be less useful in the social services systems that exist to help people heal and thrive after being victimized. Thus, many agencies use the term “survivor.” This training uses both of these terms — victim and survivor — with the goal that each training participant develops the skills to assist “victims” to transition into “survivors.”