WYOMING COUNTY, PA — Healthcare professionals, victim service providers, policymakers and community partners from across Northeastern Pennsylvania will gather at Keystone College on April 9 for the fourth annual Medical Advocacy Conference, hosted by VIP and WRC.

This year’s conference, “From Awareness to Action: Strengthening Healthcare Responses to Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Human Trafficking,” will equip professionals with practical tools to recognize abuse, intervene safely, and support survivors in healthcare settings.

Domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking remain critical public health issues, and healthcare settings often serve as a key point of contact for survivors. The conference will bring together experts and practitioners to strengthen trauma-informed, coordinated responses rooted in our overall mission: Practice. Partnership. Prevention.

“The Medical Advocacy Conference creates a space for healthcare providers and advocates to come together, learn from one another, and strengthen the systems that support survivors,” said Ericka Thaxton, medical advocate with VIP. “When professionals collaborate across disciplines, we can move beyond awareness and create meaningful change for the individuals and families we serve.”

“Healthcare professionals are often on the front lines when survivors seek help,” added Sabrina Hannon, medical advocacy program coordinator at WRC. “By strengthening partnerships and providing practical tools, we can ensure that every healthcare encounter has the potential to support safety, healing and recovery.”

The conference will offer Continuing Education Units for medical professionals and feature sessions on intersectional care for survivors, domestic violence in prenatal and postpartum care, Pennsylvania’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI), strategies for safely interrupting violence in progress, and innovative approaches to provider wellness.

Conference registration: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/mac26-registration

The conference is supported in part by community partners, including Emergency Medical Services of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Maternal & Family Health Services, United Neighborhood Centers, Endless Mountains Health Systems, Barnes-Kasson Hospital, AmeriHealth Caritas Community HealthChoices and the Northeast PA Area Health Education Center.

Funding is provided through generous contributions from the Moses Taylor Foundation, Wayne Memorial Health Foundation, AmeriHealth Caritas of Pennsylvania, AmeriHealth Caritas Community HealthChoices, and the Addiction Treatment Program at Endless Mountains Health Systems.

About the organizers:

WRC and VIP are nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting survivors of crime, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Services include crisis hotlines, emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, and community education.

Learn more at www.wrcnepa.org and www.vipempowers.org, or follow the organizations on Facebook and Instagram.