Coerced Debt Training Toolkit
In this first of five Consumer Rights Webinar Training Toolkits, find webinar recordings, supplementary reading, and multilevel planning worksheets to support your coerced debt advocacy.
First, get an overview to survivor centered economic advocacy and how to use our Guidebook in this introductory webinar: A Guide to Consumer & Economic Civil Legal Advocacy for Survivors
Part I: Coerced Debt, Debt Defense & Safety for Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Violence
Enhancing Individual Advocacy
The purpose of this webinar is to equip advocates and attorneys with survivor centered advocacy strategies and legal remedies to address coerced debt facing survivors, with particular emphasis on directing advocacy to how marginalized communities are differentially impacted by debt. Faculty also provide emerging evidence for coerced debt and its impact on survivors’ economic security in order to support programs in community and systems change.
Learning Objectives:
1) Able to describe coerced debt and its impact on survivors
2) Knowing examples and tools to assess coerced debt
3) Equipped with resources and strategies (legal and nonlegal) to enhance their ability to talk about and address coerced debt with survivors
4) Having discussed questions and considerations to direct debt advocacy with underserved and marginalized survivors
Supplementary Resources
CSAJ Guidebook Chapter 2: Building & Repairing Survivors’ Credit Reports, by Katie VonDeLinde
CSAJ Guidebook Chapter 3: Credit Discrimination & Predatory Lending, by Katie VonDeLinde
CSAJ Guidebook Chapter 4: Debt, Debt Defense, & Safety Considerations for Survivors, by Diane Johnston
The Frequency, Nature, and Effects of Coerced Debt Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Women Seeking Help for Intimate Partner Violence, by Adrienne Adams, Angela Littwin, and McKenzie Javorka (forthcoming, in-press)
Part II: Coerced Debt, Debt Defense & Safety for Survivors of Domestic & Sexual Violence
Developing Multilevel Strategies for Change
The purpose of this webinar is to share the work of the DVCLARO Project in New York City, a consumer law clinic and partnership that recently conducted a study on the link between coerced debt and homelessness to fuel systems change, and then engage attendees in developing multilevel strategies for change.
Learning Objectives:
1) Having discussed the DVCLARO project’s model, partnerships, and work to address debt and homelessness for survivors
2) Equipped with tools and shared strategies to address coerced debt in their programs and communities on multiple levels: issue identification, organizational change/partnership building, or planning systems advocacy
Supplementary Resources
Needs Assessment Worksheet (With Notes from Webinar | Blank for Download)
Partner Mapping Worksheet (With Notes from Webinar | Blank for Download)
Strategic Action Planning Worksheet (DVCLARO Example | Blank for Download)
Faculty
Adrienne Adams, Associate Professor, Michigan State University
Angela Littwin, Professor, University of Texas School of Law
Diane Johnston, Staff Attorney, The Legal Aid Society
Divya Subrahmanyam, Staff Attorney, CAMBA Legal Services, Inc.
Katie VonDeLinde, CSAJ Expert Advisor & Adjunct Faculty, Washington University Brown School of Social Work
Technical Assistance
If you need additional support with your individual or organization’s work to address debt facing survivors, contact us.
We can provide additional training, resources, and technical assistance.