2026 Annual Conference Request for Proposals

The The Georgia Commission on Family Violence (GCFV) is seeking workshop proposals for the 2026 Family Violence Conference, to be held from August 30 to September 2, 2026, at The Classic Center in Athens, Georgia.  

This is a competitive process. The conference review committee will select workshops that best satisfy the criteria specified below. Please read the information for this request for workshop proposals (RFP) process thoroughly, as it provides essential details, submission guidelines, and session topics, which are outlined below. ​

Conference Information Overview

GCFV’s annual conference is a professional training conference. On average, GCFV welcomes 600+ attendees. Attendees to the conference generally include certified Family Violence Intervention Program providers/facilitators (including providers/facilitators-in-training), individuals employed at an agency, department, or organization that provides direct services to domestic violence and/or sexual assault victims (including first responders), child advocates or service providers, active law enforcement, and prosecutors. Attendees represent a range of personal and professional backgrounds and experiences providing family violence or sexual assault services in Georgia and beyond.

General Workshop Information

GCFV is seeking proposals for 90-minute workshops that are engaging, practical, evidence-based, and aimed at enhancing the health, safety,  and well-being of those who have, or are at risk of, experiencing or perpetrating family violence. 

Preference will be given to workshop topics that have clear learning objectives (ideally using action verbs from Bloom’s Taxonomy or SMART goals), incorporate interactive elements, include hands-on activities, and focus on real-world skills and improving everyday practice. We’re especially interested in sessions that bring in new research or fresh insights related to this year’s conference theme, “Georgia in Action, Connecting for Change.”

Benefits of Presenting

  • Presenters gain visibility through placement in GCFV’s 2026 Family Violence Conference promotional materials, website, and app. Biographies and professional credentials of all presenters will be featured.
  • Presenters will have meaningful opportunities to connect with colleagues, thought leaders, and key decision makers in a setting that supports professional growth, idea exchange, and future collaboration.
  • Presenters can choose between an honorarium or a complimentary conference registration. Please note registration does not include travel, lodging, parking, and other incidental costs.

Presentation Proposal Process

  • Prepare Your Proposal: Ensure your proposal includes a clear description,

measurable learning objectives, and evidence-based data.

 

  • Complete the Application: Fill out all sections of the application form. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Use the submission portal link to submit

your session proposal. Submission Deadline: Proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM on March 1, 2026. Any proposal submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

 

  • Review Process: GCFV’s Family Violence committee will review all submissions based on the scoring criteria, such as topic relevance, use of evidence-based practices, clear objectives, methods of learner engagement, presenter expertise, and overall impact.
  • Notification of Selection: All applicants will be notified of their proposal status via email by early April.
  • Confirm Session Participation: If your session is selected, follow the instructions in your acceptance email to confirm your participation. Final session schedules will be shared once all confirmations are received. 

 

Review and Notification Process

  • Submissions will be evaluated based on relevance, evidence-based practices, clarity of objectives, engagement methods, and presenter expertise. ​
  • Notifications regarding proposal status will be sent by early April.

If you have any questions regarding submissions, please contact Kylee Elliott, Senior Program Manager of Training and Engagement, at [email protected] or 404-615-3267.

 

Session Setup

Our 2026 GCFV Conference yielded approximately 600 attendees.

  • There are approximately 30 workshop slots to fill.
  • All workshop breakout sessions accommodate 100 to 125 participants.
  • Speakers are required to bring their own laptops, clickers, and adapters for Mac laptops.
  • Sessions should be developed for delivery in 90-minute segments. Presentations requiring more than 90 minutes should be proposed as two separate sessions (i.e., parts 1 and 2). However, each session must be designed to last a full 90 minutes.

INTERACTIVE SESSIONS

90 minutes

Interactive sessions enrich the learning experience by incorporating activity-based exercises such as break-out groups, role-playing, and other active engagement elements. It’s important to note that traditional Q&A during the presentation does not qualify as interactivity. 

Key components of interactive sessions include:

  • **Practical Strategies**: Providing actionable tips for how attendees can integrate the session’s content into agency policies, protocols, and/or practices.
  • **Real-Life Examples**: Utilizing relevant examples to illustrate concepts and enhance understanding.
  • **Outcome-Based Objectives**: Establishing clear objectives focused on the results of the interactive exercises.

FILM SCREENINGS

90 minutes

  • One to two screenings may be selected for viewing each year.
  • Total runtime for film screenings should not exceed 75 minutes, with at least 15 minutes allocated for Q&A discussion or final takeaways.
  • If your film/workshop is selected, a preview link to screen the film and discussion questions must be presented to GCFV at the time of application. Film screening links can be sent to [email protected] after you have submitted a completed RFP.

CASE STUDIES

90 minutes

Case studies are often popular sessions at training conferences, offering attendees an invaluable opportunity to learn from the reflections on real-life situations. 

  • For case study workshops, GCFV requests that presenters guide attendees through multiple phases of a case or cases, preferably covering aspects from the initial investigation through prosecution and any post-trial or conviction follow-up outcomes. Proposals should demonstrate how the extent of cross-disciplinary and interagency interactions influenced each phase of the case, including the final outcome. Key takeaways should highlight lessons learned, tips for interdisciplinary and interagency collaboration, and innovative investigative or prosecutorial approaches.
  • GCFV strongly prefers case studies featuring at least two presenters from different professions, such as a prosecutor, investigator, advocate, or survivor. These sessions are most effective when attendees can learn about the case from multiple perspectives.
  • Please note that case studies are selected based on the educational value of the proposal, rather than for sensationalism.

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

90 minutes

Panel discussions should tackle complex, or broad, high-interest issues that require collaboration and input from multiple disciplines. The GCFV Conference panel discussions will include:

  • A maximum of four (4) panel speakers. (Only 2 presenters will receive an honorarium or free registration).
  • Panel speakers from diverse disciplines.
  • An appointed moderator to facilitate the discussion.
  • A Q&A session either during or at the end of the discussion.

 

 

GENERAL CONTENT FOR WORKSHOPS

Although the many featured workshops will differ in scope, all GCFV Conference workshops should incorporate the following features:

  • Practical strategies and tips for implementing the session content
  • Real-life examples
  • High levels of audience interaction
  • Allocate time for questions and answers at the end of the workshop

NOTE: Proposals addressing practical techniques to combatting gender-based crimes are encouraged. In addition, we are seeking the following topics for 2026:

  • Civil/Family Law
  • Clinical Considerations (therapy, counseling, social work, etc.)
  • Family Violence Intervention Program Content
  • Community Engagement
  • Corrections/Probation & Parole
  • Expert-level Investigative and Prosecution techniques
  • Immigration Considerations for law enforcement and prosecutors
  • Intersectionality and Generational Trauma Considerations
  • Judicial Considerations for DV, HT, stalking, and SA cases
  • Latinx Considerations for law enforcement and prosecutors
  • Law-Enforcement specific to patrol, LE training protocols, leadership, responding to DV
  • Prosecution for DV, HT, stalking, and SA cases
  • Stalking Investigations
  • Self Care for professionals working with both survivors and perpetrators
  • Advocating for survivors in polarized political climates
  • Technology-Enabled Abuse
  • Technology innovations (gaming systems, etc.) to connect with and support teenage survivors
  • Recognizing Coercive Control in a Non-Traditional Context
  • Reimagining shelter spaces for holistic healing
  • Adapting Trauma-informed Care for Virtual Practice
  • TPO Related Topics (both basic and advanced topics)
  • Domestic Violence-Related Law Updates (and/or proposals for new legislation)
  • Multidisciplinary Case Studies
  • Crime Scene Investigations
  • Crisis Negotiation Training
  • Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence
  • Expert Witness Training
  • Strangulation Prosecution
  • Supporting Survivors with Disabilities
  • Disarming Abusers: Removing Firearms from Domestic Violence Offenders
  • Faith Community Role
  • Dating Violence Prevention
  • Supervising DV/SA Offenders
  • Mobile Crisis Units and Remote Interventions

     

Each workshop must select one of the designated education levels. If you are unsure which level to choose, please contact GCFV to discuss your workshop before submission.

Determining Appropriate Audience Professional Experience Level

**Novice**: Refers to individuals who are new to a particular field or task and lack extensive experience and expertise. Typically, novices have been in the field for 0 to 2 years.

 

**Advanced**: Refers to individuals who possess a mastery of skills and a deep understanding of the topic. They can perform the skill with ease and can also teach others to become more proficient. Generally, advanced practitioners have been in the field for 2 to 5 years.

 

**Expert**: This term refers to individuals with extensive knowledge and understanding of a topic gained through life and/or work experiences. Experts often hold additional certifications or formal education that supports their skills. They typically have been in the field for five years or more.

DISCLAIMERS:

**Guidelines for Presenters:**

 

1. **Presentation Content**:  The presentation should not serve as an advertisement or sales pitch. Presenters are limited to brief introductions and providing their contact information. Direct solicitation of attendees is not permitted. For further details, please reach out to the conference organizers.

 

2. **Additional Resources**: While it's optional, we encourage presenters to share supplemental materials. These can include handouts, research, fact sheets, implementation tips, or other guidance. GCFV will provide access to all presentation materials through the conference website, but we will not distribute copies during workshops.

 

3. **Submission Requirements**:  - Presenters must submit a copy of their presentation to GCFV prior to the conference. Any sensitive, confidential, or proprietary information may be omitted or redacted. For any questions or additional information, please contact the conference organizers.

 

5. **Honorarium/Conference Fees**  - GCFV will provide either a $200 honorarium OR a free conference registration for the first two presenters in a selected workshop. If your workshop proposal includes more than two presenters the additional presenters will not be eligible for an honorarium or complimentary conference fees.