Sexual Assault Family Violence Investigator Course

Sexual Assault Family Violence Investigator Course Piecing together the tools needed to effectively investigate & prevent sexual assault, family violence, stalking, & human trafficking.

Officers and/or telecommunication professionals attending and successfully completing the 24-hour SAFVIC, 40-hour instructor course, SAFVIC - Human Trafficking, or SAFVIC for TCPs will receive credit hours from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) as follows:

SAFVIC 3-day (TCOLE Course 3264) - 24 credit hours
SAFVIC Instructor Course (TCOLE Course 3265) - 40 credit hours
SAFVIC for TCP

s (TCOLE Course 3267) - 8 credit hours
SAFVIC - Human Trafficking (TCOLE Course 3268) - 8 credit hours

SAFVIC courses 3264 and 3265 are designed to satisfy the requirements of Special Investigative Topics (3232) and successful students will be eligible for a TCLEOSE special investigator proficiency certificate.

🚔 FRONTLINE FRIDAYSSometimes the most powerful support doesn't come from a therapist's office. It comes from someone who...
05/29/2026

🚔 FRONTLINE FRIDAYS

Sometimes the most powerful support doesn't come from a therapist's office. It comes from someone who's been on the same calls you have.

There is a growing movement across law enforcement, victim advocacy, and prosecution — and it's built on a simple premise: the people best equipped to support frontline professionals are often the ones sitting in the next cubicle, the next patrol car, or the next courtroom.

Peer support programs are gaining serious traction. According to the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, these programs reduce stigma by normalizing difficult experiences and encouraging conversation around mental health — something traditional Employee Assistance Programs have struggled to do. Research shows that while many agencies offer EAPs and counseling, officers and advocates often find those services inconvenient, impersonal, or culturally disconnected from the realities of the job.

Peer support fills that gap. Not as a substitute for professional help — but as a first bridge to it.

The federal Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act has funded peer support initiatives nationwide precisely because the data supports it. Agencies that invest in peer networks report stronger morale, reduced resignations, and professionals who feel seen — not just managed.

You don't have to have all the answers to support someone. Sometimes showing up is enough.

If your agency is building a culture of support, training is part of that foundation.

🌐 www.safvic.org

💙 SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 8 of 8HELP IS AVAILABLE — FOR VICTIMS AND RESPONDERS ALIKEWe saved the most im...
05/29/2026

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 8 of 8
HELP IS AVAILABLE — FOR VICTIMS AND RESPONDERS ALIKE

We saved the most important fact for last.

We have talked about PTSD, depression, burnout, trauma responses, and the invisible wounds that don't show up in a photograph or a police report.

Today we are talking about what comes next. Because awareness without action is not enough.

No one should face trauma alone — not victims, and not the professionals who carry their stories home at the end of every shift. Help is available. Resources exist. And reaching out is not a sign of weakness — it is the bravest thing any of us can do.

For victims of sexual assault and domestic violence — you are not alone. What happened to you was not your fault. There are people who believe you and will walk alongside you through whatever comes next.

For law enforcement, prosecutors, and advocates — the weight you carry in this work is real. Taking care of your own mental health is part of serving victims well.

For Victims:
📞 RAINN: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | www.rainn.org
📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | www.thehotline.org
📞 NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) | www.nami.org
📞 SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 | www.samhsa.gov
📱 Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
🔹 TAASA: www.taasa.org | 2-1-1 Texas: Dial 2-1-1

For First Responders:
📞 Safe Call Now: 1-206-459-3020 | www.safecallnow.org
🔹 First Responder Support Network: www.frsn.org
📱 Crisis Text Line: Text BLUE to 741741
🔹 EAP: Contact your agency

Thank you for following along with SAFVIC's Mental Health Awareness Month campaign. The work of understanding trauma — in victims and in ourselves — never stops. And neither do we.

🌐 www.safvic.org

📚 Source: NAMI | www.nami.org | SAMHSA | www.samhsa.gov | RAINN | www.rainn.org

💙 SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 7 of 8TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CHANGES EVERYTHINGTrauma-informed care is not a cli...
05/27/2026

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 7 of 8
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE CHANGES EVERYTHING

Trauma-informed care is not a clinical buzzword. It is a fundamental shift in how professionals approach, communicate with, and support victims of sexual assault and family violence. It means understanding that a victim's behavior — their inconsistencies, their silences, their emotional responses — are not signs of deception. They are signs of a nervous system that has been through something devastating.

And the research is clear: law enforcement, prosecutors, and advocates who approach victims through a trauma-informed lens are more likely to build trust, gather accurate and complete information, and support victims through a process that can feel overwhelming and retraumatizing. Trauma-informed response doesn't just help victims — it builds stronger cases, better outcomes, and a system that survivors are more willing to engage with.

This is exactly why SAFVIC exists. Our training is built around the principle that understanding trauma is not optional — it is the foundation of an effective, just, and compassionate response to sexual assault and family violence.

For law enforcement: a trauma-informed approach is not about being soft — it is about being effective. The way you ask questions, the environment you create, and the patience you extend directly impacts the quality of information you receive.

For prosecutors: a victim who has been supported through a trauma-informed process is more likely to engage, cooperate, and follow through.

For advocates: you are often the first trauma-informed presence a victim encounters. That first interaction sets the tone for everything that follows.

Training matters. How you respond matters.

🌐 www.safvic.org📚 Source: SAMHSA | www.samhsa.gov | Start By Believing | www.startbybelieving.org | NAMI | www.nami.org

💙 SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

Responders

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 6 of 8BURNOUT IS A CRISIS — AND IT AFFECTS VICTIMS TOOWe talked in our last po...
05/26/2026

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 6 of 8
BURNOUT IS A CRISIS — AND IT AFFECTS VICTIMS TOO

We talked in our last post about the mental health toll on first responders. Today we are talking about what happens when that toll goes unaddressed — and who ultimately pays the price.

More than one-third of first responders have considered leaving their job due to stress or burnout, and over a quarter have considered early retirement for the same reasons. Police resignations have surged 47% from 2019 to 2022, with retirements rising 19% in the same period. Over 53% of active police officers report experiencing burnout during their careers.

But here is what often gets lost in the conversation about burnout: it does not just hurt the officer. It hurts the victim.

When experienced, trauma-informed investigators burn out and leave the field, victims lose the professionals who understand their cases most deeply. Newer, less experienced officers inherit overwhelming caseloads. Training gaps widen. And the quality of response that survivors deserve — and need — begins to erode.

For law enforcement leadership: officer wellness is not a luxury program. It is a direct investment in the quality of service your agency provides to victims. Prioritize peer support, manageable caseloads, and a culture that values mental health.

For advocates: understand that the officers and prosecutors you work alongside may be running on empty. Collaboration and mutual support across disciplines strengthens the entire system.

For prosecutors: advocate within your office for wellness resources and reasonable workloads — for yourself and the officers you work with.

Investing in the mental health of first responders is investing in better outcomes for every victim they serve.

🌐 www.safvic.org

📚 Source: SAMHSA | www.samhsa.gov | Police1 | www.police1.com

💙 SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

🚔 FRONTLINE FRIDAYSHiring a good officer, advocate, or prosecutor is hard. Keeping them is harder.The conversation aroun...
05/22/2026

🚔 FRONTLINE FRIDAYS

Hiring a good officer, advocate, or prosecutor is hard. Keeping them is harder.

The conversation around law enforcement staffing tends to focus on recruitment — getting people in the door. But retention is where agencies are quietly losing ground. According to a U.S. GAO report, officer resignations and retirements increased steadily from 2019 through 2024. And when specialized professionals leave — the ones trained in sexual assault response, family violence investigation, trauma-informed interviewing — they take something with them that a job posting can't replace.

Here's what the research tells us: departments that offer clear career progression paths, including specialized units and leadership development programs, report 30% higher retention rates among officers with five to ten years of experience. Agencies that invest in officer wellness programs have seen measurable decreases in early career departures.

In other words — people stay where they feel invested in.

This isn't just a staffing issue. It's a victim services issue. Every experienced professional who walks out the door is one fewer person equipped to recognize trauma, handle a sensitive interview, or advocate effectively in a courtroom.

Investing in your people isn't overhead. It's the mission.

🌐 www.safvic.org

💙 SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 5 of 8THE HIDDEN TOLL ON THOSE WHO SERVELaw enforcement officers, prosecutors,...
05/19/2026

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 5 of 8
THE HIDDEN TOLL ON THOSE WHO SERVE

Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, victim advocates, and all first responders dedicate their careers to showing up for survivors of sexual assault and family violence — often absorbing some of the most traumatic details a human being can encounter. And the toll of that work is real, significant, and far too often suffered in silence.

Around 30% of first responders develop behavioral health conditions such as depression and PTSD — but for law enforcement specifically, that number climbs to 35%. 83% of officers report that their mental health impacts their work. And law enforcement personnel are 54% more likely to die by su***de than the general population. Perhaps most sobering of all — 75% of officers would never report a mental health concern to a supervisor.

The stigma surrounding mental health in law enforcement is not just a personal issue. It is a public safety issue. An officer who is struggling — and not getting help — is less able to provide the trauma-informed, victim-centered response that survivors deserve. Mental health in the profession and outcomes for victims are directly connected.

For law enforcement leadership: the culture of silence around mental health in your agency costs lives — both inside and outside the department. Invest in peer support programs, employee assistance resources, and a culture where asking for help is seen as strength, not weakness.

For advocates: check in on the officers and prosecutors you work alongside. The helpers need help too.

For prosecutors and advocates: you are not immune to this toll either. Secondary trauma is real — and it deserves the same attention and care.

You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of victims.

🌐 www.safvic.org

📚 Source: Stella Mental Health | www.stellamentalhealth.com | Police1 | www.police1.com | SAMHSA | www.samhsa.gov

💙 SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

🚔 FRONTLINE FRIDAYSToday is Peace Officers Memorial Day — and this week, the nation observes National Police Week.It is ...
05/15/2026

🚔 FRONTLINE FRIDAYS

Today is Peace Officers Memorial Day — and this week, the nation observes National Police Week.

It is a week set aside to honor the men and women who put on a badge knowing the risks that come with it. To remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. And to acknowledge the families who carry that loss every single day.

Since 1962, May 15 has been designated as Peace Officers Memorial Day — a date established not just on a calendar, but in the conscience of a nation that owes more to its law enforcement officers than words can adequately express.

To those still serving — your dedication does not go unnoticed. The weight you carry, the calls you respond to, the things you witness and absorb so others don't have to — it matters. You matter.

And to those we have lost — thank you. We remember you today, and always. 💙

JUNE TRAININGS ARE HERE — AND SEATS ARE GOING FAST!SAFVIC is hitting the road in June with three courses coming to locat...
05/12/2026

JUNE TRAININGS ARE HERE — AND SEATS ARE GOING FAST!

SAFVIC is hitting the road in June with three courses coming to locations across Texas!

🔷 SAFVIC 24-Hour | TCOLE #3264
📌 San Marcos — June 9–11
📌 Hico — June 15–17

🔷 SAFVIC for TCPs (8-Hour)
📌 Kyle — June 8
📌 Wichita Falls — June 10
📌 Austin — June 24

🔷 Texas Investigation & Prosecution of Strangulation (TxIPS) 8-Hour | TCOLE #53271
📌 Pecos — June 2
📌 Athens — June 12

✅ Free to attend for Texas law enforcement, prosecutors, victim advocates, and telecommunicators

✅ TCOLE certified

✅ Taught by experienced, certified SAFVIC instructors

Whether you're new to investigating sexual assault and family violence or looking to sharpen your skills, these courses will give you the tools, knowledge, and resources to make a real difference for victims in your community.

Don't wait — register today at www.safvic.org

SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

This week, we pause to honor those who wear and have worn the badge with courage and integrity — and to remember those w...
05/12/2026

This week, we pause to honor those who wear and have worn the badge with courage and integrity — and to remember those who gave their lives in service to their communities.

Law enforcement is demanding work. It asks officers to respond to some of the most difficult moments in people's lives, often with little time to prepare and even less time to process. The weight of that doesn't go unnoticed.

To law enforcement across Texas who show up for the hardest calls — we see you, and we're grateful.

SAFVIC is proud to stand alongside Texas law enforcement, now and always.

🔗 safvic.org

National Police Week | May 11–17, 2026

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 4 of 8THE CYCLE DOESN'T END AT THE DOORThe relationship between mental health ...
05/12/2026

💚 MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH — FACT # 4 of 8
THE CYCLE DOESN'T END AT THE DOOR

The relationship between mental health and domestic violence is not one-directional — and understanding that distinction is critical for every professional in this field.

We know that domestic violence causes mental health conditions. But the reverse is also true — and it is a reality that is far less often discussed. Mental health conditions make victims significantly more vulnerable to abuse in the first place. Women with depression are 2.5 times more likely to experience domestic abuse. For women with anxiety, that risk rises to 3.5 times. For women with PTSD — it climbs to 7 times more likely.

Abusers do not choose their victims randomly. They identify vulnerability — and they exploit it.

This creates a cycle that is extraordinarily difficult to break. A pre-existing mental health condition increases vulnerability to abuse. The abuse worsens the mental health condition. And the worsened condition makes it even harder to recognize, resist, or escape the relationship.

For law enforcement: a victim with a known mental health history is not a less credible victim — they may be a more targeted one. Approach every call with that understanding and document accordingly.

For prosecutors: understanding the relationship between mental health and victimization gives you a more complete picture of why victims stay, why they recant, and why the cycle is so difficult to break.

For advocates: screening for mental health conditions alongside safety planning is not just best practice — it is essential. A victim cannot fully access safety if their mental health needs are not also being addressed.

Domestic violence doesn't just cause mental health conditions. It targets and exploits them.

🌐 www.safvic.org

📚 Source: SAMHSA | www.samhsa.gov | National Domestic Violence Hotline | www.thehotline.org

💙 SAFVIC — Sexual Assault & Family Violence Investigator Course | Serving law enforcement, victim advocates, and prosecutors across Texas.

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