SafeSpace Domestic Violence Summit Aims to Train Frontline Professionals, Improve Outcomes for Survivors
Posted on September 8, 2026
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – A survivor of domestic violence may encounter many professionals along the path to safety. How each person recognizes and responds to the situation can make a critical difference in that survivor’s ability to get help.
SafeSpace is bringing those professionals together for a new approach to domestic violence training with the Domestic Violence Summit: From Awareness to Action – Safety. Solidarity. Solutions., on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the MIDFLORIDA Event Center in Port St. Lucie.
The regional Summit grew out of a need identified by members of the Circuit 19 Domestic Violence Task Force for more training across the professions that respond to domestic violence. The full-day event, held during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, will bring together law enforcement and first responders, healthcare and mental health professionals, advocates, child welfare professionals and others who work with survivors of domestic violence.
“No single agency or profession can address domestic violence alone,” said Jennifer Fox, MSW, MBA, Chief Executive Officer of SafeSpace. “Every interaction with a survivor matters. We want to give professionals the knowledge and tools to recognize warning signs, hold abusers accountable, understand what a survivor may be experiencing, and respond in a way that helps move that person toward safety.”
Featured presenter Jim Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s stepfather, Board Member of The Gabby Petito Foundation and a former first responder, will lead several sessions throughout the day. Drawing on lessons from the Gabby Petito case and his work in domestic violence education, Schmidt will explore how missed warning signs, gaps in communication and other challenges can affect the response to domestic violence.
Participants will also break into specialized training tracks focused on first response and law enforcement, healthcare and mental health, and advocacy and child welfare. The day will conclude with a discussion of how participants can apply what they have learned and identify opportunities for continued regional collaboration.
“This is about what happens after the training,” Fox said. “We want participants to take what they learn back to their organizations and use it to strengthen how we respond to domestic violence throughout our region. Ultimately, the goal is to create a more informed, coordinated response that holds abusers accountable and helps survivors get the safety and support they need.”
Registration is $125 per person and includes continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments, conference materials and practical resources, and a certificate of participation. The Summit will also include networking opportunities and skill-building sessions. Continuing education units (CEUs) are being applied for across multiple professional disciplines.
The Summit is hosted by SafeSpace in collaboration with the Circuit 19 Domestic Violence Task Force and The Gabby Petito Foundation. Sponsors include the Wong Family Foundation as the Presenting Sponsor, Jan and Jessica Malasek and Inspired Closets as Community Partner Sponsors, The Gabby Petito Foundation as the Impact Sponsor, and House of Hope as the Supporting Sponsor.
To register, learn about sponsorship opportunities or get more information, visit SafeSpaceFL.org/events or contact info@safespacefl.org.
About SafeSpace
SafeSpace is the Treasure Coast’s only state-certified domestic violence center, serving survivors and their children 24/7. Since its founding, SafeSpace has provided more than 500,000 safe nights of shelter to over 40,000 victims and children. Its comprehensive programs include shelter, legal advocacy, financial literacy, counseling, prevention education, and specialized children’s services.