Genesis House, Vol State Empower Students Through Domestic Assault Training

The Genesis House and the Vol State Cookeville campus partnered Wednesday providing an interactive exhibit on the issues of domestic assault.

Rural Outreach Advocate Tracie Davis said the simulation training is based on real life stories to empower students.

“It’s important because it helps them gain an understanding of the different obstacles someone in their shoes would have to go through,” Davis said. “It’s everything from social services to money problems, healthcare.”

The event was a part of Volunteer State’s observance of Awareness and Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault month. Davis said students immersed in seven different stories and faced scenarios that challenge victims regularly.

“There are some single individuals, there are some with children, some with babies,” Davis said. “Depending on which character you get, you go to different stations to get cards on different scenarios they would have to go through.”

Davis said the overall goal was to spread awareness among students while also showing others that domestic assault can happen to anyone.

The Genesis House of the Upper Cumberland promotes the general welfare of victims of domestic and sexual violence by providing shelter, goods, and services while helping them find safety in their lives and the self-sufficiency and healing needed to become independent.