The effects of strangulation can go unnoticed but have a profound impact on the victim.  Understanding the role strangulation plays as a weapon of coercive control and domestic violence will enable us to respond more effectively to those who have survived. Expert forensic nurses Lynette Volkers and Amy Riegert will educate us on how to screen for domestic violence with patients, potential medical implications of being strangled, and their injury assessment and evidence collection.  Our local offender treatment expert Carla Jones will explain the lethal link between strangulation and domestic violence.  Finally, psychologist Dakota Kaiser will help us understand the lasting effects of surviving strangulation and persistent trauma on mental health and cognition. 

Learning Objectives: 

1)      Understand how non-fatal strangulation might medically present on a victim.

2)      Tools to screen for patterns of coercive control and domestic violence.

3)      Gain knowledge of forensic nursing response to non-fatal strangulation victims

4)      Explain the link between strangulation and assessing for domestic violence lethality.

5)      Recognize the potential long-term effects of strangulation and trauma on victims.

Meet The Presenters 

Lynette Volkers

Lynette has been a nurse for over 20 years with experience in Long Term Care,  Emergency Nursing, Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, Clinical Education and Risk Management.  She received a Bachelor’s in Nursing degree from UW-Oshkosh and in 2012 completed her Masters in Nursing from Saint Xavier University in Illinois.   She is an active Forensic Nurse / SANE in the Wausau area, where she resides with her husband Mike, children Courtney (18) & Ryan (17), a beloved dog and cat.  Lynette is passionate about seeing justice prevail and advocating for those who need help finding their voice. 

Amy Riegert

Amy has been a nurse for over 6 years with experience in Long-term care, Emergency Services, Quality Improvement, Hospital Supervisor, and Forensic nursing. She received her Associate degree from Northcentral Technical College and Bachelor’s in Nursing degree from Western Governors University. She is the Aspirus Wausau Hospital SANE Program Coordinator with system oversight to align all programs and is an active Forensic Nurse in the Wausau and Medford area. She is nationally certified in adolescent and adult SANE. Amy is a strong advocate for patients that have been through a traumatic events and ensures they receive quality care in a trauma informed manner.  Amy is active in the Academy of Forensic Nursing and International Association of Forensic Nursing, currently the Wisconsin Chapter Secretary. She is a member of the Marathon County Sexual Assault Intervention Team, Marathon County Domestic Violence Intervention Team, and Marathon County Sexual Response Team. She presents on topics related to sexual assault and domestic violence around the region.

Carla Jones

Carla is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the supervisor of the Stopping Abuse for Everyone (SAFE) program at Bridge Community Health Clinic. Carla received her undergraduate degree from UW-La Crosse in Psychology before attending Florida State University to complete her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work and Master’s degree in Criminology. Carla is a Certified Batterers Treatment Provider through the Wisconsin Batterers Treatment Provider Association (WBTPA) and has served in several leadership capacities of the WBTPA, including the Chair position in 2023-2024.

Dakota Kaiser, PhD

Dakota Kaiser, PhD: Dr. Kaiser is a clinical health psychologist and healthcare leader in Wausau, WI. He currently serves as the Managing Partner at Tall Pines Behavioral Health and the Integrated Services Director at Bridge Community Health Clinic, responsible for clinical operations of primary care, dental, and behavioral health services within an integrated community health center model. He sits on several boards and committees of local nonprofits and statewide organizations and is the current Co-Chair of the Marathon County School Based Mental Health Counseling Consortium. He is a member of the National Register of Health Service Psychologists and College of Healthcare Executives, and is board certified as a National Certified Counselor and Certified Group Psychotherapist.

Registration

Community Registration: Free [REGISTER HERE]

Professional Registration (1.5 CEUs): $15 [REGISTER HERE]

Attend Your Way!

Join us in-person with the presenters at the NTC - Wausau Campus, or attend virtually via Zoom. 

This workshop is offered in partnership with