09/19/2026
What an incredible opportunity to represent Amberly’s Place and Yuma County in Washington, D.C. at the Police Executive Research Forum’s National Meeting on Promising Practices in Domestic Violence Response.
Amberly’s Place Executive Director Tori Bourguignon had the privilege of joining law enforcement leaders, advocates, staff from the Office on Violence Against Women and Office for Victims of Crime, researchers, prosecutors, and other professionals from across the country for an important conversation: How do we strengthen our collective response to domestic violence and improve outcomes for survivors?
One message came through again and again: trust and relationships matter.
True multidisciplinary collaboration doesn’t happen simply because agencies sit at the same table. It happens because people invest in relationships, build trust, understand and respect each other’s roles, and know that when it matters most, everyone will show up and do their part.
Those relationships are absolutely critical to serving survivors well.
We were incredibly proud to share some of what that looks like here in Yuma County and our surrounding communities. We certainly don’t have all the answers, but we have spent years building strong relationships across disciplines, agencies, and jurisdictions. Law enforcement, Department of Child Safety, prosecutors, victim advocates, forensic medical professionals, behavioral health providers, and community partners each bring something essential to the table.
No single agency can do this work alone, and victims should never have to navigate disconnected systems by themselves.
We’re coming home with new ideas, new connections, and an even greater appreciation for the incredible partners we have the privilege of working alongside every day.
Grateful for the invitation. Grateful for the opportunity to learn and contribute. And incredibly proud to represent Amberly’s Place, Yuma County, and the multidisciplinary partners who make this work possible.
