Community Engagement & Collaboration: Living Waters transforms the way communities support domestic violence victims
Community Engagement & Collaboration by Living Waters in Charlotte NC is transforming the way communities support those affected by domestic violence
A pastor, a social worker, and a school counselor sit around the same table. Each brings a different perspective, yet their mission is the same: helping families affected by domestic violence. Instead of working alone, they’re building a shared path forward.
This is exactly the kind of moment Living Waters created at its recent Domestic Violence and Mental Health Summit. The theme was Bridging the Gap in Community Connections to Support Children and Families—highlighting a major shift in how we think about supporting survivors. It’s no longer about isolated efforts. It’s about Community Engagement & Collaboration.
Why Collaboration Changes Everything
Traditionally, people facing domestic violence have had to navigate a maze of disconnected services. One agency might offer counseling. Another handles housing. A third provides legal support. Survivors are often left doing the legwork to connect the dots.
The summit challenges that outdated model. Collaboration means building a system where community leaders, faith-based groups, educators, and professionals work together—so survivors don’t have to figure it all out on their own.
When faith communities know how to refer someone to a mental health provider, or when a doctor understands the cultural context of a survivor’s home life, everyone benefits. Collaboration ensures care is continuous, not fragmented.
A Practical Shift, Not Just Talk
The summit wasn’t just theory. It was focused on real-life application. Attendees walked away with strategies they can use immediately in their communities.
Workshops covered:
- Setting up local referral systems that connect faith leaders with trauma-informed counselors
- Creating support spaces that reflect cultural and spiritual values
- Training volunteers to respond safely and respectfully to signs of domestic abuse
- Developing long-term relationships between churches, clinics, and advocacy groups
This isn’t about adding more work. It’s about working smarter—together.
Whether you’re a pastor, a clinician, or a community volunteer, the summit gave you the tools to support families more effectively. Attendees walked away with:
- Clearer understanding of how domestic violence intersects with mental health, faith, and family
- Actionable plans for community collaboration that go beyond just talking about change
- Stronger networks that make it easier to find help—and offer it
- More confidence in knowing how to help without overstepping or doing harm
They learned how to respond to domestic violence and become a trusted resource in their community.
Living Waters: Empowering Through Connection
Living Waters has long recognized that sustainable support requires more than one-off programs. Their approach is rooted in Community Engagement & Collaboration—and the summit is just one part of that mission.
Through healing circles, mentoring groups, and advocacy work, Living Waters brings together people who care deeply but often work separately. The summit builds on that foundation by giving those people a chance to collaborate, not just coexist.
This approach helps address the emotional and spiritual needs that are often overlooked in traditional support systems. It recognizes that real healing happens in safe, culturally aware environments—and those environments are built through community trust.
Building Long-Term Capacity
One of the key takeaways of the summit is sustainability. It’s not about quick fixes. It’s about building skills and systems that will continue to help people long after the summit ends.
Faith leaders will be better equipped to listen without judgment. Teachers will learn how to recognize trauma in a student’s behavior. Health workers will gain cultural insight that helps build trust. And all of them will have stronger relationships with one another.
That’s how real change happens. Not by building walls between services and communities—but by building bridges.
FAQs
- Who attended the summit?
Anyone who works with families—especially those affected by domestic violence and mental health struggles. This includes pastors, counselors, teachers, healthcare workers, and community volunteers. - How was this summit different from others?
The focus was not just awareness but action. Attendees learned how to apply what they learn in their specific roles, and how to collaborate with others doing the same. - How does faith fit into the conversation?
The summit respects and includes faith-based perspectives. It recognizes that spiritual communities play a major role in people’s healing and safety. It’s not about separating faith from care—it’s about integrating them respectfully.
Why This Matters Now
In today’s world, where families face complex challenges, working alone just doesn’t work anymore. Domestic violence isn’t just a legal issue. It’s emotional, spiritual, and cultural. Supporting survivors takes more than one type of expertise. It takes a community.
Living Waters understands this—and their summit is a blueprint for how to move forward. The message is clear: if we truly want to help families heal, we need to stop working in silos.
We need to start building bridges
If you’re looking to strengthen your role in supporting survivors—or just want to be part of a bigger, better network—the Domestic Violence and Mental Health Summit is where you need to be.
Living Waters is showing that when we work together, we all get better at what we do. That’s the power of Community Engagement & Collaboration—and it’s how we build safer, stronger communities for everyone.
Living Waters helps to build bridges via Community Engagement & Collaboration
Living Waters serves as an independent link to faith-based communities to collaborate and partner with public and private sectors. We assist communities to establish and implement new goals.