Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Trainings provide comprehensive and systematic training on various topic areas for domestic violence program staff, to improve their understanding of current issues impacting women who are abused. Such topics include: the nature and dynamics of domestic violence, socio-political understanding of domestic violence, cultural competency, offender accountability, the impact on society, effects on family members, safety plans, service provision, lethality, counseling, substance abuse, mental illness, relevant provisions of state and federal law, working operations and limits of various elements of the civil, criminal justice and legal system, and immigration.