Team Decisionmaking Team Decisionmaking and and

Domestic ViolenceDomestic ViolenceAn Advanced Training for

TDM Facilitators and

Child Protection Supervisors

Slide # 1

AgendaAgenda Introductions Domestic Violence, Child Maltreatment, and

Family to Family Team Decisionmaking Foundations of a Good DV TDM Meeting Engagement and Assessment Developing Ideas and Reaching a Consensus

Decision Planning Next Steps

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True or FalseTrue or False The TDM maxim of “Nothing about us without us”

means that the entire family should be invited to the TDM meeting, regardless of the concerns.

It is not appropriate for the TDM facilitator and worker to meet privately with a family member in advance of the TDM meeting.

When domestic violence becomes known to the child protection staff for the first time in the TDM meeting where both parents are present, the TDM facilitator should list domestic violence as a concern and ask for more information from the family or worker.

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Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior in which one person attempts to control an intimate partner through threats or actual use of physical violence, sexual assault, verbal and psychological abuse and/or economic coercion.

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Overlap of Child Abuse & Overlap of Child Abuse & DVDV Most studies found 30% to 60% overlap,

41% was median High rates of overlap found in:

Child fatality reviews (41% - 43%) Abused child studies Battered mother studies

Edleson (1999), Appel & Holden (1998)

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How are children exposed to How are children exposed to DV?DV? Directly witness assault, rape Hear the violence, name calling, intimidation,

threats, disrespect Feel the tension See the aftermath—broken furniture, bruises on their

mother, father being taken away by police

Forced to participate in or watch the abuse of their mother

Intervene to protect their mother

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How are children exposed to How are children exposed to DV?DV? May have their own safety or well-being threatened—

threats to kill, threats to call CPS (removal), threats of kidnapping, never seeing their mother again

Physically placed in harm’s way

After separation, may be used to relay messages, keep tabs on mother, harass mother

Seriously injured or killed during an assault

Witness homicide of mother

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Problems Related to Problems Related to ExposureExposure

Over 100 studies available A third separated abused from exposed

children and found similar outcomes Generally show:

Behavioral and emotional problems Cognitive functioning problems Longer-term problems

Edleson (1999)

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Impact of ExposureImpact of ExposureIn infants and young children, exposure may

Interfere with developmental tasks (physical, cognitive, emotional, and social)

Cause trauma responses/alter brain chemistry

Weaken coping skills

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Impact of ExposureImpact of ExposureIn infants and young children may show up as

Low birth weight Exaggerated startle response Somatic complaints Regression in toileting or language Sleep disturbances Difficulty attaching to caregiver Hyper-vigilance Separation anxiety Eating disorders

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Impact of ExposureImpact of Exposure

Aggression Delinquency Anti-social behavior Hyperactivity Conduct disorders Academic problems Attitudes supporting the use

of violence Substance abuse

Depression Anxiety Low self-esteem Social withdrawal Somatic complaints Trauma (some PTSD)

In school-aged and older children, exposure can result in:

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Impact of ExposureImpact of Exposure

Exposure to DV may have emotional and physical consequences for children depending on: Frequency, severity, chronicity, proximity to the

violence Age and developmental stage at which exposure

begins Multiple forms of violence (child abuse,

community violence, exposure to DV)

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Impact of ExposureImpact of Exposure

Exposure to DV may have emotional and physical consequences for children depending on: Presence or absence of loving and supportive

adults Presence or absence of supportive community Child’s individual temperament Opportunities for healing and success

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Resiliency in Children Resiliency in Children ExposedExposed

Children’s resilience to trauma is linked to the presence of a healthy parent or adult in their lives. (Margolin, 1998)

Children’s emotional recovery from exposure to DV depends more on the quality of their relationship with the non-battering parent than any other single factor. (Bancroft & Silverman, 2002)

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Resiliency in Children Resiliency in Children ExposedExposed 70% of abusive parents were abused as

children themselves

BUT

70% of abused children do not become abusive parents

(Center for the Study of Social Policy, 2005)

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Forms of Intimate Partner Forms of Intimate Partner ViolenceViolence

Battering Reactive/Resistive violence Situational violence Pathological violence Anti-social violence

(Praxis International, 2006)

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Safety Ground RuleSafety Ground Rule

We create a place of physical and emotional safety for all who

participate in the TDM.

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Facilitator ExplanationFacilitator Explanation“This meeting needs to be a place of physical and emotional

safety for all who participate, and we want that safety to continue after we complete the meeting. Examples of how we ensure safety are:

We respect restraining orders and other court orders prohibiting contact between people.

We give permission for each person to keep themselves safe during the meeting (for instance, if a family member needs to take a break at any time, they can do so).

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FacilitatorFacilitator ExplanationExplanation

I might, as the facilitator, suggest a time-out, that we take a break, or that we move into separate meetings if I believe that someone is feeling unsafe; and

We adhere to ‘Nothing about us without us’ except when there is a safety concern for a participant.”

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Minimum DV TDM Minimum DV TDM Safety StandardsSafety Standards

Do not violate court orders Do not increase danger to the child

Therefore do not increase danger to the mother, which can lead to increased danger for the child

Do not share disclosures of mother or child with the perpetrator

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Minimum DV TDM Minimum DV TDM Safety StandardsSafety Standards

Worker holds pre-meeting planning conversation with non-offending parent

Conduct safety check-in just before the TDM meeting

Hold separate meetings for non-offending parent and perpetrator, or make alternative arrangements for his participation

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Minimum DV TDM Minimum DV TDM Safety StandardsSafety Standards

Establish safety for mothers and kids together whenever possible

Facilitator interrupts any discussion of DV not known to the facilitator in advance of the TDM meeting

Postpone the meeting if necessary for safety

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Better DV TDM Better DV TDM Safety StandardsSafety Standards

(In addition to Minimum Standards) Avoid increasing risk (potential for future

harm) to the child and battered mother Hold perpetrator of violence accountable,

with regular check-ins with mother to determine impact on safety

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Challenges to CPS Challenges to CPS AssessmentAssessment Confirmation bias: the tendency to

conform the world to our perceptions of it, rather than seeing things as they actually are

One-sidedness: an over-emphasis on what is wrong or scary

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Challenges to CPS Challenges to CPS AssessmentAssessment False “neutrality “ of assessment. How

and when we ask questions; what we DON’T ask; and where we focus our energy all have an impact on families

Lack of awareness of how dominant culture values shape our view of families

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Improving CPS AssessmentsImproving CPS Assessments

Nurture an agency culture of self-reflection that learns from successes, failures, and “near misses”

Collaborate with providers Partner with families Rigorously search for both safety and

danger

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Improving CPS AssessmentsImproving CPS Assessments

Enhance critical thinking Notice habitual assumptions Be clear about what information is needed Be self-reflective re: race and culture

Search for exceptions to abuse/neglect Authorize “designated doubters”

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DV AssessmentsDV Assessments

Assumption: He’s just under a

lot of stress; he has anger management problems; he just “lost it”.

Alternative explanation: If this was about stress, he’d

be abusive with everyone, not just his family. Does he hit his boss when he’s angry at work? The cashier who gives him incorrect change? His probation officer who is disrespectful to him?

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DV AssessmentsDV AssessmentsAssumption: She

always goes back.

She always lets him back into the house.

Alternative explanation: She loves and wants to be with him. It’s

his abuse she wants to stop. She can’t make it on her own financially. She is new to this country or community,

and she feels lonely and isolated. He is her connection to her previous life.

She is in more danger when they are separated.

He has threatened to hurt the children if she doesn’t go home.

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DV AssessmentsDV Assessments

Assumption: She chooses

men who abuse her.

Alternative explanation: She chooses men for love. They

choose to abuse her. Abusive men prey on vulnerable

women. She has not had positive role

models for relationships.

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DV AssessmentsDV Assessments

Assumption She

chooses her partner over her children.

Alternative explanation She protects the children by attending

to his needs. She wants her children to have their

father in their lives. In her culture, family is everything. He promises her that he will change; he

seems remorseful. Her family arranged the marriage.

Leaving would disgrace her family.

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DV Assessment FocusDV Assessment Focus

How dangerous is he? (What are we worried about?)

What has mother (or others) done to create safety? (What is working? What is not working?)

What additional resources or services can increase physical and emotional safety? (What needs to happen?)

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Parenting by Men Who Parenting by Men Who BatterBatter Behavior negatively affects children

More controlling and abusive parenting

Perpetrators involve children in violent events

Continued threats and violence after separation

Good under observation(Bancroft & Silverman, 2002)

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Why work with the Why work with the violent partner?violent partner? If we don’t, mothers end up being held responsible for

everything. This is unfair, ineffective and potentially very dangerous

Working with him can increase safety for the children and their mother

He may be willing to go into a batterer intervention program, and may be able to change his behavior

Fathers who use violence often have both legal and illegal contact with their children

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Why work with the Why work with the violent partner?violent partner? Development of empathy for his children can be a

protective factor against further abuse He may want to be good father. Positive involvement by

a father figure can be very beneficial to children’s development

The mother may want her children to have a safe and healthy relationship with their father

Abuse is a learned behavior and therefore can be unlearned

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Why hold a separate TDM Why hold a separate TDM meeting?meeting? Managed well, a separate TDM can increase safety for

the children and their mother The meeting can provide a forum in which a father can

feel heard, and have his role validated The possibility of children being put into foster care can

be a strong motivator for some men Provides an opportunity for assessing his motivation to

change based on the impact of his behavior on his children

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Why hold a separate TDM Why hold a separate TDM meeting?meeting? Facilitator and others can model effective engagement

balanced with appropriate accountability for workers If his family is invited, possibility of expanding the role

of the natural support system to help him change his behavior

If the BI program can be at the TDM, making the connection with him at the meeting can increase the odds of him going to the program

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Key Elements of Safe Key Elements of Safe PracticePractice Check in with his partner about how to approach him Use third party information about his violence whenever

it is available (police or court report, from family members or friends)

Pay attention for opportunities to use HIS descriptions of his own behavior to explore his violence or the impact on his family

If using information provided by his partner or the children, SAFETY PLAN in advance

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Key Elements of Safe Key Elements of Safe PracticePractice Assess his willingness to take responsibility for his

behavior. CAUTION: Check what he says against actual behavior following the intervention

Expand network of support to hold him responsible for violence and to support him as he changes his behavior

Keep her informed, and check in with her about safety after contact with him

Create a coordinated response to addressing his behavior with other systems (police, courts, batterer intervention, visitation programs, etc.)

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www.endabuse.owww.endabuse.orgrg

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