Domestic Violence Part II:
Planning for a Safe
Conference
June Fisher, LSW
[email protected]
“FGDM meetings can be a useful tool for
families facing both child abuse and domestic
violence by fostering the formalization of
community and social supports.”
“The presence of domestic violence
necessitates that thorough assessment and
preparation processes be implemented in
order to ensure the safety of child and adult
survivors.”
“Once the security of all victims is assured, the
worker, the coordinator, and the participating
family can then embark upon a process that
can likely result in a safer, healthier and
stronger family”.
Source: Pennsylvania Family Group Decision Making Toolkit: A Resource to Guide and Support Best
Practice Implementation. Fall 2008.
Learning Outcomes
Review the critical areas and tasks related to
assessing and planning (during all phases of
coordinating and facilitating) an emotionally and
physically safe Family Group Conference (FGC)
• Prevention
• Referrals
• Coordinating/Planning the FGC
• The FGC
• Follow-up
Family Group Decision Making (FGDM)
Safety Planning:
The Critical Components
1.Prevention
2.Referral (Stage 1 of the FGDM Process)
3.Preparation (Stage 2 of the FGDM
Process)
4.The Family Group Conference (Stage 3
of the FGDM Process)
5.Follow-up (Stage 4 of the FGDM Process
– VITALLY IMPORTANT)
Prevention: Leadership Team
“Recognize that historically, child welfare
workers and advocates for domestic violence
survivors represent organizations with
different philosophies and approaches, and
may not agree on the goals of the FTC or on
the best strategies for ensuring safety.”
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/~socwork/msw/pdfs/FGC%20Appendix%20A.pdf
• Identifies need and secures funding
• Develops collaborative partnerships with
stakeholders and referral sources
• Develops protocols for safely planning and
the FGDM process
• Insures all referral sources, coordinators
and facilitators are educated re: DV and
FGDM
Prevention: Referral Source
• Knowledge about the FGDM purpose,
values, benefits and referral process
• Knowledge re: DV
• Skilled in recognizing the signs of DV
• Skilled in safely presenting the FGDM
process to a victim/family experiencing DV
Prevention: Coordinator
Usage of a DV Assessment Tool:
• Jacquelyn C. Campbell’s, Ph.D., R.N. DANGER
•
ASSESSMENT
The Pennsylvania Enhancing Assessments Toolkit (section
IX Domestic Violence, page 90)
o Women Abuse Screening Tool
o HITS -A domestic violence screening tool for use in
the community
o Women’s Exposure to Battery
o Child Exposure to Domestic Violence
Source:
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Resources/PA%20Enhancing%20Assessments%20
Toolkit.pdf
Prevention: Community
Partners/Stakeholders
• Systems collaboration
• Preventing DV
• Recognizing DV
• Coordinating services
• Encourage referrals for Family Group
Conferencing
The Referral
(Stage 1 of the FGDM Process)
Family
Referral Source
Coordinator
Referral: Family
The family is the expert, knows their family the
best and MUST be heard during all points in the
planning process
Must be clearly asked if ”What do you need to
feel safe”
As needed, utilize safe methods to interview the
victim separate from the perpetrator
Referral: Referral Source
• Informs the coordinator of any legal
actions (PFA, Custody, Criminal)
• “Case consultation by the Domestic
Violence Unit is a necessary component to
identify specific strategies to achieve child
safety in cases where domestic violence is
present…
• Social workers and supervisors are
expected to utilize case consultation
provided by the Domestic Violence Unit.
• “The goal of consultation is to maximize
resources, improve consistency of response
and achieve outcomes of safety,
permanency and well-being”.
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/~socwork/msw/pdfs/FGC%20Appendix%20A.pdf
Referral: Coordinator
Exploring the Use of FGDM when
DV is present
Source: Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (2008)
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/310%20FGDM_Strategies%20to%20Empower%20Families%2
0Experiencing%20DV/Hndts/HO4_ExploringTheUseOfFGDMWhenDVIsPresent.pdf
Preparation: Family
 The VICTIM leads, all else follows
Assessment of Understanding and support
Confidentiality maintained
Transparency with SAFETY as a priority
Final check-in prior to the conference
“Preparation for the FTC should include
conversations with all participants to
understand expectations and concerns better
and to prepare each participant to support the
goals of the meeting”.
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/~socwork/msw/pdfs/FGC%20Appendix%20A.pdf
Preparation: Referral Source
Possesses basic knowledge re: Dynamics of DV
and both DV and child welfare safety planning
Consulted during key decision making points
throughout the process
Must recognize the safety planning
recommendations of the coordinator
Provides new information to the coordinator
Preparation Planning
•
ALL participants are routinely asked, “do you have any
concerns re: having an emotionally and physically safe
conference”?
If DV exist or is suspected:
•
•
Caseworkers have or receive information on the signs of DV,
recognizing safety concerns and services available through the
county DV services.
Protocol is used to select facilitators for a FGC that involves an
individual/family who has experienced DV.
Preparation: Coordinator and
Teaming to Identify NonNegotiables
“The history of domestic violence must be
taken into account in planning or making
recommendations about visiting, to ensure
that such arrangements do not endanger the
child or the non-abusive parent. Children's
visits with an abusive parent should be
planned with the non-abusive parent to
minimize risk”.
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/~socwork/msw/pdfs/FGC%20Appendix%20A.pdf
A MUST USE Assessment Tool
Assessing for the Presence of Domestic
Violence
• Decision Making Points
• Victim Question
• Child Questions
• Batterer Questions
Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (2008)
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/310%20FGDM_Strategies%20to%20Empower%20F
amilies%20Experiencing%20DV/Hndts/HO5_AssessingThePresenceOfDV.pdf
PREPARATION QUESTIONS
Handout # 11 Questions to ask when deciding to have a Family
Group Conference
Handout # 12 , Preparation Questions.
The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training Program 310: FGDM:
Strategies to Empower Families Experiencing Domestic Violence
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/310%20FGDM_Strategie
s%20to%20Empower%20Families%20Experiencing%20DV/Hndt
s/HO12_PreparationQuestions.pdf
• “The FTC must be structured to address safety
issues and to best accomplish the goals of the
meeting.”
• The facilitator may also want to include in the
meeting someone who has worked with
abusers, for example staff from a batterers
intervention program.
• Separate FTCs can be held for the survivor and
the abuser.
• “It is critical that participants in the meeting
understand that the intended outcome of FTCs
is always to increase safety and decrease risk
for the mother and the children”.
Source: http://www.childwelfaregroup.org/documents/FTCinDVCasesFVPF.pdf
Safety Planning
Attempt to connect the victim with the
local DV experts
If needed, review the PCADV Safety
Planning tool with the victim
As appropriate, share the DV Safety Plan
and/or the Child Welfare Safety Plan
The Safety Plan
According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against
Domestic Violence (PCADV)
• There is no right or wrong way to do a safety
plan. Check off and fill in the things that work
for you. Make it your plan. Review it often.
Make changes as you need to.
• There is help for you to develop a safety plan.
You can ask your social worker, family
violence worker or some other person in the
community to work with you on the plan.
• Safety Plans can help you be as safe as you can be from
future abuse.
• They are used by people who:
o Want to leave, but it is not safe
o Are not sure about leaving, but need help in case the abuser gets
violent
o Have left and the threat of violence is still there
• Safety Plans Can Help You:
o Get help in an emergency
o Get away safely
o Keep children safe
o Safely get your clothes, pets, or other personal items
Source: padv.org http://padv.org/get-help/safety-planning/#.VtxblcdExPM
Preparation: Service Providers
“Advocates for domestic violence survivors,
batterer intervention program staff, and other
community partners who participate regularly
in FTCs should be trained in Family Team
Conferencing, so that they thoroughly
understand the meeting process and
participant roles”.
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/~socwork/msw/pdfs/FGC%20Appendix%20A.pdf
Consult/collaborate with all involved service
systems (with releases of information)
Educate
Risks associated with DV,
DV’s impact on the entire family
Benefits of FGDM when a family is at risk of or
experiencing DV
Other supportive services for families at risk of
or experiencing DV
Cultural sensitivity and myths re: culture and DV
Make additional referrals as needed
Share available resources (formal and
informal)
Stage 3 - The FGC:
Family
The Victim leads the process
Receives a Safety Planning check-in
Is empowered to use their safety signal
Can request the conference is stopped
Domestic Violence and Child Safety,
Well-Being and Permanence
“All abusive partners or young people should
receive individual service plans, referral to
batterer intervention programs, when
appropriate, and monitoring of the progress of
their plans”.
Source: https://www.uvm.edu/~socwork/msw/pdfs/FGC%20Appendix%20A.pdf
The FGC: Referral Source
Double checks their role re: During/Post Safety Plan
Present throughout the conference
Serves as a support to the facilitators & participants
Shares the family strengths
Shares concerns without blaming/shaming the
victim/batterer/family
Maintains awareness of family dynamics
Looks for the “911” signal
The FGC: Coordinator
Double checks ALL components of the During/Post Safety
Plan
Reminds support people of their important role
Recommended to be Present throughout the conference
Serves as a support to the facilitators & participants
Connects with family as needed
Maintains awareness of family dynamics
Looks for the “911” signal
The FGC: Facilitator(s)
Knowledgeable and Skilled re: DV
Double checks ALL components of the
During/Post Safety Plan
Clearly reviews FGC Guidelines and refers to
them as often as needed
Recognizes the need for a breaks
Assess the need to stop a conference
Maintains awareness of family dynamics
Looks for the “911” signal
The FGC: Coordinator
Double checks ALL components of the During/Post Safety
Plan
Reminds support people of their important role
Recommended to be Present throughout the conference
Serves as a support to the facilitators & participants
Connects with family as needed
Maintains awareness of family dynamics
Looks for the “911” signal
Follow-up
(Stage 4 of the FGDM Process)
VITALLY IMPORTANT
The risk of death or injury to a victim is
greatest when leaving an abusive situation
Source: http://www.dcadv.org/domestic-violence-facts-and-faqs
Follow-up: Coordinator
Double checks ALL components of the Post Safety Plan
Contacts the victim within 24 hours, sooner if indicated
on the safety plan or if new information is presented at
the FGC
Works with the team to adjust safety plan as needed
based on dynamics of the FGC
Reports lessons learned to the local and statewide
planning teams
Follow-up: Referral Source
Completes any steps in the DV/Child Welfare
Safety Plans
Case management: continues or refers for
monitoring the implementation of the FGC Plan
Informs all team members of new safety
concerns
Next Steps
PA’s Leadership Team
5 Year (2008) Strategic Planning
Pennsylvania Statewide Support System Statewide
Implementation Team Meetings “Statewide meetings are
where I come to get my battery charged” -FGDM Coordinator
• Support Practice Expansion: DV and Victim Advocacy
• Ensure Cross System Collaboration
• Connect with Legal Community (Domestic Relations
Protection from Abuse Court)
Source: Pennsylvania Family Group Decision Making Toolkit: A Resource to Guide and Support Best
Support Practice Implementation (page 27)
Areas for Growth
Implementation process
• Cross Systems Implementation: Adding DV programs
and legal system
• Statewide Partnership: increase with DV organizations
and legal system
Maintain Strategic Connections to state and local DV
organizations
• Part of county, regional and statewide planning
committees
• Consultation prior to ALL conferences that may have
components of DV
• Representative of PCADV or a local DV on the PA FGDM
Leadership Team
Areas for Growth
Incorporating Assessing Safety into the evaluation process
•
•
The Coordinator asked me about my personal safety and any
family/conference safety concerns
The Facilitator addressed emotional and physical safety during
the ground rules
County to County Mentoring and Sharing
•
Monthly or Quarterly conference calls to review strengths,
techniques and concerns re: planning for safe FGC’s
All participants or as needed, participants sign a Safe
Conference Commitment form
Sources and Resources
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Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence: http://www.dcadv.org/domestic-violence-facts-and-faqs
Handout # 11, Questions to ask when decising to have a family group conference.
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/310%20FGDM_Strategies%20to%20Empower%20Families%20Experiencin
g%20DV/Hndts/HO11_%20QuestionsToUseWhenDecidingToHoldAFGDMConference.pdf
Handout # 12 , Preparation Questions. The Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training Program 310: FGDM: Strategies to
Empower Families Experiencing Domestic Violence
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/310%20FGDM_Strategies%20to%20Empower%20Families%20Experiencin
g%20DV/Hndts/HO12_PreparationQuestions.pdf
FAMILY GROUP DECISION MAKING PRACTICE GUIDANCE FOR PLANNING, IMPLEMENTING, TRAINING, AND
EVALUATING . Appendix A: Situations Involving Domestic Violence
https://www.uvm.edu/~socwork/msw/pdfs/FGC%20Appendix%20A.pdf
FGDM: Strategies to Empower Families Experiencing Domestic Violence, 310 . Handout 4: Exploring the Use of
FGDM when DV is present. Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center (2008)
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Curriculum/310%20FGDM_Strategies%20to%20Empower%20Families%20Experiencin
g%20DV/Hndts/HO4_ExploringTheUseOfFGDMWhenDVIsPresent.pdf
LUCY SALCIDO CARTER, M.A., J.D. , FAMILY TEAM CONFERENCES IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES GUIDELINES
FOR PRACTICE http://www.childwelfaregroup.org/documents/FTCinDVCasesFVPF.pdf
Safety Planning, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) http://padv.org/get-help/safetyplanning/#.VtxblcdExPM
Pennsylvania Family Group Decision Making Toolkit: A Resource to Guide and Support Best Practice
Implementation. Fall 2008.
http://www.pacwcbt.pitt.edu/Organizational%20Effectiveness/FGDM%20Evaluation%20PDFs/FGDM%20Toolkit.p
df
The Pennsylvania Enhancing Assessments Toolkit. Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center, (2011)
http://www.pacwrc.pitt.edu/Resources/PA%20Enhancing%20Assessments%20Toolkit.pdf