Domestic Violence : The Parenting Component in Intervention Programs

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

(Page 9 of 10)

Most intervention programs for perpetrators of domestic violence do not include significant content on appropriate parenting, but there are several examples of emerging programs that incorporate training on how to parent without violence. These include information and activities that focus on:

• The perpetrator's parental role in the family;
• Communication skills, assertiveness, and expressing feelings appropriately;
• Understanding the difference between discipline and punishment;
• Nonviolent means for changing children's behaviors by using logical and natural consequences;
• Child development information;
• The effects of child exposure to domestic violence.

Finally, perpetrators are known to escalate their coercive and violent behaviors during times of separation and divorce. Visitations with the children provide perpetrators with access to their partners where they frequently try to intimidate and threaten them. Thus, CPS caseworkers need to be especially cautious when scheduling agency visits with the abuser and the children. Caseworkers also should be certain that visitation schedules do not violate any existing restraining or child custody orders; it may be useful for the caseworkers to obtain a copy of the court orders to prevent conflicts. CPS caseworkers should adapt the case plan to include these services only when the victim and service providers believe they are reasonably safe options.

Family Team Conferencing in Domestic Violence Cases

Family team conferencing is a strength-based, family-centered approach that involves engaging family members, friends, community service providers, and other interested parties in a joint effort to help families protect their children and rebuild their lives. This model can be used in CPS cases involving domestic violence. In these cases, its goal includes supporting efforts to enhance the protection and safety of victims and children through a network of systems that provide services and abuser accountability. Family team conferencing in domestic violence cases incorporates the safety needs identified by victims and builds on their strengths. It helps victims expand on their existing protective strategies and resources by linking them with informal and formal resources that they have not accessed. Focusing on a family's strengths does not imply that problems, such as the perpetrator's abusive and controlling behavior, are to be ignored or minimized. Rather, strength-based practice promotes use of a family's coping and adaptive patterns, their natural support networks, and other available resources.

Initially, perpetrators are not usually involved in family case conferencing until safety mechanisms are secured for adult and child victims. Over time, family case conferencing with domestic abusers can include system accountability and support services that help them with ending their violent behaviors.

Assessing Community Resources and Cultural Factors in Case Plans

In addition to individual barriers, victims encounter community barriers to protecting themselves and their children. This is especially challenging for victims of domestic violence within ethnic, racial, disabled, gay and lesbian, and other marginalized groups. Successful case planning efforts include an assessment of available community resources and their effectiveness so that service recommendations are realistic for and accessible to family members. CPS caseworkers who do not take into consideration a community's inability to provide for or respond to the needs of victims of domestic violence will prepare ineffective case plans.

Assessment questions that CPS caseworkers may want to consider include:

Are there culturally sensitive resources, materials, and services available for non-English speaking victims?

Are there specialized services for gays, lesbians, and heterosexual men who are victimized by their partners?

How will a victim's immigration status affect her ability to obtain services recommended in the case plan?

How does the family view American culture? How will this impact the family's ability to seek help?

Are daycare and transportation services available so that the victim can attend domestic violence counseling or meet other service plan requirements?

Does the local domestic violence shelter have food and living accommodations appropriate for ethnic families, disabled victims, or victims of domestic violence with older male children?

Is the response by local police and the courts nonjudgmental, nonpunitive, and responsive to victims? Do they hold abusers accountable in their systems?

Do substance abuse programs address domestic violence and provide temporary living facilities for the children of victims of domestic violence ordered into inpatient treatment?

Is there transitional or affordable housing or economic support for victims once they leave the domestic violence shelter?

Do victims who live in rural communities have accessible transportation to domestic violence advocacy programs and other supportive services?

About the Author

www.childwelfare.gov
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.