CF Family Violence Prevention and Awareness Campaign

Leadership: Roles and Responsibilities

Part I: CAF perspective on family violence

Part II: Information on family violence

Part III: Leadership roles and responsibilities regarding family violence prevention

Part IV: Resources available

Outline

Indicators of FV

Prevention activities

Resources available

Background

Within 90 days of assuming command, base/wing commanders and COs shall be briefed by the family crisis team on the dynamics of family violence (FV), including:

CAF Perspective on Family Violence

Part I:

The CAF recognizes that FV has a direct impact on:•Operational readiness•Work performance•Good order and discipline

Why Recognize Family Violence in the CAF?

Failure on the part of leadership to respond appropriately may result in decreased performance, serious injury or death.

Family violence in any form, by anyone, is a priority issue that is being addressed within the CAF.

CAF leadership at all levels must play an active role in the identification and prevention of family violence.

The CAF will render all possible assistance and support to the family in a discreet and empathetic manner with due regard to privacy.

Core Operating Principles:

Understanding Family Violence to Better Support Our Members

Part II:

Family violence is an abuse of power within a relationship of family, trust or dependency.

What Is Family Violence?

• Emotional abuse• Psychological abuse • Neglect• Financial exploitation • Destruction of property

Family Violence Includes Many Forms of Abusive Behavior:

• Injury to pets• Physical abuse • Sexual abuse• Homicide• Criminal

harassment (stalking)

Tension building

Acute violent incident

Justifying and blaming

Honeymoon

The Cycle Of Violence

• Psychological to verbal• Verbal to economic• Economic to sexual• Sexual to physical• Homicide/suicide

Escalation Of Violence

Where Does It Come From?

• Risk factors that are not easily “fixed.”

• Marital distress, alcohol consumption, or a history of pre-deployment intimate partner violence (IPV).

• A belief that seeking help (in the form of services) could hurt career success.

• Inconvenient service delivery models that prevent some from seeking assistance when they need it.

Five year rates of spousal violence among married and common-law partners was 9% in those aged 15-24 and 7% in those aged 25-34.

2004 HLIS results indicated that the prevalence of family violence over the past five years, while significant, is not necessarily higher then rates found in the general Canadian population.

Relevant Data

Actual rates of family violence in the CF are unknown, however, there is little reason to believe that they would be lower than those in the general population.

Approximately 12% of victims of violent crime were victims of family violence. 83% of these were women.

Relevant Data

• Staying in the relationship sometimes keeps the survivor of abuse alive

• Fear of the abuser• Fear of losing the children• Lack of resources to leave• Lack of trust in the services• Isolation – posted away from family support – language barriers• Criminal justice system does not always take the survivors

seriously• Survivors do not know where to go for help

Why Do Survivors of Abuse Stay?

• Hope that the abuser will change

• Still feel loved (honeymoon period)

• Self-blame – the survivor feels responsible for the violence of the partner

• Desire to keep the family together for the children

Why Do Survivors of Abuse Stay?

• Ideal of a “happy family” – and the stigma of failure

• Religious pressures/beliefs• Shame• Fear of being judged• Seeing the abuse as

something normal (no other experience)

There is a higher incidence of family violence in the CAF than in the Canadian population.

Myth or Fact?

Survivors of abuse provoke the abuse and deserve what they get.

Myth or Fact?

Individuals who abuse their partners are mentally ill.

Myth or Fact?

Leadership…

Roles and Responsibilities

Part III:

Base commanders and COs shall ensure that CAF members and their families are provided with information concerning the dynamics of FV, its effects upon families and the resources available to assist them.

Unit briefings, family days, pamphlets, request for a presentation by the family crisis team, and other methods as considered appropriate.

CAF Obligations - Awareness & Prevention

FV is a health related issue that needs to be addressed.All CAF members, supervisors and COs are responsible for :

Obligations

• Being familiar with the dynamics of FV and the resources available to assist.

• Taking an active part in the elimination of FV within the CAF.

• Creating a supportive community that fosters early identification and intervention.

DAOD 5044-4 - Family Violence

CDS Guidance: Chapter 23 Family Violence

Base/Wing Standing Orders

Relevant Policies

Immediately notify the local child welfare authorities in cases of alleged or suspected child abuse or neglect.

Provide support, by encouraging the survivor of abuse and/or the alleged perpetrator to seek further help.

For supervisors, inform the CO if the matter is likely to impact the member’s ability to meet operational requirements.

Contact the local Family Crisis Team for information & guidance.

Responsibility: All CAF Members

In the event of an alleged incident of FV, immediate action must be taken:

First priority is to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved.

Upon receipt of an allegation, COs should consider implementation of a significant incident report in accordance with DAOD 2008-3, including D Med Pol, and the base surgeon on the distribution list.

CAF members should be permitted to attend any recommended services.

Responsibilities of COs & Supervisors:

Ensure D Med Pol and DMCA (Director Military Careers Administration) are advised with regard to any administrative or disciplinary action that may be taken (such as action pertaining to DAOD 5019-2).

The CO should seek advice from the legal advisor in those situations where it is unclear whether the CAF or a civilian authority has jurisdiction with respect to the incident.

Responsibilities of COs & Supervisors:

Only has a role to play if the CAF member involved in an incident of family violence is placed on counseling and probation.

Provides COs with current information and guidance regarding administrative measures related to family violence.

DMCA

Conducts administrative reviews of recommendations made by COs on a CAF member involved in family violence where breach of counseling and probation has occurred or where family violence may result in a recommendation for CAF member release.

DMCA

It is imperative that all records concerning a family violence incident be treated as sensitive information.

Pending a conviction for an offence related to family violence, all individuals shall be presumed innocent. The right to privacy and the protection of personal reputation must be respected.

Protection of Information Obligations:

Official records of a family violence incident are designated Protected B and must be carefully controlled and safeguarded. Disclosure is regulated by the governing bodies of the discipline involved.

Protection of Information Obligations:

Available Resources

Part IV:

• Promote awareness and education of family violence and its prevention to the entire CAF community.

• Provide members of the CAF community with timely, accurate, and clear information.

• Provide information about community resources in the event of family violence.

CAF Family Violence Prevention & Awareness Strategy

Goals & Objectives:

• Provide CAF leadership with accurate and clear policies, procedures, standards and good practice protocols for managing family violence cases and supporting education and awareness initiatives.

• Ensure that the service providers/responders in CAF communities are accessible to those they serve and ensure that the work that they do is visible.

• Encourage open and frank dialogue within CAF communities about family violence and family violence prevention.

CAF Family Violence Prevention & Awareness Strategy

• National “Take a Stand,” against family violence campaign• DAOD 5044-4.• CDS Guidance to Commanding Officers Chapter 23 Family

Violence Prevention• Annual Family Crisis Team training• Strengthening the Forces programs• Military Family Resource Centre

CAF Family Violence Prevention & Awareness Strategy:

• Family Crisis teams• Psycho-social services• MP• Chaplains• Medical officers

Intervention Resources Within the CAF

CAF Family Violence Prevention & Awareness Campaign: “Take a Stand”

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• Prevention and awareness regarding family violence

• Intervention and case management• Legal and administrative tasks• Specific functions based on members’

professional roles

Family Crisis Team (FCT) - Roles

• Base/Wing Social Workers• Health Promotion field delivery staff• Military Police• Military Family Resource Centre Prevention,

Support and Intervention Coordinators• As appropriate, professional health and social

service workers from the civilian community.

FCT Team Members

• Military Family Resource Centres• CFMAP 1-800-268-7708• Shelters, Rape Crisis Centres• Legal Aid • Social Workers• Psychologists• Members of the Clergy

Intervention Resources outside the CAF

• CAF Family Violence Prevention and Awareness Campaign: Take A Stand!

• Family Crisis Teams• SOP• Strengthening the Forces Programs• MFRC

Community Action At (Insert Your Base/Wing)

• Police Victim Services• Support services for women &

men • Transition House• Emergency safe shelter for

women and children, supportive counseling

• Military Family Resource Centre

• Assessment/referral, crisis support, short-term intervention. 24 hour Information Line toll free

Emergency Numbers

• CFMAP• Women’s Sexual Assault Crisis

Line• Individual and group counseling for

women survivors.• Military Police• Variety of police and security

services to the Base and surrounding military community.

• Community Distress Centre• 24-hour Crisis intervention line

It can be found in all places:

In all classes of society

In all age groups

In all cultures

In all ranks

Conclusion

Family violence in the CAF is not negligible.

Take a Stand!

Make the Call!