Safe Families – Safe HomesA Collaborative Approach to

Responding to and Preventing Domestic Violence

For Family Service Workers and Other Head Start Staff

Session 1

Welcome, Introductions, and Domestic Violence

1.1 Shared Agreements

Spelling And Handwriting Don’t Count

Confidentiality/Responsibility To Share Information Carefully

Be On Time

Three Minute Rule: Time Out; Anyone Can Call; Parking List

It's OK To Have Fun

If You Have A Question, Don’t Be Afraid To Ask

Listen With Respect

It Is OK To Leave The Room And To Move Around

There Are No "Bad Guys Or Women," i.e. No Blaming

It Is OK To "Pass" During An Exercise

1.2 Session 1 – Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

Articulate the goals of the training.

Describe the basic content of the training.

Understand the Shared Agreements, especially regarding Confidentiality.

Articulate their own perspective regarding domestic violence issues.

Describe other perspectives on domestic violence issues.

Describe how other definitions of domestic violence might differ from their own.

Identify power and control as the foundation of abuse.

1.3 Topics of the 9 Sessions

1. Welcome, Introductions, and Domestic Violence

2. Domestic Violence

3. Domestic Violence In the Family

4. Substance Abuse

5. Child Abuse and Neglect

6. Guidelines for Talking About Domestic Violence

7. Role of Head Start Staff and Safety Planning

8. Observation, Documentation and Self-Care

9. Action Planning

1.4 Agenda – Session One

1.1 Welcome and Opening 30 min

1.2 Overview of Training 20 min

1.3 Personal Assessment 30 min

1.4 Power and Control Wheel 20 min

1.5 Closing 20 min

1.5 Domestic Violence Statistics

Prevalence and Incidence of Domestic Violence Approximately 1.5 million women and 834,732

men are raped and or physically assaulted by an intimate partner annually in the United States.

Approximately 4.8 million intimate partner rapes and physical assaults are perpetrated against U.S. women annually, and approximately 2.9 million intimate partner physical assaults are committed against U.S. men annually.

1.5 (cont) Domestic Violence Statistics

Prevalence (cont) Although violence against males occurred at

“higher or somewhat higher” rates than the rates of violence against females in 2009, the percentage of female victims/survivors of intimate partner violence was about 5 times that of male victims/survivors.

On average between 2001 and 2005, the majority of nonfatal intimate partner victimizations occurred at home; approximately two thirds of females and males were victimized at home.

1.5 (cont) Domestic Violence Statistics

Intimate Partner Homicide

Compared to a man, a woman is far more likely to be killed by her spouse, an intimate acquaintance, or a family member than by a stranger.

Females made up 70% of victims killed by an intimate partner in 2007, a proportion that has changed very little since 1993.

1.5 (cont) Domestic Violence Statistics

Health Implications In addition to injuries sustained during violent

episodes, physical and psychological abuse are linked to a number of adverse physical health effects including arthritis, chronic neck and back pain, migraine and other frequent headaches, stammering, problems seeing, sexually transmitted infections, chronic pelvic pain and stomach ulcers.

1.5 (cont) Domestic Violence Statistics

Dating Violence Incidences of teen dating abuse are unexpectedly high.

Nearly 1 in 3 teens report actual sexual abuse, physical abuse, or threats of physical abuse. Nearly 1 in 4 have been victimized through technology, and nearly 1 in 2 teens in relationships report being controlled, threatened, and pressured to do things they did not want to do.

80% of teens report knowing someone their age who has been a victim/survivor of controlling behaviors from a boyfriend or girlfriend, and 60% report knowing someone who has been the victim/survivor of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or threats of physical abuse by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

1.5 (cont) Domestic Violence Statistics

Children’s Exposure to Domestic Violence Conservatively, at least 10% to 20% of children

are estimated to be exposed to intimate partner violence each year.

Children exposed to domestic violence have often been found to develop a wide range of problems including interpersonal skill deficits, psychological and emotional problems such as depression and PTSD, and externalizing behavior problems.

1.5 (cont) Domestic Violence Statistics

Intimate Partner Stalking During a 12-month period, an estimated 14 in

every 1,000 persons age 18 or older were victims/survivors of stalking. Women were at greater risk than men for stalking victimization.

Approximately 1 in 4 stalking victim/survivors reported some form of cyberstalking such as email (83%) or instant messaging (35%).

1.5 (cont) Domestic Violence Statistics

Domestic Violence and the Economy While economic stress and hardship may increase the

risk of domestic violence, domestic violence may also cause financial problems for victims/survivors and entrap them in poverty and an abusive relationship.

Women in abusive relationships report instances in which battering had obstructed their ability to find work, maintain employment, and use their wages to establish greater economic independence and safety.

1.6 A Working Definition – DV

A pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over an intimate partner

Domestic violence (abuse) happens when one person believes s/he is entitled to control another.

Domestic violence acts generally fall into one or more of the following interconnected or overlapping categories: • Physical Abuse

• Sexual Abuse

• Psychological Abuse

1.6 (cont) A Working Definition – DV

Intimate Partner Violence The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define

intimate partner violence (IVP) as a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans.

The term “intimate partner violence” describes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require intimacy.

1.7 State / Local Definition – DV

State or local definitions supplied by Trainers

Federal Definition from VAWA of 1998, H.R. 3514

1.8 Power and Control Wheel

1.9 Equality Wheel