trauma: a recurring them in girls’ lives girls and women … · traci pence, probation officer,...

TRAUMA: A RECURRING THEME IN GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S LIVES

PRESENTED BY:

TRACI PENCE, PROBATION OFFICER, DAKOTA COUNTY COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

TRACY ZABEL, CORRECTIONS SUPERVISOR, RICE COUNTY COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

KRISTI COBBS, MSW, LGSW, HENNEPIN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

ROXANNE SANDERSON, MSW, LICSW, RAMSEY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

TRAUMA: A RECURRING THEME IN GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S LIVES

PRESENTED BY:

TRACI PENCE, PROBATION OFFICER, DAKOTA COUNTY COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

TRACY ZABEL, CORRECTIONS SUPERVISOR, RICE COUNTY COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

KRISTI COBBS, MSW, LGSW, HENNEPIN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

ROXANNE SANDERSON, MSW, LICSW, RAMSEY COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY

TRAINING OBJECTIVES

• EXPLORE GIRLS’ AND WOMEN’S PATHWAYS INTO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE

SYSTEM

• LEARN HOW TO CREATE A TRAUMA-INFORMED AND TRAUMA RESPONSIVE

CULTURE WHEN WORKING WITH GIRLS AND WOMEN.

• EXPLORE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN WHO SUFFER

FROM TRAUMA.

WHAT ABOUT THE GIRLS?

An Open Letter to President Obama: Please Visit

Our Girls Behind Bars Too

CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUTH

▪ SENSATION-SEEKING

▪ DRIVE FOR INDEPENDENCE

▪ IMPORTANCE OF PEERS

▪ INTENSE SELF-INVOLVEMENT

▪ EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN

▪ LIMITED PERSPECTIVES

▪ NOT ADULTS(NOWER, 2004)

WHO ARE THE GIRLS?• LOW RISK/HIGH NEED

• GIRLS WHO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE THE HIGHEST RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, SEXUAL ABUSE TRAUMA, AND UNSAFE HOME ENVIRONMENTS AMONG YOUTH IN THE SYSTEM.

• THE PROPORTION OF GIRLS IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IS GROWING AND GIRLS NOW MAKE UP A FULL 1/3RD OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE POPULATION.

• THE MAJORITY OF SYSTEM INVOLVED GIRLS HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIMES (SEXUAL ABUSE/VIOLENCE)

• GIRLS ARE OFTEN ARRESTED DUE TO FAMILY CHAOS AND CONFLICT.

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION (2001)

WHO ARE THE WOMEN?

PROFILE OF A JUSTICE INVOLVED WOMAN

➢ HISTORIES OF CHILDHOOD VICTIMIZATION, PARTICULARLY SEXUAL ABUSE

➢ A BACKGROUND OF STATE CARE

➢ MENTAL DISORDERS SUCH AS BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER (BPD), MAJOR

DEPRESSION, POST-TRAUMATIC

➢ STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

➢ INTELLECTUAL AND COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS

PROFILE OF A JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMAN (CONT’D)

➢SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND DEPENDENCY

➢ HOUSING INSTABILITY

➢ PRIMARY CARE FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN

➢ LOW EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

➢ MINIMAL EMPLOYMENT HISTORIES

➢ SUBSEQUENT VICTIMIZATION AS ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS SUCH AS

SEXUAL ASSAULT AND FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

(E.G. CORSTON, 2007; GELSTHORPE, 2010; OGLOFF, DAVIS, RIVERS, & ROSS, 2006; SALISBURY & VAN VOORHIS,

2009)

GIRLS AND WOMEN DESERVE…

• TO HAVE US MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE AS TEENAGE GIRLS OR AS WOMEN

WHO COME TO US WITH:

➢ STRENGTHS, ASSETS &WISDOM

➢ LIFE STRESSORS AND TRAUMA HISTORIES

➢ SURVIVAL & COPING SKILLS-SOME WHICH ARE UNSAFE, UNHEALTHY AND

ILLEGAL AND SO OF WHICH ARE HEALTHY, SAFE & CREATIVE.

(PAULA SCHAEFER AND ASSOCIATES, DATE?)

WHAT IS TRAUMA?

Blood Line Poem

TRAUMA - DEFINED

A SITUATION IN WHICH “THE PERSON EXPERIENCED, WITNESSED, OR WAS

CONFRONTED WITH AN EVENT OR EVENTS THAT INVOLVES ACTUAL OR

THREATENED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY, OR A THREAT TO THE INTEGRITY OF

SELF OR OTHERS AND IN WHICH THERE WAS A RESPONSE THAT INVOLVED INTENSE

FEAR, HELPLESSNESS OR HORROR.

(HODAS, 2006)

TRAUMA HISTORY AMONG JUSTICE-INVOLVED GIRLS

• GIRLS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAVE MUCH HIGHER RATES OF

TRAUMA EXPOSURE THAN GIRLS IN THE GENERAL POPULATION

• TRAUMA HISTORY IS ASSOCIATED WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPENDENCE,

HIGH-RISK BEHAVIORS, SEX WORK, AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

DISORDERS AMONG GIRLS IN JUVENILE JUSTICE SETTINGS

• BEING IN CUSTODY CAN ALSO BE A RE-TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE

(AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION AND NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION,2001)

TRAUMA HISTORY AMONG JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN

• A REPORTED 85-90% OF FEMALE INMATES/PROBATIONERS HAVE A HISTORY

OF DOMESTIC AND/OR SEXUAL ABUSE (ACLU, 2011).

• WOMEN IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT REPORT A LIFETIME HISTORY OF

TRAUMA AT A RATE OF 99% AS COMPARED TO 55% TO WOMEN IN

COMMUNITY SAMPLES (NAJAVITS, 1997).

• WOMEN ARE 2X MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP PTSD & EXPERIENCE LONGER

DURATION OF SYMPTOMS (APA, 2017).

TRAUMA AND SURVIVAL BEHAVIORS

Survival Behaviors

Girls and Women are often doing the best they

can…

CULTURE OF SURVIVAL

• WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SURVIVAL BEHAVIORS?

• RUNNING

• DRUGS

• SELF-INJURIOUS BEHAVIOR

• EXPLOITATION

• STEALING

THROUGH OUR EYES: CHILDREN, VIOLENCE, AND TRAUMA

• HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=Z8VZXDA2KPM

OFFICE OF VICTIMS OF CRIME

THE SEXUAL ABUSE

TO PRISON PIPELINE:

THE GIRLS’ STORY

Human Rights Project for GirlsGeorgetown Law Centeron Poverty and InequalityMs. Foundation for WomenCENTER

GROUNDBREAKING 2015 REPORT• “VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS IS A CRISIS OF NATIONAL

PROPORTIONS THAT CUTS ACROSS EVERY DIVIDE OF

RACE, CLASS AND ETHNICITY.

• … MANY GIRLS WHO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ABUSE

ARE ROUTED INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM

BECAUSE OF THEIR VICTIMIZATION.

• ONCE INSIDE, GIRLS ENCOUNTER A SYSTEM THAT IS

OFTEN ILL-EQUIPPED TO IDENTIFY AND TREAT THE

VIOLENCE AND TRAUMA THAT LIE AT THE ROOT OF

VICTIMIZED GIRLS’ ARRESTS.

• MORE HARMFUL STILL IS THE SIGNIFICANT RISK THAT

THE PUNITIVE ENVIRONMENT WILL RE-TRIGGER

GIRLS’ TRAUMA AND EVEN SUBJECT THEM TO NEW

INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL VICTIMIZATION …”

GIRLS’ PATHS INTO THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM –THE SEXUAL ABUSE TO PRISON PIPELINE: THE GIRLS’ STORY 2015

Release into community with exacerbated trauma symptoms

Trauma symptoms triggered and/or new incidents of abuse

Trauma coping behaviors resume and/orre-entry into abusive environment

Entry into Juvenile Justice

girls’ common reactions totrauma are criminalized and

exacerbated by involvement

in the juvenile justice system,

leading to a cycle of abuse

and imprisonment

New arrest occurs and cycle repeats and deepens(for

prostitution, status offenses, incorrigible behavior, etc.)

Sexual Abuse (sex trafficking, abusive home, poorly supervised child welfare placement)

Reactive Behavior

Unaddressed Trauma, Mental Health, Physical Health Issues

EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMAADOLESCENTS AGES 12-17

• INTERNALIZING SYMPTOMS: EMOTIONAL NUMBING, AVOIDANCE OF STIMULI,

FLASHBACKS AND NIGHTMARES; CONFUSION; DEPRESSION; WITHDRAWAL AND

ISOLATION; SOMATIC COMPLAINTS, SLEEP DISTURBANCES; ACADEMIC OR

VOCATIONAL DECLINE; SUICIDAL THOUGHTS; GUILT; REVENGE FANTASIES.

• EXTERNALIZING BEHAVIORS: INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS; AGGRESSIVE

RESPONSES; SCHOOL REFUSAL OR AVOIDANCE; SUBSTANCE ABUSE;

ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR.

(HODAS, 2006)

ADOLESCENT BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES TO TRAUMA

• APPEARS GUARDED, DEFENSIVE, ANGRY, DIFFICULT TO REDIRECT, AND DISMISSES

SUPPORT.

• REACTIVITY THAT IS MORE FREQUENT, INTENSE, INAPPROPRIATE, OFFENSIVE AND LASTS

LONGER, HOLDS GRUDGES

• EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS OFTEN APPEAR TO BE IN RESPONSE TO SEEMINGLY

UNIMPORTANT EVENTS, AND MAY HAVE NO IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIABLE ANTECEDENT.

• DIFFICULTY TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEHAVIOR AND LACKS INSIGHT

(PSYCHOLOGY TODAY, 2014)

EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMAIN ADULT WOMEN

Numbing

emotions

Avoidance

behaviors

Gaps in Memory Dissociation Difficulty in

concentrating

Shame/Guilt Eating

disorders

Self Injurious

Behavior

Sleeping

difficulties

Nightmares/

Night terrors

Amnesia Hopelessness Helplessness Compulsive

Behavior

Flashbacks

Psycho-

Somatic

Symptoms

Headaches/

Migraines

Sexual

dysfunction

Substance Abuse/

Dependency

Impulsivity

COMPLEX TRAUMA

A TYPE OF TRAUMA THAT OCCURS REPEATEDLY AND CUMULATIVELY,

USUALLY OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND WITHIN SPECIFIC

RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTEXTS

(Courtois, 2014)

COMPLEX TRAUMA

▪ REPETITIVE, PROLONGED, OR CUMULATIVE

▪ MOST OFTEN INTERPERSONAL, INVOLVING DIRECT HARM, EXPLOITATION, AND

MALTREATMENT INCLUDING NEGLECT/ABANDONMENT/ANTIPATHY BY PRIMARY

CAREGIVERS OR OTHER CARETAKING ADULTS,

▪ OFTEN OCCUR AT DEVELOPMENTALLY VULNERABLE TIMES IN THE VICTIM'S LIFE,

ESPECIALLY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD OR ADOLESCENCE, BUT CAN ALSO OCCUR LATER

IN LIFE AND IN CONDITIONS OF VULNERABILITY ASSOCIATED WITH DISABILITY/

DISEMPOWERMENT/DEPENDENCY/AGE /INCARCERATION (COURTOIS, 2014)

SIX GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR GENDER-RESPONSIVE SERVICES

#1 GENDER

#2 ENVIRONMENT

#3 RELATIONSHIPS

#4 SERVICES AND SUPERVISION

#5 SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

#6 COMMUNITY

(Bloom, B, Owen, B, & Covington, S. 2003).

ENVIRONMENT

WHAT IS A TRAUMA-INFORMED ENVIRONMENT?

TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE IS AN APPROACH TO ENGAGE PEOPLE WITH HISTORIES OF TRAUMA THAT RECOGNIZES THE PRESENCE OF TRAUMA SYMPTOMS AND ACKNOWLEDGES THE ROLE THAT TRAUMA HAS PLAYED IN THEIR LIVES. (NATIONAL CENTER FOR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE)

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE TRAUMA-INFORMED?

INSTEAD OF: "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?“

ASK: "WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU?"

TRAUMA INFORMED LANGUAGE ENVIRONMENT

Instead of: Consider:

Referring to inmates as “Offender.” Referring to them with respect such as “Ms.

Smith.”

Saying “I am going to violate you.” Saying “I will need to refer this back to court for

review.”

Saying “Shakedown.” Saying “Safety Check.”

Saying “Lock her down.” Saying “Take her to a secure area.”

“If you can’t go, your UA must be dirty.” “We will need to wait until you can provide a

sample.”

Patting them down with out explanation Tell them what you are doing before you do it

each step of the way.

CREATING A HEALING AND RECOVERY ENVIRONMENT

1. STABILIZATION AND SAFETY

2. PROCESSING TRAUMA, EXPLORE AND

REINTEGRATE OF TRAUMA MEMORIES

INTO A PERSONAL NARRATIVE

3. POSITIVE CONNECTION OR

RECONNECTION WITH OTHERS.

(HERMAN, 1992)

RELATIONSHIPS

RELATIONAL APPROACH

“RELATIONSHIPS ARE WHAT HOLD GIRLS’

LIVES IN PLACE.”

(MARY PIPHER REVIVING OPHELIA: SAVING THE SELVES OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS)

DISCLOSURE OF TRAUMA EXPERIENCE

WHAT NOT TO SAY:

• JUST FORGET ABOUT IT AND MOVE ON

• I FEEL SORRY FOR YOU

• ASK FOR DETAILS YOU DO NOT NEED

• DISCLOSURE IS NOT THE GOAL!

WHAT TO SAY:

• IT WASN’T YOUR FAULT

• YOU ARE NOT ALONE

• I WILL SUPPORT YOU/I BELIEVE IN YOU

• IDENTIFY SUPPORT SYSTEMS

• HELP HER DEVELOP A PLAN FOR

WHAT’S NEXT (SHE’S IN CHARGE!)

RELATIONAL APPROACH

THE QUALITY OF THE RELATIONSHIP–BETWEEN A WOMAN AND HER

PROBATION OFFICER CAN PROFOUNDLY IMPACT OUTCOME.

(ORBIS PARTNERS, MOVING ON TRAINING, 2008)

RELATIONAL MODEL OF DEVELOPMENTSTONE CENTER

➢MOTIVATION IS TO BUILD CONNECTION WITH OTHERS

➢FEMALES DEVELOP A SENSE OF SELF AND SELF WORTH WHEN CONNECTED WITH OTHERS

➢CONNECTION, AS OPPOSED TO SEPARATION, AS A PRIMARY PRINCIPLE OF GROWTH (MOTIVATOR)

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER

➢WHAT WORKS BEST IS ANYTHING THAT INCREASES THE QUALITY

AND NUMBER OF RELATIONSHIPS IN THE CLIENT’S LIFE.

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER.

➢ THE CURRENCY FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE IS TRUST, AND TRUST

COMES THROUGH FORMING HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS.

(DR. BRUCE PERRY)

RELATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR WORKING WITH GIRLS AND WOMEN

• KNOW HER NAME AND REMEMBER DETAILS

• MANNERS MATTER

• BE PRESENT, PAY ATTENTION, AND BE CONSISTENT

• TAKE NOTICE OF SOMETHING SPECIAL – FIND WAYS TO PRAISE

• EXPLAIN YOUR ROLE, COMMUNICATE A PLAN, AND ACKNOWLEDGE HER OPINION

• GET HER TO TEACH YOU SOMETHING

• MAKE HER LAUGH

• REFLECT ON WHAT YOU ARE SEEING AND FEELING

• GET SUPPORT FROM YOUR TEAM AND MONITOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

SERVICES AND SUPERVISION

GENDER-RESPONSIVE TRAUMA CURRICULA FOR WOMEN

* HELPING WOMEN RECOVER (SUBSTANCE ABUSE) BY STEPHANIE COVINGTON

* BEYOND TRAUMA (2ND EDITION) BY STEPHANIE COVINGTON

(PSYCHO-EDUCATIONAL - 12 SESSIONS)

* HEALING TRAUMA (SHORTER - 6 SESSIONS) BY STEPHANIE COVINGTON

3/9/2017 44

TRAUMA FOCUSED CURRICULA FOR WOMEN

➢SEEKING SAFETY

BY LISA NAJAVITS

➢CONNECTIONS (SHAME-RESILIENCY GROUP)

BY BRENE BROWN

➢Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Skills

By Marsha Linehan

TRAUMA INFORMED CURRICULA FOR GIRLS• VOICES (STEPHANIE COVINGTON)

• GIRLS CIRCLE

• NOT A #NUMBER

PROMISING APPROACHES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS

• GIRLS COURT/RESTORATIVE JUSTICE

• ALL GIRL PROBATION UNITS/CASE LOADS

• DAY TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR GIRLS

• RESIDENTIAL BASED CONTINUUM OF SERVICES

• MENTORING PROGRAMS

• FEMALE AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED/

TRAUMA-RECOVERY FOCUSED COMMUNITY

• G.I.F.T.S. PROGRAM

• WOMEN’S RISK NEEDS ASSESSMENT (WRNA)

INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

• LEARN ALL THAT YOU CAN ABOUT GIRLS AND WOMEN: WHAT WORKS, WHAT

DOESN’T, KEEP LEARNING

• KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS/ASK FOR HELP WHEN YOU NEED IT!!

• ADVOCATE FOR GIRLS WITHIN YOUR AGENCIES AND OUTSIDE YOUR AGENCIES

• GET INVOLVED!

• TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF! YOUR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT!

• MODEL WHAT YOU WANT FOR GIRLS-REMEMBER THAT GIRLS AND WOMEN LEARN

FROM YOU!

(PAULA SCHAEFER AND ASSOCIATES)

MN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TASK FORCE FOR JUSTICE-INVOLVED

WOMEN & GIRLS

➢ Created in 1981 by the legislature

➢ Diverse membership

➢ Present initiatives:

➢ Empowering women and girls

➢ Strive to impact policy

FAITH AND HOPE

• EVERYONE DESERVES SOMEONE IN THEIR LIFE WHO CAN SEE THEM

AS THEY ARE AFRAID TO SEE THEIR SELF.

• “FOR THOSE OF US WHO CHOOSE THIS IMPORTANT WORK, HOPE

IS MANDATORY; BECAUSE WE CANNOT GIVE WHAT WE DO NOT

POSSESS.”

(HASAN DAVIS, J.D. YOUTH ADVOCATE ANNIE E. CASEY FELLOW)

➢Contact information:

➢ Traci Pence traci.pence@co.dakota.mn.us

➢ Kristi Cobbs kristi.cobbs@hennepin.us

➢ Tracy Zabel tracy.zabel@co.rice.mn.us

➢ Roxanne Sanderson roxanne.sanderson@co.ramsey.mn.us

Thank you for attending today!!!!