Stop Domestic Violence- A template for best practice

Margaret WongExecutive DirectorHarmony House

Presentation on 19 May, 2004 at the DV training workshop organized by the HK Council of Social Service

Domestic Violence Defined

Definition by UN (General Assembly, 1993)

An act of gender-based violence that results in or likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivations of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life.

Domestic Violence Defined

the attempt , act or intent to intimidate within an intimate, dependent or trusting relationshipthe use of threat, physical force on another person or propertythe purpose of abuse is to control, intimidate, inducement of fear or inflicting paina pattern of behaviour The onset of violence will not stop by itself, it will only escalate once the cycle and pattern is established

-adapted from the Calgary Domestic Violence Committee

(CDVC),Alberta ,Canada

Standards of best practice Agency mission, policies and practices which protect the victimTrained and experienced staffSpecific screening and risk tracking Development of victim safety planAbuse screened and addressed specifically and not as a peripheral issuePerpetrators viewed as responsible for the abuse, not the victimReferral to specialized DV treatment services as appropriate to maximize the safety for victims

Harmony House - Zero Tolerance to Domestic Violence

Our goalsTo provide protection, caring and empowerment of women and children who are victims of family violence.To counsel and give guidance to batterers in order to stop the cycle of violence.To provide education to the community at large as well as specific target groups in order to promote family harmony.

Harmony House - Services

Shelter forBattered Women

(since 1985)庇護中心

Community Education andResource Centre

(CERC) (since 1992)社區教育及資源中心

Third Path-M an Services(since 2000)

第三線男士服務

Crisis Intervention Teamon Family V iolence(CIT) (since 2001)

-新希望行動 危機介入小組

Harmony House和諧之家

Examples of abusive behaviourPhysical abuseEmotional or psychological abuseSexual abuseNeglectIsolationIntimidationEconomic abuse

Myths about domestic violenceDomestic violence (DV) is a private, family matterDV only happens in poor familiesDV only happens in certain culturesDV only affects a small number of people DV is caused by stress or alcohol/substance abuse Victims ask for the abuseVictims like the abuse since they stay in the abusive relationshipPerpetrators are mentally illPerpetrators cannot manage their angerPerpetrators cannot change

Tip of the icebergA world wide problem

Source : The Penguin Atlas of Women in the World, 2003

Prevalence of Family ViolenceIn the United States:

4 million abused women require medical or police attentionevery 15 sec, a women is beaten4,000 women die each year due to domestic violence

Prevalence of family violenceIn H.K.

Average of 600 women, 1200children admitted to 3 shelters each year3298 reported cases of spouse abuse in 2003 (increase of 9% from 2002)7 women is beaten every day14 children affected by domestic violence on a daily basis

Shelter Admission Year Women Children

2003-2004 218 1922002-2003 217 2172001-2002 210 2362000-2001 208 2261999-2000 202 2221998-1999 174 2021997-1998 165 1891996-1997 164 2331995-1996 161 1661994-1995 126 1561993-1994 100 1141992-1993 142 1691991-1992 125 1451990-1991 164 1851989-1990 141 1491988-1989 103 1021987-1988 159 1631986-1987 166 1961985-1986 156 155Total 3101 3417

Effects of DV

92% of victims of domestic violence (spouse battering) are womenAffects the physical, psychological and emotional health of women Affects children-incidences of child abuseIntergenerational transmission (Boys 17 times and girls 10 times more likely to manifest serious behaviour problems*

* Wolfe, D.A., Jaffe, P., Wilson, S.& Zak,Ls.,(1985)”Children of Battered Women: The relationship of child behaviour to family violence and maternal stress.” Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 53, 657-665.

The Characteristic of battered women

Low self-esteem Traditional view about gender role Accepts responsibility for the batterer’s actionsDenies the terror and anger Severe stress reactions with psychophysical complaints (PTSD)Believes that no one will be able to help her resolve her predicament except herself

Identification of DV- difficultiesDenial by both victims and perpetratorsBarriers to disclosure ( financial ,immigration status, housing, social isolation,child custody ,cultural and traditional beliefs, religion, gender) The stages of change /empowerment of victims

Identification tools & strategies

IndicatorsAbuse historyObservation- sensitivity PrivacyUniversal Screening Asking direct questions – worker has to feel comfortable talking about abuse in order to help clients break the silence

Intervention and Victims support (1)

Key components of intervention: - address safety issues - validate and support ( Victims are

not responsible for the abuse. DV is against the law)

- provide information (community resources)

- victims empowerment

Intervention and victims support (2) Assessment and intervention process- Abuse history/type of abuse- Barriers impacting disclosure- Safety assessment #- Develop safety plan #- Identify escalating factors#- Arrange for follow up to ensure ongoing safety of

client- Provide information on resources

(financial ,housing, legal aid, injunction order, schooling for children)

- Referral to specialized personnel/ agencies on DV/shelters /crisis team for assistance

Safety assessment and planning*Is client safe to talk now? Where is s/he? Are children present? Ask her/him to access a public phone/go to a place where s/he can talk to worker in private. If not possible,use closed ended questions to solicit “yes” or “no” answer.Is client currently living with the perpetrator? Harassed by the perpetrator? Does client need assistance to leave right away?Does client have a safety plan? IS there a place which client can go to that is not known to the perpetrator? Any friends, relatives who can assist client?Is client aware of community resources? (shelter police, IFSCs, FCPSU)Develop plan to contact client: block caller identification,speak only to the client,do not leave messages with other individuals ,on answering machines, voice mail, or e-mail If worker is questioned by someone other than client, do not indicate who you are or which agency you are calling fromSet a time with client to call /check on client again

* Harmony House Hotline Manual & CDVC

Escalating risk factorsAbuse increase in frequency and severityHas client voiced out the intention to leave the relationship? What is the reaction of the perpetrator?Has client been stalked? Harassed?Any recent changes or additional stressors for the victim/perpetrator/other family members?Has client sought medical treatment for her injuries?Has perpetrator threatened to kill client? Her relatives? Other family members?Has weapon been used to hurt or threaten client? Has perpetrator threatened to commit suicide as a way of making client stay?Has the perpetrator’s work history changed in the past year? Is he employed ?Is the perpetrator using drugs?Has the perpetrator ever said that “ If I can’t have you, nobody can?”Does the client believe that the perpetrator is capable of killing her?

Developing a safety plan*(1)Keep a phone handy Plan an escape route out of your home-teach your children tooPut away some money – even enough for public phoneHave copies of ID, children’s school diary/student ID/ immunization records/birth cert.Gather a bag of essential clothing, medicines- leave it with a trusted friendHave the numbers of the shelters handy but hiddenAvoid rooms with access to weapons (eg kitchen)Teach children not to intervene in a violent situation. The most important thing is for children to be protected and to protect themselves

* Shelter will be a good source of info. And provide assistance in developing safety plans for victims of

DV

Developing a safety plan (2)Teach children a code and signal them when you need them to get help Change your routine or schedule or the route you take your children to school when you decide to leave or already left the abusive relationship Alert school authorities of the situation , consider changing children’s schoolTalk to your neighbour and request that they call the police if they feel you may be in danger

Developing a safety plan (3) – for StaffSee client with another staff personMeet client in a space that can be seen by othersLeave your office slightly ajarSit close to the door – avoid blocking of exitArrange other staff person to call you at agreed time intervalsTalk to your supervisor about your concernsIf interviewing client outside of office, inform office of the interview place and time and call office after completion of interview

Developing safety plan (4)- high risk situation Retrieve belongings from home

Children attending school after victim leave the relationshipVictim meets with relatives Visitation joint-interview*

* Couple counselling/family counselling is not recommended for families with ongoing issues of abuse - couple counseling is often an option only after specialized treatment has been undertaken or when couple counselling is concurrently held with specialized DV programs to ensure victim is able to protect oneself and perpetrator has taken responsibility of the abuse*

* Calgary Counselling Center,

Family Violence Program Guidelines,1997, Alberta, Canada

DocumentationFrom intake , assessment, intervention, case termination to after care Separate documentation files for victims and perpetratorsInterventions and safety plans of the victim should be recorded with caution in order to protect the safety of victimPhotographs- request client’s permission to photograph the injuries to be used as evidence in criminal proceedings if case is pursued by client

Standards of batterers treatment program

Safety of Victims is prioritized over the perpetrators’ right to confidentiality Lethality assessmentSeverity of abuseHolding the perpetrator accountable Address the violence directlyPolicy on partner contact to ensure safety of victims

Note: Anger /stress management program, self esteem group, psychotherapy, couples counseling, family therapy, communication skill building and conflict resolution without concurrent or sequential batterers violence treatment program are not appropriate for treatment of perpetrators of violence. *

* CDVC Protocol project, Feb 2000

Understanding the “Man”

Contextual – economy, environment, cross border marriageSocialization – emotion, gender role, power, family violence/role expectations

Batterers treatment (1) Behavioral indicators of perpetrators:- Speak for the client/ insist on

staying close to the client- Minimize, deny or lie about the

abuse- Blame the abused- Justify the abuse

Batterers treatment (2)- Refused to take responsibility for the

abuse- Use of control tactics to threaten,

intimidate service providers- Low self-esteem- Extreme jealous, controlling

behaviour- Understanding of emotions

Lethality Assessment :Abuse historyCriminal recordAlcohol/substance abuseGamblingMental illness : antisocial, schizophreniaSuicide attemptsEmotional stateSupport network

Intervention (1) – Third Path Man Service

Man Hotline Referral 

Individual Counseling 

Psycho-educational Treatment Group 

After Care

Intervention (2) – Goals :Break the denial patternConfront maximization/minimizationAssume responsibility on abuseCommunity linkageEnhance motivation2/2001 to 2/2004, total number of :a) Hotlines (Total calls) : 2130b) Hotlines (DV& Marital problems calls) : 936c) Case & group intervention : 230

Intervention (3) – Group Process & ContactPre-group interview – screening/lethality assessmentGender roles & stereotypeUnderstanding of emotions - positive means of expressionImpact of violenceCognitive & behavioral changesReflection of the power & control issuesProblem solving & communication skillsRelapse prevention plan

Intervention (4) – Aftercare services

Relapse preventionSkills buildingConsolidation of cognitive, behavioral changesPeer support

Change is possible

Stop using violent behavior = 71Using less violent behavior = 76

Total = 147 (71%)

No change = 13Reject service = 17Lose contact = 30

* N=207

Staff trainingDV is a specialized area which requires basic training, regular info.updating and experience in handling DV cases Basic training components:

- Incidence of DV- Types of violence- Principles of dealing DV- Screening- Impact of abuse- Dynamics of abuse- Cycle of violence- Stages of change- Legal responses- Community resources

CommittmentAgency policy on DVDedicate resources Designate manpowerRegular training Collaboration with specialized agencies/ programs/shelters on DV Advocacy for systemic change and community response

There is NO excuse for Domestic Violence