trauma: a recurring them in girls’ lives girls and women … · traci pence, probation officer,...
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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 [email protected]
➢ Kristi Cobbs [email protected]
➢ Tracy Zabel [email protected]
➢ Roxanne Sanderson [email protected]
Thank you for attending today!!!!