Assessing Child Safety in the Context of Domestic Violence for CFWS and FVS staff

the Child Safety Framework - overview Safety vs Risk Present Danger Information Based Safety Assessment Safety Threats Threshold Analysis Child Safety Plan Analysis

A Common Definition of domestic Violence “A pattern of assaultive and coercive behaviors, including physical, sexual, and psychological attacks, as well as economic coercion, that adults or adolescents use against their intimate partners.”

Identifying Domestic Violence Universal and Periodic Screening What are some helpful ways to ask about DV? Who should be asked? How to ask? Safety precautions? Where else do we get information?

Screening = Yes (or probably) Determine who is the perpetrator and who is the survivor?

Let’s Dive in! Specialized Domestic Violence Assessment DV perpetrator’s pattern of assaultive and coercive tactics Impact of the DV on the adult victim Impact of the DV on the child Protective factors Lethality indicators

Meet The Family

What else do you want to know? Complete a Specialized DV Assessment on the Family

Documenting the Specialized DV Assessment Labeled case note Supervisors can note “reviewed specialized DV assessment” Can also integrate the information into the gathering questions

Tackling our biases Understanding survivor behavior Presuming DV is or isn’t a safety threat Understanding the role of substance use by batterers

Common Safety threats #4 There has been an incident of domestic violence that affects child safety.  #3 Caregiver(s) are acting (behaving) violently or dangerously and the behaviors affect child safety. # 16 A child is extremely fearful of the home/facility situation or people within the home/facility.

Safety threshold Severe consequences to a child Immediate or will occur in the near future Vulnerable child in relation to the safety threat Out of control/no one willing or able to control Behaviors, conditions, etc., are specific, observable and clearly understood

Safety Plan Analysis *FTDM Considerations There is a parent/caregiver or adult in the home. The home is calm enough to allow safety providers to function in the home. The adults in the home agree to cooperate with and allow a Safety Plan. Sufficient, appropriate, reliable resources are available and willing to provide safety services and tasks.

Child Safety Plans Specific tasks address the safety threats immediately Reliable people who are allied with the child’s safety Signed and understood by all parties; documented by CA Do not rely on the promises of parents or caretakers Monitored frequently by CA staff

Supporting the Safety of all Family members Can the children remain with the adult victim/survivor? In a new location? Can the adult survivor/victim be consulted about where and how it’s best to place the children? Can contact and communication between children and the adult victim/survivor be frequent and meaningful? What does the victim/survivor think would be helpful to support their safety and resilience?

Safe and supportive case planning What is needed for safe and meaningful visitation? How can the children be supported to recover from trauma? How can the survivor be supported to build resilience? How can we support the perpetrator to change? How do we assess their change? Support their parenting?

What are your KEY takeaways?

Our view Screen (safely, periodically) Gather more information using the Specialized DV Assessment DV is not always unsafe for kids; not always safe. Support child safety via survivor autonomy.

Our view Consult with adult survivors about what helps everyone stay safe. Visitation should be physically safe and non-traumatizing. Mental health support to children and parents improve outcomes.

Resources Local DV Advocacy organizations and certified perpetrator treatment programs http://wscadv.org/washington-domestic-violence-programs/ https://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/domestic-violence/domestic-violence- services County wide collaboration groups CA DV program manager Jenna Kiser kiserjm@dshs.wa.gov QPS’, Alliance Coaches, Supervisors who have training in DV

Thank YOU! Social Worker’s Practice Guide to Domestic Violence, authors and collaborators statewide Jenna Kiser, CA Safety Program Manager Patty Erdman, Alliance Regional Education and Training Manager, Region 1 CPS Program leads statewide