Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning This curriculum is intended to be a tool to assist domestic violence service providers offering victim services (such as those outlined in California Penal Code § ) for the purpose of ensuring advocates working with survivors meet the requirements of a “Domestic Violence Counselor” pursuant to Evidence Code §1037.1(a)(1).

Objectives To develop the skills necessary to provide an accurate assessment of the client’s needs and safety. To develop skills necessary to assist clients with developing appropriate safety plans. To ensure the safety and confidentiality of clients. To increase participants’ understanding of the benefits and dangers of technology related to a client’s safety. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 2

Incorporating the Empowerment Model Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 3

Empowerment Definition Empowerment is a multi-dimensional, social process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into desired actions and outcomes. This process creates the power to use these choices in his or her own life, community and society, with individuals acting on issues that they define as important. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 4

Using the Empowerment Model When Working with Victims the individual is not blamed for his or her problems but is responsible for generating a solution. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 5

Needs Assessment Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 6

What is a needs assessment? Needs assessment is a systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or "gaps" between current conditions and desired conditions or "wants". A needs assessment is an important part of the planning process, and is an excellent tool for clarifying problems and identifying appropriate solutions or interventions. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 7

Danger Assessment Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 8

Danger Assessment Definition Domestic Violence danger assessments help to determine the level of danger a victim has of being killed by his or her intimate partner. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 9

Assessment Tools The Danger Assessment (Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing; Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN) MOSAIC Threat Assessment (Gavin de Becker and Associates, Incorporated) Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 10

Suicide and Domestic Violence Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 11

Risk Factors for Suicide A combination of individual, relational, community, and societal factors contribute to the risk of suicide. Risk factors are those characteristics associated with suicide— they may or may not be direct causes. Family history of suicide Family history of child maltreatment Previous suicide attempt(s) History of mental disorders, particularly clinical depression History of alcohol and substance abuse Feelings of hopelessness Impulsive or aggressive tendencies Cultural and religious beliefs (e.g., belief that suicide is noble resolution of a personal dilemma) Local epidemics of suicide Isolation, a feeling of being cut off from other people Barriers to accessing mental health treatment Loss (relational, social, work, or financial) Physical illness Easy access to lethal methods Unwillingness to seek help because of the stigma attached to mental health and substance abuse disorders or to suicidal thoughts SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 12

Identifying Warning Signs: PLAID PALS Plan: Is there a plan? How specific is the plan? Lethality: Is it lethal? Can they die? Availability: Do they have the means to carry it out? Illness: Do they have a mental or physical illness? Depression: Chronic or specific incident(s)? San Francisco Suicide Prevention http// La Casa de Las Madres, 40 Hr. Domestic Violence Training, February Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 13

Previous attempts: How many? How recent? Alone: Are they alone? Do they have a support system? Are they alone right now? Loss: Have they suffered a loss? Death, job, relationship, self-esteem? Substance Abuse (or use): Drugs, alcohol, medicine? Current, chronic? San Francisco Suicide Prevention http// La Casa de Las Madres, 40 Hr. Domestic Violence Training, February Identifying Warning Signs: PLAID PALS Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 14

Suicide Prevention Tips Speak up if you’re worried: It’s okay to talk to the person about your concerns. Respond quickly in a crisis. Offer help and support: Refer the person to local resources, and let them know you are available to support them whenever they need it. DO NOT leave the person alone: if they are in immediate danger. Never keep a suicidal plan secret: Call 911 if you have to. Remember that it’s not your decision: Ultimately, you have no control over the persons decision, and if they do attempt (or commit) suicide it is not your fault. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 15

Safety Planning Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 16

What is a Safety Plan? Written plan that outlines what survivors will do to maintain safety for themselves and their children. Safety Plans should be flexible and individualized, based on each person’s situation. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 17

When To Use a Safety Plan Can be used in a variety of situations: – Dealing with an emergency – Continuing to live with or date an abusive partner – Protecting yourself and your children after you have ended a relationship with an abusive partner. The Nature and Dynamics of Domestic Violence, March 2005, Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 18

Assess Safety Is either the woman or her children in immediate danger? Has the violence escalated recently? Are there weapons in the home? If the woman is not safe, does she have a safety plan? Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 19

Domestic Violence Safety Plan Plan should: – Consider a variety of circumstances – Contain concrete/practical considerations – Contain local resource numbers Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 20

Components of a Safety Plan Pack a bag in advance. Have personal documents ready. Hide extra sets of house and car keys. Establish a code with family or friends. Plan where to go. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 21

Review Safety Plan Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 22

Safety Planning and Culture Role of Women in her culture Access to financial resources Ability to drive Connection to extended family Religion Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 23

Safety Planning Practice Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 24

Technology Safety and Relocation Information Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 25

Why Don’t We Publish this Information on the Web?! It’s vital to get tech safety information to victims! But we need to do it in ways that do not give ideas or explicit instructions to abusers and perpetrators. Example: “There are cell phone settings that can be used to monitor you… so it may be safer to turn cell phones off when not in use”. We don’t publish details about “silent mode + auto answer”. Please do NOT post explicit tech information on the web, or publish in newsletters that will be posted on websites. See NNEDV website: or contact Safety Net Team to discuss further. Module 4 Assessment, Screening & Safety Planning Published 2012 Slide 26

This project was supported by Grant Number G-1101CAFVPS from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA). The opinions, findings, and conclusions in this publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of HHS nor Cal EMA. Cal EMA reserves a royalty-free, nonexclusive, and irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, and use these materials and to authorize others to do so.