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FVIP: A Domestic Violence Intervention Program for Georgia Refugees. Georgia Department of Human Resources B. J. Walker, Commissioner Gwen-Dolyn Cutter, State Refugee Coordinator and Project Director. Georgia Department of Human Resources.
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FVIP: A Domestic Violence Intervention Program for Georgia Refugees Georgia Department of Human Resources B. J. Walker, Commissioner Gwen-Dolyn Cutter, State Refugee Coordinator and Project Director
Georgia Department of Human Resources • DHR was created in 1972 by the General Assembly in the Governmental Reorganization Act of 1972. • Four Divisions: • Division of Aging Services • Division of Family and Children Services • Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases • Division of Public Health • Refugee Resettlement Program - A federally funded program that provides assistance to refugees.
Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) • Provides supplemental services to local communities impacted by significant rates of domestic violence within the refugee population. • This will be accomplished through a variety of ongoing services including informative sessions, group meetings, family counseling sessions, and media outreach. • Overall, the project will be characterized by the joint involvement of community organizations, refugees, and applicable government agencies. • Included Projects: • Men’s Program • Women’s Support Groups • Community Education Sessions • Media Outreach
Target Population/Community • Refugees in the metro-Atlanta area • Strong focus on refugee men who batter their partners, children, or other members of their family or community • Female victims of domestic violence • Communities with high populations of refugees
Goals and Objectives • to organize and facilitate 10 community education sessions on family violence for 250 refugees and refugee settlement caseworkers to increase knowledge and awareness about issues of family violence, U.S. laws, and available resources • to conduct a culturally appropriate ongoing 24-week Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) for 80 refugee men who are arrested or at risk of being arrested for family violence • to provide support services to 105 partners and family members of the participants enrolled in the FVIP to increase their safety, knowledge of family violence, and options available • to conduct media outreach, including 15 print releases and 10 PSAs, to increase awareness about the FVIP
Case Example A Bosnian man in the Men’s Program began exhibiting particular signs of manipulation and minimization of his violence. The facilitator was concerned for the safety of his partner so he contacted the women’s advocate to check in with her. The advocate immediately contacted the woman to review safety planning options and available resources.