The Safe and together Model David Mandel, MA LPC Florida Dependency Court Summit August 27, 2009 Orlando Florida

2. Making good decisions for children impacted by batterers The Safe and together ModelDavid Mandel, MA LPCFlorida Dependency Court SummitAugust 27, 2009 Orlando Florida

3. 20 plus years in the domestic violence field • Batterer intervention programming • Research • Author • Over 12 years, working at the intersection of child maltreatment, domestic violence and child welfare • National • CT DCF • Current position Statewide Services Administrator DCF Domestic Violence Consultation Initiative David’s Background

4. DCF Domestic Violence consultation Initiative

5. Safe and Together Model

6. CW (and others) needs DV competencies • Distinct from but complements cross system collaboration • CW has distinct and unique role • 95% alignment • CW needs BW advocates expertise • BW advocates need to engage with CW to help their clients • Double standards around gender can benefit the perpetrator Safe and Together Assumptions: Policy

7. Batterers can harm children • Child safety and risk assessment flows first and foremost from an understanding of the perpetrator’s tactics • NOT from focusing on where people are living or the status of the relationship • Better assessment trumps empathy as tool • Principles and critical components of Safe and Together provide a framework for case practice and cross system collaboration Safe and Together Assumptions: Practice

8. Safe and Together Principles

9. What Children Exposed to bAtterers Need • What are the consequences for the children of the perpetrator’s actions? • How is each parent relating to the children around safety, stability, nurturance and healing from trauma? • Do we distinguish between the different roles of perpetrator and non-offending parent in our case work?

10. A pattern of coercive control perpetrated by one person against another in an intimate relationship. • This definition covers • abuse that occurs in relationships that have ended • Current and former partners who are not co-habitating • Is gender and sexual orientation neutral Definition of Domestic Violence

11. Critical Components

12. Actions taken by the batterer to harm the Children

13. Safe and Together is Ideal

14. Strengths based Behaviorally focused Integrates safety and trauma Multi-disciplinary Leads to case plans with measurable goals Does not burden non-offending parents with unnecessary services Promotes cross systems dialog Additional Aspects of the Safe and Together Model

16. Strengths Based Approach to Non-offending Parent

17. Case Practice Concepts with batterers

18. Batterer's Pattern of Coercive Control Consequences of batterer’s Behavior

19. Improving Practice: Batterers

20. Has the batterer been interviewed? Can we describe the batterer’s pattern of coercive control and actions taken to harm the children? Can we describe the non-offending parents efforts to protect the children? Does the case plan involve specific steps and expectations for the batterer? Do these specific steps address the batterers pattern of coercive control? Is there coordination between criminal court, CPS and/or other systems regarding the batterer? Is the batterer being referred to appropriate resources, e.g. evaluation and treatment? Is court/CP agency outlining the changes they expect the batterer to make? Is the batterer being held equally accountable as parent or parental figure for the safety and well-being of their children? Evaluating the Response to Batterers

21. “Despite the mother’s efforts to protect the children, the perpetrator is creating conditions injurious and harmful to the children.” (CT Collaborative)‏ Recommended alternative to “failure to protect” language

22. For more information David Mandel, MA, LPC David Mandel & Associates LLC Ph: 860-490-8638 email: davidmandel@endingviolence.com www.endingviolence.com/blog