Module 5 Learning Objectives

1. MODULE 5Best Practice ApproachesApplying a Women-Centred Approach to Child Protection Investigations

2. Module 5 Learning Objectives • Participants will: • Increase knowledge about Best Practice Approaches 4, 5 & 6. • Identify the benefits of a women-centred approach to child protection in cases of violence against women. • Apply women-centred, strengths-based approach to a case study using Best Practice Approaches 4, 5 & 6.

3. Module 5 Learning Objectives • Participants will: • Be able to plan and conduct a child protection investigation while attending to women’s safety. • Learn how to develop a safety plan with a woman.

4. Best Practice Approach 4Planning and Conducting an Investigation Develop an initial plan: • Advise woman to contact support person • Consult with service provider who has a strong knowledge about dynamics of violence. Please note: Unless consent to share information, share only non-identifying information. • The police, only if involved in the child protection investigation and /or for safety reasons

5. Best Practice Approach 4Planning and Conducting an Investigation To ensure the mother’s and her children’s safety as much as possible, consider issues such as: • When and how to contact the mother • Safest place and time to interview • Suggestions for a safety plan if required

6. Best Practice Approach 4Planning and Conducting an Investigation Reminders • Find out mother’s schedule - how and when to contact her. • Don’t leave messages with others or on machine. • Always use call blocker so your number is not displayed. • Check that it is safe for her to speak to you by asking questions such as: “Is now a good time to talk?” • Arrange a meeting where you know the abuser will not be present – eg. at school

7. Best Practice Approach 4Planning and Conducting an Investigation Applying an understanding of women’s experience of abuse in relationships in interviewing the woman can • enhance the service relationship • increase the potential for reaching safe solutions

8. Best Practice Approach 4Planning and Conducting an Investigation • Avoid making inaccurate assessments about the woman’s behaviour and resultant parenting ability. • Recognize the woman’s strengths and build on the strategies that she has used to keep herself and her children safe. • Respect the woman’s ability to make choices within the constraints of child protection practice. • Share knowledge and information.

9. Best Practice Approach 4Planning and Conducting an Investigation • Provide services that are accessible from the perspective of the woman. • Provide interpretation services that allow safe discussion about her experiences • Discuss her concerns and needs for support and safety. • Ask questions such as: “What assistance do you need to keep your children safe?” rather than making statements that imply blame such as: “It’s your responsibility to keep your children safe from your partner”.

10. Best Practice Approach 4Planning and Conducting an Investigation Advise the woman of the following for safety purposes: • when you/police plan to contact family members, particularly the alleged abuser • if for any reason the contact is delayed • after you have made contact with the alleged abuser • that you will not disclose her and/or her child’s location to the perpetrator or anyone without her knowledge and permission Buchwitz, Rita (2001) Alternatives to Apprehension: Education, Action and Advocacy

11. Best Practice Approach 5 Child’s Immediate Safety If concern exists about the child or youth’s immediate safety or safety during the investigation: • Explain reasons for the concern • Elicit suggestions for a safety plan for the children • Develop a safety plan • Explore issues that might impact upon her options • Explain interim plan

12. Best Practice Approach 6 Determine Child’s Need for Protection If child or youth needs protection from the abusive partner: • when you suspect that caller is the abusive partner • determine non-violent parent strengths • work with mother in order to create safe environment • separate service plans • determine past and current services

13. Best Practice Approach 6 Determine Child’s Need for Protection If a determination is made that the child or youth needs protection from the non-violent partner: • advise of decision using non-blaming statement • consider supportive interventions • non-judgemental words and tone of voice • ensure that the woman has a safety plan • non-coercive referral to women’s organizations • work with mother in order to create safe environment

14. Best Practice Approach 6 Determine Child’s Need for Protection If a decision is made that the child or youth does not need protection: • advise the caller, advocate/service provider, woman • consider voluntary services or referral • offer anti-violence community services • reassure clients that the services are truly voluntary • try to ensure that the mother has a safety plan in place, or knows who to contact for assistance

15. Best Practice ApproachesIdentifying Strengths and Safety Strategies • Many negative societal beliefs and stereotypes exist about women who are being abused • Abused women are often judged harshly • Reframe these negative judgments into • women’s strengths • safety strategies • impacts of abuse, having little personal power and control

16. Best Practice ApproachesIdentifying Strengths and Safety Strategies • Stigma surrounding abused women intensified when women are mothers • Can result in blaming mothers for risks or harms to their children, rather than the abuser being held accountable • Women subject to intense scrutiny as bad mothers, and held up to much higher standards.

17. Best Practice ApproachesIdentifying Strengths and Safety Strategies • Focus for woman is to reduce the risk of abuse • May appear to be neglecting her own needs when she is attending to her partner’s every demand in an effort to keep herself and her children safe • Identify and build on strategies the woman is already using to stay safe

18. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning • Acknowledge and build on a woman’s strengths and her own knowledge of her unique situation • Safety planning documents should not be used as checklists to be reviewed with a survivor • Consider language skills, level of income, availability of transportation, childcare etc. • Collaborate with anti-violence services, police, crown, mental health, and others

19. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning • Violence against women can't be resolved by changes in the victim's behavior • No woman has control over her partner's behavior, dangerous to expect victims to "stop the violence" • Problem is offender's conduct; his sense of entitlement to coercive, controlling, terrorist behaviors

20. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Principles: • The use of violence is the abuser’s choice • Abusers must be held accountable for their violence • Goal is to reduce the risks, not predict the violence • Women evaluate their risk on a continual basis • Woman is expert on her life, she owns her safety plan • No one agency will have all the relevant information • Sharing of information increases effectiveness, with women’s consent wherever possible

21. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Gender Neutrality: • Minimizing men’s social, economic, legal advantages • Assuming equal caretaking roles • Minimizing women’s greater contribution to parenting • Minimizing woman’s beliefs about her, children’s safety

22. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Principles when children involved: • Child’s safety and well-being integrally linked with the safety of the mother • Interventions require an understanding of the complex dynamics of power and control • Gender inequality operates against women in custody and access in ways which include: • less financial stability • undervaluing women’s role as caretakers

23. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Before you start: • Discuss the purpose of safety assessment with the woman and see if she wishes to take part • Clarify with the woman that her choices are paramount. • Provide emotional support during and after the safety assessment and planning process

24. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Should focus on: • What the woman thinks will be safe strategies • Securing safe housing • Respectful support, no labels • Financial, income assistance, employment services • Voluntary supportive services • Parenting groups • Only if needed • Provide childcare and transportation

25. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Should focus on: • legal advocacy, family law services: • protection orders • custody and safe visitation arrangements • child support • divorce • transportation to safety resources

26. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Critical Situations: • When she attempts to leave the relationship • If the abuser becomes aware that she is accessing support/help • When she initiates legal actions: • Divorce • Custody or access • Child protection investigation and child removal • Property settlement

27. Best Practice ApproachesSafety Planning Critical Situations: • If a stay of proceedings is entered. • Application for Peace Bond, other protection order • Application to vary protection order conditions • When accused is released on interim conditions • When any papers are served such as • Restraining Orders • Notification of Divorce or Separation Proceedings • When she enters another relationship