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Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence. Nicole Huff, LCSW Bay Area Academy. Agenda. Introductions & objectives History of spousal violence What does the research say? Domestic violence Domestic violence and children Domestic violence and child welfare.

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Domestic Violence

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  1. Domestic Violence Nicole Huff, LCSW Bay Area Academy Nicole Huff August 2007

  2. Agenda • Introductions & objectives • History of spousal violence • What does the research say? • Domestic violence • Domestic violence and children • Domestic violence and child welfare Nicole Huff August 2007

  3. History*SafeNetwork: California’s Domestic Violence Resource • 753 B.C.-The Laws of Chastisement • 1500’s-Lord Hale and the marital rape exemption • “Rule of Thumb” • 1804-Napaleonic Code • 1800’s America • 1919-19th Amendment Nicole Huff August 2007

  4. History cont. • 1920’s-Psychoanalysis • 1960’s-Practice of non-arrest • 1970’s-Beginning of the Battered Women’s Movement • Late 1970’s-Lawsuits against law enforcement Nicole Huff August 2007

  5. History cont. • 1984-Battered Women’s Syndrome • 1994-Violence Against Women Act • 1990’s-Status of marital rape exemption Where are we today? Nicole Huff August 2007

  6. Prevalence*Center for Disease Control, Injury Center *A note about data collection • Nearly 5.3 million incidents against women and 3.2 million against men a year • 1.5 million women and 800,000 men raped and/or physically assaulted • 2 million injuries and 1,300 deaths • 85% of victims are women Nicole Huff August 2007

  7. Risks • Battered women • six times greater risk for drug abuse • fifteen times greater risk for alcohol abuse. • Women who abuse drugs/alcohol are more likely to become victims of domestic violence (Miller et al., 1989) • (25%) to (50%) of men who commit violent acts of DV also have substance abuse problems Nicole Huff August 2007

  8. Higher Risks for Women: • Partners experienced periodic unemployment • Partners did not graduate high school • Assault by a former partner than her current partner Nicole Huff August 2007

  9. No Higher Risk Association • Race and ethnicity of men • Race, ethnicity, age, or education of women *Caveat Nicole Huff August 2007

  10. Cycle of Violence Tension Building Honeymoon Explosive Nicole Huff August 2007

  11. Types of Abuse • Financial • Emotional Nicole Huff August 2007

  12. Types, cont • Sexual • Physical Nicole Huff August 2007

  13. Traits of Batterers • Emotional dependence • Rigid gender and role expectations • Violate personal boundaries • Controlling behaviors • Jealousy • Rigid religious or cultural beliefs Nicole Huff August 2007

  14. Batterers, cont. • Hypersensitivity • Difficulty expressing and/or identifying feelings • Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde • Externalize blame • Cruelty • History of using violence to solve problems Nicole Huff August 2007

  15. Responses/Effects re: Victims • Stress disorders • Low self-esteem • Social isolation • Feeling hopeless and powerless • Fear/Terror • Self-blame • Anxiety Nicole Huff August 2007

  16. Victims, cont. • Hyper-vigilance • Dissociation • Denial/Minimization • Wishful thinking • Shame • Anger • Engaging in high-risk behaviors Nicole Huff August 2007

  17. Why does she stay? Nicole Huff August 2007

  18. Assessing Lethality • Victim’s report • Use of and/or access to weapons • Threats of homicide and/or suicide • Substance abuse • Extreme jealousy or obsession • Abuse that involves severe violence • Recent separation/Change Nicole Huff August 2007

  19. Cultural Considerations • Children of color are over-represented in all “systems” • Definitions may be different • Mistrust of mainstream systems • Language • Previous negative experiences with authorities Nicole Huff August 2007

  20. What are the risks if she tells? What are the risks if she doesn’t tell? Nicole Huff August 2007

  21. Undocumented/Recent Immigrant • Fear of deportation • Further isolation • Language • Taboos in discussing the family with strangers • Shame/dishonor *VAWA Nicole Huff August 2007

  22. Gay, Lesbian, Transgender • Threats to “out” partners • Seen as mutual (“cat fight”) • Reluctance to bring even more negative attention to community • No legal process for separation Nicole Huff August 2007

  23. Male victims • Contrary to societal expectations • Extreme shame • Discrimination in “systems” responses *Be aware of reactive violence and self defense Nicole Huff August 2007

  24. Teens • Societal messages about violence • Development/Age issues • Boundaries • Pressure • Jealousy & possessiveness • Exposure to DV Nicole Huff August 2007

  25. Elderly • Traditional responses don’t appeal or meet needs • Generation mores • “Domestic violence grown old” • New relationship • Late onset Nicole Huff August 2007

  26. Disabled • Limitations in communications ability • Dependent on abuser • Low self esteem/view of self as “damaged” • Physically incapable • Loss of caretaker Nicole Huff August 2007

  27. Children and the Numbers • Between 3.3 and 10 million children exposed every year • Slightly more than half of victims of intimate violence have children in the home • 79% of violent children witnessed DV Nicole Huff August 2007

  28. DV & Children • 80% of child abuse cases are associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs • 43% of child fatalities occur in families where the mother was abused Nicole Huff August 2007

  29. DV & Children • Daughters of batterers are 6.5 times more likely to be victims of incest • 45-70% of cases of domestic violence where there are children, the children are also abused • Child abuse by those mothers who have been beaten is at least double that of mothers whose husbands did not assault them • 50% of men who batter their partners also batter their children Nicole Huff August 2007

  30. DV & Child Welfare • Domestic violence is a significant problem for 30%-40% of families in the Child Welfare system • Santa Clara County statistics show 40-80% of cases involved “overlap” • 40% had DV issues within the last year • 80% had DV issues from one or both parties sometime in their history Nicole Huff August 2007

  31. Effects on children • Of Children who witness their mother being abused: • 40% suffer anxiety • 48% suffer depression • 53% act out with their parents • 60% act out with their siblings Nicole Huff August 2007

  32. Effects, cont. • Normalize violence • Poor impulse control • Sleep disturbances • Injury • Withdrawn • Delinquent/negative behaviors • Aggression Nicole Huff August 2007

  33. Assessment • Interview separately • Patterns in language and behavior • Always ask the questions, no matter what the initial allegation is • Behaviors not buzzwords • SAFETY Nicole Huff August 2007

  34. Assessment cont. • Assess protective capacities • Hold each adult accountable to their own abusive behaviors • Collateral sources Nicole Huff August 2007

  35. Presence of domestic violence alone is not child abuse Nicole Huff August 2007

  36. Interview Questions • Interviewing the child • Interviewing the known/potential victim • Interviewing the known/potential batterer Nicole Huff August 2007

  37. Social Worker’s Role with Children • Assess and assure their safety • Reassure them that they are not responsible for the violence • Reassure them it is okay to talk about the violence • Discuss safety with them as appropriate Nicole Huff August 2007

  38. Social Worker’s Role with Victim • Reassure her she is not responsible for the violence occurring or stopping • Understand her ambivalence • Determine protective capacities • Assist in safety planning • Refer her to appropriate services Nicole Huff August 2007

  39. Social Worker’s Role with Batterer • Hold him responsible for his choosing to be violent and controlling • Work with law enforcement to hold him accountable • Assess whether he is taking responsibility for his behavior • Look for strengths • Make appropriate referrals Nicole Huff August 2007

  40. Batterers’ Tactics • Presenting himself as the victim • Statements of remorse and guilt, but no actions • Focusing on victim’s faults/Allegations • Denying & minimizing • Victim blaming • Blaming substance abuse Nicole Huff August 2007

  41. Can child stay safely with non-offending parent? • Protective capacities • Safe location • Acknowledge risk to children • Level of violence-not escalating • Other issues don’t pose a threat • Support, services, community Nicole Huff August 2007

  42. Low Risk Factors • Children show minimal damage • Batterer is out of home or cooperating with restraining orders • Batterer takes responsibility for actions • Victim acknowledges risk and has protective capacities • Family has positive supports • No other risk issues • Minimal/No CPS history Nicole Huff August 2007

  43. Restraining/Protective Orders • Emergency Protective Orders (EPRO) • Temporary Restraining Orders (TRO) • Permanent Restraining Orders • No Contact Orders • Peaceful Contact Orders *CPS cannot require restraining orders! Nicole Huff August 2007

  44. High Risk Factors • Continued violence despite previous intervention • Other types of abuse are present • Child exhibits concerning behavioral and/or emotional effects and/or is having issues functioning • Child is used as weapon in abuse, is intervening, is held during incidents, has been injured Nicole Huff August 2007

  45. High Risk cont. • Other risk factors impacting safety are present • Substance abuse • Mental health • Child abuse • Lethality • Victim does not acknowledge risk Nicole Huff August 2007

  46. Service Provision • Separate services-even if the couple remains intact • Team Decision Making/Family Conferences • Advocates • Safety Plans (victims) • Action Plans (batterers) Nicole Huff August 2007

  47. Services cont. • Batterer’s Intervention • Visitation • Other services (not substitutes) • Substance abuse services • Mental health services • Psychotropic medication Nicole Huff August 2007

  48. Services cont. • Victim services • Closed therapeutic group • Open attendance • Mandated • Inappropriate services • Anger management • Couple’s counseling Nicole Huff August 2007

  49. Who are our partners? • Law enforcement • Victim services • Batterer services • Probation/Parole • Judiciary • Mental health/Substance abuse Nicole Huff August 2007

  50. Desired Outcomes • Safety for victims and children • Break down victim isolation and provide support • Help victim understand • Provide victim appropriate services • Assist in batterer receiving services Nicole Huff August 2007

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