Safety organized, trauma-informed and solution-focused domestic violence practice in child protection: Safety and Case Planning

Tarrin Reed, Staff AssociateShellie Taggart, Consultant

National Resource Center for Child Protective Services

August 20, 2013

Webinars in this series

• June: Focused on key issues for intake, assessment and intervention; organizational capacity

• July: Focused on engagement of the children, non-offending parent and DV offender

Both available at www.nrccps.org• TODAY: Focus on safety planning and case

planning

Learning Objectives

• Understand what constitutes a safety organized, trauma informed, solution focused approach to planning in domestic violence (DV) cases in child welfare;

• Know the resources available to support continued learning about these approaches and enhance development of DV practice.

Agenda

• Safety organized, trauma informed, solution focused approaches to planning with families;

• Planning for Safety;• Case planning to address the needs of parents

and children relative to domestic violence.

Domestic Violence• Domestic violence (DV) is a pattern of coercive

and violent behavior used by a person to establish control over an intimate partner. – May include: physical violence, sexual

violence/coercion, economic abuse, verbal/emotional abuse, psychological abuse/threats, using children, using systems such as CPS/courts.

Adult victim of violence is the non-offending parent (NOP)Person using violence and coercion is the DV offender

Framework for Planning • Safety Organized: Ongoing and continuous planning

for safety of the child/youth AND their non-offending parent.

• Trauma Informed: “Acknowledges and responds to the varying impact of traumatic stress on children, caregivers, families, and those who have contact with the system.”

• Solution Focused: Individualized, case-specific planning based on the vision of the family/individual of their future, existing meaningful relationships, and exploration of past successes.

Essential Elements of a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System

Maximize physical and psychological safety for children

and families

Identify trauma-related needs of

children and families

Enhance child well-being and

resilience

Enhance family well-being and

resilience

Enhance the well-being and

resilience of those working in

the system

Partner with youth and families

Partner with agencies and systems that interact with children and

families

• Chadwick Trauma-Informed Systems Project

Making the connections• Safety planning with the NOP, children/youth

and their support people IS trauma informed practice.

• Solution-focused practice helps CPS discover protective capacities of parents (both the NOP and the DV offender) and their family members, assess impact of past and current (on-going) trauma, and craft effective safety plans and case plans.

NRCCPS Safety Framework

• Safety is the primary basis for intervention.• Objective is to eliminate, reduce, or effectively

manage impending danger threats by enhancing caregiver protective capacity.– Best way to create safety for child/youth is to

help the NOP and child/youth be safe together– Strive to enhance protective capacities of

BOTH parents/caregivers

NRCCPS Safety Framework• Vulnerable children are safe when no threats of danger

exist within the family or when parents possess sufficient protective capacity to manage threats.– Threats of danger are from the DV offender--reducing

or eliminating the threat requires working with him and holding him accountable whenever possible.

– NOP’s behaviors and capacities reflect the context of violence and abuse in which she lives--her action or inaction must be considered/assessed in that context of the threat.

– Prior history of trauma may affect protective capacities of either parent.

Level of Intrusiveness(Safety Organized, Trauma Informed)

• Goal of CPS is to ensure child safety, while also keeping families together.

• CPS Safety Plans are developed on a least intrusive to most intrusive spectrum.

Least intrusive Most intrusiveFamily

remains intact.

Children are placed in out of home setting, absent NOP.

Children remain in home with NOP, DV offender leaves.

Children remain with NOP out of home.

CPS safety plan may be needed. DV safety planning should ALWAYS be accomplished.

Planning for Safety(Safety Organized, Trauma Informed)

• Is a CPS safety plan needed?• How dangerous is the DV offender to the

child/youth? To the NOP? • How vulnerable is the child/youth to physical

and/or emotional harm?• What have parents and other adults done to keep

the child/youth safe? What resources are available?• How effective has this been? What elements have

worked, and what has not worked?• Always conduct DV safety planning with the NOP

Dangerousness of the DV OffenderHigher Risk to NOP

(Safety Organized)

SEE HANDOUT FROM WEBINAR 2• Episodic/binge use of alcohol/drugs by DV offender• Increasing instability of DV offender• Violence escalating in frequency or severity • Serious physical violence (punching, kicking, cuts, bruises, burns,

broken bones, head injury, internal injury)• DV offender owns a gun, used/threated to use weapon • NOP has left or is planning to leave, or CPS forces her to leave• Highly intrusive control of NOP by DV offender• Acute jealousy coupled with violence• Behaviors continue after separation or divorce

Dangerousness of the DV OffenderPossible Lower Risk

(Safety Organized)

SEE HANDOUT FROM WEBINAR 2• NOP is not afraid of the DV offender• Violence may recur but does not cause injury• Lower levels of physical violence (slapping, pushing)• Coercive control, but not severe or highly intrusive• No current substance abuse

ANY level of violence/coercion can have a significant impact on the NOP or the child/youth depending on

a variety of factors.

Child vulnerabilities(Safety Organized, Trauma Informed)

• Vulnerability: degree of dependence on others for protection and care (age, trauma, disabilities or delays, physical capacity, isolation, emotional vulnerability)

• Assess vulnerability in light of specific threats in the family– Does DV offender target the child/youth? – Does he use the child/youth in abuse of NOP?– Has he undermined child/youth relationship/bond

with NOP?– Has child/youth attempted to intervene in abuse?

Protective Capacities—see Handout(Safety Organized, Solution Focused)

Behavioral Protective Capacities:• Either parent/caregiver (P/C) takes steps to prevent

child/youth from being exposed to DV; tells child/youth NOT to intervene

• DV offender takes steps to reduce or end his use of violence; abides by conditions of protective order; refrains from using children in abuse of NOP; leaves the home and stays away

• NOP conducts safety planning with child/youth; seeks assistance of others to stay safe and keep child/youth safe; uses strategies “in the moment” that have kept her and her child safe

Protective Capacities—see Handout(Safety Organized, Solution Focused)

Emotional Protective Capacities • Either P/C expresses love, empathy, and sensitivity

toward the child/youth; experiences specific empathy with the child/youth’s perspective and feelings; displays concern for the child/youth and is intent on emotionally protecting him/her

Cognitive Protective Capacities• Either P/C understands child development and the

potential impact of exposure to DV on child and youth development; recognizes the various ways that tactics being used by the DV offender impact/harm the child/youth

Possible impact of traumaDiminished protective capacities:• Difficulty retaining information• Diminished clarity in thinking• Depression and/or reduced energy• Difficulty following through on plans• Diminished problem-solving skills• Heightened focus on basic survival• Lack of hope; difficulty imagining a better

future

National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health

TIPSHEETS ON:• Creating a Welcoming Environment• Enhancing Emotional Safety• Supporting Children and Youth Exposed to DV: What You Might

See and What You Can Do• Increasing Access to Services• Discussing a Mental Health Referral with DV Survivors• Supporting Survivors with Reduced Energy• Making Connections with Survivors Experiencing Psychiatric

Disabilities

http://www.nationalcenterdvtraumamh.org/publications-products/creating-trauma-informed-services-tipsheet-series-for-advocates/

Goals of Case Planning • Enhanced caregiver Protective Capacities• Long-term safety for child/youth and NOP• Strengthened bonds between child/youth and

safe, consistent adults• Enhanced resiliency (ch/youth and caregivers)• Access to resources/supports to promote safety

and well-being of child/youth and the family• Healthier family relationships/healing• Knowledge of services and supports to promote

safety in the future

Case planning • Separate case plans are necessary—DV offender

access to the NOP’s plan gives him another way to control her

• If DV will be discussed or if the outcome of a decision-making meeting depends on NOP safety plan, separate Family Team Meetings are needed

– DV offender meeting goal is engagement and planning for CPS work and services for him

• Services may support changes in caregiver behaviors, but participation in services is not a proxy for safety or for change

Safety-organized Planning• Planning MUST be done in partnership with the

NOP throughout the life of the case to insure CPS intervention is safe and effective

• Safety planning is on-going and dynamic as circumstances change (tactics of DV offender, resources available, energy and ability of the NOP, etc)

• Planning for engagement and work with the DV offender must be commensurate with level of danger and risk he poses to family, and his demonstrated willingness to make changes

Case planning: DV Offender

AccountabilityChallenge Behavior

AccountabilityFocus on Concerns

Limits

EngagementSupport Person

ConnectionFocus on Strengths

Opportunities

Solution-focused Planning• Elicit caregiver strengths/capacities• Help caregivers to see things through the eyes of

their child/youth, or the eyes of someone who loves and cares about them

• Build on exceptions to the concerns—a time when things were better

• Help caregivers develop a vision for a better, safe and healthy future—and a plan to get there

• Notice and document changes

Trauma-informed Planning• Be consistently empathetic and respectful• Pay attention to NOP and child/youth safety

throughout the life of the case• Strengthen informal networks of safety and

support (extended family, kin, friends, faith communities, community connections)

• Be patient; expect to repeat things many times• Anticipate and prepare for times of lower

energy/functioning of trauma survivors• Find creative ways to help P/C retain information

and follow through

Observable, measurable changes

• Expecting immediate cessation of all concerning behaviors is unrealistic—look for:– Increased protective capacities of caregivers– Less use of violence and coercion with NOP;

less exposure of child/youth– Less impact on/more resilient child/youth

• Revisit and refine safety plans as needed

Shifting paradigm: Families don’t fail, plans fail

• Families do the best they can given the resources (internal and external) and information available to them

• Many CPS families: past and current trauma, poverty, lack of resources, marginalization, social isolation, racism and discrimination, impoverished communities, multiple stressors and issues, lack of parenting role models

• CPS plans are developed to strengthen families and promote effective parenting—but too often do not take holistic view of individuals, of the family or their circumstances

CPS plans fail in DV cases when:• Assessments focus on reported incidents rather than

patterns and impact on child/youth and their NOP

• CPS routinely defines for the NOP what needs to happen, rather than eliciting her knowledge and expertise

• Engagement and planning for safety of the NOP ends when she doesn’t comply with the CPS-defined plan

• Worker behaviors and statements reflect “What is wrong with you?” rather than “What has happened to you, or is happening now?”

CPS plans fail in DV cases when:• DV offenders are routinely NOT engaged and held

accountable—most often because workers are not trained to do so

• Complete and immediate cessation of violence/abuse is expected, with no additional incidents of violence/abuse--plans are seen as absolute rather than as dynamic

• Family members are referred to services not appropriate to their situation

• Workers fail to consider how changes in NOP stance with CPS might indicate a changing level of danger/risk

CPS plans succeed when we:• Work in ways that establish trust (meet privately with the

NOP, plan for her safety, express respect and empathy for all family members, etc)

• Invest time in understanding the perspective, cultural framework, strengths, goals and hopes of the family-- and in helping them to understand our perspective

• Craft plans WITH the family based on case circumstances, rather than using formulaic approaches

• Reduce barriers to needed resources and supports• Involve/strengthen natural systems of support for families

who will remain connected to them after CPS ends• Hold out hope that change is possible and healing can occur

Appropriate services: NOP • DV advocacy services• Safety planning with her support people• Developing/strengthening her support network• Housing advocacy• Child care, transportation, food – other

concrete resources• Parenting support • Skilled legal assistance with immigration issues• Home visiting• Substance abuse and mental health treatment

Appropriate services: DV offender

• Batterer Intervention• Responsible fatherhood program/parenting

support• Substance abuse treatment• Developing/strengthening his network of

support and accountability • Mental health treatment (not as replacement for

BI)• Employment assistance and other resources that

help maintain stability

Services to avoidon CPS case plan for DV

• Couples counseling– Can give a false sense of safety to the NOP; generally assumes

mutuality; sessions may generate retribution by DV offender

• Anger management– Focuses on behavioral change but does not address underlying

belief system of DV offender; DV offenders often identify NOP behaviors/qualities as “trigger” for their anger

• Joint parenting classes, other services– Joint services imply equal responsibility for improved

parenting—while both may need help, the DV offender is responsible for the violence

Promoting resiliency and healing for children/youth

(Safety Organized,Trauma Informed)

• Establish a respectful and trusting relationship with the child’s/youth’s NOP—help her to stay safe

• Help DV offenders remain non-violent and non-abusive; promote healthy, responsible fathering

• Tell child/youth the violence is not their fault• Foster the child’s/youth’s self esteem• Help child/youth know what to expect

Promoting resiliency and healing for children/youth

(Safety Organized, Trauma Informed)

• Incorporate the family’s culture into interventions; explore the values, norms, and cultural meanings that impact their choices and give them strength

• Teach and model alternatives to violence• Discuss child/youth development with parents• Address parenting stress• Build networks of support and safety

Promoting resiliency and healing for children/youth

(Trauma Informed)

• Use emotion words to help child/youth develop emotional literacy, and help parents to do this with their child/youth

• Create opportunities for child/youth to feel successful, to develop talents, and to have fun

• Connect child/youth to a mentor• Promote housing and educational stability

Resources• Best Practices for Serving Children, Youth and Parents

Experiencing Domestic Violencehttp://promising.futureswithoutviolence.org

• Accountability and Connection with Abusive Men: A New Child Protection Response to Increasing Family Safetyhttp://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Children_and_Families/Accountability_Connection.pdf

• Team Decisionmaking and Domestic Violence: Guidelines for Facilitatorshttp://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Children_and_Families/TDM_guidelines_Final.pdf

Resources

• CONNECT: Supporting Children Exposed to Domestic Violence (curriculum for foster and kin caregivers)

http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/section/our_work/child_wellbeing/_connect_children_exposed_to_violence

• Culturally specific DV institutes AND State examples of DV practices in CPS all available at

www.nrccps.org/special-initiatives/domestic-violence/