Working with rather than working on: A Collaborative multi-framework approach to working with

families affected by domestic violencePresenter: Jodi Gordon

Young People’s Outreach Program DVCS

Today…

• DVCS and YPOP

• DV and the impact on women and children

• Finding the right response

• Trauma-informed approach – P R A C T I C E

• Defining principles that underpin best practice

• Macro-framework - Safe & Secure

• Micro-framework - Families ACT

• Putting it all together

• Questions

Who is DVCS ?

24 hours 7 days Attendance with ACT Policing at, or shortly after, DV incidents to

support those affected; Telephone crisis counselling and support Information about relevant services and safety options Access to emergency accommodation Advocacy and support during court proceedings, both civil and

criminal

Who is DVCS? Case Tracking (when the person using violence is charged with an

offence) Information about relevant services and safety options Provide a link between people subjected to violence and other

authorities Community Education and Training Relationship with other agencies, including CYPS and Housing ACT Play a role in the Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP)

DVCS target group

People who are subjected to violence or abuse People who use violence in their relationships who want

support to be different Children and young people who are abused or witness

domestic violence Family, friends and neighbours of people affected by DV

YPOP – Young people’s outreach program

DVCS clients only Primary school age children 5-12 Early intervention Facilitating the re-building of parent-child relationship after

DV Working in a “whole family” context Playful approaches to serious problems Promoting safety, recovery, connection with family and

community Flexible outreach support

A working definition of domestic violence

Domestic Violence differs from conflict. Domestic Violence refers to a diverse range of abusive and controlling behaviours, physical and non-physical, that make a person subjected to violence feel fearful, intimidated and often helpless. These behaviours establish and maintain a debilitating imbalance of power relations that violate the person subjected to violence; subverting their autonomy and constraining their lives.

Avert paper: Dimensions, Dynamics and Impact of Family Violence

Impact of dv on adults

DeathMiscarriage

Suicidal thoughts and actionsSubstance abuse/use

Sleeping & eating disordersPhysical Injury (including gynaecological problems)

Stress related somatic symptoms, like stomach pain, chronic headache and diarrhoea

Anxiety and depressionShame, guilt, confused thinking & low self esteem

Access Economics, 2004. The cost of domestic violence to the Australian economy

Four key impacts of dv

DV is an attack upon1. one’s safety and sense of safety2. sense of self – autonomy – self-presentation3. one’s relationships with others e.g. family, friends

community4. a woman’s relationship with her children

Sety M 2011, The impact of domestic violence on children: a literature review, Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse and Benevolent Society, NSW, Sydney

Impact of dv on children

Earlier term: Children who ‘witness’ violence.

More recently: Children ‘exposed to violence’.

In Australia, the terms ‘experiencing’, ‘affected by’ and

‘living with violence’ have increasingly been used.

This language acknowledges that children are not passive

onlookers or unaffected bystanders.

Impact of dv on children

May affect: development of core trust & understanding of cause and effect development of attachment experience of emotional arousal and regulation of affect development of internalised beliefs about oneself establishment of peer relationships adaptation to school and academic achievement

Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Children affected by domestic violence literature review for The Benevolent Society, 2011.

Infants and toddlers

Infants as young as a few weeks of age, and definitely by two to three months, recognise cues associated with a traumatic experience and show distress reactions. McIntosh & Coburn (2004)

Babies are particularly attuned to their primary carer and will sense their fear and traumatic stress.

Neurobiology of brain and central nervous system altered by switched on alarm response

Hyper arousal, hyper vigilance (frozen watchfulness), and hyperactivity

Lower stress threshold

Unsettled and more demanding of an already overwhelmed parent

Lowered immune systemAustralian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse Children affected by domestic violence literature review for The Benevolent Society, 2011.

Primary school

Hyper arousal, hyper vigilance and hyperactivity Regression in recently acquired developmental gains including toileting and

eating skills Sleep disturbances, night terrors Loss of or reduced capacity to attune to manage emotional states or self

soothe May attribute violence to something they did – confusion Learn gender roles associated with violence and victimisation

Adolescents With an increased desire for acceptance with peer group they may be embarrassed by family

resulting in shame, secrecy, insecurity. May increase time away from home and engage in risk taking behaviours May miss school frequently, falling behind with school work Responsibility for taking care of younger siblings and perhaps their mother and concern for her

well being Anger at either or both parents Vengeful toward the abuser, or relief if he is gone and worry that he may return (invited or

otherwise) Often resign themselves to the conflict

Finding the right response

Not all children are equally affected by the violence and abuse they live with.

At the extreme end, some children will die. However at least a third do as well as those not identified as living with family violence: protective factors will be in place.

Family violence, while debilitating and destructive, varies in severity and impact, both physical and emotional.

Prof Cathy Humphreys, 2014 VCOSS Insight 9

Children and Family violence, Finding the Right Response

Trauma-informed approach

If children live under the constant bombardment of traumatic events, different emotional mechanisms will be active to help them live with or defend themselves against what is happening (Dyregrov, 2010).

Traumatised children find it difficult to separate the past from the present. They often react in the present to triggers that are related to the past. Theses can include sights, sounds, smells and other unconscious reminders of past feelings of fear and insecurities. They often lack a strong sense of who they are, where they belong, how they fit in the world and what is possible (Safe & Secure, 2013).

Trauma-informed approach

Neurobiology of trauma Attachment theories Systems theory Grief and loss Trauma Focused – Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (TF- CBT)

P R A C T I C E

Psycho-education Relaxation Affective regulation and modulation Cognitive coping and processing Trauma narrative In Vivo (managing triggers) Conjoint sessions Enhancing safety and development

Child Welfare Information Gateway 2012. Available online at http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/trauma

Defining principles when working with children affected by DV

Domestic violence needs to be understood as an abuse of powerFamily violence related trauma… does not stop unless children are protected and feel safe changes arousal levels in children reduces children’s ability to use the thinking resources of the

brain is experienced and storied in children’s bodies disrupts memory function in children disconnects children from the qualities of relationships that can

help them to recover

Safe & Secure 2013, Australian Childhood Foundation

Defining principles when working with children affected by DVFamily violence related trauma… affects women and children keeps children’s attention on their past pain limits children’s response flexibility and adaptability to change undermines identity formation in children diminishes social skills and isolates children from peers disconnects children from their community and culture

Trauma based behaviour is functional at the time in which it develops as a response to threat

Safe & Secure 2013, Australian Childhood Foundation

Safe & Secure 2013

A trauma informed practice guide for understanding and responding to children and young people affected by family violence (Australian Childhood Foundation, 2013).

The Safe and Secure framework strengthens the coordination of responses offered by the family violence service system

Developed to support and strengthen responses to children and young people affected by family violence

Safe & Secure 2013

Safe & Secure 2013, Australian Childhood Foundation

A practice framework for working with vulnerable children, young people and their families

The framework is not prescriptive but was designed and developed to articulate specific areas for practice development across service systems.

Families ACT

familiesact.org.au

Putting it all together

Case study Mother: Nita 35 years Father: Terry 37 years Son: Jason 10 years Daughter: Amy 12 years Summary of referral into DVCS’ Young People’s Outreach

Program (YPOP) Child and Youth Protection Services (CYPS) referred the family to YPOP as the eldest child is presenting with behaviours indicative of trauma due to the domestic violence he, his sister Amy and mum Nita have been subjected to. The person using violence is Nita’s now ex-partner Terry. The CYPS worker states that their main concern is the children fighting at home and Jason disengaging from school. Jason has begun to use violence against Amy and other children. Jason has also said that he wishes he was dead and sick of being the one that’s seen as the problem.

1. In 2008 Nita became a client of DVCS when police were called to an incident resulting in a coordinated DV crisis response.

2. DVCS supported Nita through the Court Advocacy Program to obtain a DVO against her ex-partner Terry.

Police and DVCS are situated: Outcome - Safety Domain - Protect Foundation – Address dynamics of family violence

YPOP intervention is post-crisis, however safety is assessed throughout the intervention Framework is not linear due to the nature of DV YPOP is designed and delivered to work with flexible responsiveness

YPOP works with families across domains supporting goals that strengthen foundations to achieve outcomes.

YPOP’s Phases of change using the Families ACT Practice Framework for working with vulnerable children, young people and their families

Practice principles – Child centred, Family focused, Strength based & Flexible responsiveness

1. Engagement & relationship building 2. Setting goals3. Progress towards goals and improved outcomes4. Client focused evaluation

Thank you

QUESTIONS?Contact: ypop@dvcs.org.au

If you need to speak with someone about domestic violence please call DVCS crisis line (02) 62 800 900