Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

2018 Conference Workshops 2

Workshop Session 1 (10:20 am – 11:35 am)

 

Workshop Session 2 (12:35 pm – 1:50 pm)

 

Workshop Session 3 (2:10 pm – 3:35 pm)

  

Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence: Legal Rights and Safety Planning Under Current Immigration Policy

Presenters:

  • Ashley DiIonno, LGSW, Tahirih Justice Center
  • Daniella Pozzo, Tahirih Justice Center

Content Level: Advanced

Intended Audience: Advocates, attorneys, caseworkers

Objectives:

  • Recognize the unique dynamics of power and control that non-citizens face in a domestic violence relationship
  • Learn what to do in an ICE raid/round up and legal rights in that context
  • Gain advanced safety planning perspective and techniques for use with immigrant DV survivors
  • Understand Family safety planning to prepare for possible family separation  (health care affidavits, letters of intent for care of children, powers of attorney, etc.)
  • Learn about forms of immigration legal relief available to immigrant DV survivors: U visas, T visas, SIJS, VAWA and simple description of Asylum

Learn about the situations that non-citizen survivors of domestic violence may encounter under current immigration policies in a multi-disciplinary atmosphere. Participants will learn how about the impact that accessing legal assistance can have on an immigrant family. They will receive resources on how to connect these survivors to the appropriate supportive services. Participants will be able to help prepare and empower survivors to access their legal rights and engage in practical strategies for their and their family’s safety. All participants will receive helpful printouts of the strategies and legal remedies discussed.

Strengthening Offender Accountability: Effective Strategies for Criminal Justice Law Enforcement and Prosecution Approaches

Presenters:

  • Jennifer Morton, Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office
  • Homer Rich, Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office

Content Level: Advanced

Intended Audience: Prosecutors and law enforcement

Objectives:

  • Recognize and identify different types of offenders and how this might impact interventions;
  • Enhance existing knowledge of some of the best practices for offender accountability; and
  • Identify ways to target chronic and high risk offenders and to strengthen their responses to hold these offenders accountable.

This workshop, co-presented by a prosecutor and investigator, will review some of the best practices in the field for identifying and targeting batterers and offer suggestions to help participants strengthen offender accountability in their community.

 

Navigating the Maze: A Civilian’s Guide to Military Responses to Family Violence and Sexual Assault

Presenters:

  • Julia Caplan, LCSW-C, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Amanda Cardone, United States Air Force

Content Level: Advanced

Intended Audience: Advocates, social workers, counselors, attorneys, and criminal justice professionals

Objectives:

  • Understand the process of reporting family violence and/or sexual assault for service members and families within the Department of Defense
  • Learn the implications of reporting violence and receiving assistance services that service members and families face within the Department of Defense
  • Identify common challenges in navigating the civilian and military justice systems and service systems faced by individuals seeking assistance.

There has been much press about incidents of sexual assault in the military, but there are many misconceptions and confusion about what happens when a service member or spouse or child reports family violence or sexual assault.  Understanding the internal Department of Defense (DoD) processes, as well as how they interface with civilian systems of justice, is crucial for community providers who work with Service Members, Veterans, and their families.
With almost 50,000 active duty and reserve service members residing in Maryland and almost 500,000 Veterans, it is essential for community providers to understand military culture, including the strengths of military families as well as the unique stressors they face, and how this impacts accessing services and benefits, both military and civilian.   This interactive panel will have representatives from different branches of the DoD and Department of Veterans Affairs, providing expertise on the response to family violence and sexual assault, as well as guidance for community providers who come into contact with this population.

 

Bringing It Out of the Closet: Community Response to LGBTQIA+ Victims of IPV

Presenters:

  • Randall Leonard, LCSW, Chase Brexton
  • Erin Fox, House of Ruth Maryland

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Advocates, service providers, and stakeholders

Objectives:

  • Identify potential stakeholders and strategies to engage partners in participant communities
  • Review the strategies and challenges in developing a community workgroup to address LGBTQIA+ victim and survivor needs
  • Speak to the benefits of a coordinated workgroup to address IPV in LGBTQIA+ communities

In a time when resources for LGBTQIA+ and IPV service providers are more uncertain than ever before, it is critical for communities to strengthen partnerships in order to effectively serve all victims and survivors of IPV. During this workshop presenters outline the processes Baltimore City service providers engaged to develop a community workgroup to lead service provision to LGBTQIA+ victims and survivors. The workshop will focus on the ways in which a community response to LGBTQIA+ victims and survivors increasing each stakeholders accountability, ability to advocate, and multidimensional service to clients. Through an interactive SWOT activity, participants will outline steps they can take in their jurisdictions to build a community response. Through engaging participants and presenters in the SWOT activity, this workshop provides the opportunity to brainstorm actionable steps and solutions to building a community response regardless of geographic location or type of service provider.

 

Prevalence, Impact, and Action: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences in Maryland

Presenters:

  • Erin Boguski, Maryland Department of Health
  • Genevieve Polk, Maryland Department of Health
  • Georgette Lavetsky, Maryland Department of Health

Content Level:

Intended Audience:

Objectives:

  • Summarize findings from the Maryland ACEs data
  • Effectively communicate with internal and external partners why it is important to collaboration on issues of children who witness IPV, experience child sexual abuse, and/or who are abused and neglected
  • Name at least one recommendation from this data
  • Name one example of community collaboration that has resulted from ACEs
  • Identify one idea on how to implement ACEs in their work, in their community, and/or with their stakeholders

​Children’s exposure to violence, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse are all forms of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that can impact one’s health and well-being later in life. In its groundbreaking study, the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study found these experiences to be relatively common, with almost two-thirds (63.9%) of participants having experienced at least one adverse childhood experience before they turned 18. The CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (which is an ongoing telephone surveillance program designed to collect data on the behaviors and conditions that place State residents at risk for chronic diseases, injuries, and preventable infectious diseases) developed an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Module, which was adapted from the original CDC-Kaiser ACE Study and, in 2015, the Maryland BRFSS used the ACE Module for the first time. Most of the studies that have been published using BRFSS ACEs data have examined a dose-response relationship, which have demonstrated that the likelihood they will experience health problems in adulthood increases as their number of ACEs increases which, although important, these studies rely on the assumption that all ACEs should be weighed equally. In contrast to dose-response studies, there is less documented scientific evidence at a population-level examining the relationship between particular types of ACEs and risk behaviors or outcomes and Maryland is one of the first states to use BRFSS data to share findings for an isolated type of ACE exposure (IPV). This workshop will provide: 1) an overview of ACEs plus new and unique statewide findings from this data, which includes isolating the ACE for witnessing intimate partner violence and determining how it relates to direct forms of abuse (physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse), demographic characteristics, and health outcomes; 2) an interactive activity demonstrating the interconnected and cumulative impact of ACEs and how communities can address ACEs by increasing protective factors and decreasing risk factors for violence and abuse;  3) recommendations issued by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) based on Maryland BRFSS ACEs data, which includes implementing trauma-informed care, addressing complex trauma, and promoting child resiliency; 4) examples of how local communities in Maryland and across the U.S. are using ACEs data for collaborations, coalition-building, programming, and policies from a public health approach; and 5) an opportunity to break out in small groups to identify how ACEs data can be utilized in their community based on the ideas presented.

 

Cultural Considerations: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Immigrant Children and Their Families

Presenters:

  • Varsha N., JD, Consultant and Executive Committee Board Member for End Violence Against Women International
  • Rajesh R. Donthi, M.D., Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Advocates, health care providers, legal professionals, social workers

Objectives:

  • Define domestic violence in the context of children immigrant populations from around the world, residing in the U.S.
  • Identify and review the impact of cases of domestic violence on children and their families
  • Recognize the influence of stereotypes, prejudices, and biases that may arise while working with children, from diverse populations
  • Explore necessary tools and strategies to provide effective services to immigrant children survivors of domestic violence

This interactive, engaging workshop will provide professionals from diverse disciplines with necessary tools to effectively communicate with children, immigrant survivors of domestic violence. According to the World Health Organization, a quarter of all adults report having been physically abused as children, that is 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child. The workshop will review cases of domestic violence involving children and their families and will address the cultural myths and stereotypes that come into play and will provide strategies for managing such situations.  Through discussion, viewing video-clips, interactive exercises, and role-play, professionals will be engaged in learning techniques to improve cross-cultural communication for interacting successfully with families from diverse immigrant backgrounds.

 

Safety Planning with High-Danger Survivors

Presenters:

  • Kristine Chapman, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence
  • Alicia Bickoff, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

Content Level: Advanced

Intended Audience: Advocates, service providers, LAP implementers

Objectives:

  • Understand the dynamic process of safety planning for survivors who are at the greatest risk of being killed or seriously injured by an intimate partner.
  • Examine a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach to work effectively with High-Danger survivors.
  • Learn effective methods to increase a survivor’s ability to analyze their risk.
  • Enhance service providers’ ability to create individualized, ongoing plans for safety.

This workshop will focus on advanced safety planning strategies for survivors who have been identified as at high risk of being killed by their abuser. Risk assessment tools help assess danger during the safety planning process. Attendees will learn how to incorporate life-generated and partner-generated risks to increase the survivor’s ability to analyze their risk. Service providers will learn how to incorporate these risk factors into trauma-informed, victim-focused, ongoing safety planning.

 

“She’s Too Strong!”: Understanding the Intersections of Misogynoir, Domestic Violence, and Victimization

Presenter:

  • Ayana Wallace, Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Advocates, social workers, service providers, community-based providers, health care providers

Objectives:

  • Explain how historical trauma and institutionalized racism have impacted African American women
  • Understand challenges to identifying and intervening with victims  in the African American/Black community
  • List the ways in which advocates can change the narrative surrounding Black womanhood and in turn support and uplift victims
  • Engage victims in culturally specific and culturally sensitive safety planning and help seeking strategies

The focus of this workshop is to examine the ways in which historical trauma and institutionalized racism have impacted Black women. Because Black women live intersectional lives, advocates must come to understand how their intersecting identities and intersecting forms of oppression shape not only how they see themselves but also how they engage with systems; including, law enforcement, domestic violence service providers, child protective services, and community-based organizations.. Because of misogynoir, Black women have continued to be marginalized and victimized not only on an individual or community level but at an institutional level as well. By challenging the stereotypes and discourse applied to Black womanhood; identifying the unique challenges to identifying and intervening with Black victims and community members; and exploring how to actively engage victims in culturally specific and sensitive safety planning, advocates will be able to list the ways in which they can change the narrative surrounding Black womanhood and in turn support, uplift, and empower Black survivors.

 

Raising the Bar: Specializing Services for Survivors of Human Trafficking

Presenters:

  • Amelia Rubenstein, MSW, LCSW-C, Child Sex Trafficking Victims Initiative (CSTVI) at the University of Maryland School of Social Work
  • Nadine Finigan-Carr, Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Social Work

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Clinicians, advocates, shelter staff, prosecutors, law enforcement, child welfare and juvenile justice personnel

Objectives:

  • Describe the definition of human trafficking, including common methods/manifestations
  • Identify if and how their agency is already serving victims of trafficking
  • Describe how sex trafficking impacts victims and potential challenges in working with this population
  • Name 3 ways to tailor current services to better address needs of this population

Many domestic violence and sexual assault providers currently serve victims of human trafficking with existing resources. This workshop will prepare participants to adapt and specialize existing services and approaches for trafficked persons. Participants will examine how use of force, fraud, and coercion by traffickers cause trauma and identify common challenges in serving this population. While foundational knowledge on human trafficking will be briefly reviewed, this workshop is designed for those with some understanding of human trafficking.

 

Understanding how to best serve immigrant Muslim women victims of domestic violence

Presenters:

  • Irfana Anwer, Peaceful Families Project (Board Member)
  • Saba Ghori, Peaceful Families Project (Board Member)

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Service providers, advocates, social workers, lawyers, law enforcement

Objectives:

  • Sensitize service providers about the unique challenges immigrant Muslim women face in leaving domestic violence situations
  • Highlight the intersection of domestic violence, racial profiling and Islamophobia
  • Discuss how current hostile attitudes towards Muslims and immigrants have a profound and lasting impact on victims of domestic violence and affect their ability to leave violent situations
  • Explore how well-intentioned service providers can alienate immigrant Muslim victims of domestic violence and how they can better serve them.

Muslim immigrant women in the US face particular and unique challenges in accessing services and leaving domestic violence situations. The current political environment is perceived by many Muslim communities to be hostile. The intersection of domestic violence, racial profiling and anti-Islam sentiments directly impacts the ability of women to leave violent situations and access services. For example, directly after 9/11 Muslim women were afraid to call the police to report violence they were experiencing for fear of religious profiling. Further, along with internal community challenges, Muslim immigrant women are often alienated by service providers who do not understand the particular barriers they face.  This workshop will explore these dynamics and help serve providers understand the realities of Muslim immigrant victims of domestic violence and how to best serve them.

 

Best Practices in Identifying the Primary Aggressor

Presenter:

  • Jennifer Morton, Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Law enforcement, prosecutors, service providers

Objectives:

  • Understand the challenges in determining the primary aggressor in domestic violence assaults, including LGBTQ relationships
  • Enhance knowledge of what the law in Maryland is with respect to the crime of assault, self-defense and making primary aggressor determinations
  • Develop the best practices of placing the use of physical force by the parties in context in order to shift through conflicting accounts of what happened and identify power and control behaviors that are present and the tools they can use to gather context through the use of actual case studies
  • Comprehending why determining the primary aggressor is so vital in domestic violence assaults in order to enhance victim safety and hold abusers accountable.

This workshop will focus on best practices in identifying the primary aggressor in domestic violence assaults.  Because the majority of domestic violence-related incidents occur within the privacy of the parties’ home, these offenses are often situations where only the two parties involved are witnesses. Batterers then frequently employ strategies to manipulate the system to maintain power and control over the victim and deny the victim much-needed resources.  Law enforcement, prosecutors and service providers are challenged by these situations in their efforts to assist the victim in the relationship. To avoid these detrimental consequences, practitioners need to become well-versed in identifying the primary aggressor.

 

Lifting Our Voices: Agency Listening Sessions for Staff and the Community

Presenters:

  • Jesus Rivera, House of Ruth Maryland
  • Erin Fox, House of Ruth Maryland
  • Sean Smith, House of Ruth Maryland

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Leadership, advocates, services providers, community-based providers

Objectives:

  • Gain an understanding of the benefits of engaging community in IPV work
  • Identify 2-3 strategies to conduct listening sessions
  • Summarize benefits and barriers to conducting listening sessions in their community

One of the most insidious tactics abusive partners engage in is limiting what victims and survivors say in their own lives. As service providers it is incumbent upon us to listen to the needs of the communities we serve, and allow them to guide us in developing programming that meets their needs. This workshop will focus on a series of listening sessions the House of Ruth Maryland conducted with community members, victims and survivors, and staff through HRM’s Man Up, Mujeres Escuchando, and LGBTQ initiatives. The presenters will outline strategies they identified to engage men around IPV, methods of intentional outreach to the latinx community, and initiating dialogue with staff around undeserved communities. During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to develop an outline for a listening session in their communities.

 

Giving New Hope to IPV Survivors: One Community’s Approach to Non-Fatal Strangulation

Presenters:

  • Pamela Holtzinger, Frederick Memorial Hospital
  • Theresa Hiegel, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office

Content Level: Intermediate

Intended Audience: Advocates, law enforcement, health care providers, social workers, non-profit agencies
Objectives:

  • Discuss the events that led Frederick County professions to establish a community response protocol on non-fatal strangulation
  • Review the process of developing a strangulation protocol
  • Identify the importance of the medical forensic strangulation exam
  • Discuss trauma informed patient/victim centered approach of the multi-disciplinary team
  • Discuss the results of the continually evolving community protocol

Get a behind-scenes look at the collaboration of the Frederick County, MD’s team which began a protocol to investigate non-fatal strangulation cases. A presentation of a case study from Frederick County, MD will allow others to see the need for strangulation protocols. This new protocol is opening the door for IPV survivors to get the response they deserve from the medical, law enforcement and judicial community. Members of the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and the Frederick Memorial Hospital will highlight successes, challenges and how they continue to move forward to address the evolving needs of non-fatal strangulation victims.

 

Brain-Based and Body-Focused Interventions for Survivors of Trauma

Presenters:

  • KerryAnn Aleibar, LCSW-C, ElderSAFE
  • Chelsea Haverly, MSW, LCSW-C, Anchored Hope Therapy, LLC
  • Cheryl Kravitz, APR, CFRE, RYT200, The Gentle Yogi

Content Level: Advanced

Intended Audience: Advocates, service providers, clinicians, leadership, health care providers

Objectives:

  • Identify examples and approaches of brain-based body-focused work with trauma survivors to manage the symptoms of distress found in survivors of domestic violence, including those who have cognitive impairment and/or limited mobility
  • Discuss the benefit of yoga breathing for survivors who may be experiencing trauma reactions
  • Discuss ways of incorporating self-regulation techniques into clinical practice
  • Demonstrate and practice body-focused strategies around self-regulation and self-soothing including techniques that focus on each of the five senses (sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound)

This interactive workshop will focus on adding body-work therapy skills to clinical practice for survivors of trauma, particularly human trafficking and complex trauma. Self-regulation techniques involving all five senses will be addressed and demonstrated and participants will leave the workshop with practical tools to apply to their work with survivors. This workshop will demonstrate how trauma informed yoga is being used to assist older adult survivors especially those with cognitive impairments who have been abused and neglected. The workshop will further demonstrate how the basic techniques of yoga can help survivors of elder abuse, men and women who have experienced all levels of trauma. The workshop will utilize brain-based and body-focused as a way to connect with survivors, and as a way for their supporters to learn more about themselves. The workshop is experiential and interactive and participants are advised to wear comfortable clothing.
 

Reader Interactions