Breaking the inter-generational pattern of domestic violence and child abuse : intervention with perpetrators

1. Breaking the inter-generational pattern of domestic violence and child abuse : intervention with perpetrators Professor Thea Brown & Dr. Ralph Hampson Dept. Of Social Work, Monash University VIC Thea.Brown@med.monashedu.au Ralph.Hampson@med.monash.edu.au

2. Summary Back Ground Theory The Study The Perpetrators The Perpetrators as Victims The Victims of the Perpetrators The Need for Further Services The Need for Further Research

3. Background theory 1 in 3 Women suffer from Physical Violence 1 in 5 Five Women suffer from Sexual Violence Violence to Women comes from an intimate partner; to Men from a Male Stranger; to Children from a Parent or Step Parent Services to Women DV Victims began in OZ in 70�s Services to Male Perpetrators in 90�s, also by feminist groups, however, amidst doubt and suspicion Services to children are within the Govt or Non Govt child protection framework Best known evaluation of Services to Male Perpetrators- Gondolf, USA researcher

4. Study as source of data for discussion Research project commissioned by ARHRF to study outcomes of Men�s Behaviour Change Groups sponsored by LifeWorks VIC 2007-09 LifeWorks running groups for 15 years, currently on 4 sites Program complied with NTV standards Study used as backdrop pre-existing data from men�s groups ranging over several years Further data collected from interviewing 25 men + their partners & following them for a year after the program ended-men came from all 4 sites as volunteers

5. The perpetrators 25 men in interview sample Ranged in age from 20-65 Only one without a partner ...questionable. Only one unemployed Wide range of occupations from semi-skilled to professional to senior executives 1/3 were court referred (FC, FMC, MC, CC) Only 20 year old without children OS born fully represented but no very recent refugees All educated for most of schooling in Australia Most reported a view of poor experiences and achievements at school Violence they inflicted was severe

6. Their Program Program was voluntary Small Weekly Fees Runs for minimum of 13 weeks Sometimes there are add on programs Groups are based on the Duluth Model that uses feminist theory of power supported by violence as tool of patriarchal control Approaches used: Confrontation, learning, constant reviewing and planning behaviour thru learning in the group, male and female facilitator modelling equality and support, support from other men, new techniques of self control A Women�s Group that meets twice

7. The perpetrators Only one perpetrator without history of extreme physical abuse as a child Families isolated; no contact with services; abuse noticed by some Abuse began before school age Abuse included constant punching, hitting, head, body, limbs Parents always angry, absence of interest, few family activities Abuse came from all Fathers, 3 Mothers, from 1 Fa +2 S/Fa.s DV to many Mo.s Alcohol involved with 1 Fa & 1 S/Fa Mental Illness with 1 Fa Abuse not seen as such but as �harsh discipline�

8. Victims of the perpetrators All partners, one sister, one bro, work colleagues, strangers, victims of direct attacks One partner only hospitalised One perpetrator had served gaol sentence 75% had DVOs; other CC and FCA orders re no contact with children All perpetrators with children had from 2-4 Some children (many girls) subjected to direct assault All children witnessed violence against Mo Casual unacknowledged violence to children (Birthday TV thru window)

9. Relationships between  Perpetrators and Victims Where Perpetrators parents alive, they were still in contact � partners agreed parents� violence had diminished Aware of physical damage to partner but less aware of impact on the relationship Almost 50% lost partners during or after groups Partners seemed worn out and if any regression lost tolerance Perpetrators motivation for change came from crises, wife about to leave, arrests AND Moments when they saw selves as creating violence around their children similar to that created around them

10. Inter-generational abuse and violence Clear pattern of violent parents abusing children directly and indirectly These children, when adult, repeated their parents behaviour DV to their partners and abuse to their children Men still in regular contact with parents and still in their power We need to break the pattern and stop it replicating

11. Need for more services and research Service development integrated with research is next step Research on service outcomes show Men�s Behaviour Change Groups achieve success ranging from 40% to 70% but with no clear factors yet identified as to differences in outcomes Don�t know impact of length, content, mandating, additional segments, more involvement of partners on service outcomes Do not know how long changes last Programs are too few in number and have little diversity Larger research study planned for 2010