Family and Community Violence Prevention Project

1. Family and Community Violence Prevention Project Johnny Rice, II, M.S.Lisa Nitsch Director Gateway Project Program Manager Office of Grants Management House of Ruth Maryland Maryland Department of Human Resources

2. By Anna Ditkoff | Posted 11/26/2008 Murders Nov. 10-16: 6 Murders This Week: 12 Murders This Year: 206 9:47 p.m. Veronica Williams, a 29-year-old African-American woman, died. Court records going back to 2005 show domestic-violence complaints against her husband, Cleaven Williams, a 33-year-old African-American man, who is the president of the Greater Greenmount Community Association. On Nov. 9, Veronica Williams took out an order of protection against her husband. On Nov. 17 she went to the Eastside District Courthouse in the 1400 block of East North Avenue for a hearing on that order. Cleaven approached Veronica outside the Walgreens across the street from the courthouse just before 4 p.m., and he allegedly tried to pull Veronica into a car. She tried to fight him off. According to police, he then pulled out a knife and started stabbing Veronica in the neck. An off-duty police officer who was still in uniform was driving by and saw the scuffle. He got out of his car and tried to Taser Cleaven, but was unsuccessful. The officer then shot Cleaven twice in the side. Veronica was rushed to surgery but died on Nov. 20. Cleaven survived and is being charged with his wife's murder.

3. Goal/Purpose • To reduce the incidence/prevalence of domestic violence through the use of innovative interventions and practices: • Develop a response. • Implement new strategies. • Identify hidden cases of domestic violence. • Provide preventive services to populations deemed at-risk.

4. Center For Urban Families (CFUF) A Responsible Fatherhood program that provides comprehensive support services to low-income fathers and fragile families.

5. House Of Ruth Maryland (HRM) Since 1977, has provided comprehensive domestic violence services that assist victims and their children to build stable and independent lives. Provides shelter services, legal services, victim and child counseling, 24-hour hotline, and abuser intervention services.

6. What stereotypes come to mind when the fatherhood field thinks “domestic violence advocate”?

7. A good domestic violence partner: • Doesn’t approach all men as abusers. • Finds creative ways to engage non-violent men in the agency’s work. • Recognizes that men can be victims of domestic violence. • Provides services for male victims of domestic .

8. What stereotypes come to mind when the domestic violence prevention field thinks “fatherhood program”?

9. A good Fatherhood partner: • Acknowledges domestic violence exists. (That’s a good start!) • Acknowledges the gender issues in domestic violence. • Acknowledges they are not trained to do intervention work with abusers. • Agrees that physical violence is NEVER acceptable.

10. What is Responsible Fatherhood? • Responsible Fatherhood is generally defined as – targeted efforts to provide comprehensive services to low-income, non-custodial, and non-resident fathers. • Services include job training and referral, parent education, support groups, and help with child support obligations.

11. Contrasting Views • HRM advocates for victims of violence brought on by an intimate partner. Statistically, this is most often the male counterpart in a heterosexual relationship. • When requested by the client, the primary focus is on creating a way to help that person separate from the abusive partner.

12. Contrasting Views • CFUF advocates and provides services for men/fathers (hard to serve) who express the desire to reconnect and provide emotional and financial support for their children but lack the ability to do so. • Participants often viewed as perpetrators of violence.

13. Partnership Activity Informal: CFUF and HRM discovered that services were being provided to the same respective program participants. Formal: Can better serve families through coordinated effort and dialogue.

14. Training CFUF received two and half days of training from the House of Ruth. Training focused on the Power & Control model used by the abuser intervention program. Identifying abusive behavior and different types of abuse figured prominently.

15. Training CFUF provided one day of training which provided an overview of the Responsible Fatherhood field. Cultural competency and sensitivity regarding Men’s Services program participants discussed. Fatherhood Development and Healthy Start Men’s Journal curriculum activities highlighted.

16. Significant Issues Program participant confidentiality. Activities identified as verbal abuse. Incidence versus pattern of abusive behavior. Language of Intake/Assessment Tools (gender neutrality). Safety Protocols (I.e. physical plant and scheduling). Governing policy and procedures discussed. Development of a Memorandum of Understanding.

17. Program Changes CFUF incorporated a domestic violence screening tool in their Men’s Services initial intake and assessment. Once abusive behaviors are identified the participant is referred to the House Of Ruth Gateway Project at no charge. HRM invited CFUF to recruit for the employment and responsible fatherhood programs at their Orientations for new clients.

18. Weaknesses • Lack of effective communication (staff and program participants). • Lack of CFUF/HRM staff buy-in. • Program participant insubordination. • Program participant failure to follow-through. • Lack of validated DV screening tools for population. • Lack of organizational management (i.e. coordination of referrals, tracking of participants, fees, services, and data management).

19. Current Findings House Of Ruth Maryland program participants who were also enrolled in Center For Urban Families were 25% more likely to complete the abuser intervention program

20. Beyond Expectations Men’s Call to Action: Speak Out Against Family & Community Violence October 30, 2004 & Violence Prevention Group Initiative

21. Beyond Expectations CFUF and HRM have continued to work as primary partners in a number of initiatives: • Review of screening tools for victims, perpetrators & children • On-going staff trainings • Curriculum reviews • Service referrals

22. Next Steps • On-going group sessions • More community event planning • Strengthening communications • On-going surveys • Focus groups • Education, training and evaluation • Larger Men’s Violence Prevention Initiative

23. Minimum Standard: • Truth in advertising. • Make service referrals.

24. Ideal Partnerships: • Work together to create standard operating procedures for both agencies. • Have cross referrals. • Have cross trainings. • Include each other’s program content in curriculums. • Recognize they cannot fulfill the function of the other. • Keep abusers engaged in programs while also receiving domestic violence services and education.

25. What we’ve all learned: • A good “pep talk” doesn’t impact the level of violence a family is experiencing. • While stressors like substance abuse and unemployment can compound domestic violence, they are not causal. • Some abusers have no intention or desire to stop their abuse. • On average, 10% of fathers/couples who enroll in your programs will have histories of domestic violence.

26. What we’ve learned: • Basic screening tools will not identify most domestic violence. • Often, neither the abuser or the victim will identify with terms like “abuse” or “domestic violence.” • Being too responsive (alarmist) can scare people away from services.

27. Thank you. And if you’re left with more questions than answers… Johnny Rice, IILisa Nitsch Director Gateway Project Program Manager Office of Grants Management House Of Ruth Maryland, Inc. Md Dept. of Human Resources (410) 554-8453 (410) 767-7854 lisanitsch@hruthmd.org JRice2@dhr.state.md.us