S 1 st World Conference of Women’s Shelters August 2008

Overview of Presentation  Program Fundamentals  Composite Case description process short-terms outcomes  Program Services  Program Outcomes  Program Benefits

Program Fundamentals SFT is a program for children who have been exposed to, or experienced  domestic violence (alleged or proven), and  high-conflict custody and access litigation.

Program Fundamentals Cont’d Every child entering the program has  their own therapist  their own lawyer

Program Fundamentals Cont’d Program Goals  Increase children's safety and reduce their risk of victimization in high conflict custody and access (parenting) disputes when domestic violence is known or suspected;  Ensure children's needs, experiences and views are heard and considered in custody and access cases when there is known or suspected domestic violence; and  Facilitate "best interests" decisions being informed by evidence with respect to children's interpretation of their own experience.

Program Fundamentals Cont’d Rights-Based Approach The SFT program is guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child: Article 12, which states that: A child who is capable of forming his or her own views has the right to express those views freely in any judicial and administrative proceeding that affects him/her, either directly, or through a representative, and these views will be given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.

Composite Case Example  Description (see handout)  Process  Short-Term Outcomes

Composite Case Example: Process  File is referred to the program  Both agencies review  Both agencies must accept file

Composite Case Example: Process Children’s Rights  The SFT lawyer speaks with each child to tell them about the program and to advise them that they can choose whether to be involved in the SFT program.

Composite Case Example: Process Children’s Functioning: Assessment and Therapy  The SFT therapist meets individually with Beth (10) and Peter (13) for several sessions to assess their functioning and needs.

Composite Case Example: Process Children’s Functioning: Assessment and Therapy The therapist uses non-directive play therapy techniques to engage Beth in a therapeutic relationship.  The therapist uses non-directive play therapy techniques to engage Beth in a therapeutic relationship.  The therapist uses conventional talk therapy techniques complemented by art therapy to engage Peter in a therapeutic relationship.

Composite Case Example: Process Children’s Functioning: Engagement with the Lawyer The SFT lawyer speaks with each child: about her role as the child’s lawyer, the process of reporting to decision-makers (including the court, when necessary) about what the child would like to have happen, and how his/her information might be shared with decision- makers.

Composite Case Example: Process Assessment and Treatment Reports  The SFT therapist completes an interim report outlining the children’s experience in therapy, an assessment of each child’s functioning and needs, the child’s stated interests, and the child’s capacity to represent their own interests.  Goals for therapy for the children are identified and recommendations are made regarding intervention to address the identified challenges.

Composite Case Example: Process Post Report Activities  Parents and lawyers receive the SFT therapist’s report.  The children’s therapist and the children’s lawyer meet with the parents.  The therapist reviews her reports, her assessments, and observations of the children, the children’s needs and functioning and the therapist’s recommendations.  Negotiations transpire, agreements and consent orders, or court applications may all be potential results.

Composite Case Example: Short Term Outcomes  Bill and Alice agree that the children should continue in the SFT program.  Alice agrees to attend individual counseling  Both parents agree to the involvement of a parenting coordinator.

PROGRAM SERVICES Legal & Therapeutic Support Together Provides:  An assessment of the authenticity of the child’s views  An assessment of the child’s mental health  Assessment of the impact of domestic violence and the custody battle on the child  A focus on the child versus the conflict between the parents  Longer term perspective of the child’s experiences versus the “snapshot in time” of most custody and access assessments  An independent presentation of child’s information and perspective

PROGRAM SERVICES Legal & Therapeutic Support Together (cont’d) Ensures the child has support to:  Withstand the legal context and the parents’ conflict  Adjust to decisions and changing circumstances

PROGRAM SERVICES Therapeutic Interventions  SFT therapists use a range of therapy techniques when working with children in the program.  Non-Directive Play Therapy focuses on: The person and not on the problem The present and not on the past Feelings rather than thoughts or behaviors Understanding rather than explaining Accepting rather than correcting The child’s direction rather than the adults instruction The child’s wisdom rather than the adults knowledge

PROGRAM SERVICES Therapeutic Interventions Cont’d The therapist may interact using a wide range of non-directive actions including:  Reflecting what the therapist sees  Reflecting feelings and musings about the child’s play  Use of metaphor to make linkages Play reveals:  What the child has experienced  The child’s feelings or reactions to events  The child’s needs  The child’s self-concept

PROGRAM SERVICES Therapeutic Interventions Cont’d Themes may be identified in the child’s play when:  The child repeats themes in their talk while they play  The child repeats themes in their play  The child repeatedly gives the same meaning to play scenarios

PROGRAM SERVICES Therapeutic Interventions Cont’d The therapist observes for movement or change including:  Changes in aggression  Changes in acceptance of limits  Changes in expressions of art  Changes in use of fantasy, symbolism, or creative play  Changes in verbalization  Changes in fears  Changes in acceptance of self  Changes in insight or self-evaluation  Changes in dependence on the therapist, etc.

 Role  Child’s Capacity  Report  Engagement with lawyers and parents PROGRAM SERVICES Legal Intervention

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: External Evaluation Learning from comparison with the Paths of Change Program which serves children involved in domestic violence alone showed that:  SFT children were more traumatized; and  SFT parents were more likely to experience mental health and/or addictions issues.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: External Evaluation Cont’d Interviews with Residential Parents “As a result of meeting with (the counselor) his confidence went up from 0-8, all of a sudden he started to be able to say “no” to his dad, because he felt protected, started sleeping better…he is also much happier, even his teacher told (the counselor) that his behavior changed…now he has lots of friends.”

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: External Evaluation Cont’d Interviews with Non-Residential Parents  Reluctance to become involved  Interference in their private lives  Fear of losing their children  Felt they did not have a voice  Lawyer and counselor should consult with them and check facts  Counselor should provide weekly updates.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES: External Evaluation Cont’d Interviews with Children  “The lawyers changed the custody around…when my dad heard I had a lawyer he just gave up custody; they made me feel safer, that if I wanted something I could talk to one of them and they’d try and change that”  “(The Program) helped me get my life back, so I could go (see my dad) when I want to instead of being made to go.”  “(The Program helped me) get a voice to help me talk to my dad about how I feel…to talk to him about things I don’t’ talk about…Sometimes he used to blame us for everything, now I can tell him what actually happened, instead of staying in the corner and taking all the blame.”

PROGRAM BENEFITS  Counseling in combination with legal services allows children to express their views freely, in a manner that also gives decision- makers access to the information  Children cope better with stressful events  Decision-makers particularly the Court and often parents are receptive to the opinions/recommendations of the therapists  In 95% of cases in which a clinical report was presented to decision-makers, the recommendations in the report were followed.

PROGRAM BENEFITS Cont’d  Created a powerful catalyst for settling cases and avoiding court appearances In the vast majority of cases, litigation was pending or in progress:  In 62.5% of these cases, litigation was terminated or the matter was settled;  In 77.5% of cases, access or residential conditions for children changed; and  In 77.5% of cases, time in court was reduced.

PROGRAM BENEFITS Cont’d  Children are empowered In many cases, children were able to share their views clearly and were involved in confirming what information would be shared with parents and decision-makers Children demonstrated increased self-confidence when they experienced parents and decision-makers responding to their views - even when parental conflict continued  Children’s evidence contributes to making best-interests decisions  More credible evidence is provided to the court