1. Nicole Stanish Program Manager AWAIC
Domestic Violence 101
Nicole Stanish
Program Manager
AWAIC

2. Objectives Participants will be able to define domestic violence;
Participants will be able to recognize tactics of abuse against victims;
Participants will be able list ways they can screen for DV and respond to allegations of abuse; and
Participants will be able to identify safety issues and safety solutions when working with victims

3. Defining Domestic Violence
Any abusive or coercive behavior used to control an intimate partner, ex-partner, family member or roommate
Includes multiple actions; a pattern of manipulative and violent tactics.
Abusers seek to gain and maintain power and control over their victims by the use of actual and assumed power.
Victim forced to change their behavior in response to the abuse.

4. Domestic violence relationships
A spouse or former spouse
Dating/have dated or had a sexual relationship with
People who live in the same household
Family members/relatives
Someone related or formerly related by marriage

5. Prevalence of Domestic Violence
Out of every 100 women who reside in the Municipality of Anchorage:
*39 experience domestic violence
*32 experience sexual violence
*48 experience DV, SA or both
85% of Domestic Violence victims are women

6. What Causes Domestic Violence?
Ask participants to share their ideas…….make a list on board……use to debunk myths

7. correlation vs. causation

8. Domestic Violence is Learned Behavior
It is not caused by:
Mental illness or personality disorder
Genetics
Alcohol or drugs
An inability to control anger
Stress
The victim's behavior or problems in the relationship
Out of control behavior

9. Domestic Violence is Learned Behavior
It is learned through:
Observation
Experience and reinforcement
Culture
Communities, schools, peer groups, etc.
It is often learned by growing up with domestic violence in the home

10. Domestic Violence is a Choice

11. Power and Control Wheel

12. Elements of Power and Control
Using Intimidation
Using looks, actions, gestures to cause fear in their partner
Smashing things
Destroying property
Abusing pets
Displaying weapons

13. Elements of Power and Control
Using Emotional Abuse
Using put downs
Making their partner feel bad about her/himself
Name calling
Making their partner think she/he is crazy
Playing mind games
Humiliating partner
Making partner feel guilty

14. Elements of Power and Control
Using Isolation
Controlling what their partner does, who she/he sees and talks to, what she/he reads, where she/he goes
Limiting outside involvement
Using jealousy to justify actions

15. Elements of Power and Control
Minimizing, Denying, & Blaming
Making light of the abuse and not taking their partner’s concerns about it seriously
Saying the abuse didn’t happen
Shifting responsibility for abusive behavior
Saying the victim caused it

16. Elements of Power and Control
Using Children
Making their partner feel guilty about the children
Using the children to relay messages
Using visitation to harass their partner
Threatening to take the children away

17. Elements of Power and Control
Using Male/Female Privilege
Treating her/him like a servant
Making all of the big decisions
Acting like the boss of the house
Being the one to define men’s and women’s roles

19. Barriers to leaving Safety The children Isolation Religion
Immigration status
Poor credit/rental history
Poor employment
Love

20. Screening for DV
Make screening for DV a part of your normal intake process
Understand that it may take time for a person to disclose if abuse is happening. Screen for DV multiple times.
Assure the person that you will keep your conversation confidential- but let the person know what info you would have to share (child abuse, elder abuse, imminent harm)

21. How to start a conversation about DV
“If your partner uses physical force
against a person or property, tell me
about one time that happened. Tell
me about the worst or most violent
episode. What was the most recent
episode? Are you afraid of being
harmed or injured?”
“Have you ever used physical force
against your partner? If so, tell me
about the worst episode. What was the
most recent episode? Is your partner
afraid of you?”
“Have the children ever been hurt or
injured in any of these episodes? Have
the children been present? Are the
children afraid of your partner? Afraid
of you?”
“All families disagree and have
conflicts. I am interested in how
your family resolves conflict. I am
interested in how you and your partner
communicate when upset.”
“What happens when you and your
partner disagree and your partner
wants to get his/her way?”
“Have you ever been hurt or injured
in an argument? Has your partner
ever used physical force against you
or anyone else or broken or destroyed
property during an argument? Have
you ever felt threatened or intimidated
by your partner? How?”

22. The Importance of Safety Planning
What is Safety Planning?
A complex set of strategies and resources that a survivor uses to minimize abuse by the abuser
Safety plans are fluid, ongoing, multi-layered and are guided by the victim/survivor
Effective safety-planning will be non-judgmental and will NOT victim-blame
Effective safety-planning will consider not only the individual experience of the survivor, but also the social and institutional factors influencing that experience

23. Elements of Safety Planning
Assessing the Threat
Have there been threats of homicide or suicide?
Does perpetrator have access to firearms?
Have weapons been used or threatened in the past?
What is the role of victim in perpetrator’s life?
Is perpetrator obsessive, highly dependent, jealous?
Has perpetrator begun taking escalated personal/criminal risks?
Is there a history of depression?
Is there a history of alcohol or drug use or abuse?
History of stalking?
How much access to the victim does the perpetrator have?

24. Elements of Safety Planning (continued)
Identifying Limitations
Basic survival/economic needs
Practical needs (eg, Transportation, housing, scheduling)
Resources (eg, cell phone, support system)
What are the impediments?
What avenues is victim willing to explore?
What is most important to the victim?
What are the risks?

25. Elements of Safety Planning (continued)
Identifying Strengths
What has the victim done in the past that has worked?
Who are the victim’s allies?
What are some strategies for neutralizing barriers?

26. Elements of Safety Planning (continued)
Developing the Plan
Safety Planning is a Process, Not a Product…
Rehearsal
Evaluation of Plan
Revision of Plan
Venue
Home
Work
School
Church
Car
Risk
Ally
Barrier
Solution Strategy

27. AWAIC services 24 hour crisis line 272-0100 Shelter
Case management/Children’s advocates
Legal
Moving Forward
Harmony House
ADVSAIP
Community Educator
Clinician
Willa’s Way

28. AWAIC, Inc.
24 Hour Crisis Line
100 W.13th Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99501
Business Line: (907)