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Engaging Families in Domestic Violence Services

The following resources and strategies address how to engage families who have experienced domestic violence, including case planning, family group conferencing, and team decision-making, including State and local examples.

Conversations With Mothers of Color Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence Regarding Working With Men to End Domestic Violence (PDF - 94 KB)
Family Violence Prevention Fund (2003)
Presents results of a study of survivors of domestic violence. The concepts that emerged from this study will be used to help develop violence prevention messages that practitioners can deliver to men and fathers.

Family Team Conferences in Domestic Violence Cases: Guidelines for Practice (PDF - 396 KB)
Carter (2nd ed.) (2003)
Lays out steps to decide whether a family with a history of domestic violence is a good candidate for a family team conference and prepares workers to conduct a conference that will result in the best possible child welfare decision and safety for all.

In the Moment Strategies for Facilitators of Team Decisionmaking Meetings: When Domestic Violence Is Present or Suspected (PDF - 10396 KB)
Annie E. Casey Foundation (2004)
Aims to provide facilitators of team decision-making (TDM) meetings with targeted strategies, practical support, and tools for skill development to use before and during TDM meetings, as well as some suggestions for following up with caseworkers and supervisors.

Safeguarding Everyone in the Family: Family Group Conferences and Family Violence (PDF - 2160 KB)
Pennell
Social Work Now, 2007
Addresses concerns about using family group conferences in the context of family violence, ways to ensure the safety of participants, and research on their effectiveness in reducing family violence.

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State and local examples

Child Welfare Services With Families Experiencing Family Violence: Participant Guide (PDF - 4321 KB)
Georgia Department of Human Resources (2007)
Presents participant materials for a workshop for Georgia child welfare workers working with families that are experiencing family violence.

Lessons Learned: A Report on the St. Clair County Family to Family Advocacy for Nonoffending Parents Pilot Project (PDF - 175 KB)
Lakeshore Legal Aid
Presents lessons learned from a pilot project focused on nonoffending battered parents.

Updated on January 5, 2009