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Grantee Agency: Minnesota Program Development, Inc.
Collaborating Agencies: St. Louis County Social Services, Women's Coalition
ACF/OCS Grant No.: 90-EV-0049
Project Period: September 1994 through February 1996
Telephone: (218) 722-2781
Contact(s): Kate Regan, Consultant
Telephone: (218) 728-2087
Fax: (218) 722-0779
Email: kregan@juno.com
Primary Reason Applied for OCS' DV/CPS Collaboration Grant: Prior to this grant, the majority of Minnesota Program Development's activities related to collaboration between domestic violence and law enforcement professionals. It was the opening of the Children's Visitation Center in 1991 that initiated interaction between domestic violence workers and child protective services workers as many of the families using the Center were involved with child protective services. Workers in both organizations were raising questions about the children involved in domestic abuse cases, and they viewed training as a means of reaching both types of workers.
Grant Project Goals: A major goal of the project was to develop a common understanding of domestic violence across child welfare and domestic violence programs. This enhanced understanding would help child welfare practitioners identify and assess domestic violence in their caseload. Project objectives included training both child welfare and domestic violence workers as well as developing a mandatory training policy for court personnel.
Implementation: The project planned and implemented a series of 12 different trainings related to child welfare and domestic violence issues. No curriculum was used; however, topics for the six roundtable discussions were to be outgrowths of issues discussed during trainings and were to provide an opportunity for further collaboration. The 12 trainings (each a full day) covered issues such as assessment, batterer profiles, understanding victim responses, impact of domestic violence on children, working with Native American families, the link between woman battering and child abuse, and domestic violence and chemical dependency. Issues for the roundtable discussions included removing children, removing batterers from the home, parent/child visitation, developing multidisciplinary teams to respond to high-risk cases, and working with immigrant women. Training tapes with accompanying training manuals were finalized at the end of 1998. A mandatory training policy for court personnel was not implemented largely because of difficulty obtaining support from judges. Minnesota Program Development's reputation as "pushing" their domestic violence agenda on others was also a challenge to the court policy. The chief judge felt that the idea would be better received if it was addressed from within the court system or by a group comprised of judicial representatives.
Lessons Learned and Impact on DV/CPS Relationship: One of the factors of this project was that Minnesota Program Development had a good relationship with the child welfare agency prior to this project. The relationship most instrumental to the success of the trainings was that between the staff development/training staff at the county agency and staff at MN Program Development. Prior to the start of the grant, project staff met with county supervisors in each child welfare unit to initiate the relationship. The project director acknowledged that some workers may never fully appreciate the differences in approaches; learning about each discipline has made a considerable difference. Establishing personal relationships is especially important.
Ongoing Activities/Future Plans: Minnesota Program Development foresees conducting additional trainings for county workers on the issue of domestic violence and child protective services. In addition, use of the videotaped trainings will also continue the training efforts. Project staff continue their efforts for development of mandatory training for court personnel and are rethinking their approach. They are currently working with the Family Violence Coordinating Council, which is chaired by a judge and has representatives from the local judiciary.
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Grantee Agency: Michigan Family Independence Agency
Collaborating Agencies: Michigan Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Board
ACF/OCS Grant No.: 90-EV-0098
Project Period: September 1996 through September 1998
Address: 235 S. Grand Ave., P.O. Box 30037, Lansing, MI 48909
Telephone: (517) 335-3931
Contact(s): Debi Cain, Cheryl Sibilisky
Telephone: (248) 624-5756, (517) 373-0076
Fax: (248) 624-6756
Email: caind@compuserve.com, sibiliskyc@state.mi.us
Primary Reason(s) Applied for OCS' DV/CPS Collaboration Grant: Prior to this grant, Michigan had established a statewide domestic violence policy for child protective services workers. This project focused specifically on training child protective services supervisors and domestic violence program directors on the newly developed policy. Michigan had collaborated with the Family Violence Prevention Fund in the development of the National Curriculum for Family Preservation Workers and, in piloting the curriculum, demonstrated the need for incorporating State policies and procedures into the training format. Applying for the Federal grant enabled the State to ensure that administrative staff time could be devoted to implementing the training.
Grant Project Goals: The goals of the project were to develop a child protective services training curriculum on domestic violence for the State and to implement the training on domestic violence to child protective services supervisors and front-line workers, domestic violence program directors, and key policy makers. In addition, the State wanted to create and utilize a training follow-up and evaluation component to assess the project's success.
Implementation: The State held seven trainings (2 full days each) for child protective services supervisors and one training (also 2 days) for domestic violence program directors. A 9-month extension was used to expand training to all child protective services front-line workers in the State. In total, 122 of the 130 child protective supervisors attended a training, 39 of 45 domestic violence program directors attended their training, and 311 of the 600 total child protective services workers attended a training. The supervisor trainings were used not only as a means of providing supervisors with training on the new policy but as a method of gaining supervisor input on how best to introduce the new policy to front-line workers. The reason Michigan did not implement cross-training was because administrators felt it would not have been a good idea to introduce a new child welfare policy to supervisors with domestic violence directors attending the same training.
Each training was led by a "team" of trainers that always included a domestic violence specialist and child protective services supervisor or State training specialist. Trainings with the training specialists (former, not current, child protective services supervisors) were not as well received as supervisors were more receptive to input from current supervisors who were considered more knowledgeable of current caseloads.
Lessons Learned and Impact on DV/CPS Relationship: The Task Force organized for the policy development phase continued to meet and was integral in the curriculum modification and implementation of training. The group consisted primarily of State child welfare and domestic violence administrators; however, they brought in various "specialists" to discuss specific topics (e.g., MA DSS staff came to discuss their system). The development of trust and open communication between members of the Task Force took much longer than originally thought by administrators. Task Force members also needed a lot of education on one another's disciplines and cross-disciplinary issues. As a result of the pilot (of the National Curriculum) in which child welfare workers were educated on the extent of overlap of their cases with domestic violence, many workers felt an even greater need to "go against mom" and cite "failure to protect." This occurrence led to the "team training" approach and the belief that child protective supervisors were essential to the training. Only supervisors could adequately address workers' concerns regarding increased workload.
Ongoing Activities/Future Plans: Michigan's Training Institute provides, at a minimum, a half-day domestic violence training session each month for all new child protective services workers. The State is planning to hold quarterly 2-day training sessions for workers and supervisors. In addition, the State is currently training all TANF workers on domestic violence and is initiating training for foster care workers, delinquency workers, and child support enforcement workers. The State also is developing a "best practices" guide for domestic violence programs.
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Grantee Agency: Missouri Division of Family Services
Collaborating Agencies: Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence
ACF/OCS Grant No.: 90-EV-0122
Project Period: September 1996 through August 1999
Address: P.O. Box 88, Jefferson City, MO 65103
Telephone: (573) 751-4832
Contact(s): Carrie Bolm, Project Coordinator
Telephone: (573) 751-2075
Fax: (573) 526-3971
Primary Reason(s) Applied for OCS' DV/CPS Collaboration Grant: One primary reason for addressing training was that family preservation workers statewide were requesting training on domestic violence. In addition, as a result of an informal needs assessment with field staff involved in a CPS Reform Project, it was recommended that staff receive training focusing on safety planning and the effects of domestic violence on children.
Grant Project Goals: The overall goals of the project were to plan and to implement training for child protective services workers, supervisors and county directors, and domestic violence shelter staff on the relationship between domestic violence and child abuse/neglect. In addition, a sample protocol including guiding principles, investigation, safety assessment, assessment of offender lethality, planning intervention strategies, and service planning activities was to be developed to assist local counties developing their own protocols.
Implementation: Missouri's grant project is still ongoing. Project staff utilized the Family Violence Prevention Fund's National Curricula (both the child protective services and family preservation curricula) and modified them to meet the needs of their State. With new welfare reform funding earmarked for domestic violence issues, Missouri is now including TANF and child support enforcement workers in the domestic violence training it has planned for its child welfare workers. As of September 1998, the State had completed training for all State level administrative staff including domestic violence coalition, family services, income maintenance, and child support divisions. Training for supervisors and workers was planned for Spring 1999. The new policy revisions incorporating changes to types of cases that constitute a child protective services referral were finalized in November 1998. If a report to the State Central Registry indicates domestic violence but no child abuse/neglect, the report can be accepted as a protective services referral. The notified county must take some action on these cases either by letter or in-person contact; however, they can no longer screen these cases out.
Lessons Learned and Impact on DV/CPS Collaboration: Prior to the project, informal linkages were present in some local communities; however, no formal linkages existed. The cross-training provided to State level staff within the Family Services Division has been beneficial to the overall process of collaboration.
Ongoing Activities/Future Plans: Missouri's ongoing plans include training workers throughout 1999. Having finalized the new policy regarding identifying and serving families with domestic violence, implementation of the policy will begin.
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Grantee Agency: Massachusetts Coalition of Battered Women's Service Groups
Collaborating Agencies: Department of Social Services
ACF/OCS Grant No.: 90-EV-0126
Project Period: March 1997 through August 1998
Address: 14 Beacon St., Suite 507, Boston, MA 02108
Telephone: (617) 248-0922
Contact(s): Nalina Narain
Telephone: (617) 248-0922 ext. 210
Fax: (617) 248-0902
Email: nnarain@aol.com
Primary Reason(s) Applied for OCS' DV/CPS Collaboration Grant: There was a long history of informal collaboration and working together between the Department of Social Services and the Coalition. However, mental health agencies had very little awareness of domestic violence issues, and there was a need to formalize the relationship between the agencies (so they would continue to work together despite turnover in staff). This led to the Coalition's application for the two grants.
Grant Project Goals: Goals of the project included cross-training and "job shadowing" between child protective services, domestic violence, and mental health staff. Projects were to be developed in three sites: in suburban, rural, and urban areas (Framingham, Pittsfield, and Jamaica Plain/Boston). In each pilot, a team of representatives from the three communities was to be brought together to provide substantive training on cross-cutting issues of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and the impact of childhood exposure to domestic violence.
Implementation: The first grant established a pilot project in Framingham. A 2-day training was held for representatives from domestic violence, child protective services, and mental health agencies. After the training, staff participated in job shadowing. The second pilot used lessons learned from the first pilot to start a pilot in Pittsfield. Meetings were held in Pittsfield between domestic violence, child protective services, and mental health agencies, but no training or formal collaboration occurred. A third pilot was not implemented due to cost and time restrictions.
Lessons Learned and Impact on DV/CPS Relationship: The Pittsfield pilot had many troubles due to a lack of ownership by the local agencies. The staff member who wrote the grant left shortly after it was approved, and the pilot never got off the ground. The success of the first pilot as compared to the second proved that collaboration is about relationships and therefore will vary based on individual agencies and communities.
Ongoing Activities/Future Plans: Joint staff trainings occur three times a year in Framingham. All three agencies still participate in case consultation on an as needed basis. There is occasional job shadowing, but it is not scheduled continuously. Staff from the different agencies often present at joint meetings and conduct in-service trainings.
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Grantee Agency: YWCA San Diego County
Collaborating Agencies: San Diego County Children's Services Bureau
ACF/OCS Grant No.: 90-EV-0072
Project Period: September 1996 through February 1998
Address: 2550 Garnet Ave., San Diego, CA 92109
Telephone: (619) 581-1774
Contact(s): Cambria Rose, DV Specialist
Telephone: (619) 461-2913
Fax: (619) 270-4502
Primary Reason(s) Applied for OCS' DV/CPS Collaboration Grant: Prior to the grant, there was already some collaboration between the YWCA and child protective services. A California State statute required all front-line and first level supervisors to receive basic training on domestic violence. Child protective services approached the YWCA and requested that they apply for the grant to provide more advanced training for child protective services staff based on the individual and cultural needs of the regions.
Grant Project Goals: Goals of the project included a needs assessment consisting of a pre-test to assess knowledge of Children's Services Bureau (CSB) staff on domestic violence issues and focus groups. In addition, a training curriculum that was sensitive to cultural issues was to be developed building off the curriculum that was already in use. Large group trainings, unit meetings and case consultations, individual consultation, and modeling (including accompanying CSB workers on home visits) were to occur. Domestic violence worker training on the relationship between domestic violence and child abuse was to be developed. A YWCA domestic violence specialist was to be located at a CSB office. Joint monthly progress meetings and project evaluation were to be conducted.
Implementation: In response to the needs identified by the needs assessment, 19 trainings of 472 CSB workers were held (70 percent of all workers attended at least one training). Every region received safety planning training, and nine region-specific trainings were held (e.g., a region with a high Native American population received Native American safety planning). Informal case consultation was provided by the domestic violence specialist. Two forums focusing on the importance of collaboration for domestic violence and child abuse were co-sponsored by the project and the Domestic Violence Council's Child Abuse Subcommittee. These involved representatives from the schools, law enforcement, courts, social work treatment community, CSB, military, shelters, and community agencies. The curriculum already in use was enhanced by results of the needs assessment's recommendations and finalized by the domestic violence specialist. The domestic violence specialist also attended countywide Case Elevation Review Team Meetings, performed on-site and phone consultation, and accompanied CSB workers in the field to help with the safety planning for victims of domestic violence and their children. A resource guide for CSB staff, which included information on regional resources (including support groups, legal assistance, treatment, crisis hotlines, shelters, medical resources, and special programs), was developed. A pre- and post-test evaluation was implemented. The evaluation also included interviews with representatives from 24 county agencies, primarily from mental health agencies.
Lessons Learned and Impact on DV/CPS Relationship: The domestic violence specialist became more aware of the complexity and volume of CSB cases and saw the importance of educating the juvenile justice system on the dynamics of domestic violence. The evaluation found that trainings were effective in increasing workers' perceived competence and understanding of domestic violence issues. After the trainings, CSB workers were more likely to think domestic violence was a serious issue, and they were better able to identify domestic violence in their caseload and use safety planning as an intervention (shelters and social supports were the most common interventions). Interviews with county agency representatives, however, reported a noticeable improvement in service delivery only a fourth of the time.
Ongoing Activities/Future Plans: The domestic violence specialist position was continued until August 1998. Training of the domestic violence community about child protective services agencies policies and practices continued on an as-needed basis. Domestic violence workers are now being placed within the police departments. Information on the project activities was disseminated through a brochure developed by the domestic violence specialist and through an article published in the National Council on Juvenile and Family Court Judges newsletter.
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Updated by the webmaster on January 27, 2000.