Family Violence Project...
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Through our education and awareness workshops, we create connections with community members and encourage them to recognize and work to end domestic violence. The following is a list of trainings we offer to groups in Kennebec and Somerset Counties.
- Domestic Violence 101 (DV101)
- Effects of Domestic Violence on Children
- Domestic Violence in the Workplace
- Domestic Violence Screening for Healthcare Professionals
- Domestic Violence Response for Emergency Medical Technicians
- Elder Abuse
- Healthy Parenting Relationships
- Repairing the Harm: How Family and Friends Can Help Battered Mothers and their Children
If you are interested in scheduling a training, contact [email protected] or call 207-877-2288.
Summary of Trainings
DV 101 – This is a basic training about the issue of domestic violence and why it occurs in our society. Training topics include: defining abuse, dynamics of abuse, myths and preconceptions about domestic violence, red flags of abuse, how to help someone who lives with domestic violence, and resource information.
The Effects of Domestic Violence on Children – Children suffer when domestic violence occurs in their homes. This training will help you to recognize and respond to children who have been traumatized by witnessing or directly experiencing violence in their own homes. Training topics include: affects of domestic violence on children, red flags of abuse with children, intervention strategies with children, and fostering resiliency in children and youth.
Domestic Violence in the Workplace – Domestic violence doesn’t stay home when victims and abusers go to work: it can affect productivity, increase absenteeism and raise the risk of violence in the workplace. It costs employers hundreds of millions of dollars each year in increased health care costs. Domestic violence in the workplace includes all types of behaviors that affect a person’s ability to perform their job. It can range from an exhausted or injured worker, harassing telephone calls, unarmed and armed stalking to homicide. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that domestic violence costs $727.8 million in lost productivity in the U.S. annually. With nearly one-third of American women reporting physical abuse by an intimate partner at some point in their lives, it is certain that in any mid-to-large sized company, domestic violence is affecting employees. Training topics include: dynamics of domestic violence, why it is hard to leave, workplace responses for employees and managers, how to respond, and safety planning in the workplace. We also offer help in developing a domestic violence workplace policy along with a Workplace Domestic Violence Toolkit. The Toolkit was developed by the Maine Department of Labor and the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence and is available to help employers to develop policy and to know how to respond to both abusers and victims in the workplace. If you are interested in receiving training and a Toolkit, please contact [email protected] or call 207 877-2288.
Domestic Violence Screening for Healthcare Professionals – The Domestic Violence Response Initiative is a training offered to doctors and health care staff to help integrate domestic violence screening into their practice. This one hour training will promote an increased sensitivity and understanding of domestic violence. Training topics include: the dynamics of domestic violence, health risks associated with abuse, clinical “red flags” of abuse, and the RADAR screening rubric. Follow up support is available to help navigate any barriers to implement the screening.
Domestic Violence Response for Emergency Medical Technicians – EMT’s are often the first ones to arrive at a domestic violence scene. This training will promote an increased sensitivity and understanding of domestic violence, help EMT’s to identify and gather quality information and documentation for the criminal justice system, and increase referrals to domestic violence projects. Training topics include: the dynamics of domestic violence, myths about abuse, documentation of domestic violence, scenarios, and what to say and do in responding to domestic violence.
Elder Abuse – Abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults happens in Maine much more frequently than you may realize. Many victims are uncomfortable talking about these problems, especially if they are being abused by a family member or friend. Help is available if people are aware of the problem and take steps to report it. Training topics include: dynamics of elder abuse, case scenarios, what to do, how to respond and community resources.
Healthy Parenting Relationships – The way a parent communicates with a spouse or partner impacts a child’s development and his or her ability to develop their own relationships. This workshop includes a discussion about what a healthy relationship looks like, developmental needs of children, and basic parenting skills for parents to practice.
Repairing the Harm: How Family and Friends Can Help Battered Mothers and their Children – Abuse drives a wedge between a mother and her children. Battering harms women, it harms children, and it harms their relationship. This workshop includes principles of trauma, dynamics of abuse, and how to effectively respond to mothers and their children who have experienced abuse.
Task Forces
We sponsor task force meetings in Kennebec and Somerset Counties, inviting interested community members to interact with law enforcement officials, social service providers, health care professionals, court personnel, and representatives from local and state government. The task force provides a means for service providers who work with victims to network and support one another In order to better coordinate efforts in addressing and responding to domestic violence. A major project that was undertaken by the Somerset Domestic Violence Task Force was a safety audit in Somerset County, which led to changes improving the response to victims of domestic violence. Task forces also help to raise awareness in the community through activities such as a Community Speak Out that was held in Waterville. Take a look at the Coordinated Community Action Model and Community Accountability Wheel to see how our community institutions can make a difference in the lives of people affect by abuse.