800 Eastowne Dr., Ste. 105,
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
February 2012-Prevention Webinar presented by the Federal Interagency Work Group on Child Abuse and Neglect

Topic:  Addressing Intimate Partner Violence: Approaches to Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare

February, 28th 2012 2-3:30pm (EST)

Many child welfare agencies around the country are working to improve their ability to engage fathers in efforts to keep children safe and promote their well-being. In cases involving intimate partner violence, several child welfare agencies have incorporated the practice of working collaboratively with non-offending parents and domestic violence programs when considering the engagement of fathers who may be abusive. This webinar will introduce principles for developing child welfare practice approaches to engaging fathers, and will review results of an innovative service for fathers in the North Carolina child welfare system via the Strong Fathers Program.

As result of the webinar participants will:
- Explain the child welfare rationale and practice principles for engaging fathers who have used violence and other kinds of abuse.
- Describe best practices for engaging fathers that are abusive as well as those who are not abusive.
- Describe fatherhood-based and culturally-based strategies for engaging fathers.
- Encourage innovative approaches to development of services for men involved in child welfare.

Presenters:

- Fernando Mederos, Ed.D, Director of Fatherhood Engagement, Massachusetts Department of Children and Families
- Kathy Niedt, Ed.M, Assistant Director for Case Practice, New Jersey Department of Children and Families, Division of Youth and Family Services
- Joan Pennell, PhD, MSW, Director of Center for Family & Community Engagement, North Carolina State University

Presented by ACF’s Children’s Bureau, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program in collaboration with Futures Without Violence (formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund).

 


Handouts

icon Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Slides


Accountability and Connection with Abusive Men: A New Child Protection Response to Increasing Family Safety (Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2004) is a practical guide for CPS workers to develop skills at interviewing and working with men who use violence. Available at:

http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/userfiles/file/Children_and_Families/Accountability_Connection.pdf


The following Tip Sheets were developed by Fernando Mederos based on his work with Fatherhood Engagement Leadership Teams in Massachusetts DCF. They provide additional, easy-to-use tips for child welfare workers to assess risk posed by men who use violence.

icon TIPS FOR WORKERS WORKING WITH DADS: ASSESSING LEVELS OF RISK

icon TIPS FOR WORKERS WORKING WITH DADS: HELPFUL THINGS TO SAY TO MEN WHO HAVE BEEN VIOLENT W. PARTNERS


To promote the practice of universal screening for domestic violence, New Jersey developed this guide to help screeners know which questions are most helpful to ask of reporters in a variety of settings/organizations.

icon NJ Domestic Violence Case Practice Protocol Training: Helpful Questions to Ask in Screening

 

Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund, worked closely with facilitators of family meetings to develop guidelines and a curriculum to support safe and effective Team Decision-making in DV cases. Products are available for download here:  http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/section/our_work/child_wellbeing/_team_decisionmaking

 

For more information on the evaluation of Strong Fathers, read the following report from the North Carolina State University Center for Family & Community Engagement (February 2012)

icon STRONG FATHERS: COMMUNITY GUIDANCE