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Rebecca Levenson, MA, Futures Without Violence
- Explain how trauma-informed programming can reduce barriers that home visitors face in meeting the Federal benchmarks for addressing domestic violence during home visits.
- List three strategies to reduce the impact of vicarious trauma on home visitors.
- Give two examples of how domestic violence can negatively impact home visitation program goals.
- Demonstrate how to use the safety card to facilitate assessment and client education about healthy relationships, domestic violence and safety planning.
- Identify two resources to support mothers and families exposed to domestic violence.
Description:
Home visitation services provide a unique opportunity through ongoing contact with mothers at home to identify and assist families experiencing domestic violence and other adverse experiences. Domestic violence directly impacts home visitation program outcomes and reduces the effectiveness of home visitation services. The recently updated Healthy Moms, Happy Babies curriculum, created by Futures Without Violence, has been designed to meet Federal benchmarks to identify and intervene for domestic violence during home visits while addressing known barriers to successful implementation. The core curriculum, one day in length, starts with addressing the effects of vicarious trauma on staff as the first step to becoming a trauma-informed program. The impact of domestic violence and reproductive coercion on maternal and perinatal health is highlighted along with specific considerations for home visitation services. The evidence-based safety card approach to facilitate screening and universal education for domestic violence is demonstrated through video vignettes, role plays, interactive exercises and tools designed specifically for home visitors. Specific barriers to identifying and intervening for domestic violence in the context of home visits are discussed and assessment is re-framed within a prevention framework to educate clients about healthy and unhealthy relationships. Strategies to build sustainable partnerships with community resources are emphasized to identify opportunities to maximize resources and work towards collective impact.