David Mandel and Associates

Recent blog postings from the Safe and Together Blog

Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence publishes report citing Safe and Together^TM model

In January 2011, the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence published a report entitled Supporting Battered Mothers Protects Children: Reducing the Effects of Domestic Violence on Children. The report was created at the request of the Chairman of the Missouri Children's Services Commission, Representative Jeff Grisamore. As it indicates in its acknowledgments "It contains the latest research on the prevalence of child exposure to domestic violence and best practices in addressing this violence. To read more, click here.

New Connecticut Department of Children and Families Commissioner outlines her position on domestic violence

On March 21, 2011, Connecticut's new Department of Children and Families Commissioner Joette Katz sent out an all staff memo regarding the agency's approach to domestic violence. In the memo, the former Connecticut Supreme Court Justice outlined her support for the work of the Department's domestic violence consultants, the Safe and Together^TM model, the importance of partnering with domestic violence survivors and collaborating with community partners. To read Commissioner Katz's memorandum, click here

When Failure to Protect Fails to Protect Children

By Kristen Selleck, MSW, National Training Director

I recently had a conversation with child protection investigators about their useof "failure to protect." When I suggested that failure to protect was not helpful to child welfare's mission, some of the workers agreed and some disagreed. It led to an important conversation. To read more, click here.

Engaging Fathers Responsibly is Fundamental to Our Commitment to the Safety and Well Being of Women and Children

By Mark Larson, Responsible Fatherhood Initiative Director

Any responsible fatherhood work must be anchored in the realities, experiences and wishes of women and children, especially battered women and their children. Responsible fatherhood work is a complex balancing act. To better respond to the reality of most families, we need to be able to discuss the importance of fathers in the lives of their children without becoming cheerleaders for abusive fathers. We need to be able to talk about a child's relationship with her father without lapsing into blind promotion of an abusive father's unfettered access to his child or allowing that child to be used as a tool to control a partner or ex-partner. We need to be able to talk about the independent relationship children have with their fathers without ignoring the role and concerns of their mother. To read more, click here.

News Items

David Mandel & Associates, LLC is hiring a National Training Coordinator.

DMA is currently looking for a national training coordinator to provide Safe and Together model training throughout the country. To read the position description, please click here.

DMA to collaborate with the Connecticut Commission on Child Protection on guidebook and training for attorneys and others

DMA will be working with Connecticut's Commission on Child Protection and the State of CT Judicial Branch on creating a domestic violence guide book and training curriculum for the private attorney's representing parents and children in Juvenile Court. The material and training will also be available to Guardians ad litem, court evaluators, court staff, child welfare staff, domestic violence advocates and others. This project will use the Safe and Together^TMmodel principles and critical components to improve the domestic violence competencies of court related personnel. This effort complements the existing efforts of the Connecticut Department of Children and Families to improve its domestic violence competencies. (The mission of the Connecticut Commission on Child Protection is to "ensure that children and indigent parents who require legal services and guardians ad litem in child protection, child custody and child support cases in Superior Court, receive high quality, competent and zealous representation." To learn more about the Commission click here.)

DMA continues to focus on Differential Response and domestic violence

In January, as part of its broader training and technical assistance work with Colorado's Department of Human Services, DMA delivered two days of training on the application of the Safe and Together^TM model to Colorado's Family Assessment efforts. The two-day training gave the opportunity for the participants to explore decision-making regarding the tracking of domestic violence cases, and learn how to develop partnerships with domestic violence survivors and intervene with perpetrators in the context of differential response. The training also emphasized the importance of universal screening for domestic violence in all child welfare cases. To support this recommendation the training examined the connection between domestic violence and other child welfare issues such as substance abuse and mental health issues. This onsite training was followed by webinar to support continued integration of Safe and Together^TM principles into Family Assessment practice. In Ohio, DMA continues to explore with its partners (National Center for Adoption Law and Policy, the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services and the Ohio Supreme Court) a plan that will allow the Safe and Together^TM principles and critical components to shape differential response practice across Ohio. In Connecticut, the Safe and Together^TM model continues to provide guidance to the Department of Children and Families roll out of differential response.

DMA committed to leverage technology to support partners

DMA is taking significant steps utilize technology to improve its training and technical assistance efforts. For example, DMA has delivered 5 webinars to child welfare staff, advocates and others as part of its on-going Safe and Together^TM work in Colorado. The goal of these webinars has been to reinforce the principles and practices taught during on site trainings. The webinars, which included a combination of video feed, PowerPoint and Q & A, allowed training participants to ask questions about the application of the Safe and Together^TM model to specific cases and situations. Instant online polling features allowed the trainers to gather information from all the participants and generate rich discussions that reinforced the integration of the Safe and Together^TM model into daily practice and collaborative efforts. DMA plans to take major steps over the next year to increase its capacity to use technology to support its relationships with its partners. These changes will include a major overhaul of the DMA website (www.endingviolence.com) to highlight the Safe and Together^TM model and Responsible Fatherhood Initiative. The new site will include video clips about the model and will be easier to navigate. It will also have a secure area where current partners will be have access to tools and information to support their efforts. To support these efforts, DMA has hired Christopher Gorski as its Technology Manager. Chris brings advanced technology expertise to DMA. Chris will be working on various projects, including developing online learning forums and online trainings.

Current and Upcoming Projects

David Mandel & Associates begin intensive training and technical assistance for Jackson County, MO Children's Division supervisors: Starting in April and continuing through the summer, the Jackson County MO Children's Division supervisors are receiving multi-day Safe and Together^TM model training specific to supervisory practice and needs. This package includes technical assistance days designed to give supervisors and opportunity to practice the Safe and Together^TM model principles and get immediate feedback and support. Moving forward, DMA will be providing additional training and technical assistance to Children's Division supervisors, frontline staff and community partners.

DMA continues work with the Florida Department of Children and Families. DMA is currently wrapping up an extensive training and technical assistance package with the West Palm Beach region for DCF. DMA has received positive feedback about the changes developing in the region based on the training; in addition the region has developed new domestic violence protocol in line with the Safe and Together^TM model.

© 2011, DMA LLC. Permission to reprint with the following information "Originally published in Safe & Together Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 2, May 2011, David Mandel & Associates, LLC, www.endingviolence.com.