David Mandel and Associates

Our Assumptions include:

• Child welfare systems cannot achieve their core mission of safety, permanency and well- being of children without being competent and skillful in their response to domestic violence.
• The interests of domestic violence survivors and child welfare are in significant alignment: reducing or eliminating the safety and risk concerns posed by batterers.
• The child welfare systems need to develop their capacities and competencies to intervene more effectively with domestic violence perpetrators.

To improve practice and create better outcomes for children and families exposed to domestic violence perpetrator’s behavior, the following Principles can help guide practice:

Implementation of these principles in case practice is supported by a focus on identifying the following Critical Components:

The Safe and Together model can be useful to a variety of disciplines and systems including child welfare, community based mental health organizations, domestic violence agencies, the courts and law enforcement. While child welfare agencies are central to the safety and well being of children, any professional working with children and families impacted by domestic violence perpetrators can benefit from training and technical assistance based the principles and critical components of the Safe and Together model. In fact, when professionals across systems are trained in the Safe and Together model they gain a common framework for discussing concerns, challenges and solutions for families experiencing domestic violence.

For information about Safe and Together and inquiries regarding training, please contact us.