Fort Bliss Monitor

First step in preventing family violence begins with leaders

HOT TOPICS
The Army Family Advocacy Program helps soldiers and their families nurture healthy relationships by working with family and individual strengths. Since every relationship endures occasional periods of stress and change, FAP zeroes in on specific problem areas to help Soldiers and their family members resolve their issues constructively and overcome difficulties.

FAP’s first steps in preventing family violence begin with leaders. It offers a variety of tools that leaders can use in educating, preventing, identifying, assessing and treating family violence.

A leader’s first introduction to the FAP should be within the first 45 days of assuming command, as outlined in Army Regulation 608-18. FAP trainers outline leaders’ responsibility to prevent family violence and provide a link to community resources that can assist both the offenders and victims of family violence. Each commander and NCO should also receive a personal copy of the FAP’s Desk Guide, which charts the steps of preventing and handling cases of family violence within the unit.

The guide also provides space for emergency-contact information.

Each installation has a FAP to which leaders may refer their Soldiers and family members for the following services:

• support groups for new, single-parent and dual military families;

• family and marriage-enhancement workshops;

• parenting workshops;

• individual, couple and family counseling;

• classes in stress management, anger control and financial planning;

• respite and foster care; and resource library.

Prevention

The leader’s responsibility in preventing family violence is an ongoing affair of education and support.
Next to Soldiers themselves, leaders are the primary team members for successful prevention because they specialize in assisting Soldiers and families on a daily basis.

Commanders and leaders are in a perfect position to prevent family violence by simply keeping their eyes and ears focused on Soldiers’ behavior and suggesting the use of prevention tools provided by the Family Advocacy Program.

Leaders can build trust with their Soldiers by fostering an open dialogue and openly acknowledging that everyone experiences trouble sometimes. Soldiers should also realize that stress decreases one’s ability to make sound decisions.

The leader who looks out for the well-being of individual Soldiers:
• Anticipates stressful events.

• Ensures Soldiers attend an annual briefing by the Family Advocacy Program.

• Ensures Soldiers know that violence can be a crime.

• Discusses Army standards and rules about domestic violence and outlines the consequences.

• Talks about prevention strategies.

• Stresses the value of problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills, respect, self-accountability, walking away when emotions are at a peak, and being in control of a situation.

• Encourages Soldiers to be open about their concerns and problems at the first signs of stress.
• Is supportive and non-judgmental.

• Listens to what and how something is being said.

• Balances a leadership approach with a supportive response to Sol-dier’s or family’s explanation of their difficulties.

• Teaches Soldiers that it is their personal obligation to take responsibility for their actions and seek help before a problem becomes a crisis.

• Is aware of the unit grapevine and alert to concerns and rumors.

• Refers Soldiers to the FAP as appropriate so families have a productive, safe environment in which to work through their problems before violence erupts.

Reporting family violence

The reporting requirement for child and spouse abuse states that every Soldier, employee and member of the military community is obligated to report information about known and suspected cases of child and spouse abuse.

Leaders must:

• Report suspicions of child and spouse abuse promptly to the 24-hour report point of contact, which is normally the local medical treatment facility emergency room or the military police.

• Prepare to provide all relevant information to investigation authorities by gathering situational details and asking specific questions, such as: Who? When? Where?

• Advise the chain of command of what’s happening.

• Inform victims about support programs designed to meet their emotional, physical and financial needs.

• Work jointly with the command when called upon to carry out safety measures.

• Play an active role in the treatment process by communicating with the FAP multidisciplinary team and ensuring Soldiers are granted the time to attend counseling and classes outlined in the treatment plan.

Assessment/treatment planning

Immediately upon receiving a report of family violence, the severity of the violence and the safety of the victim are assessed. The case is presented to the case review committee – a multidisciplinary team generally chaired by the chief of social work – composed of social workers, physicians, chaplains, attorneys, military law enforcement and investigative personnel, and alcohol and drug-abuse prevention specialists. Others may act as professional consultants on a case-by-case basis. The unit commander is asked to attend the CRC when a soldier’s case is scheduled for presentation or review.

The CRC coordinates the medical, legal, law enforcement and social-service clinical assessment of the abuse; recommends treatment for both the offender and the victim; and ensures that the safety plan for the protection of the victim is effective.

Treatment plans vary depending on the level of abuse and who is involved, and are typically a blend of psycho-educational courses and counseling sessions that sharpen analysis and development skills. Depending on the extent of abuse and family members involved, counseling may have an individual, couple, family or collective focus.

Safety planning

If safety planning is prescribed by the multidisciplinary team to ensure victims can escape an abusive environment, it will require the constant, proactive reinforcement of the offender’s commander. This is crucial if treatment is to be successful. De-pending on the severity of violence and potential for imminent danger, leaders may choose from:

• Separating the Soldier from the family for a calming period.

• Restricting the Soldier to the barracks.

• Assigning a responsible escort to the offender when visiting or retrieving personal belongings at the quarters.

Helping Soldiers, families succeed

The support and authority invested by leaders can define the success of intervention and treatment. Leaders should:

• Let Soldiers know that the multidisciplinary team approach is tailored to promote individual, couple and family enrichment.

• Encourage Soldiers and family members to cooperate and use recommended treatment.

• Permit a schedule that allows the Soldier to attend recommended services.

• Maximize support by taking an active interest in how Soldiers and their family members are progressing through the treatment phase.

• Notify the case manager or multidisciplinary team of changes in the Soldier’s unit activity.

Consequences - disciplinary, administrative action

Family Advocacy Program intervention is meant to treat Soldiers who recognize they have problems and are willing to work toward strengthening famil bonds. If the Soldier is charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense, leaders may have to take administrative or punitive action. However, since there are no data that suggest a punitive approach is the best strategy in eliminating family violence, the Army prefers to treat rather than punish. Leaders are urged to:

• Coordinate with legal experts and the military police before drawing the line between treatment and punishment.

• Consider the multidisciplinary team’s report on whether further treatment is practical, especially if incidents have occurred repeatedly and if the command is working harder than the Soldier and family.

• Consider the Soldier’s service record and retention potential.

• Consider whether the Soldier fails to comply with command-directed treatment or administrative restrictions.

• Ensure that families receive information on financial and other benefits available if the Soldier is separated from active duty through a court-martial or administrative action on the basis (at least in part) of a dependent-abuse.

Resources

Community Service Center http:// trol.redstone.army.mil/acs/virtual provides information about the Family Advocacy Program, describes domestic violence and lists resources available to Soldiers and families.
Family Violence Awareness Program www.famvi.com lists local, regional and national hotlines, facts and statistics, and links to other services and sites.

Domestic violence hotlines and resources at www.feminist.org/911/ crisis.html lists state and national coalitions.

This is the final article on countering family violence. It is reprinted from the U.S. Army magazine ‘Hot Topics,’ Current Issues for Army Leaders..



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	February 10, 2005

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	First step in preventing family violence begins with leaders HOT TOPICS The Army Family Advocacy Program helps soldiers and their families nurture healthy relationships by working with family and individual strengths. Since every relationship endures occasional periods of stress and change, FAP zeroes in on specific problem areas to help Soldiers and their family members resolve their issues constructively and overcome difficulties. FAP’s first steps in preventing family violence begin with leaders. It offers a variety of tools that leaders can use in educating, preventing, identifying, assessing and treating family violence. A leader’s first introduction to the FAP should be within the first 45 days of assuming command, as outlined in Army Regulation 608-18. FAP trainers outline leaders’ responsibility to prevent family violence and provide a link to community resources that can assist both the offenders and victims of family violence. Each commander and NCO should also receive a personal copy of the FAP’s Desk Guide, which charts the steps of preventing and handling cases of family violence within the unit. The guide also provides space for emergency-contact information. Each installation has a FAP to which leaders may refer their Soldiers and family members for the following services: • support groups for new, single-parent and dual military families; • family and marriage-enhancement workshops; • parenting workshops; • individual, couple and family counseling; • classes in stress management, anger control and financial planning; • respite and foster care; and resource library. Prevention The leader’s responsibility in preventing family violence is an ongoing affair of education and support. Next to Soldiers themselves, leaders are the primary team members for successful prevention because they specialize in assisting Soldiers and families on a daily basis. Commanders and leaders are in a perfect position to prevent family violence by simply keeping their eyes and ears focused on Soldiers’ behavior and suggesting the use of prevention tools provided by the Family Advocacy Program. Leaders can build trust with their Soldiers by fostering an open dialogue and openly acknowledging that everyone experiences trouble sometimes. Soldiers should also realize that stress decreases one’s ability to make sound decisions. The leader who looks out for the well-being of individual Soldiers: • Anticipates stressful events. • Ensures Soldiers attend an annual briefing by the Family Advocacy Program. • Ensures Soldiers know that violence can be a crime. • Discusses Army standards and rules about domestic violence and outlines the consequences. • Talks about prevention strategies. • Stresses the value of problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills, respect, self-accountability, walking away when emotions are at a peak, and being in control of a situation. • Encourages Soldiers to be open about their concerns and problems at the first signs of stress. • Is supportive and non-judgmental. • Listens to what and how something is being said. • Balances a leadership approach with a supportive response to Sol-dier’s or family’s explanation of their difficulties. • Teaches Soldiers that it is their personal obligation to take responsibility for their actions and seek help before a problem becomes a crisis. • Is aware of the unit grapevine and alert to concerns and rumors. • Refers Soldiers to the FAP as appropriate so families have a productive, safe environment in which to work through their problems before violence erupts. Reporting family violence The reporting requirement for child and spouse abuse states that every Soldier, employee and member of the military community is obligated to report information about known and suspected cases of child and spouse abuse. Leaders must: • Report suspicions of child and spouse abuse promptly to the 24-hour report point of contact, which is normally the local medical treatment facility emergency room or the military police. • Prepare to provide all relevant information to investigation authorities by gathering situational details and asking specific questions, such as: Who? When? Where? • Advise the chain of command of what’s happening. • Inform victims about support programs designed to meet their emotional, physical and financial needs. • Work jointly with the command when called upon to carry out safety measures. • Play an active role in the treatment process by communicating with the FAP multidisciplinary team and ensuring Soldiers are granted the time to attend counseling and classes outlined in the treatment plan. Assessment/treatment planning Immediately upon receiving a report of family violence, the severity of the violence and the safety of the victim are assessed. The case is presented to the case review committee – a multidisciplinary team generally chaired by the chief of social work – composed of social workers, physicians, chaplains, attorneys, military law enforcement and investigative personnel, and alcohol and drug-abuse prevention specialists. Others may act as professional consultants on a case-by-case basis. The unit commander is asked to attend the CRC when a soldier’s case is scheduled for presentation or review. The CRC coordinates the medical, legal, law enforcement and social-service clinical assessment of the abuse; recommends treatment for both the offender and the victim; and ensures that the safety plan for the protection of the victim is effective. Treatment plans vary depending on the level of abuse and who is involved, and are typically a blend of psycho-educational courses and counseling sessions that sharpen analysis and development skills. Depending on the extent of abuse and family members involved, counseling may have an individual, couple, family or collective focus. Safety planning If safety planning is prescribed by the multidisciplinary team to ensure victims can escape an abusive environment, it will require the constant, proactive reinforcement of the offender’s commander. This is crucial if treatment is to be successful. De-pending on the severity of violence and potential for imminent danger, leaders may choose from: • Separating the Soldier from the family for a calming period. • Restricting the Soldier to the barracks. • Assigning a responsible escort to the offender when visiting or retrieving personal belongings at the quarters. Helping Soldiers, families succeed The support and authority invested by leaders can define the success of intervention and treatment. Leaders should: • Let Soldiers know that the multidisciplinary team approach is tailored to promote individual, couple and family enrichment. • Encourage Soldiers and family members to cooperate and use recommended treatment. • Permit a schedule that allows the Soldier to attend recommended services. • Maximize support by taking an active interest in how Soldiers and their family members are progressing through the treatment phase. • Notify the case manager or multidisciplinary team of changes in the Soldier’s unit activity. Consequences - disciplinary, administrative action Family Advocacy Program intervention is meant to treat Soldiers who recognize they have problems and are willing to work toward strengthening famil bonds. If the Soldier is charged with a misdemeanor or felony offense, leaders may have to take administrative or punitive action. However, since there are no data that suggest a punitive approach is the best strategy in eliminating family violence, the Army prefers to treat rather than punish. Leaders are urged to: • Coordinate with legal experts and the military police before drawing the line between treatment and punishment. • Consider the multidisciplinary team’s report on whether further treatment is practical, especially if incidents have occurred repeatedly and if the command is working harder than the Soldier and family. • Consider the Soldier’s service record and retention potential. • Consider whether the Soldier fails to comply with command-directed treatment or administrative restrictions. • Ensure that families receive information on financial and other benefits available if the Soldier is separated from active duty through a court-martial or administrative action on the basis (at least in part) of a dependent-abuse. Resources Community Service Center http:// trol.redstone.army.mil/acs/virtual provides information about the Family Advocacy Program, describes domestic violence and lists resources available to Soldiers and families. Family Violence Awareness Program www.famvi.com lists local, regional and national hotlines, facts and statistics, and links to other services and sites. Domestic violence hotlines and resources at www.feminist.org/911/ crisis.html lists state and national coalitions. This is the final article on countering family violence. It is reprinted from the U.S. Army magazine ‘Hot Topics,’ Current Issues for Army Leaders..