DR. DAMIAN GRASSO SPEAKS ABOUT IMPACT OF DV ON CHILDREN!

MINUTES OF MEETING FOR AUGUST 12, 2015 TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO MINORS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!

Present at the meeting were:

Garry Lapidus, Karen Jarmoc, Rachel Pawloski, joel Rudikoff, Det. Karen O'Connor, Mary Painter, Laura DeLeo, Dr. Damion Grasso, Mary Painter, Sen. Marilyn Moore, Stephen Grant, Dr. Nina Livingston, Kayte Cwikla-Masas

Representing Sarah Eagan from the Office of the Child Advocate was Faith Voswinkle, and Representing Linda Harris from the Office of Early Childhood was Gina Beebe.

Presentations were made by Kimberly Citron and Dr. Nina Livingston.

Co-chairman Garry Lapidus began by explaining the charge and goals of the task force to members who were attending for the first time, and noted that today's meeting would focus on the Healthcare system.  He asked if there were any revisions to the minutes that were emailed to the group.  There were none.

As in the previous meeting, some members were asked to prepare remarks regarding their background, the systems they work in and items they have identified as being areas to improve within those systems.

Dr. Damion Grasso is a psychologist at the UCONN Medical Center who presented to the task force at the last meeting.  He talked about the challenge of trying to  bring universal screening to different systems, and the need to identify children in medical centers and hospitals to better serve them. 

Laura DeLeo is an Assistant Prosecutor in New Haven with an extensive history in working with domestic violence cases, and discussed her experience in this system.  She explained that in New Haven, there is a dedicated domestic docket 5 days per week, with one judge.  One day a week is dedicated to the most serious offenders and includes a team of victim advocates.  This docket, the H docket, utilizes two intensive programs to try to modify offender behavior.  Children exposed are probably grossly underreported due to concerns including the possibility of a DCF referral.  While she is not sure how many people choose to use it, families are given referrals to Yale Child Study in New Haven.

In extreme cases of domestic violence, police officers may not be able to seek out a child witness.  When they do, it can be helpful to the case.  When threats are directed at children, protective orders can be extended to them.  She stated the DCF has a domestic violence liaison dedicated to New Haven which helps monitor how and when protective orders are applied.  As a prosecutor, the focus in her system is largely on reducing the chance of re-offending through classes and training intended to change the behavior of the defendant.

Ms. DeLeo described some of the challenges within her system, including that mothers and children cannot be mandated to take advantage of available assistance.  Also, while protective orders are almost a matter of course, a victim cannot control type or duration of the order.  That means that in some cases involving children, just arranging parental visits is challenging due to a no-contact order.  Judges can, however, access information in both the civil and criminal courts.

She stated that continuity is the key, however, judges can be re-assigned and moved.  Some may not have domestic violence experience.  Currently, there is a judge dedicated to our docket.

In answer to questions from Karen Jarmoc, Ms. DeLeo stated that referrals to the Yale Child Study Center come from law enforcement and that most DCF referrals also get a referral to Yale.  Also, while she does not know if there are best practice models for interviewing children, she just became aware in talking with a victim advocate that such a model may be available.

She responded to questions from Joel Rudikoff, stating that offenders are not ordered to pay for therapy services for children, or the Yale Child Study Center, as this population is often indigent.  As such, services are provided at no cost.

Joel said that we will talk about risk of injury over the next several months.  For example, if a six year old is not actually touched, but witnesses domestic violence, does that in and of itself represent risk?   Potentially a stronger charge when there is a minor witness.  Is the DCF Liaison just for criminal or also to civil, family docket?

Ms. DeLeo said that a parent is statutorily entitled to information when a case is opened in DCF.  Often, DCF is looking for offender programming.  If the state and court are not on the same page and the offender is sent to two different batterer programs, it complicates things.  Communication between DCF and the court is very important.

Garry Lapidus asked if children [are ever] asked to testify in cases in which they were witnesses to domestic violence.  Laura DeLeo said that she has never been in a case in which children were asked to testify, but she is sure it can happen.  If the situation for a child to testify presented itself, it would only be done if it were in the best interests of the child.

Karen Jarmoc asked Stephen Grant to look into the data on the use of available counseling.

Representative Diana Urban said that she was thrilled to be a part of the task force that came from legislation out the Committee on Children, of which she is co-chair.  She said that she will serve as a direct contact between committees.  She said that beyond statutory change, collaborative work across systems must be a focus of the task force.  She is interested in the effects of toxic stress to children and invited people to a forum happening in the afternoon with regard to toxic stress and the Juvenile Justice System.

She also discussed animal cruelty leading to or being a precursor to family violence and gave an example of a parent killing the family pet to intimidate the family.  She believes such instances are an early warning.  She talked about coordination between reporting in the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Children and Families.

Senator Marilyn Moore said that this is her first term serving and her first task force.  In her role as health advocate for low-income women, and as the co-chair of Human Services and a member of Public Health, she sees the residual effects of domestic violence.  She also wants to serve as the layperson's voice in this conversation.

Gina beebe of the Office of Early Childhood works with the Family Support Services Division which does home visiting.  They have four areas of focus:  healthy families, school readiness, nurturing parenting and parent life outcomes.  The OEC has developed policy for when such incidents occur including protocol for home visitors for safety.  They work with fathers and male role models and family empowerment for mothers who are victims of domestic violence.

The Office uses the Kemp Family Stress Checklist as a tool to learn about past history with domestic violence.

Faith Voswinkle of the Office of Early Childhood believes that one of the charges of the task force will be to look at the impact of family violence through a public health lens.  This is an epidemic in our state and our country and that we have to work on collaboration across all systems.

She stated that some violence is so normalized that people do not realize they are in violent relationships and that must be addressed.  We have rich information about the adverse effects of children exposed to family violence.  They may have poor health outcomes, poor performance in school, less healthy relationships, and early death.

Laura DeLeo expressed the potential concern of victims being asked by healthcare professionals about domestic violence exposure of trust with the caregiver [sic].  Are they well-trained enough to handle that information well?  Will there just be a DCF referral?  Will you let a violent family member know what is said?

Dr. Grasso agreed that there are barriers when asking if someone is exposed to family violence, such as DCF referrals, another person being in the room, not looking at a more comprehensive history, and only focusing on that one event.

Kayte Cwikla-Masas from the Center for Family Justice in Bridgeport said that her organization provides direct services to adult and child victims of domestic violence through safe homes, counseling, advocacy, safety planning and support groups.  There are child advocates at each agency throughout the state.  They also provide age-appropriate presentations to schools about healthy relationships, bullying, safe dating, etc.

They are building the first Family Justice Center in the state, and when renovations to their facility are complete, they will not only continue their core services, but will be bringing in community partners including state's attorneys, police, clinicians, the Department of Children and Families, and civil legal attorneys.

Some of the Centers suggested priorities are to eliminate the gap between criminal and civil courts, enhanced training for judges, forensic interviews, and the future adoption of the Family Justice Center Model as a best practice.

A motion was made and seconded to adopt the minutes for the July 30th meeting.  The motion carried and the minutes were adopted.

Dr. Nina Livingston, Director of Hartford Regional Child Abuse Services gave her presentation, "Family Violence-A Pediatric Perspective."  This presentation can be viewed at the following link (link not active).

Karen Jarmoc then introduced Dr. Kimberly Citron, Behavioral Health Clinician from Connecticut Health Center, Inc. a Federally Qualified Health Clinic in Middletown.  She highlighted that the Middletown Domestic Violence Program through CCADV is housed within Connecticut Health Centers, Inc.  Also, that they have been doing IPV screening.

Dr. Citron then gave her presentation.  She explained that she works right alongside medical and dental providers, and that they also have school based health centers in the schools.  Through New Horizons they have a residential domestic violence shelter and multiple support groups.

She stated that they use a "warm hand off process" to allow for people to access behavioral health at any point during their medical or dental appointments.  They can bring the behavioral health provider right into the medical exam room for minimal invasiveness and maximum privacy.  A brief assessment is done and appropriate referrals can be made for behavioral health care.  Screening for domestic violence is done at all medical and behavioral health visits.  

She described the various manifestations of intimate partner violence in children from infants to adolescents.  These manifestations can include a decreased ability to form attachments, decreased ability to self-soothe, lack of ability to form trust and predict ones environment.  Children may exhibit separation anxiety, aggressive or distant behavior, sleep disturbances, poor school performance, hyper vigilance, extreme fear, identify with the abused parent, leaving them at risk of being abused or may identify with the abusive parent and may become aggressive toward the abused parent, siblings and others.  This is the point at which abuse may move to another generation.

Through trauma screens, these manifestations may be identified.  Various supports such as parenting support, play therapy, trauma support and family therapy can be offered.  Prevention of symptoms, targeting symptoms and trauma screens can take place at all health intakes, behavioral health intakes, well-child visits and at school based health centers.  A guardian ad litem may be requested.

Recommendations from CHC include 

• Early identification
• Increased services
• Increased training for providers
• Screening at al medical and behavioral health visits 
• Further research
• Integration of medical, behavioral, mental, court and school systems
• Court advocacy
• provide victim services in all cases of domestic violence
• Guardians ad litem for all
• Clinical liaison to court systems
• Education for parents regardless of DCF involvement
• Training, screening and expansion of processes like warm hand-off
• Increased access in schools
• MDT specific to cases of intimate partner violence
• Expansion of Yale Child Study

Dr. Citron is currently looking at a study of the correlation between PTSD and diabetes.  We should look at what it is like to treat these conditions together.  She would like to see integration of medical and behavioral providers working together to treat these conditions.

Karen Jarmoc wanted to note that screening for intimate partner violence is now reimbursable.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:11pm

Meeting notes prepared by Ms Kristen Traini, Committee Clerk

NEXT MEETING OF TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATE-WIDE RESPONSE TO MINORS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!

Task Force to Study the State-Wide Response to Minors Exposed to Domestic Violence

Tuesday, September 22, 2015, 10:00AM-12:00PM 

Location:  Room 2A of the LOB 

MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO MINORS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE!

Task Force to Study the Statewide Response to Minors Exposed to Domestic Violence

Appointing Authority Designation Name/Organization
DCF Commissioner	Same or designee	Mary Painter
DMHAS Commissioner	Same or designee	Cheryl Jacques
Early Childhood Commissioner	Same or designee	Linda Harris OEC Program Director
DESPP Commissioner	Same or designee	Karen O’Connor State Trooper
Child Advocate	Same or designee	Sarah Eagan Child Advocate
Chief Public Defender	Same or designee	Christine Rapillo
Chief State’s Attorney	Same or designee	Laura DeLeo, Senior Assistant State’s Attorney New Haven Judicial District
Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Children	Same	Representative Diana Urban
Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Human Services	Same	Senator Marilyn Moore
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	Representative of CCADV Task Force Chair	Karen Jarmoc CEO, CCADV
President Pro Tempore of the Senate	Attorney licensed to practice law in CT	Joel Rudikoff Connecticut General Assembly
Speaker of the House	Representative of CT Children’s Medical Center Task Force Chair	Garry Lapidus Director, Injury Prevention Center
Speaker of the House	Representative of a multidisciplinary team established pursuant to 17a- 106a	Cynthia E. Mahon
Senate Majority Leader	Representative of the CT Police Chiefs Association	Chief Jon Fontneau Chief of Police, Stamford
Senate Majority Leader	Adult victim of domestic violence	Jessica Veilleux
House Majority Leader	Representative of a designated child advocacy center	Kayte Cwikla-Masas Assistant Director of Programs The Center for Family Justice
House Majority Leader	Medical doctor specializing in the care of children exposed to	Dr. Nina Livingston Medical Director, SCAN

	family violence	Program CCMC
Senate Minority Leader	Currently appointed Guardian ad litem	Jennifer M. Celentano, Esq.
Senate Minority Leader	Psychiatrist or psychologist specializing in the mental health of children exposed to family violence	Damion Grasso, PhD Department of Psychiatry University of Connecticut School of Medicine
House Minority Leader	Youth victim exposed to family violence	Rachel Pawloski
House Minority Leader	Currently appointed attorney for the minor child	Donald Frechette
Chief Court Administrator	Judge of the Superior Court assigned to hear family matters	Judge Elizabeth Bozzuto
Chief Court Administrator	Representative of Judicial Branch Court Support Services Division	Stephen Grant Executive Director Court Support Services Division

NEXT MEETING OF TASK FORCE RE MINORS AND DV!

Task Force to Study the State-Wide Response to Minors Exposed to Domestic Violence

Wednesday, September 9, 2015, 10:00AM-12:00PM 

Location:  Room 2A of the LOB 

CT FAMILY COURT CONTINUES TO BRUTALIZE ANGELA HICKMAN!

MICHAEL VOLPE OF CRIME MAGAZINE REPORTS AS FOLLOWS:

A battered mother recently featured in Crime Magazine is no longer allowed to know where her kids reside, let alone have any contact with them, after a Connecticut family court judge deemed her the dangerous parent. 

For refusing 'Reunification Therapy' with her abusive ex husband, Angela Hickman has already gone more than 250 days without seeing her children. But now a court has barred her from even knowing where they live.

“Let this letter serve as notice to your client that [children’s names redacted] will be moving,” an August 17, 2015 letter from Hickman’s ex-husband’s lawyer, Mary Brigham started. “Their new address will not be disclosed to your client out of concern for their safety and well-being.”

READ MORE:

http://crimemagazine.com/family-court-hides-kids-“dangerous”-battered-woman-connecticut

DR. NINA LIVINGSTON PRESENTATION TO THE TASK FORCE ON STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO MINORS EXPOSED TO DV!

August 12, 2015 Presentation, See Link below:

https://www.cga.ct.gov/hs/tfs/20150730_Task%20Force%20to%20Study%20the%20Statewide%20Response%20to%20Minors%20Exposed%20to%20Domestic%20Violence/20150812/Nina%20Livingston%20Presentation.pdf

TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE STATEWIDE RESPONSE TO MINORS EXPOSED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, JULY 30, 2015, MINUTES OF THE MEETING!

Task Force to Study the Statewide Response to Minors Exposed to Domestic Violence

The Task Force to Study the Statewide Response to Minors Exposed to Domestic Violence

MEETING MINUTES Thursday, July 30, 2015 1:00 PM in Room 2A of the LOB

The meeting was called to order at 1:15 PM by Chairman, Karen Jarmoc

The following committee members were present:

Karen Jarmoc, Garry Lapidus, Joette Katz, Rachel Palowski, Joel Rudikoff, Sarah Eagan, Stephen Grant, Elizabeth Bozzuto, Karen O’Connor, Kayte Cwikla-Masas

Co-chair Karen Jarmoc, CEO of Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence welcomed task force members and public citizens in attendance. She stated that members are charged with assessing policy and practice with regard to children and family violence in Connecticut and providing a report to the legislature by mid-January.

Ms. Jarmoc introduced co-chair Garry Lapidus, Director of the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and Hartford Hospital, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health at the School Of Medicine at the University of Connecticut.
Introductions were made around the room: Joette Katz, Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, Rachel Pawloski, Youth Member of the Task Force, Joel Rudikoff, Director of Policy and Budget for the Senate Democratic Caucus, Sarah Eagan, State of Connecticut Child Advocate, Stephen Grant, Executive Director of the Court Support Services Division, CT Judicial Branch, Elizabeth Bozzuto, Judge of the Superior Court and Administrative Judge for family, and Damion Grasso, Clinical Psychologist on faculty at the UCONN Health Center, Karen O’Connor, DESPP.

Karen Jarmoc explained that the group would be going over the charge of the Task Force so that members can stay on target with what they are mandated to do. 

Gary Lapidus then gave an overview of his experience and his vision for how the Task Force can best form recommendations. He has been a practicing Physician Assistant for 35 years and in that time has often seen the effects Domestic Violence on children.  As this task force includes representation from many systems like health care, criminal justice, etc., members representing each should examine their system to identify one or two specific areas that can be improved upon, such as screening for family violence risk. As in the medical field, domestic violence risk can be screened for and appropriate referrals or recommendations made to prevent it.

Mr. Lapidus went on to say that domestic violence is a preventable problem, and that young people must be taught what a healthy relationship is. Additionally, as men are disproportionately involved in domestic violence they must be part of the solution. He called for active discussion in this task force, so that we can listen and learn from each other and listen to each other.

Karen Jarmoc thanked legislative leaders for putting forth the legislation creating the task force. She said that in her role at CCADV, she can recall three domestic violence homicides in the spring and summer of last year, in which children under the age of five were present at the scene and sometimes witnessed the homicide. She felt that there was much said about the adult victim and the offender, but the impact of the incidents on children was not focused on as much. There is more work to do around understanding this impact, as well as systems working together to create a stronger response.

Jarmoc and Sarah Eagan put together a working group in September 2014 to look at the various systems involved with children exposed to domestic violence. This working group issued a report titled “Improving Outcomes for Children Impacted by Domestic Violence.” She shared from statistics from that report:

• In 2014, eleven domestic violence homicides took place, including three in which children were present, some having viewed the homicide. 
• Within the 18 member agencies in the Domestic Violence Provision System, 1,200 children and 1,000 adults are sheltered in domestic violence shelters annually and 6,000 provisional services are provided to children out in the community. 
  
• 26% of domestic violence cases, where there was an arrest, children were present in the home.
  
• 4,319 families that are DCF involved have been identified with intimate partner violence in the home.

Jarmoc stated that the group’s goal is to improve policy and practice across our systems through recommendations. She does not feel the only way to address the issue is through statutory change, but believes that collaborative work across systems and guidance around policies will be helpful. The intention is to: 1) describe the problem, 2) establish targets, and 3) make recommendations by January of 2016.
Some members of the group were asked to make remarks at this meeting. The first to speak was Stephen Grant, Executive Director of the Court Support Services Division, who stated that every discipline with Court Support deals with domestic violence. He listed his priorities as being:

           1) Identifying and addressing barriers to interagency communication and information
                             • Increase amount of information across spectrum
                             • Provision of timely thorough and accurate information to key
                            decision makers
           2) Look at trauma informed evidence based care
                          * 78% of children were either direct victims or witness to domestic violence
                          * These children need support on multiple levels 
           3) Emphasize prevention strategies 

0. In follow-up, Karen Jarmoc asked Mr. Grant if there were differences in policy between the different divisions of CCSD, and whether there is a guide for the 1500 employees. Mr. Grant replied that the themes are the same, but the policies of different divisions are slightly nuanced based on its own statutory charge. He also stated that guidance for the employees is embedded in the over 800 policies of the CCSD. Clinical guidance is provided as well.
   
   Rachel Pawloski, the youth victim exposed to family violence on the Task Force, described her experiences with domestic violence that ended in the murder-suicide of her father and his wife. Ms. Pawloski explained that, prior to the murder-suicide, she had contacted DCF for help in her case, but believes that her caseworker felt that her mother was driving the complaint and that it stemmed from a custody issue. She was not included in the court proceeding on her petition to be protected from her father, and that her mother was not even informed of her father’s appeal. She stated that, although DCF had evidence of prior domestic violence in her case, they claimed that they did not.
   
   Ms. Pawloski believes that many of the issues revolve around receiving documenting and recalling information regarding domestic violence incidents. She feels that appropriate training for DCF workers around how children describe domestic violence issues, is imperative. She felt her worker did not recognize the way PTSD affected her when discussing the violence in her father’s home. She stresses that it should never be assumed that reports of domestic violence are actually custody issues. Additionally, she feels it is very important for victims, including children, to be included in the DCF and court processes, and that children involved in domestic violence investigations and proceedings must be taken seriously.
   
   
   Commissioner Joette Katz thanked Ms. Pawloski for sharing her personal story with the Task Force.
   
   The Commissioner explained that, in future meetings of the Task Force, Mary Painter would be the DCF designee, but she would also be attending task force meetings as she is able to. Mary Painter oversees the Office of Intimate Partner Violence and Substance Abuse Treatment and Recovery, and is the expert.
   
   Commissioner Katz proceeded to share Ms. Painter’s remarks, which began with her support of the establishment of the Task Force. DCF’s recent analysis of fatalities of children up to age three confirmed that child abuse is more likely to occur in homes with domestic violence and there is a co-occurrence of risk factors including substance abuse. In children exposed to domestic violence, there is a higher incidence of problems that interfere with functioning and well-being, including physical health, mental health, school performance, and relationships. For children exposed to domestic violence, there is an increased risk of future victimization or perpetrating violence as an adult.
   
   Last year DCF began a three year evaluation project with the Injury Prevention Center of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center led by Garry Lapidus and Dr. Damion Grasso. The Injury Prevention Center has designed and is in the process of evaluating DCF services, by conducting interviews and focus groups with DCF staff and completing in- depth case reviews. The first year report is expected in the fall, and will be used to guide policy, practice and workforce development. Cases accepted by DCF for investigation show that child abuse and domestic violence overlap 30%-60% of the time.
   
   DCF is working to identify gaps and build and expand their service array. They have doubled the funding into services for families by creating Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) consultants within their workforce. There are thirteen IPV specialists in the Intimate Partner Violence Family Assessment Intervention Response (IPV FAIR) program.  DCF is expanding this program to an additional 1 1⁄2 teams. 
   
   The department has designed a multi-systemic adaptation service for families impacted by domestic violence called Multi-Systemic Therapy-Building Stronger Families (MST- BSF). They have experienced tremendous success in building interventions to address such family challenges as substance abuse, problem sexual behavior, and child abuse and neglect
   

   
   In partnership with CCADV an evidence based model for moms and children called “Mom’s Empowerment Kids Club” has been implemented at 18 shelters.
   Additionally, to help teens as they move to adulthood, DCF supports a program called Safe Dates designed to stop and prevent dating violence.
   The department supports the CCADV Pilot Program “Through the Eyes of a Child,” which helps to better understand the experience in a shelter with an aim to reduce trauma.
   
   Recognizing the need to engage fathers, they have introduced a program called “Fathers for Change,” which builds skills, offers restorative parenting opportunities, and enhances motivation, focusing on the role of men as fathers, the impact of substance abuse on parenting, fathers’ own childhood experiences, and the multi-generational nature of trauma and abuse.
   
   In collaboration with the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, the department is working to create a strong workforce, and to increase effectiveness of IPV and delivery of service, including: 
   

• Developing screening protocols and assisting in incorporating the protocols into the department’s electronic record system
• Evaluating the parent and child service delivery and outcomes
• Identifying specialized IPV training for DCF staff
• Conducting qualitative and quantitative evaluation of changes and practice over time with a focus on recidivism, service utilization, and child and family outcomes        

The commissioner summarized the initiatives that the Department of Children and Families will be continuing to work on.

Karen Jarmoc described the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV). CCADV is a membership organization. Members are the 18 designated providers who assist nearly 60,000 victims in Connecticut annually. These organizations are regional and do not overlap. All providers and advocates are certified as DV counselors and are trained using the same curriculum. This allows them the statutory requirement for confidentiality. On average, there are1200 children in domestic violence shelters in Connecticut annually. CCADV provides evidence-based training on a wide-range of domestic violence practices. All services are held to standards.

Gary Lapidus noted that the Task Force has six months to meet before a report and recommendations are due. The first two months or so will be information gathering and learning from each other. The next two months will be forming ideas around recommendations and strategies. The last two months will be the finalization and a public hearing may be held. A final report will be written.

Mr. Lapidus then introduced Damion Grasso, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut Health Center, and Research Scientist at the Injury Prevention Center at the Connecticut Children’s. Dr. Grasso, presented “Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence” which can be found on the Task Force Website through this link.

Sarah Eagan stated that she appreciated the focus areas at the end of Dr. Grasso’s presentation. She was struck by the need for identification, trauma is still something underreported by children, and trauma related disorders are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed in children who have been exposed to significant amounts of violence.

She went on to say that it is important to diagnose children properly to guide appropriate services because as a child ages they may show victimization in different ways. There is a window of opportunity to obtain services they need for that support to be effective.

Joel Rudikoff asked about the more than 1⁄2 of households with known domestic violence statistic from the presentation. What is “known domestic violence?” Isn’t that a form of screening?

Dr. Grasso stated that statistics come from multiple sources and the data should be used as a starting point as to what to expect.

Mr. Rudikoff also asked if there any automatic services children are entitled to under CT state law when there is a report of domestic violence in cases in which it is known that a child is in the household?

Dr. Grasso replied that such knowledge should serve as a red flag that more assessment should be done. Karen Jarmoc added that when there is an arrest in a family violence case that data is captured by Family Relations. She does not believe that there is a protocol or policy around what happens for the child and parents. Multiple things can happen depending on whether or not there is an arrest, whether or not family court is involved, whether or not it is a shelter situation. It comes to different systems at different times.

Kayte Cwickla-Masas, a task force member, is from the Center for Family Justice which is a member of the CCADV and CONNSACS. They are also a child advocacy center and they house the Multiple Disciplinary Team for Bridgeport. The conduct forensic Interviews for children around domestic violence.

Stephen Grant asked if Dr. Grasso was aware of any evidence based trauma practice intervention that specifically targets children who have witnessed domestic violence. He also noted that, while they have had some pilot programs, they often have trouble getting adult victims or family members to have their children participate in these programs. The court does not have the authority to order trauma counseling.

Dr. Grasso answered that cognitive behavioral therapy is the usual treatment for trauma, including domestic violence trauma.

Joel Rudikoff asked what information is available as to what the effects of witnessing domestic violence are, and that there are trauma groups available at no cost to the victim.

Dr. Grasso stated that work needs to be done to remove people’s fear of what is involved with bringing up the trauma again.

Garry Lapidus asked if children in the 18 domestic violence shelters in the state are being assessed by an appropriately trained clinician.
Dr. Grasso stated that they are not, but cautioned that we do not want to necessarily assume that all children exposed to domestic violence are suffering from traumatic stress.

Karen Jarmoc explained that each child that comes into a shelter will get a child advocate BAH [GDL2] or higher. Assessments are done for the child and the parent in the shelter. This assessment should not be defined as a clinical assessment. There is no tool that they use to measure whether the case requires a higher response (trauma exposure). Child advocates confer with clinician when necessary. Therapeutic groups are available for mothers and children while they are in the shelter. She also stressed the importance of proper training for people handling victims of domestic violence in order to avoid re-traumatizing them.

According to Dr. Grasso, what you do with children immediately after a violent incident impacts whether or not they develop symptoms.

Commissioner Katz raised the question of whether the definition of domestic violence in the policy manual should be used in assessments which refer cases to DCF. There are so many mandated reporters in so many disciplines.
Karen Jarmoc agreed that it is important not to make people afraid to seek restraining orders for fear of DCF involvement.

Child Advocate Sarah Eagan asked what the role of schools would be in an effective cross-system means of identifying and screening children exposed to family violence. What does a child suffering from traumatic stress look like in a school setting? Home and school are the places a child under 12 years old spends most of the day.

Dr. Grasso noted that so many symptoms of traumatic stress can look like other mental health conditions without a trauma history.

Karen Jarmoc thanked Dr. Grasso for his presentation.

The 2012 Attorney General report will be sent to members, as well as a link to the workgroup report “Improving outcomes for children exposed to family violence.”
We will be planning a joint meeting with the Model Policy Governing Council for Law Enforcement’s Response to Family Violence to learn more about law enforcement’s response, especially around children.

Garry Lapidus announced the date and time of the next Task Force meeting which will take place on August 12, 10-12 AM in Room 2A of the LOB. Just as some did at today’s meeting, some members will be asked to present for 3-5 minutes. The next meeting will focus on the health care system and its response to this issue. We have invited Brendan Campbell, MD, pediatric surgeon and child abuse pediatrician, Nina Livingston, MD to present at the next meeting and invite the public to attend.
Mr. Lapidus invited everyone to contact either co-chair with ideas and suggestions.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 3:00 PM.  

Kristen Traini Committee Clerk