NOTE: There are sections for both Canadian and Australian students. Please register in the appropriate section and check time zones. 

One area often overlooked by intimate partner violence (IPV) specialists and professionals is understanding that engaging fathers within the context of family violence is about creating safety.  Often, systems involved with domestic violence cases focus solely on services, assessments, and plans for the survivors and missing the critical component of holding the perpetrator accountable. This course will provide professionals with concrete tools to engage fathers effectively (who cause harm) with the goal of accountability and increasing the safety of their families (mothers of their children and children). This is an opportunity to practice and take valuable skills back to the workplace.

Instructors: 

• Damian Green, CEO, Stopping Family Violence, Perth, Western Australia
• Sarah Webb, MSW/RSW - Communications and Global Enterprise Development Specialist at Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, Western University.

What You Will Learn

• Understand the theory of how engaging fathers for accountability helps create safety for survivors
• Understanding impact of the father’s generational trauma while firmly rooted in accountability  
• How to see denial and anger as an opportunity to engage the father in making change -using motivational interviewing
• Practice and gain confidence with how to handle difficult conversations with fathers. 
• Learn about importance of documenting risk within a dv informed framework (and what to look out for)
• Safety planning for professionals when meeting with fathers who are violent