Management of Family Violence in Singapore Amran Jamil Social Worker PAVe Centre Trauma Conference, 30 July 2006 Changi General Hospital
Outline of Presentation Definition of Family Violence & Legal Framework Approaches in Management of Family Violence in Singapore PAVe: Programmes & Initiatives
Family Violence Traumatic event - Nature of event i.e. feared death, causing physical, emotional injury - What the event means to the victim Common reactions to trauma of FV - Withdrawal - Seeking out help / support - Losing sleep / Anxiety - Anger - Deep sense of helplessness - Traumatic bonding
Definition of Family Violence Sec 64 of Women s Charter: - Wilfully or knowingly placing or attempting to place a family member in fear of hurt; - Causing hurt to a family member by such act which is known or ought to have been known to would result in hurt; - Wrongfully confining or restraining a family member against his will; and - Causing continual harassment with intent to cause or knowing that it is likely to cause anguish to a family member.
Definition of Family Violence Family member defined as: - Spouse / ex-spouse - Child (adopted & step children) - Parents - Parents-in-law - Siblings - Any other relative or incapacitated person whom the Court regards as family member
Legal Framework Women s Charter, Cap 353 Amendments (1996) to the Charter to give greater protection to family members against violence: - widening definition of family violence to include emotional & psychological harm - widening definition of family members beyond spouses & children - enable Court to issue a Personal Protection Order (PPO) on balance of probability instead of beyond reasonable doubt
Legal Framework Women s Charter, Cap 353 Sec 65(5)(b) empowers Court to mandate perpetrators, victims and other family members (including children) to attend counselling Mandatory Counselling Order often issued with PPO Aims to stop physical, emotional or verbal abuse in the family by helping the perpetrator find other ways of dealing with stress, anger or conflict without resorting to hurt or violence It provides help & support victims of violence who need safety and protection.
Legal Framework Penal Code Contain provisions on acts that are non-seizable (complaints to be made in Subordinate Courts). Contain provisions on acts that are criminal in nature. For example use of weapons & causing grievous hurt (e.g. loss of limb) Provisions are applicable to acts of violence committed by family members against other family members
Legal Framework Children & Young Persons Act Child abuse is defined as any act of omission or commission by a parent or guardian which would endanger or impair the child s physical or emotional well-being, or that is judged by a mixture of community values and professionals to be inappropriate. Types of abuse include:- Physical Abuse Neglect Sexual Abuse Emotional and Psychological Abuse
Legal Framework Elder Abuse Examples of elder abuse: - physical and sexual abuse - emotional and psychological abuse - financial exploitation - abandonment, neglect and medication abuse Maintenance of Parents Act For elderly who are unable to maintain themselves financially, by obtaining financial maintenance from their children
Approaches in Management of Family Violence MCYS lead agency Multi-disciplinary & Multi-agency - Minimize gaps & discontinuities in services - Better deployment of expertise & resources - Enable sustainable interventions with outcomes
Approach in Management of Family Violence Many helping hands - MCYS works closely with many partners in the management & provision of services & programmes - Involves sharing of information, trend analysis & opportunities for raising community awareness
Multi-Disciplinary Collaborations Courts Police Hospitals / Polyclinics Social Service Agencies Prisons Department
Approaches Policy Level: Family Violence Dialogue Group led by MCYS & Police - Comprises partners i.e. Family Court, Prisons Department, MOH, MOE, NCSS & social service agencies (e.g. FSCs, PAVe) - Jointly set strategic policy frameworks - Enhances services for families affected by violence - Collaborates on PE efforts - Facilitates work processes amongst agencies - National FV Networking System - National FV Networking Symposium - Regional FV Working Groups
Multi-Level Approaches Family Violence Dialogue Group National FV Networking Symposium National FV Networking System Regional FV Working Groups
Approaches Functional Level: National Family Violence Networking System - tight network of support & assistance - links police, hospitals, social service agencies, Family Court & MCYS for closer collaboration & networking - island-wide networking system provides multiple access points for victims to obtain help - helps ensure that victims receive the appropriate & timely help & advice for their safety & protection
Approaches Community Level: Regional Family Violence Working Groups - led by non-governmental agencies - comprises agencies, hospitals, police, crisis shelters - harnessing community to lead regional activities (e.g. publicity, training), examine trends at grassroots level & seek new ways to help families - serves as a channel of providing feedback to the Family Violence Dialogue Group on service gaps
Approaches Research Level: National Family Violence Networking Symposium - organized on annual basis - strengthen partnerships between agencies to share best practices in policy, practice & research
Approaches Publication: Networkz Agencies Uniting Against Family Violence - newsletter for partners - provides updates in the networking system - shares challenges & successes - strengthens links between agencies
Approaches Manual: Integrated Management of Family Violence Cases in Singapore Training: - training on management of family violence for frontline workers at 3 levels i.e. basic, intermediate & specialized - inter-agency joint training between police & social service agencies
Approaches Empowerment of Victims & Perpetrators - Mandatory Counselling Order - MCYS: intake agency for all cases ordered by the Court to attend mandatory counselling - Works closely with social service agencies in providing counselling services to these cases - Covers topics: - Safety planning - Understanding impact of violence - Breaking cycle of violence - Conflict management
Approaches Elder Protection Team (EPT) - multi-disciplinary team comprising professionals in the area of geriatrics, psychiatry, law, & social work - led by TRANS Centre (a VWO) - provides multi-disciplinary assessment & intervention
PAVe: Programmes and Initiatives
REFERRAL SOURCES REFERRAL SOURCES Police MCYS Self Referral & Other Clients Courts FSCs & VWOs Hospitals
Types of Services Casework & Counselling Information & Referral Application of PPO via Video Conferencing with the Family Court Mandatory Counselling Programmee Therapeutic Group Work Preventive & Developmental Programmes Training Public Education Research Advocacy
Mission To promote Alternatives to Interpersonal Violence Objectives Casework, Groupwork and Community services Identify & respond to the changing needs Development of professional knowledge & effectiveness Research & Document issues Share experiences & resources Public awareness & Community responsibility
Promoting Alternatives to Violence Preventive & Developmental Professional Development Remedial Intake Support gp Casework & Therapeutic groups PAVE Advocacy Public Education Research & Evaluation
CASEWORK THERAPEUTIC GROUP Men who use violence Co Facilitator Challenge Beliefs Model 1. To help men end all forms of abuse towards their partners 2. To support men in their efforts to maintain positive change over time. 3. To encourage men to replace abusive behaviour with respectful behaviour which promote equality. 4. To invite men to promote non-violent action within the community.
CASEWORK THERAPEUTIC GROUP Empowerment / Healing model Women who experience violence Healing & Empowerment Model 1. To provide a safe & supportive environment for women to share their experiences. 2. To provide an understanding of the types of abuse and the cycle of violence. 3. To dispel myths about domestic violence. 4. To assist women to break free from situations of abuse. 5. To create opportunities for self care.
CASEWORK THERAPEUTIC GROUP Children who witness violence Breaking the Secret & Issues of Safety 1. To help children break the secret of violence in their families. 2. To help children learn to protect themselves. 3. To strengthen their self-esteem and selfconfidence. 4. To help them learn alternative ways of expressing their negative emotions. 5. To widen their help-seeking network.
Client comes in PAVE workers attends immediately Checks on safety Explore options If YES Application to Family Court PPO application If NO Follow up work with victim & children, & where possible with the abuser Individual work Group work Victims Abusers Children Safety & Plans To address issues of violence Marital work upon request & upon completion of violence work
REMEDIAL APPLICATION FOR PROTECTION VIA VIDEO LINK Complaint writing Affirmation Issuance of summons to respondent Return Date Mention in Court Court Trial
Programmes & Initiatives TEEN Play Dating Violence (Schools) REDs CAMP with Police & Schools TEENS PLACE in collaboration with AMK South NPC Involvement in youth camp organized by grassroots organizations, Police & Pasir Ris FSC Police-PAVe Joint House Visits Radio Talks Talks to Grassroots Leaders FV Awareness Campaigns Community Walkabouts
TEENS PLACE Tripartite collaboration between PAVe, Police & School Group work sessions with students identified by school to be at-risk of committing violence Project piloted at Chong Boon Sec with involvement from Ang Mo Kio South NPC
Joint House Visit Programme Need to continuously enhance processes to address family violence. One key area is in minimizing the potential for re-offending among breach of protection order offenders.
Objective Minimize re-offending of breach of protection order offenders by: - Pro-actively providing social services support to offender & victim. - Convey to offender that authorities are still concerned with the state of the relationship between the offender & victim.
Process: Offender s & Victim s Information Prisons Dept provides release info to Police 4-6 weeks prior to release. Police use Family Court s Family Application Management System (FAMS) to ascertain offender / victim s contact information. Information relayed to PAVe & Neighbourhood Police Centres.
Process: Conducting Visits PAVe s social worker visits to offender in Prisons before release: - Provide counselling and information on how / where to get assistance. - Get contact information on victim & offender.
Process: Conducting Visits PAVe s social worker visits victim before offender s release from Prisons: - Inform victim of offender s impending release - Provide counselling and information on how / where to get assistance for victim s personal safety
Process: Conducting Visits Police (CLP officer) & PAVe s social worker joint house visit to offender & victim within 1 week of offender s release from Prisons: - Assess state of relationship. - Assess potential for re-offending. - Recommend intervention / follow-up measures. - Overall impact of visit on offender to discourage further violence
Process: Post-Visit Follow-Up PAVe s social worker follow-up action: - Relevant intervention measures with victim & offender e.g. counselling. Police CLP officer follow-up action: - Recommend Police follow-up action in Joint House Visit Report e.g. alert patrol teams to pay frequent visits.
Combating Family Violence FV victims are not alone in dealing with the issue Multi-disciplinary framework many helping hands approach Coalition building community responsibility & acountability
Thank You End of Presentation