Transcript FVIP: A Domestic Violence Intervention Program for Georgia

FVIP: A Domestic
Violence Intervention
Program for Georgia
Refugees
Georgia Department of Human Resources
B. J. Walker, Commissioner
Gwen-Dolyn Cutter, State Refugee
Coordinator and Project Director
Georgia Department of Human Resources
• DHR was created in 1972 by
the General Assembly in the
Governmental Reorganization
Act of 1972.
• Four Divisions:
• Division of Aging Services
• Division of Family and
Children Services
• Division of Mental Health,
Developmental Disabilities,
and Addictive Diseases
• Division of Public Health
• Refugee Resettlement
Program - A federally funded
program that provides
assistance to refugees.
Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP)
•
Included Projects:
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Men’s Program
Women’s Support Groups
Community Education
Sessions
Media Outreach
• Provides supplemental services to
local communities impacted by
significant rates of domestic
violence within the refugee
population.
• This will be accomplished through
a variety of ongoing services
including informative sessions,
group meetings, family counseling
sessions, and media outreach.
• Overall, the project will be
characterized by the joint
involvement of community
organizations, refugees, and
applicable government agencies.
Target Population/Community
• Refugees in the metroAtlanta area
• Strong focus on refugee
men who batter their
partners, children, or other
members of their family or
community
• Female victims of domestic
violence
• Communities with high
populations of refugees
Goals and Objectives
• to organize and facilitate 10 community education
sessions on family violence for 250 refugees and
refugee settlement caseworkers to increase
knowledge and awareness about issues of family
violence, U.S. laws, and available resources
• to conduct a culturally appropriate ongoing 24-week
Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) for 80
refugee men who are arrested or at risk of being
arrested for family violence
• to provide support services to 105 partners and
family members of the participants enrolled in the
FVIP to increase their safety, knowledge of family
violence, and options available
• to conduct media outreach, including 15 print
releases and 10 PSAs, to increase awareness about
the FVIP
Case Example
A Bosnian man in the Men’s
Program began exhibiting
particular signs of
manipulation and
minimization of his violence.
The facilitator was concerned
for the safety of his partner so
he contacted the women’s
advocate to check in with her.
The advocate immediately
contacted the woman to
review safety planning
options and available
resources.