Jon McMullinJon McMullin

SOWK 310ASOWK 310A

Interview PresentationInterview Presentation

INTERVIEWEEINTERVIEWEE*Megan Brine**Megan Brine*

Employer: Domestic Violence Employer: Domestic Violence Services of Benton and Franklin Services of Benton and Franklin CountiesCounties

Job Title: Children’s Service AdvocateJob Title: Children’s Service Advocate Experience: 1 YearExperience: 1 Year

What services does the What services does the organization offer?organization offer?

Shelter for women and childrenShelter for women and children 24 Hour Crisis Line24 Hour Crisis Line Information & legal advocacyInformation & legal advocacy Safety planningSafety planning CounselingCounseling Case managementCase management Community educationCommunity education Community OutreachCommunity Outreach

Job DutiesJob Duties

There is no such thing as a typical There is no such thing as a typical day for Megan—Very broadday for Megan—Very broad

After school activitiesAfter school activities• Children range from newborns-teensChildren range from newborns-teens

Run household in the shelterRun household in the shelter• Clean BathroomsClean Bathrooms• Unclog ToiletsUnclog Toilets• Clean LaundryClean Laundry• Etc…Etc…

Job Duties cont.Job Duties cont. Safety PlanningSafety Planning

• Educate women about effects of DVEducate women about effects of DV• Teaching methods of coping with DVTeaching methods of coping with DV

Child CounselingChild Counseling• Emotional SupportEmotional Support• Constant support provided because the affects Constant support provided because the affects

of DV on childrenof DV on children General SupportGeneral Support

• Baking CupcakesBaking Cupcakes• Board GamesBoard Games• Someone to talk toSomeone to talk to

What Megan likes most about her What Megan likes most about her jobjob

““Jokes around—gets paid to play”Jokes around—gets paid to play”• Because she is a children’s advocate worker Because she is a children’s advocate worker

primarilyprimarily The fact that she is pursuing a Master’s in The fact that she is pursuing a Master’s in

CounselingCounseling• Attending Heritage University Attending Heritage University • Work provides key examples to back up Work provides key examples to back up

learninglearning• Provides means of practiceProvides means of practice

Enjoys going to work everydayEnjoys going to work everyday

What Megan likes least about her What Megan likes least about her jobjob

Had nothing bad to say—couldn’t Had nothing bad to say—couldn’t think of anythingthink of anything

What Megan would change about What Megan would change about the job the job

Finding housing for victimsFinding housing for victims• Tri-Cities housing market is at 99% Tri-Cities housing market is at 99%

occupancy therefore nothing is easily occupancy therefore nothing is easily accessibleaccessible

• Effects of the economy complicate home Effects of the economy complicate home buying/rentingbuying/renting

Finding job opportunities for victimsFinding job opportunities for victims• Job shortage because of the economyJob shortage because of the economy

Causes of DVCauses of DV

Various reasons can cause DVVarious reasons can cause DV• Manipulative relationshipsManipulative relationships• Financial controlFinancial control• IntimidationIntimidation• Childhood backgroundChildhood background• Health IssuesHealth Issues• Substance abuseSubstance abuse• Etc…Etc…

Essential Elements of InterventionEssential Elements of Intervention

Keeping people safeKeeping people safe When answering the Crisis LineWhen answering the Crisis Line

• Asks “Are you in a safe place to talk?”Asks “Are you in a safe place to talk?”• Provides strategies to deal/cope with DV in the Provides strategies to deal/cope with DV in the

homehome• Safety planningSafety planning

Suggests ways of leaving the householdSuggests ways of leaving the household Personal/children safety tipsPersonal/children safety tips

• Knowing the right ways to intervene with each Knowing the right ways to intervene with each individual situation individual situation

Not everyone can leave a household because of Not everyone can leave a household because of various situations/circumstancesvarious situations/circumstances

Essential Elements of Intervention Essential Elements of Intervention cont.cont.

Provides, but does not force each Provides, but does not force each Crisis Victim with the means to leave Crisis Victim with the means to leave the DV locationthe DV location• Always leaves this option up the victimAlways leaves this option up the victim• Never forces just provides optionsNever forces just provides options

Essential Elements of PreventionEssential Elements of Prevention

Community KnowledgeCommunity Knowledge Community OutreachCommunity Outreach Domestic Violence AwarenessDomestic Violence Awareness Minimal Response from Megan on Minimal Response from Megan on

this topicthis topic

What Future Social Workers Need What Future Social Workers Need to Knowto Know

Many times victims are constantly Many times victims are constantly battered with lists of things to accomplishbattered with lists of things to accomplish• Not all victims have the means to accomplish Not all victims have the means to accomplish

these tasks:these tasks: Job searchesJob searches Housing arrangementsHousing arrangements TransportationTransportation

How to make a survivor functionHow to make a survivor function• Not overwhelming the victim with tasks, but Not overwhelming the victim with tasks, but

giving them means out of entrapmentgiving them means out of entrapment• Also at the same time building them back up Also at the same time building them back up

by completion/accomplishments of tasksby completion/accomplishments of tasks