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Attachment E

P-2201C Domestic Violence Procedure

The Department is committed to helping Reach Up families experiencing the effects of domestic violence to address those effects and begin to overcome economic barriers to independence. The following information and script are designed to help workers when interacting with potential victims of domestic violence.

Guidelines for Interacting with Victims of Domestic Violence Most victims of domestic violence find it very difficult to talk about it. For some victims, it is not safe to talk about domestic violence unless the discussion is very private.

These are guidelines to follow whenever talking about domestic violence with anyone who might have experienced it.

DON’T —

• Don’t ask them how they can put up with it, don’t ask why they don’t just leave, and don’t imply that they have brought the abuse on themselves or their family in any way. • Don’t press them to talk about domestic violence more than they are willing to, even if you are sure they have been abused. • Don’t pressure them to take steps that may lead to more violence. For example, don’t pressure them to talk to a domestic violence program specialist, file a police report, or petition for a restraining order. • Don’t question their judgment or their value as a parent or blame them for the domestic violence. • Don’t slip a referral card or other information about domestic violence into their bag or tell them to take the handout Domestic Violence – You Don’t Have to Face It Alone (form ESD201DV) with them. If their abuser sees that they have information about abuse, it might trigger more violence. • Don’t send them mail or leave messages for them that relate to domestic violence. • Don’t try to talk to their abuser about domestic violence.