Historically, the domestic violence (DV) field has separated services for adults and services for children and youth, rather than taking an integrated approach that centers the relationships between adult survivors and their children. The Family-Centered Toolkit helps programs envision and implement an integrated approach that supports parent-child relationships and families with a range of culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and developmentally sensitive services.

In response to the highly varied, complex situations and needs presented by caregivers, children, and families experiencing DV, program staff will find the Family-Centered Toolkit a welcome, step by step guide offering knowledge, best practices, and accessible resources for DV advocates, program staff, and supervisors to enhance and sustain family-centered services within DV programs.

Click here to download your copy now!

Note: a PDF will open in a new browser tab.

To launch the Family-Centered Toolkit, the co-authors presented a three-part webinar series:

• Part 1 (October 20) offers an introduction to the entire toolkit with guidance for program managers and supervisors on how to use the toolkit to build organizational capacity for family-centered services.
  » View the Part 1 webinar recording and handouts

• Part 2 (October 27) focuses more specifically on programming and best practices around responding to the needs of children, teens, and their caregivers, plus a demonstration on applying one of the learning vignettes designed to enhance practice with families.
  » View the Part 2 webinar recording and handouts

• Part 3 (November 3) explores sections in the toolkit on engaging and supporting caregivers and their families; this includes how to use developmentally sensitive activities to strengthen parent-child relationships and promote wellbeing and resilience. This last webinar in the series will also host a panel of domestic violence program staff reflecting on how the toolkit can be applied to your program and organization.
  » View the Part 3 webinar recording and handouts

Presented by:

Susan Blumenfeld, MSW, LCSW
Director of Training and Technical Assistance on Children, Families and Domestic Violence
National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma, and Mental Health

Jeannette Baca, DSW, LCSW, LISW
Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, New Mexico Highlands University
Consultant to the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence