WOMAN ABUSE TURNING POINT ASSESSMENT/TREATMENT PROTOCOL THIRD DRAFT PREAMBLE: Turning Point's mission is to Stop Men's Violence Against Women by providing group counselling for men who abuse their partners. The focus is on challenging and helping men to take responsibility for their violent and abusive behaviors and on teaching men to deal with anger and other emotions in a constructive manner. Turning Point Program is also committed to providing education and professional training. TURNING POINT CO-ORDINATOR ROLE: To assess clients to determine eligibility to enter group counselling. To make victim contact prior and during the client's involvement with the Turning Point Group. To co-ordinate the completion of post-program evaluations of each client's participation. To train, support and supervise the Turning Point group facilitators. The Co-ordinator is also responsible for ensuring the safety of women and children. Although women and children are not direct client's of the program, ensuring safety is deemed to be paramount in planning intervention strategies with men. .REFERRAL PROCESS: At the time of referral, Agencies will provide all appropriate written documentation to fully identify the nature of the Criminal Code Violation or presenting behavior of the individual. As it relates to referrals by Probation Services and Adult Custodial Services, Community and Correctional Services, the listed documentation will be completed and forwarded to the Co-ordinator of Turning Point Program prior to assessment: Available Police Reports. Copies of Probation Order, Emergency Protection Orders, Undertakings or Recognizance. Crown Briefs (where applicable). Presentence Report and the file documentation related to risk/needs of the offender. Victim Impact Statement. Previous Criminal History. Completed Referral Form (specifically outlining outside agency involvement; ie., addiction, medical, psychiatric, Child and Family, Mental Health, private services). Agencies upon completion of referral documentation will have ensured a referral to Addiction Services in those cases where it has been identified that substance abuse was a component of the offense and/or dynamics of the client's interaction with the victim(s). Upon reviewing referral information, the Co-ordinator will contact referring Agency to confirm receipt of referral. Please be aware that Turning Point Program will receive referrals from individual community members and outside agencies. ASSESSMENT: The standard written assessment tool will be used to identify the client's presenting need. At the assessment stage of program contact, the Co-ordinator will inform the client that contact will be made with the victim(s). At this stage, the necessary Release of Information will be signed to initiate the victim contact. In cases where the client refuses to sign necessary releases, the Co-ordinator will stop the assessment process and inform the referral Agency of client's failure to comply. Assessment Components: Completion of written assessment form. Signed release of Information associated to victim contact Victim contact information. Signed Releases to allow for contact with all Agencies engaged with the client. Assessment Outcome: To identify the appropriateness of program entry in relation to the presence of physical, emotional, psychological, sexual or other types of abusive/aggressive behavior, while also identifying the presence of controlling and/or abusive attitudes and beliefs. Identification of these behaviors and/or attitudes will lead to recommendation for the client to enter the Turning Point Treatment Program. To ensure the presence of necessary support services, the assessment process may include recommendations and referral to other Agency(ies). Program entry denied. VICTIM CONTACTS: Determine willingness to participate in contacts with Co-ordinator. All victim contacts are held in confidence except when risk to self or others have been identified. At the time of initial contact and ongoing contacts, available Community Resource/Support services will be identified to the victim(s). The Co-ordinator will also clearly tell victims that treatment entry and program completion will not guarantee their safety or the safety of other family members. Contact with the victim will be maintained throughout the client's involvement with the Turning Point Program and victims will be encouraged to report changes in the client's behavior to the Program Co-ordinator. Victim contacts will not be a substitute for the appropriate monitoring of no contact probation conditions, Emergency Protection Orders and/or other Agency contacts associated with the presenting needs of the referral agent case management process. This is inclusive of other court orders (undertakings and recognizance) and/or Family Court directions related to a client's contact with his partner or children. Victims will be encouraged to carry on their person, a copy of the Offender's Probation Order or other court orders as well, issues regarding safety planning will also be discussed. .COMPONENTS OF TURNING POINT VICTIM RESOURCE KIT: Resource kits will be forwarded to victims at the time of initial victim contact if so desired. Resource kits are to include: Turning Point Mission Statement Pattern of Marital Violence Power/Control Wheel Equality Wheel Information on Timeouts and other treatment strategies. Turning Point Brochure "What You Should Know About Your Abusive Partner" booklet Transition House information/Outreach Support Services Community Legal Information Association Brochure Victim Services Brochure Guide for Witnesses "Woman, Assault and the Law" booklet Islander's Guide to the Victim of Family Violence Act TREATMENT: To help men stop physical violence. To stop all forms of abuse and controlling behavior. To have participants understand that abuse is a continuum of behavior whose prime motive is to exert control. To stop all forms of abuse within the participants interaction within relationships, and social context. To develop alternative means for participants to deal with stress and other feeling states. To encourage the development of shared power in respectful relationships. TREATMENT APPROACH: The Turning Point Program combines cognitive behavioral and re-socialization approaches. Focussing on changing sexist attitudes and increasing the participant's skills to manage personal behavior, the program challenges participants to change attitudes and beliefs which have disallowed the development of equality in relationships. Note: (It must be said that using anger management training solely with abusive males may increase the development of more sophisticated forms of abusive behavior. Abusers may change rather than stop, their abusive behavior.) TREATMENT MODALITY: Turning Point is a group treatment program. All participants must sign a group treatment contract at the time of treatment entry. Treatment holds men accountable for their behavior, but should not be a substitute for sanctions, thus no participant will enter treatment prior to adjudication for any alleged offences before the Court. DISMISSAL FROM TREATMENT: Non-compliance to attendance condition of treatment contract. Non-participation within treatment as outlined within contract and identified by group leaders. Non-acceptance of responsibility for abusive and controlling behavior toward the victim. RISK IDENTIFIED WITHIN TREATMENT: Identification of risk related behavior toward the victim(s) within treatment will lead to immediate contact with the victim(s) in order to identify risk. Contact will also be made with the referring Agency. POST PROGRAM EVALUATIONS: The Program Co-ordinator in association with Treatment Facilitators will complete the written program evaluation on each participant. The evaluation will be forwarded to the referral agent. COLLATERAL CONTACT WITH REFERRAL AGENCY: Throughout the assessment/treatment delivery of Turning Point Programming, the Co-ordinator will maintain contact with associate referral Agencies to identify compliance and attendance of participant while assisting in increasing the safety of the victim(s).