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Guardians ad Litem: A SAFeR Approach to Enhancing Domestic Violence Practice

Self-Paced Course

BWJP, in partnership with NCJFCJ, has created an online course titled Guardians at Litem: A SAFeR Approach to Enhancing Domestic Violence Practice.

The course consists of five self-paced modules. Throughout the modules, there are opportunities to improve skills, connect with peers, hear from subject matter experts, and gain practical experience through course exercises. Additionally, there are other helpful resources under course materials. This course is specifically designed to enhance GAL work on cases with domestic violence while highlighting how to use the SAFeR approach in everyday work.

Being a Guardian ad Litem is a difficult yet rewarding job. At the end of this course, GALs will be better able to screen for domestic violence, assess the nature, context, and effects of domestic violence, and tailor your recommendations to respond to the lived experience of the survivor.

This course, and related materials, was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-22-GK-04032-MUMU awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women.

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Course Requirements
Complete the activities within each module. It is recommended to complete them in order. When prompted within modules, return to this course page to add to the discussion board. Then complete any final assignments within the module.

Course Outline & Materials

Course Q&A
Course Q&A
Module 1
Module 1: Domestic Violence 101
Guardians Ad Litem: A SAFeR approach to enhancing domestic violence practice
Section A: Intro
Section B: Context Means
Section C: Coercive Control
Section D: Parenting In Context
Section E: SAFeR Domestic Abuse Interview Guide
Informed Consent Script Assignment
Additional Facts
Annotated Interview Guide Part 1
Annotated Interview Guide Part 2
Annotated Interview Guide Part 3
Annotated Interview Guide Part 4
Annotated Interview Guide Part 5
Annotated Interview Guide Part 6
Annotated Interview Guide Part 7
Annotated Interview Guide Part 8/Summary
GAL State Matrix
Informed Consent Script
Interview Guide Part 1
Interview Guide Part 2
Interview Guide Part 3
Interview Guide Part 4
Interview Guide Part 5
Interview Guide Part 6
Interview Guide Part 7
Interview Guide Part 8/Summary
SAFeR Domestic Abuse Interview Guide (All Pages)
Module 2
Module 2: The Language & Logic of Coercive Control
This module focuses on assessing the nature and context of abuse (The A in SAFeR) including the features of coercive controlling abuse.
Section A: Assessing the Nature and Context
Section B: Contexts
Section C: Features of Coercive Control
Section D: Parenting in Context
Module 3
Module 3: Effects of Coercive Control: Child's Wellbeing & Co-Parenting
This module focuses on the effects of abuse. Key points include learning to recognize the language of coercive control and to distinguish between observations and inferences as you complete your GAL work.
Section A: What Does It Mean?
Section B: Focus on the Effects
Section C: Using the SAFeR Effects Worksheets
Module 4
Module 4: Responses and Recommendations
This module focuses on the R in SAFeR-making parenting recommendations that account for the context and implications of abuse
Section A: Underlying Reasons
Section B: Accounting for Abuse
Section C: Priorities to Consider
Section D: SAFeR Informed Reports
Responding to Abuse SAFeR Worksheets
SAFeR Informed GAL Report
Module 5
Module 5: Enhancing Domestic Violence Practice with SAFeR
This module focuses on applying the SAFeR method to conduct GAL work that is DV informed.
Section A: Applying SAFeR
SAFeR Informed Report Assignment
Course Evaluation
SAFeR Informed GAL Report
Guardians ad Litem: A SAFeR Approach to Enhancing Domestic Violence Practice Self-Paced Course
5 Modules
10h 0m
Self-Paced
0.00 CEUs
Presented by
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