Addressing Domestic & Firearms Violence AM

Series Overview and Purpose

The Blank Children's STAR Center seeks to improve outcomes for child victims of abuse by providing educational opportunities for members of our professional community at no cost to attendees. The purpose of the Workshop Series is to impact the systemic coordination of services for children and families through increased professional knowledge and skills surrounding developmentally appropriate, child-focused interventions.

Intended Audience

The Workshop Series is intended for professionals involved in the child protection field including: Department of Human Services professionals, law enforcement, attorneys, victim advocates, medical and mental health providers, family service professionals, nurses, school-based professionals, and foster parents.

Morning session 8:30 AM-12:00 PM; Afternoon session 1:00 PM-4:30 PM (repeat of morning)

Session Description: Addressing Domestic and Firearms Violence: Promoting Safety, Prevention, and Healing

This training provides participants with tools to understand, address, and prevent domestic and firearms violence. Through interactive modules, attendees will explore abuse patterns, the risks of firearms in violent situations, and the impact on survivors, families, and children. The program emphasizes recognizing risk factors, trauma-informed support, and community collaboration. Practical activities like case studies and survivor testimonials will equip participants with actionable skills for promoting safety, healing, and resilience. The training concludes with strategies for prevention and advocacy, making it ideal for professionals in social services, education, law enforcement, healthcare, and community advocacy.

Objectives:  

1) Understanding Domestic and Firearms Violence

·      Define domestic violence and firearms violence, including their scope, prevalence, and intersection. 

·      Examine the dynamics of power and control in domestic violence and the role of firearms in escalating risk and lethality. 

·     Recognize how cultural, societal, and systemic factors contribute to domestic and firearms violence. 

2) Impact on Families and Children

·    Describe the short-term and long-term effects of domestic and firearms violence on survivors, families, and children. 

·   Identify the emotional, psychological, and developmental consequences of exposure to violence for children. 

·    Discuss the ripple effects of violence on family structures, community safety, and generational cycles.

3) Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Legal Considerations

·    Identify common risk factors and warning signs for domestic violence and firearm related violence. 

·   Understand the legal frameworks governing firearms restrictions for individuals with a history of domestic violence. 

·    Analyze the challenges and gaps in the enforcement of domestic violence protective orders and firearm prohibitions.

4) Intervention and Support Strategies

·    Develop skills to provide trauma-informed support to survivors and their families.

·   Explore effective intervention strategies for mitigating risk and promoting safety in cases of domestic violence involving firearms. 

·    Identify available community resources and multi-disciplinary approaches for coordinated responses. 

5) Prevention and Advocacy

·   Understand and implement prevention strategies for domestic and firearms violence. 

·   Discuss the role of advocacy in shaping policy, improving enforcement, and fostering systemic change. 

·    Identify ways to empower communities and stakeholders to engage in prevention and education efforts.

CEUs: (Some CEU's are still pending approval and will be updated upon final approval)

This program is approved for 3.0 Special Populations CEU hours by the Iowa Board of Certification.

This program is approved for 3.0 CLE hours by the Iowa Supreme Court Commission.

This program is approved for 3.0 hours of group foster parent training by DHHS.