Officials offer programs for domestic violence awareness Published Dec. 7, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Monique Randolph Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- While stress is not the sole cause, it can be a major contributor to domestic violence among Air Force members and their families, according to Air Force family advocacy experts. In 2006, there were 3,914 reports of domestic abuse involving Airmen as either the victim or offender. Of those, 50 percent met Air Force criteria for maltreatment of a spouse or intimate partner, and 40 cases reported to family advocacy representatives involved sexual assault or abuse of a spouse or intimate partner. As the month of October comes to a close, Air Force officials also wrap up this month's stress management initiative -- Domestic Violence Awareness -- highlighting programs available to help Airmen better cope with the risk factors that may increase the likelihood of domestic violence or abuse. Family Advocacy is the Air Force program responsible for domestic violence treatment and prevention. In conjunction with other base helping agencies, the program provides a range of treatment options for victims and offenders including group, individual, couple and family formats. "We talk about domestic violence in terms of risk factors present in relationships," said Pamela Collins, an Air Force family advocacy program treatment manager. "Some of the most common risk factors for domestic violence include a history by the offender of violent or emotionally abusive behavior toward a partner, child, pet or any other person. The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. "Other risk factors are jealousy, stalking, abuse of power and control in the relationship, abuse of alcohol or drugs, witnessing or experiencing violence as a child, or reporting high levels of stress or depression," she said. When victims make reports of domestic violence, they have two options, Ms. Collins said. One option is a restricted report. With restricted reporting, victims can receive treatment and advocacy services without making notification to law enforcement or command, and without informing the alleged offender of their treatment. Few victims opt for this type of report, she said. The second option is unrestricted, in which law enforcement and command officials are notified of the allegation. From there, trained and licensed family advocacy clinicians perform a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of each family member to develop a treatment or intervention plan for the family. "Domestic violence doesn't have to end an Airman's career," Ms. Collins said. "Thousands of Airmen and their family members benefit from domestic violence prevention and treatment services annually without negative career impact. However, as severity and frequency of abuse increases, so does the likelihood of prosecution and negative career impact." This is why treatment and prevention are so important, said Maj. David Linkh, chief of family advocacy policy and research at the Pentagon. "Often offenders are referred to group intervention in the military or civilian community, which can run from six to 52 weeks, or more," he said. "During treatment, offenders are encouraged to acknowledge and be accountable for their behaviors. We also address risk factors such as anger and stress in the course of intervention. Issues such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety or post traumatic stress disorder also may be present and may require further evaluation and coordination with the alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment program or mental health clinic for optimal outcomes." For victims, services provided may take the form of crisis intervention and safety planning initially and may involve a licensed clinician or victim advocate. "Many victims receive ongoing supportive counseling through family advocacy and may deal with psychological issues related to victimization," Major Linkh said. "Abuse in intimate or family relationships can lead to or increase feelings of anxiety and depression, and erode self esteem." Additional programs that are offered to the general populace at any base that may aid in the prevention of domestic abuse include parenting education and relationship enhancement classes. "In cases where sexual assault or abuse are involved, the Sexual Assault Prevention Response program works closely with Family Advocacy at the installation to coordinate services for the victims," said Claudia Bayliff, chief of the SAPR program at the Pentagon. The SAPR program employs, Air Force-wide, more than 100 full-time sexual assault response coordinators, or SARCs, and 1,100 volunteer victim advocates, or VAs, to assist victims from the time of their initial report until they no longer need assistance. All SARCs and VAs are required to successfully complete a comprehensive 40-hour training program. "Victims can make restricted or unrestricted reports of sexual assault or domestic violence to the SARC or the Family Advocacy staff," Ms. Bayliff said. "All restricted reports of sexual assault or domestic abuse are reported to the installation SARC, who informs the vice wing commander about the incident without revealing the identity of the victim or offender." Another resource available to Airmen and their families is the chapel. The chapel supports resilient, nonviolent relationships through couple's scripture studies, chapel-sponsored men's and women's groups, marriage retreats and seminars, and other couple's communication workshops, seminars and classes. "The chapel provides a safe, privileged-communication environment for those in distress," said Chaplain (Maj.) Peter Fischer, a staff chaplain in the office of the chief of chaplains at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. "We provide pastoral counseling and encourage victims and offenders to seek help from other base agencies such as Family Advocacy, SARC and appropriate off-base agencies." Other services and resources available to Airmen and their families include: - Preventive Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) - A divorce-prevention, marriage-enhancement program designed to help partners improve communication, work through relationship problems and strengthen relationship bonds - Family Advocacy Strengths-based Therapy (FAST): A progam that provides professional assessment and counseling to couples and families in crisis - The Power of Two: A program that helps couples develop necessary "skills" for a successful marriage. The program focuses on the three principles of "zero fighting," "everyone wins all the time" and "mistakes are for learning" - Facilitating Open Couples Communication Understanding Study: A self-diagnostic tool designed to help engaged or cohabiting couples identify and work through issues before marriage - Military OneSource Short-Term Solution Focused Telephonic Consultation Program: a non-medical, short-term intervention program available to individuals who are unable to attend non-medical face-to-face counseling sessions through Military OneSource For more information about domestic violence, contact the local installation Family Advocacy office.