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Domestic Violence: Our Families and Children The Honourable Judge

The Honourable Justice

Nancy A. Flatters

James R. Williams

Provincial Court of Alberta

Supreme Court of Nova Scotia

Calgary Family and Youth Court

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Calgary, Alberta, Canada World Congress Family Violence 1, March 18, 2013

World Congress 

Building Bridges: Principle to Reality  Principle: 

children living in environments free from violence – domestic or otherwise

 Reality: 

March 2013

how to get there: one path - work collaboratively for the sake of children who are our most precious resources

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Introduction Overview 

Why work together?  because

we are stronger working together than in silos and vacuums





Understanding/sharing what professionals (all working in helping professions (including legal counsel and judges) need to effectively respond to dv Responding to dv as a community and societal issue

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Need To Eliminate DV “Silos” Response: Create a Circle of Consultation Silo: Defence: Private Counsel/ Legal Sevices/Legal Aid

Silo: Police

Silo: Victim Services Governmental Services (ex.: Family and Children) Addictions (alchol/drugs) Services Family Counselling and other Services

Silo: Medical Hospital Emergency General Practitioners Govenmental: (ex.: Health)

Silo: Prosecution 4

Need To Eliminate DV “Silos”: con’t Replace with Circles of Consultation Silo Client Diversity Programmes Cultural Alcohol and Drug Social Services

Silo Other Agencies Women’s Directorates/Services Status of Women Organisations Women’s Centres Transitional Homes Housing Organizations

Probation Services Bail Supervision Probation Parole

Offender/Victim/Child Programmes Spousal Abuse Programmes Children’s Programmes/Services Alcohol and Drug Services Family Counselling and others 5

Silo Courts

The Potential of Interdisciplinary Collaboration  why

think about this?  increases information and involvement  wider detection of abuse  earlier intervention  more effective protection/support/empowerment  better use of resources  provides mutual support  reduces burnout  builds potential for prevention

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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DV and Information 

Professionals need: 

knowledge and understanding 

March 2013

increase knowledge and understanding through collaboration

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Why Focus on Knowledge and Understanding 

It enhances our understanding – stronger platform  appreciation of context/other professional work  empowerment of self and others to create change and hope because this is hard, challenging work 

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Solutions, con’t. 

Why Collaborate?  professionals

too have a responsibility for education about dv, its effects on children over a life-time, and prevention

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Why Focus on Children? Brief Overview: Brain and Children 

the Core Story (Alberta’s Norlein Foundation*):  brains are built over time from the bottom up  brain architecture is shaped by: interaction of gene expression/experiences  active ingredient: serve and return  nature of children’s relationship engagement with parent/other 

 toxic 

stress effects derails healthy development:

on nervous and stress hormone systems: 

March 2013

leads to life-long problems in learning/behaviour/health copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Serve and Return: An Active Ingredient of Brain Architecture 

serve and return environment of relationships include:    

pertinent skills in emotional regulation give and take sustained attention ordered and predictable environments:  routine  people  rules and consequences Reproduced from Deborah A. Phillips, Interventions in Executive Functioning, May 29, 2012, Norlien Foundation Symposium on Early Brain and Biological Development, May 28-June 1, 2012, Banff, Alberta

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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slide copyright Dr. Leonard Smith - with permission of Dr. Smith

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Why Talk About This? ■ to increase problem solving in DV cases  working together

means learning together

 alternate/appropriate problem solving

DV cases

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frameworks for

Looking for Creativity in Solutions 

as professionals can impart information about impact of violence on children/others  Why?

Two other Norlein Core Concepts  “child development is a foundation for community and economic development;  healthy children build a prosperous and sustainable sustainable society …  creating the right conditions in the early years for childhood development is more effective and far less costly than addressing problems later on”

 How? 

March 2013

by working collaboratively and learning from each other copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Video: The Mountain and Beyond

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Video: The Mountain and Beyond

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Solutions, con’t. 

Interdisciplinary Cooperation  How? personal commitment  coordinate activities within/between/amongst organisations and other professionals  collaborate with others in the community  work toward more integrated approaches in government and across your profession and others  identify system-wide barriers to collaboration and overcome 

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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After Talking: Take Action ■

What does it look like from your perspective?

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Solutions, con’t.

 why

do all this?



to assist in creation of relationships based on wellness and equality  to create stronger and safer communities

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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Solutions, con’t.

 AND

 because

we owe it to children to help make a better life for them – they are our most precious resources

March 2013

copyright: Nancy A. Flatters

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