SSE 242 - Crisis Intervention: Relationship & Family Violence

1. Identify key elements of a crisis, important cultural considerations, tools and techniques of crisis intervention and assessment, and strategies for working with victims of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, and elder abuse. (Council on Social Work Education [CSWE] Competencies 1 and 2)
2. Discuss critical learnings and personal reflections related to the crisis intervention techniques and their application to specific types of traumatic incidents, particularly in the context of relationship and family violence.  (CSWE Competencies 1 and 3)
3. Analyze a personal experience with crisis including the dynamics of the crisis, trauma reactions and impacts, and the process of coping with the trauma. (CSWE Competency 1)
4. Explain critical aspects of specific types of trauma and crises and appropriate interventions, with a particular focus on sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and elder abuse.  (CSWE Competency 1 and 4)
5. Practice crisis intervention tools and techniques as applied to specific types of traumatic situations, particularly relationship and family violence.  (CSWE Competencies 6, 7 and 8)

1. Define the characteristics of crisis and the dynamics of a crisis situation and describe major theories of crisis intervention and their practical application.
2. Identify crisis intervention and assessment models, particularly in the context of relationship and family violence.
3. List the characteristics of effective crisis workers and the skills needed to help persons in crisis.
4. Describe the importance of culturally competent and effective helping in crisis situations.
5. Describe methods of service delivery in crisis situations, such as hotlines, crisis response teams, crisis centers, medical forensic exams, and shelters.
6. Demonstrate basic communication skills as applied in crisis situations, including the skills of crisis case handling.
7. Identify the dynamics of specific types of crises, especially relationship and family violence such as intimate partner abuse, sexual violence, child abuse and neglect, and elder abuse.
8. Identify historical and contemporary views of relationship and family violence including societal attitudes, gender roles, social norms, and common myths.
9. Identify resources within the community that are available for victims of relationship and family violence.
10. Define compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue and identify the risks and symptoms of crisis worker burnout and describe its prevention.
11. Describe the community response to crisis, including identifying national and local policies with regard to prevention and intervention of crises, particularly policies that impact children, youth, families, elders, and other vulnerable populations.
12. Define the interconnectedness of policy, practice, and prevention.

1. Crisis Intervention Theory

1. Definitions and characteristics of crisis
2. History of crisis intervention
3. Theories of crisis intervention and application
4. Intervention and assessment models
5. Dynamics of a crisis situation

1. Skills of Crisis Intervention

1. Characteristics of effective crisis workers
2. Basic communication skills in crisis intervention
3. Crisis case handling
4. Telephone and online crisis counseling
5. Culturally competent and effective helping in crisis situations

1. Understanding the Dynamics of Relationship and Family Violence
   1. Theories and causes
   2. Societal Attitudes, beliefs and perceptions
   3. Populations victimized
   4. Legal responses
   5. Cultural factors and at-risk populations
2. Handling Specific Types of Crises

1. Crisis of sexual assault
2. Crisis of partner violence
3. Crisis of  elder abuse
4. Crisis of child abuse and neglect
5. Post-traumatic stress disorder
6. Dynamics of specific types of crises on children, youth, individuals, families, and elders
7. Primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention

1. Crisis Worker Issues and Challenges

1. Role-value conflicts and professional boundaries
2. Compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction
3. Vicarious traumatization
4. Worker burnout and prevention

1. Community Response to Crises

1. National, state, and local policies with regard to prevention and intervention of crises, with specific focus on policies that impact children, youth, families, and elders and other vulnerable populations
2. The interconnectedness of policy, practice, and prevention
3. Community resources and referral methods