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
3
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
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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
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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

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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
9
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:

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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?

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by working collaboratively and learning from each
other
copyright: Nancy A. Flatters
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Video:
The Mountain and Beyond
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copyright: Nancy A. Flatters
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Video:
The Mountain and Beyond
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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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