The Intersectionality of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Substance Use - October 2016

11/26/16 • 84 min

Dawn Farm Addiction and Recovery Education Series

“The Intersectionality of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Substance Use” was presented on October 18, 2016; by David J.H. Garvin, LMSW; Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County and Founder, Alternatives to Domestic Aggression, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County; and Barbara Niess May, MPA, MSW; Executive Director, SafeHouse Center. There is a strong correlation between domestic violence/sexual assault and alcohol/other drug use – and correlation does not equal cause/effect nor does it define personal responsibility. Intoxication does not explain abuse or assault, excuse a perpetrator’s behaviors, or justify a person being assaulted or abused. Domestic violence/sexual assault offender and survivor alcohol and other drug use/abuse will be central to this discussion. The listeners will be provided with a primmer regarding perpetrator tactics, strategies, and core beliefs which hold the perpetrator accountable for abusive/assaultive behaviors while maintaining and promoting survivor safety. The program will help participants to recognize the critical importance of understanding the relationship between domestic violence/sexual assault and alcohol/other drug use/abuse in order to safely and effectively intervene and/or interrupt the perpetrator's behaviors and support the survivor.

This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual education series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.

About the presenters:

This course material was developed and is presented by David J.H. Garvin, LMSW; Interim CEO/President, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County, and Founder and former Director of the Alternatives to Domestic Aggression Program, Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County; and Barbara Niess May, MPA, MSW; Executive Director, SafeHouse Center.

David J. H. Garvin is the Interim CEO/President and the Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County. For many years prior to his appointment to COO, David served as the Senior Director at Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County. During this tenure David was responsible for the management of the Alternatives to Domestic Aggression (ADA) Program, and served as the Clinical Director for the Behavioral Health Services program and Substance Abuse Treatment Services, and was Program Manager for the Supervised Parenting and Exchange Program and the Adoption and Pregnancy Programs. David has been directly involved in the anti-domestic violence movement since 1986 when he founded the ADA Program. He is a co-founder and current Chair of the Batterer Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan (BISC-MI). David was selected to serve as the co-chair of the Michigan Governor’s Taskforce on creating standards for batterer intervention programs. He has conducted trainings, consultations, conferences, workshops and in-services around the country and has been featured on local, state and national television, in magazines, professional journals and newspapers. David earned the prestigious honor of being named the 2009 National Association of Social Workers-Michigan (NASW-MI) Social Worker of the Year for his work in the areas of domestic violence, mental health and adoption.

Barbara Niess May is the Executive Director of SafeHouse Center, a supportive service and social action agency which provides help to approximately 5,000 Washtenaw County residents who are impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault annually through its 50-bed emergency shelter and its counseling and advocacy programs. Barbara has worked toward supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence since 1996 in various micro- and macro-system capacities. This has included agency management as well as state-wide level advocacy and support. In addition to these activities, Barbara has also been very involved in legislative work and has provided expert testimony in a variety of venues, including various levels of court and at the state and federal legislative level. She is also involved in her community in a variety of ways as a member of Rotary International, and as an adjunct lecturer at Eastern Michigan University. Barbara has served on several boards and committees, is a member of several national honor fraternities and is active in her church. Barbara holds Master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas at...

About the presenters:

Previous Episode

Addiction 101 – September 2016

“Addiction 101” was presented on Tuesday September 27, 2016, by James Balmer; President, Dawn Farm. This program provides a primmer on alcohol/other drug addiction and recovery. The presenter examines the progression of alcohol/other drug use, reviews addiction as a brain disease and discusses the process of recovery.

This program is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a FREE, annual workshop series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.

About the presenter: Jim Balmer was a co-founder of Dawn Farm in 1973 and has worked for the Farm since 1983; first as Clinical Director, later as President. Jim has led the organization through its growth from a single residential program to the organization it is today; with two residential treatment programs, a sub-acute detox, outpatient and community corrections services, a youth and family services program, outreach and education programs and numerous transitional housing sites. Jim has trained addiction professionals around Michigan and the United States, as well as the Philippines, Japan and Kazakhstan. He has co-authored numerous articles and papers on the subject of addiction and recovery. Jim is in the process of writing a book that will describe Dawn Farm’s unique history, mission and values, which he extensively researched on a recent sabbatical.

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In Our Midst: The Opioid Epidemic, and a Community Response - November 2016

“In Our Midst: The Opioid Epidemic, and a Community Response” was presented on November 22, 2016, by Dr. Stephen Strobbe, PhD, RN, PMHCNS-BC, CARN-AP; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing and University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (Co-Chair, Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) Opioid Project) and a panel. Non-medical use of opiates has been called an “epidemic” by CDC Director Thomas Frieden and “an urgent public health crisis” by former US Attorney General Holder. Local and national leaders and media headlines echo and highlight this concern. Communities across the country are in the grips of an opioid epidemic, and our local Washtenaw County Michigan community is no exception. This program will examine the opioid epidemic in our midst, and what is being done to respond. The presenter will discuss factors that have contributed to a national opioid epidemic, rates and patterns of opioid overdose deaths locally and nationally, areas of focus for the Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) Opioid Project, and actions that can be taken to be part of the solution. The presentation includes a panel discussion by experts who are on the local forefront of combating opiod misuse.

About the presenter: This program was developed and is presented by Dr. Stephen Strobbe, PhD, RN, NP, PMHCNS-BC, CARN-AP, FIAAN; Clinical Associate Professor, University of Michigan School of Nursing and University of Michigan Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine (Co-Chair, Washtenaw Health Initiative (WHI) Opioid Project.) Dr. Stephen Strobbe is Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, and the Department of Psychiatry. He is board-certified both in psychiatric and addictions nursing. His professional background has included clinical care, research, administration, and education. Dr. Strobbe was first Clinical Director for the University of Michigan Addictions Treatment Services (UMATS), for which he received the Administration/Management Award from the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA). He has authored more than 30 peer-reviewed articles, position statements, book chapters, and other works related to substance use and addictions nursing. He has been an invited speaker, both nationally and internationally, including Europe, South America, and Southeast Asia. In 2015, Professor Strobbe received the 25th Annual Golden Apple Award, the only student-nominated and student-selected teaching award at the University of Michigan. Dr. Strobbe is the current President of the International Nurses Society on Addictions, and Co-Chair for the Washtenaw Health Initiative Opioid Project. In October, 2016, he was inducted as a Fellow of the International Academy of Addictions Nursing.

This presentation is part of the Dawn Farm Education Series, a free, annual education series developed to provide accurate, helpful, hopeful, practical, current information about chemical dependency, recovery, family and related issues. The Education Series is organized by Dawn Farm, a non-profit community of programs providing a continuum of chemical dependency services. For information, please see http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.