APU Graduate Students Connect with Domestic Violence Survivors
Family coaches focus on serving domestic violence survivors whose children are at imminent risk of foster care entry as well as families hardest hit by COVID-19. Using BFFI’s prevention and intervention coaching model, the family coaches strengthen families by creating a safety net which includes providing parenting skills, factual information, helping to develop social support system, and helping families navigate to improve access to health, education and natural communities of support. Coaches work with families and their children on a one-to-one basis in environments that are culturally and linguistically responsive. BFFI is honored to feature the following family coaches from Azusa Pacific University:
“I am putting into practice the therapeutic knowledge I am learning in the MS Counseling, Psychology program at the university while helping families to understand the impact of domestic violence on children. “As a family coach, I am pleased to be gaining real life experience working with parents and their children; helping to create a safety net in the home to promote safety, permanency and wellbeing for the children.”“Beyond the trauma children experience when they are exposed to violence against one of their parents, evidence suggest that violence against women often leads directly to violence against children. I am proud to be part of a team that combines research, prevention, intervention, and family coaching practices to eliminate child maltreatment.” “Our BFFI training is conducted through the lens of the child helping parents learn parenting skills, respect, trust and how to be accountable for their actions and their decisions. It is so rewarding to have such a significant role in facilitating this process.”“The stressors caused by COVID-19 have escalated domestic violence cases. Keeping children safe in their homes becomes a greater challenge. Helping the surviving parent to make changes to create, safe and stable relationships improves the outcome and stability of children. This program has made my educational experience so much more meaningful.” “I believe that the actual experience of working with children and families of domestic violence helps me understand the important work that needs to be accomplished in “real life”. It is rewarding to know that I can make a difference in the outcomes of children and in helping to break a cycle of domestic violence. This experience is invaluable and will also expand career opportunities in the future.”“I am honored to say that we are front-end prevention services helping to decrease the maltreatment of children. Most of our families have young children in the first five years of their lives. We are strengthening families by creating the safety net at home, reinforcing the protective factors, and helping children and families become more resilient.”
The family coaches are first- and second-year graduate students enrolled in the Master of Science Counseling Psychology program at Azusa Pacific University’s School of Behavioral and Applied Science. Under the supervision of Dr. Danielle Lascano, the focus of the BFFI’s training as well as their research/academic studies is: 1) to determine the connection between domestic violence and foster care; 2) determine how to prevent more battered women and their children from becoming involved in foster care; 3) assessing the domestic violence family dynamics through the lens of the children; 4) determine the extent of trauma experienced when children are exposed to violence against one of their parents. The overall goal is to decrease child maltreatment.
“It is this next generation that will learn to create safe relationships and environments to break the cycle of domestic violence that will lead to empowering parents to make decisions that will create safe, stable, nurturing and healing relationships and environments."
