Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Safety conferencing: toward a coordinated and inclusive response to safeguard women and children
Other Titles:	Violence against women
Authors:	Pennell, Joan Francis, Stephanie
Keywords:	Informal responses;Interagency work
Year:	2005
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	11 (5), May 2005
Notes:	Advocates and outlines a process of safety conferencing as one of the means of building a much needed coordinated response for battered women and children. Safety Conferencing aims to: build the strength of the individual; to reshape their connections; and allows them to make sound choices for the safety of women and children. Examines family group conferencing but concludes that it leaves too many questions regarding safety and also tends towards blaming the victim. Nevertheless the model of safety conferencing uses family group conferencing as a platform to coordinate both formal and informal responses. The main difference is that safety conferencing moves towards the involvement of domestic violence agencies with a view to the safety of those involved. Potential advisory groups include abused women’s programmes, children’s community services, child welfare, the police, women’s corrective services and social work education. In working towards a model the study used focus groups of survivors and shelter staff. It was largely agreed that the conferencing group should include new contacts(post-separation); family members; domestic violence counsellors and children however their inclusion of the batterer was more controversial. Concludes that safety conferencing is a way to potentially create a coordinated and inclusive response. It is also a way to resolve the tension between battered women and their advocates as to whether connection or choice is the path to safety.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/16783
ISSN:	1077-8012
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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