Family Violence Intervention Program (FVIP) Curriculum Summary

 

This program meets the criteria for Georgia.  The program is certified by the Georgia Commission on Family Violence and the Georgia Department of Corrections.  The Duluth model and personal goals are embedded in all the modules.  Classes are held weekly.  Individuals are briefed on their responsibilities, group guidelines, and goals prior to entering the group sessions.  Quality Directions FVIP has a minimum duration of 24 classes conducted over 27 weeks, exclusive of intake and orientation.  Classes are a minimum of 90 minutes each and no administrative duties (including collecting fees and taking attendance) are performed during this instructional time.

 

1.  LP1 – Program Orientation (Informed Consent)

· Program Overview

Intake and Assessment

Personal and family contact information;

Recent medical history;

Violence history;

Criminal history, including obtaining a copy of the actual arrest report provided by the court;

Drug and alcohol history;

Mental health treatment history.

 

 

2.  LP2 – Goal Setting

Goal: Personal motivation to change attitude and behaviors

Key Topics: Long range, intermediate range, and short range goals and understanding how interpersonal violence short-circuits those plans (individually and relationally)

· Key Tasks: Committing to the program regimen, writing autobiography to determine models of anger, identify violent incidents of the past, identify those harmed and the destructive impact of violence

Time Duration: 2 Weeks

 

 

3.  LP3 – Power and Control Associated with Violence (Duluth Model Explained)

Goal: Understanding the ways and means that others are manipulated and controlled

Key Topics: Intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, projection and rationalizations (minimizing, denying, and blaming), exploiting children, using male privilege, economic abuse, coercion and threats

· Key Tasks: Identifying and acknowledging attitudes and behaviors relevant to manipulating and controlling others

Time Duration: 3 Weeks

 

4.  LP4 – Nonviolence and Equality in Relationships (Duluth Model Explained)

Goal: Laying the groundwork for attitude change and fostering healthy relationships

Key Topics: Non-threatening behaviors, respect, trust and support, honesty and accountability, responsible parenting, shared responsibility, economic partnership, negotiation and fairness

· Key Tasks: Awareness and understanding of cornerstones for change

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Stopping the use of violence and intimidation

Time Duration: 3 Weeks

 

 

 

5.  LP5 – Cognitive Distortions/Cognitive Restructuring

Goal: Understanding the thought process and feelings leading to violent behaviors

Key Topics: Inappropriate thoughts, thinking errors, cycle of abuse

· Key Tasks: Awareness and understanding how faulty thoughts and emotions  impact decision making; developing appropriate instead of inappropriate responses , breaking the cycle of abuse

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Accepting personal responsibility for thoughts/actions

Time Duration: 3 Weeks

 

 

 

6.  LP6 – Non-threatening Attitude/Behaviors

Goal: Acknowledging ownership of violent thoughts/behaviors and seeking/implementing responsible alternatives; acknowledgement of anger as a tool to control others

Key Topics: Cognitive restructuring, thinking errors, cycle of abuse

· Key Tasks: Identifying emotional triggers, identifying inappropriate models of violence, and the inappropriate responses to anger, learning and implementing appropriate responses to anger

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Stopping the use of violence and intimidation; enabling participants to move beyond managing negative feelings (e.g., anger, jealousy, insecurity) to letting go of the need to control others and the feelings of fear that system creates

Time Duration: 3 Weeks

 

 

 

7.  LP7 – Coping Skills

Goal: Understanding that some things in life are inevitable and/or unchanging

Key Topics: Cognitive restructuring, blaming others, hopelessness, and accepting responsibility for self

· Key Tasks: Developing coping strategies and skills

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Honesty and accountability, trust and support

Time Duration: 2 Weeks

 

 

 

 

 

8.  LP8 – Problem-Solving Techniques

Goal: Understanding that many things in life can change with the appropriate actions

Key Topics: Problem awareness/identification, motivation, problem resolutions

· Key Tasks: Learning and implementing the problem solving strategy

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Economic partnership, negotiation and fairness, shared parenting, trust and support

Time Duration: 2 Weeks

 

 

 

9.  LP9 – Assertiveness Training

Goal: Understanding personal rights and the rights of others

Key Topics: Aggressiveness, passiveness, assertiveness, inalienable rights, respect 

· Key Tasks: Properly identifying situations, developing assertiveness strategies, developing assertiveness skills

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Respect, economic partnership, trust and support

Time Duration: 2 Weeks

 

 

 

10.  LP10 – Stress Management/Relaxation Training

Goal: Understanding stress and the impact on interpersonal relationships

Key Topics: Stress, anxiety, frustration, depression, workacoholism

· Key Tasks: Identifying personal stress, ways and means of deescalating stress, healthy alternatives versus unhealthy alternatives

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Accepting personal responsibility for wellness

Time Duration: 2 Weeks

 

 

 

11.  LP11 – Effective Communication

Goal: Improving interpersonal communication and facilitating change

Key Topics: Communication patterns, sender, message, feedback, attitude, receiver, effective versus ineffective communication,

· Key Tasks: Improving communication skills (e.g., listening), choosing appropriate ways and means to communicate, valuing the views of others

· Key Nonviolence Tenets: Honesty and accountability, trust and support, respect, shared responsibilities, negotiation and fairness

Time Duration: 2 Weeks