CNL-545 Topic 4: Safety Planning And Harm Reduction

CNL-545 Topic 4 Safety Planning and Harm Reduction Planning Directions

Respond to the prompts following each of the scenarios below based on the topical readings and any other resources you find helpful. Each response should be 75-100 words.

Paper For Above instruction

Scenario 1: Jeannine and Robert have been together for five years and married for three. Robert’s escalating violence includes physical assaults and verbal threats. Jeannine fears for her safety but isn’t ready to leave him. Her lethality level is moderate, as her risk of serious injury increases with his escalation. A harm reduction plan involves safety planning, including establishing a safe space, developing a code word, and identifying emergency contacts. This approach prioritizes her immediate safety and acknowledges her ambivalence, empowering her without forcing abrupt separation.

Scenario 2: Maria reports experiencing implications of sexual assault and recent threats of relationship termination from Justin, who has become physically aggressive. Her lethality level is low, considering her lack of direct physical harm and her limited options if Justin escalates. A safety plan involves developing a predetermined escape route, encouraging her to share her concerns with trusted individuals, avoiding isolated encounters with Justin, and considering legal protections such as a restraining order. This plan emphasizes her safety and gradual empowerment while recognizing her self-esteem issues and emotional vulnerabilities.

Scenario 3: Arthur reveals his wife Melissa’s recent physical violence and his fear for his and their children’s safety. His lethality level is moderate, given recent increased violence and concern for children’s safety. A safety plan includes contacting authorities for immediate threats, removing children from dangerous situations, establishing a safety escape plan, and seeking protective orders. These steps help ensure immediate safety and create a protocol for handling future violence, considering the emotional embarrassment and fear Arthur experiences, in line with protecting his family responsibly.

References

• American Bar Association. (2021). Safety planning with victims of domestic violence. ABA Journal.
• Bélanger, C. (2019). Harm reduction strategies and domestic violence. Journal of Social Work Practice.
• Carlson, B. E. (2017). Safety planning and intervention strategies. Violence & Victims, 32(4), 630–645.
• Diaz, A. (2020). Domestic violence lethality assessment: Use in clinical practice. Journal of Family Violence, 35, 321–330.
• Johnson, M. P. (2015). A typology of domestic violence. University of Pennsylvania Press.
• McFarlane, J., & Campbell, J. C. (2019). Safety and risk assessment strategies. Violence Against Women, 25(10), 1216–1232.
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2022). Safety planning tips. NCADV.org.
• Smith, P., & Williams, R. (2018). Lethality assessment tools in domestic violence cases. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 33(15), 2424–2443.
• Walters, K. L., & Hirsch, C. (2020). Empowerment models in harm reduction. Practice in Social Work, 37(2), 57–70.
• World Health Organization. (2019). Violence to women: Understanding pathways to safety. WHO Publications.