1001-6          DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Individuals affected by domestic violence may have their requirements to participate in work activities and cooperate with CSSDChild Support Services Division waived if they meet good cause criteria.  Please refer to  ATAP MS 731-2 and 723-1, certain program requirements may be temporarily waived if compliance would:

• Endanger a family affected by domestic violence; or,
• Interfere with the family's ability to escape domestic violence or its escalation; or,
• Unfairly penalize them.

Screening for domestic violence is an ongoing activity as rapport builds and client circumstances change. 

WSPWork Services Providers are encouraged to coordinate with their local DVDomestic Violence advocate(s) or shelter(s) to have an annual training on recognizing and addressing domestic violence. 

Additional information and resources can be found at Alaska's Council on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault.

1001-6 A.      DOMESTIC VIOLENCE BEHAVIOR

Domestic violence is a learned pattern of violent behavior and coercive tactics that control the thoughts, beliefs, and conduct of a particular individual. Domestic violence, as defined by state law, is one or more of the following offenses, including an attempt to commit the offense, by one family member against another:

• Assault and reckless endangerment in any degree, including threats and threatening behavior;
• Violating a domestic violence order;
• Harassment;
• Criminal trespass, which is entering or remaining unlawfully on premises, land, or in a dwelling or vehicle with intent to commit a crime;
• Criminal mischief;
• Coercion, or forcing someone to behave in certain ways by threatening them with consequences;
• Kidnapping and custodial interference;
• All types and degrees of sexual assault against adults and minors, which includes any form of non-consensual sexual contact;
• Robbery;
• Extortion, or taking control of another's property by means of a threat;
• Burglary;
• Arson and criminally negligent burning, or using fire to intentionally damage property or place another person in danger of injury;
• Stalking
• Financial abuse; 
• Terroristic threatening; or,
• Homicide.

Note:

An abuser does not have to be convicted of a crime in order for their behavior to be defined as domestic violence.

1001-6 B.       FAMILY MEMBERS

Family members, for domestic violence purposes, are adults and minors who:

• Are related by blood or adoption; or,
• Are or were related by marriage; or,
• Are or were married; or,
• Have dated or lived together; or,
• Have engaged in a sexual relationship.

The minor children of a person in one of the relationships listed above are also family members.

1001-6 C.      DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AS A BARRIER TO EMPLOYMENT

Domestic violence may be as subtle as verbal or emotional abuse or as visible as physical injuries. Any of these forms of abuse may affect the ability of the individual to comply with work requirements. Abusers may deliberately interfere with an individual's struggle toward independence in any effort to control and isolate the individual. They can actively interfere with self-sufficiency activities by causing the individual to miss planned training activities, job interviews, or appointments by:

• Sabotaging child care arrangements. This may include failing to watch the children as agreed or harassing baby-sitters;
• Calling the work site and telling lies about the individual;
• Verbally harassing the individual at work, by telephone, or in person;
• Cutting off the individual's hair;
• Destroying or hiding clothing needed for classes, interviews, or work;
• Keeping the individual up all night before interviews or tests;
• Restricting access to family transportation; or,
• Turning off the alarm clock.

Non-compliance with work activities may occur frequently in households affected by domestic violence and could be the result of attempts by the abuser to control the actions of the individual. Although an individual's behaviors may appear to be non-compliant, they could indicate that a client has good cause and warrant further investigation.

Some behaviors affecting work performance which may signal that a person is suffering from the effects of domestic violence include:

• Distraction and/or poor ability to concentrate and make decisions;
• Changes in behavior or emotion;
• Depression or hopelessness;
• Passive or aggressive behavior;
• Difficulty dealing with authority figures;
• Frequent absenteeism due to medical problems or concerns about children;
• Excuses for poor performance which are not credible;
• Arriving at appointments late or leaving early; or,
• Allows another family member to exert an unusual amount of control over the individual's life.

1001-6 D.      NOTIFICATION AND SCREENING

See ATAP MS 731-2 for information regarding notification and screening.