“How Disaster Outside the Home Creates Disaster Within the Home”
February 21, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the virtual training, “How Disaster Outside the Home Creates Disaster Within the Home."
Session Description:
This presentation will review extensive literature (including the presenter’s multiple academic publications on topic) regarding natural disasters and the increase in family violence (child abuse, partner abuse, and pet abuse) often reported in the wake of these events. The presenter will discuss specific disasters around the globe and detail how reporting patterns and household characteristics that often occur after these events mirror patterns and circumstances created by our actions to slow the COVID-19 pandemic. Critical concepts for improving prevention and detection of family violence will be described.
Participants will learn how increased stress and prolonged periods of isolation can significantly increase risk of abuse victimization for adults, children, and pets who reside in the homes impacted by widespread disaster. With increasing reports of family violence extending a year or more after the event and declining mental health reported for up to three years after disaster, professionals must prepare for long-term family violence victim assistance needs following the current COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of protecting pets to better protect people, during disaster and at all other times as well, will also be highlighted.
Learning Objectives
- Describe how specific actions to slow COVID-19 increased risk for family violence.
- Identify trends in reporting for various forms of family violence before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdowns.
- List similarities between common household/societal characteristics during the COVID-19 Pandemic and past natural disasters around the globe.
- Recognize innovative approaches to reducing family violence during and after widespread disaster.
Presenter:
Andrew Campbell is an expert on family violence and the associated risks of harm for adults, children, and animals residing in homes where this violence occurs. Andrew obtained his master’s degree in Public Health from Purdue University and has presented at over 150 professional conferences and trainings since 2019. His many publications over the last several years include papers cited by the FBI, CDC, and in over 1,000 international academic studies. His book, "Not Without My Pet: Understanding the relationship between victims of domestic violence and their pets", was released in September of 2021. In addition to being an author, researcher, and educator, Andrew also speaks as a survivor of family violence in childhood.
Participant Registration and Cost: This training is free. Participants need to register in advance for the training. Click here to register.