April Program Agenda

Course Objectives

Artful Communication:
Helping Parents of Children Who Have Witnessed Domestic Violence

Learn a fresh approach to help mitigate the effects of family violence on children.  Since a healthy parent is a child’s most important resource, this workshop will educate about how to decrease the impact of family violence on parenting.  It will demonstrate how to help parents break through denial, minimization and shame to be their child's most helpful ally.  Professionals working with children or parents will experientially learn how to safely use art to intervene.

This workshop will be an interactive skills training for professionals who serve families that have experienced domestic violence.  After an overview of the impact of domestic violence on children, the workshop will address how art can help mitigate the effects of the trauma.  This will be explained in terms of brain development and memory storage.  It will be demonstrated how art is a powerful medium to open up communication with children who have witnessed domestic violence.  Specific tools will be given to use for interviewing and rapport building as well as assessment and intervention.

The presentation and accompanying PowerPoint will include artwork that was created by children clients at WEAVE. Children's artwork and case vignettes will illustrate from the child's perspective: the cycle of violence, attribution of blame and their interpretation of anger as violence.  Their art will also demonstrate how actual children were impacted and how the counselor worked with art to address their needs.  The workshop will give practical, user friendly resources that can be used in daily work with clients.  Art worksheets, drawing themes, intervention strategies and a recommended reading list will be shared with all workshop participants.  The skills taught will prove to be beneficial for all attendees who have interaction with children and parents impacted by family violence.

The workshop will be presented by Amber Browne, M.Ed. Manager of the Prevention and Education Program at WEAVE, Sacramento County’s domestic violence agency. She completed her graduate studies at the University of Massachusetts in Boston with a focus on urban education. Ms. Browne is consistently selected to speak as a domestic violence and sexual assault content expert at various forums such as Valley State Women’s Prison, UC Davis Medical Center, Child Protective Services and the California State Department of Managed Health. Amber is a certified teacher and corporate coach.