Family Violence Prevention

CAFS believes all women and children have the right to live their lives freely and safely. When the men they love use their power as men to hurt, punish, or control them, then that right is violated.

Using male power like this is called male family violence. It can destroy people and relationships. CAFS supports two family violence prevention programs:

Client focused program
Service Integration program- community development

Client Focused

The Family Violence Prevention Programs at CAFS are guided by the No To Violence (NTV) guidelines and principles:

Men's violence is unacceptable
Male family violence must be addressed in the context of gender inequality between men and women
Men’s family violence is primarily used by men to control women and children.

The programs aim to

Ensure the safety of women & children
Support men to take responsibility for their behaviours
Support men to change their behaviours

Elements of the Family Violence Prevention Programs include:

Intake and assessment
Individual group readiness counseling
Men’s Behaviour Change Group work program (18 sessions)
Partner / ex partner follow up
Women’s support group (delivered in partnership)
Children’s group ((delivered in partnership)
Referral to other services
Intensive case management
Emergency housing for men removed from the family home due to their violence and abuse.

For more information please contact the Coordinator, Family Violence Prevention Programs

2. Community Development

In partnership with six community based organisations in the Grampians region, CAFS supports one of two Grampians Integrated Family Violence Committee (GIFVC) Coordinators (RIC’s) in the region.

The CAFS based RIC position supports and builds integration for workers and organisations across the Central Highlands family violence sector as well as sectors associated (health, law enforcement, schools, child protection etc.) with addressing family violence. The second position is located at Grampians Community Health in Stawell.

For more information contact the Regional Integration Coordinator at CAFS 5337 3333 or visit http://www.grampiansfamilyviolence.com.au/

Our Vision: Wellbeing, respect and safety for all children and families

Our Mission: Our mission is to strengthen and empower individuals, families and communities in order to heal from the oppression of disadvantage, alienation from culture and social connections and the trauma of abuse and violence

185

employees working at CAFS
to help strengthen and
empower individuals, families
and communities

2,386

phone calls received
for family support
for the year ended
30 June 2011

$3.75m

in client debts written off
by creditors such as banks
and utilities
with CAFS help

CAFS Values

Flexibility: Being adaptable to changing circumstances in the workplace, prioritising work, addressing what is most important and taking advantage of new and emerging opportunities.

Resilience: The capacity to recover from setbacks, overcome obstacles and impediments, and the ability to learn from experience and identify areas for self development.

Client/Member focused: Prioritising the needs of clients and members, aiming for best outcomes for clients and members, being focused on the outcome and following through with commitments.

Inclusive: Recognising the rights of others, being committed to social justice and social inclusion, making equitable decisions and respecting and valuing difference and diversity in all its forms.

Ethical: High standards of personal integrity, being truthful and reflecting expected standards of behaviour consistent with the CAFS Code of Conduct and professional Codes of Ethics.

Collaborative: Working with others to achieve common goals, engendering a spirit of teamwork, listening actively, inspiring confidence and demonstrating empathy when confronted with adversity.