Family work often involves working with families where violence is occurring, whether we realize it or not. The dynamics of family violence can be quiet, hidden, and secretive, or obvious, acknowledged, and visible. Violence may include physical aggression, verbal abuse, or psychological harm. This can occur between intimate partners, parents and children, siblings, or it may be multigenerational. Authorities may or may not be involved, and treatment could be mandated or voluntary. There is no typical pattern with family violence, and there are many appropriate ways to deal with it as helping professionals. This training will shed light on effective approaches to take while working with these complicated situations.

• Participants will develop knowledge of multiple forms of violence within families.
• Participants will display awareness of the long-term consequences of violence on all family members.
• Participants will apply their knowledge about different forms of violence to their work with families.
• Participants will discuss best practices in working with family violence, specifically when working with Alaska Native families.