Safer Together: Cross-Reporting for Humane and Human Services | Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org)

A FREE VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021, 10AM – 4PM

(5.75 CE for Ohio social workers, counselors, and therapists provided)

Registration open July 26 – September 20
 

Presenters:

• Phil Arkow, National Link Coalition
• Dr. Jessica Bibbo, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging, Cleveland
• Dr. Barbara Boat, University of Cincinnati
• Stacey Burge, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Cincinnati
• Detective Sergeant Todd Curtis, Perrysburg Township Police
• Hope Dawson, former client of PALS program, URI
• Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach, University of Toledo
• Jordan Vincent, My Sister’s Place, Athens
• Andrew Warner, Humane Society of Greater Dayton

Facilitator:

• Vicki Deisner, Animal Welfare Institute

Why This Workshop?
On April 12, 2021, H.B. 33 became law. This new law requires Ohio social workers, counselors, and veterinarians to report suspected animal abuse, and dog wardens, animal control officers, and law enforcement to report suspected abuse of children and older adults. This law is important because compelling evidence links animal cruelty and neglect to domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse, and elder abuse. We’re going to introduce you to the law, explain what you need to know about it, and show you how to respond.

Animal abuse frequently is an indicator and predictor of interpersonal, family, and community violence, particularly in domestic violence and child maltreatment scenarios. Significant numbers of women report that threats to their companion and farm animals prevent them from leaving abusive relationships. Children who perpetrate or witness animal cruelty are at risk of being victims themselves and/or future perpetrators of violence, with lifelong adverse consequences. Cross-training and cross-reporting among human services and animal protection agencies are necessary to create more effective species-spanning community collaboratives that prevent and prosecute these interlocking forms of family violence.

The Animal Welfare Institute and the National Link Coalition, with the support of the Ohio Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW Ohio) and the Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust, will host this virtual workshop to explore this critical issue and opportunities to establish and enhance cross-training and cross-reporting processes at the local level. The workshop will explore “the dark side” of the human-animal bond and its implications for human and humane services, family welfare agencies, prosecutors, law enforcement, and human and veterinary medicine. It will describe new strategies, public policy, research, and programs to prevent family violence and to respond to its human and animal victims.

Topics to be addressed include the following: animal hoarding; animal sexual abuse; animal fighting; applicable statutes and statistics; case studies; and animal abuse’s specific links with child maltreatment, domestic violence, elder abuse, and community violence. There will be a law enforcement case study recognizing the link between animal and human violence, and utilizing threat assessments for better case resolution and officer safety. Recommendations for professionals and advocates and an extensive list of resources will be presented. NASW Ohio will be providing 5.75 CEUs for social workers.

For more information contact:
Vicki Deisner, Animal Welfare Institute, [email protected]

AGENDA

• 10:00–10:15: Overview and Speaker Introductions: Vicki Deisner, AWI
• 10:15–10:45: Vicki Deisner, AWI
  HB 33 - Mandated Reporting of Animal Cruelty and Child Maltreatment
• 10:45–11:15: Break, Interview with Detective Sergeant Todd Curtis, Perrysburg Township Police
  Animal abuse and human violence - law enforcement’s perspective
• 11:15–12:15: Phil Arkow, National Link Coalition
  Why HB 33 is so important - the link between animal and human violence
• 12:15–1:15: Lunch Break, Interview with Stacey Burge, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Cincinnati
  Pet issues with the homeless and housing-challenged - in the shelters and on the streets
• 1:15–1:45: Dr. Barbara Boat, University of Cincinnati
  The link between animal cruelty and child maltreatment, how to interview a child
• 1:45–2:00: Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach, University of Toledo
  How to identify child abuse and neglect and where to report cruelty (Tip Sheet)
• 2:00–2:15: Break, Jordan Vincent, My Sister’s Place, Athens
  Animal abuse and the sheltered domestic violence survivors
• 2:15–2:45: Dr. Janet Hoy-Gerlach, University of Toledo
  The link between animal cruelty and elder abuse
• 2:45–3:00: Break, Interview with Dr. Jessica Bibbo, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging
  Report on a survey of caregivers’/agencies’ experiences with pet issues and the elderly
• 3:00–3:30: Andrew Warner, Humane Society of Greater Dayton
  How to identify animal abuse and neglect and where to report cruelty (Tip Sheet)
• 3:30–3:45: Break, Interview with Hope Dawson, former client of the PALS program, Urban Resource Institute
  Domestic violence survivor shares how she advocated for the safety of her dog Coco
• 3:45–4:00: Creating Enhanced Collaboratives Locally - Phil Arkow, National Link Coalition
  Safer together - why collaboration is important, and how to get there