Erin Henkelman on Keeping Families “Safe & Together”
CWS’ Assistant Program Director, Erin Henkelman, was certified as a national trainer on the Safe & Together Model in late July. We sat down with her last week to learn more about this achievement and to find out what’s next for her as she works to bring this model to Oregon.
How did you get your start in advocacy work?
I was a Child Welfare worker for two years back when I lived in Arizona. When I relocated to Oregon in 2007, I found a position within child welfare working as an advocate for families experiencing domestic violence. I was drawn to that piece because I was familiar with the child welfare system and found that advocacy was a natural fit for me!
Erin proudly displays her binder full of Safe & Together resources
So, what is the Safe & Together Model?
Fundamentally, Safe & Together is an approach to Child Welfare through the lens of domestic violence survivor advocacy. It uses a survivor-strength-based perspective and advocacy input to improve system collaboration and wraparound support for families. The model tells us that keeping children safe and together with the non-abusive parent will help them have the most stability and opportunity for healing.
Safe & Together is about making sure that Child Welfare is able to serve children who have experienced domestic violence as well as possible.
What inspired you to become a national trainer in the Safe & Together Model?
This year, Clackamas Women’s Services is participating in a grant called “Safer Futures” through the Department of Justices’ Crime Victims Services Division. They have worked closely with David Mandel & Associates, the organization that created the model.
The grant came with the opportunity to have staff trained in the Safe & Together and I wanted to help bring the model to Oregon. I was drawn it because of my experience working in Child Welfare with families experiencing domestic violence—the model really speaks to that intersection.
What was the process to become a trainer?
It was an extensive process– I participated in three-day workshops at the Advocacy Institute in Connecticut in January and June as well as monthly group calls. I also have to complete five trainings in the model and take a pre- and post-test. Oh, there was also monthly journaling!
What are you most excited about in relation to training others in the model?
When I was doing the practice trainings, I observed the significance of co-facilitating with trainers from child welfare. I could provide an advocacy lens and my co-facilitator could explain how the Safe & Together Model could be applied in the child welfare system. So I’m really most excited to strengthen our partnership with child welfare. Working individually with Child Welfare case workers creates greater understanding of domestic violence that can only benefit families.
What’s next? Who will you be training?
Right now, we have two vacant co-located advocate positions who will work full-tome at the two DHS branches in Clackamas County. I’ll be working closely with these new staff members to incorporate the model into their work from the get-go.
I’ll also be bringing pieces from Safe & Together to leadership team meetings at DHS to shape conversations around bringing the model in to inform the agency’s work. I’m excited to get started!