A Trauma Informed Approach to Attorney/Client...

ATraumaInformedApproachtoAttorney/ClientRelationshipsandCollaborations:StrategiesforDivorce,Custody,ProtectionOrders,andImmigrationCases

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw

July29,2015WorkshopII,SessionA

NewOrleans,LA

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Introductions

MercedesV.Lorduy• Co‐Director,VIDALegalAssistanceInc.

MaryAnnDutton• ProfessorofPsychiatry,GeorgetownUniversityMedicalCenter

Aparna Bhattacharyya• ExecutiveDirector,Raksha

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,AmericanUniversityWashingtonCollegeofLaw 2

LearningObjectivesBytheendofthistraining,youwillbebetterableto:

• Recognizehowtraumaplaysaroleinallaspectsofaclient’scase

• Recognizethebenefitoftraumainformedcollaborationsamongadvocatesandotherprofessionalsto improveoutcomesforvictimsinlegalmatters

• Developatraumainformedapproachtolegaladvocacythatwillimprovecaseoutcomesandincreaseaccesstojustice


IceBreaker

• Share• Yourname,whereyouwork,yourprofession,and

• Atraumainformedtechniqueorpracticethathashelpedyoure‐center,calmdown,orrefocuswhenyouwereincrisisorshuttingdownduringadifficultmoment


Howmanyclientshaveyouworkedwithwhohavesufferedtrauma?

• Howdidthetraumaaffect–Yourrelationshipwiththeclient,and/or–Yourabilitytodoyourwork


Manyofourclientshavesufferedtrauma

• Challengesencountered– Traumaaffectshowapersonperceivesandinteractswithothers

– Communication– Decision‐making– Lackoftrust– Emotions– Dissociation


LevelsofTraumaExposure

• Individual‐level• Community‐level• Social/political‐level• Historicallegacy


Whataresignsofatraumaticreaction?


TypesofInterpersonalTrauma

• Domesticviolence• Sexualassault• Psychologicaloremotionalabuse• Coercivecontrol• Racism,xenophobia,heterosexism• Institutionalre‐victimization


TypesofTraumaInformedInterventionsorToolsforTraumaInformedCare

• Grounding• Breathingtechniques• Askingwhatbringstheclientcomfort• Askingopenendedquestions

– Learnaboutfeelings,fears• Validatingconcernsandexperienceswhileshowingpositiveaspects

• Ensuringaccesstosupportsystemaftermeetings


Materials

• SIQI• ToolforfamilylawyersusingtheSIQI• Groundingtool• Self‐caretool• Videoonworkingwithvictimswhoarere‐livingtrauma


GroundingTechniques

• Roleplay• Discussion


ValidationandPositiveResponse

• Roleplay• Discussion


AccesstoSupportSystemforClient

• Supportfollowingmeetingsduringwhichclientsdiscusstraumaticevents– Resourcesforthissupportyouhaveused

• Largegroupdiscussion

– Howthisnetworkcanhelpclients• Example:potentiallysuicidalclient


WorkingwithAdvocates

Advocatescanconnecttootherresourcessotheattorneyscanfocusonthecaseandensurethesurvivorgetsotherservicestheyneed


LANGUAGEACCESSANDTRAUMAINFORMEDAPPROACH


Howdoesaclient’sLimitedEnglishProficiencyaffecttheir

abilitytodiscusstheirexperiencesoftrauma?


TraumaInformedApproachandLanguageAccess

• ProvidingmeaningfulaccesstoLimitedEnglishProficient(LEP)individualsisnotonlythelaw(TitleVI),itisalsoanimportantstepindevelopingatraumainformedapproach

• Ensureinterpretersunderstandconfidentialityprovisions• Traininterpretersontraumaandthedynamicsofdomesticviolence,sexualassault,andtraffickinginpersons

• Bilingualismandbiculturalism


TraumaInformedAdvocacy…Whatdoesthismean?


CaseScenario• MariaisanativeofGuatemala.SheismarriedtoJuan,aLawfulPermanentResident.

TheyliveinFloridaandhaveadaughterincommon,Alexandra,whowasborninGuatemalaandis4yearsold.Duringtheirmarriage,JuanphysicallyassaultedandbeatMariamanytimes.Althoughtheyhadbeenmarriedforalongtime,JuanneverfiledthepapersforMariaortheirdaughtertoobtainlegalimmigrationstatus.

• Throughouttheirmarriage,JuanalwaysthreatenedMariabytellingherthatifshecalledthepoliceshewouldbedeportedandhewouldgetcustodyoftheirdaughter.Healsotoldherthepolicewouldnotbelieveherbecauseshewasundocumented.AfterMariawasbrutallybeatenshecalledthepoliceforhelp.Ontwooccasionspoliceresponded,spokeonlytoJuaninEnglish,andleft.ThethirdtimeMariacalledthepolice,Juanhadbrokenherarm.ThepolicearrivedandarrestedJuan,whowaschargedwithfelonyassaultandreleasedonbail.

• MariawasreferredtoafamilylawyerforaprotectionorderandanimmigrationlawyerforVAWA‐relatedimmigrationrelief.Juanfiledfordivorceandcustody,arguingthatMariaisundocumentedandaflightrisk.

• MariaandAlexandracontinuetolivewithJuan,andMaria’sundocumentedstatusmakesitdifficultforhertoearnenoughmoneytosupportherselfandAlexandraiftheyleaveJuan’shome.


SmallGroupActivity:CaseScenario1. WhatareMaria’sprimaryconcerns?2. HowmanysystemswillMarianeedto

navigate?3. Whatrolecouldadvocatesandattorneys

eachplayinhelpingMaria?4. HowmightlearningaboutMaria’sfull

traumahistoryaffectsafetyplanningandcasestrategy?


LargeGroupReportBack:CaseScenario

1. WhatareMaria’sprimaryconcerns?2. HowmanysystemswillMarianeedto

navigate?3. Whatrolecouldadvocatesandattorneys

eachplayinhelpingMaria?4. HowmightlearningaboutMaria’sfull

traumahistoryaffectsafetyplanningandcasestrategy?


WorkingwithAdvocates• Advocatescanbebridgestohelpconnectimmigrationandfamilylawattorneys(withclient’sconsent)orensurecommunication

• Advocatescanletattorneys(orviceversa)knowabouttriggersandwhattraumainformedpracticeshaveworkedinthepast


Confidentiality

• Knowvictim/advocateprivilegelaws,ifany,inyourstate

• KnowVAWAgrantconfidentialityrules• Understandhowimmigrationlaw’sVAWAconfidentialityprotectionsimpactsafetyandprotectionfromdeportation


ConfidentialityWhenWorkinginCollaborativeRelationships

• Knowtheconfidentialitystatutesforyourprofessioninyourstate– Eachmemberofacollaborationshouldbeawareofhis/herparticularobligations

• Obtainaninformedrelease/consentfromtheclient– Consentmustbeinformed– Written and– Reasonablytimelimited

• Eachagency/serviceprovidermusthavesignedconsenttoshareinformation


TraumaInformedApproach:BuildingaCollaborativeRelationship&Trust

• Acknowledgestheimpactoftrauma• Createsanenvironmentofemotionalsafety• Non‐judgmental:

– Dignity,respect,empathy• Acknowledgesruleoflanguage&culture• Promoteshealingandbetterlegalcaseoutcomes


LargeGroupDiscussion

Shareexamplesfromyourworkwithvictimsinwhichyoulearnedaboutasignificanttraumalateinyourcasethatwouldhavebeenhelpfultoknowsooner


Howwouldyourworkbedifferentifyoualsolearned….

• ThatMaria’shusbandhadrapedherinfrontoftheirdaughter,andtheraperesultedinbruisesalloverherbodyandhermouth?

• ThatMariahadalsoexperiencedsexualassaultatherworkplace?

• WhattypesoftraumasymptomsmightMariabeexperiencing?


TraumaInformedCare

Clientswhohaveexperiencedtraumamightbenarrowlyfocusedandmayhave

difficultyseeingthebigpicture

Whatcanyoudoaboutthat?


RETURNINGTOCASESCENARIO


CaseScenario• Assumeallfactsyouknow,includingthesexualassaulthistory

• Caseplanning:Pros/consof– FilingaVAWAself‐petitionfirst– Filingaprotectionorderfirst

• Discussimpactfromeachperspective– Traumahealing– Protectionfromdeportation– Victimsafety– Custody


HowcanaTraumaInformedApproachBenefityourClient:

ProtectionOrders• Informeddecisions• Capabilitytoconveydetailsofherstoryinpreparationfortestimony

• Collaborationwithotherserviceprovidersonneedsoftheclient,e.g.,familyattorney,custody,immigration


TraumaInformedApproachtoStoryWriting


TraumaInformedApproachtoStoryWriting

• StoryWritingIntervention– Processbywhichadvocate/attorneysupportsandhelpssurvivorswritetheirownstory

– Bycapturingtraumahistorythroughnarrative,survivorsarehelpedtohealfromtrauma

– Whatresearchtellsusaboutimportanceofwritingthetraumanarrative


ImmigrationStoryWritingInterventionMethod

1. Invitethesurvivortowrite/tellherstory– Support,witness,listenwithoutjudgment,allowspace– Goal:storycomesoutunedited/uninterrupted

2. Followupwithinterview– StructuredInterviewQuestionnaireforImmigration

(SIQI)– Takenotesforfollowupduringstorytellinginterview

3. Edit together– Story+structuredinterviewresponsesintoaffidavit

4. Survivorreadsbackthefinalstory


Trauma‐InformedApproach:WritingInterventionsHelpVictimsHeal

Writingintervention– Identificationoftrauma:“Whathappenedtome?”

– Preparingtheclientforwritingthestory

– Gettingthestoryonpaper• Structuredinterview• Screeningtool


SmallGroupExercise

• HowtousetheSIQI• ReviewtheSIQIandthetoolforusingtheSIQIinfamilylawcases

• Discusshowitstrengthens– Familylawcases– Immigrationlawcases– Collaborations


TraumaInformedLegalAdvocacy

• Buildingarelationshipoftrust• Transparency– Explainyourrole,whyyouaskcertainquestions,whyyouneedcertaininformation

• Beawareoftraumatictriggers• Validationoftheclient’sfeelingisimportant


Whatarethebenefitsofthisapproachfor….

• Client’sfamilycourtcase(s)?

• Client’simmigrationcase?

• Victimadvocacy?


HowATraumaInformedApproachCanBenefitYourClient:

FamilyAttorneys• Improvedcommunicationbetweenclientandattorney

• Betterabletoelicittheclient’sstoryforpurposesoftestimony,makingclientmorecrediblebeforethejudge

• Clientcanmakemoreinformeddecisions• Attorneycanseeandprepareforallareasthatimpacttheclient’slifeduetothetrauma


HowA TraumaInformedApproachCanBenefitYourClient:ImmigrationAttorneys

• Sensitivitytotheclient’sprioritiesorneedsatthetimehe/sheisbeforeyouhelpsbuildtrust

• Provingtheelementsofyourcaseforyourclientrequiresknowledgeofpainfulintimatedetailsandcancausetriggers– Reviewingpaperdocumentationandinformationprovidedbyotherattorneysandadvocatesminimizestheneedfortheclienttoreliveallevents


HowATraumaInformedApproachCanBenefitYourClient:ImmigrationAttorneys

• UsetheStructuredInterviewToolforclientswithdifficultyexpressingtheirfeelingsortellingtheirstory:– Canbringoutimportantdetails– Canguideyouinaskingtherightquestions– Effectivetoelicitinformationneeded


TechnicalAssistanceandMaterials

• PowerPointpresentationsandmaterialsforthisconferenceatwww.niwap.org/go/NOLA2015

• NIWAPTechnicalAssistance:– Call(202)274‐4457– E‐[email protected]

• WebLibrary:www.niwaplibrary.wcl.american.edu


Questions


Evaluations


Thankyou!

NationalImmigrantWomen'sAdvocacyProject,American

UniversityWashingtonCollege of Law

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THIS PROJECT WAS SUPPORTED BY GRANT NO. 2013-TA-AX-K009 AWARDED BY THE OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE OPINIONS, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION/PROGRAM/EXHIBITION ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR(S) AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, OFFICE ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.

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