734.707.7550
22nd Annual
2017 International Conference
Dates: November 1-3, 2017
Conference description: BISC-MI continues its tradition of providing innovative conferences! In 2017 Miles to Go will offer participants experiential opportunities to expand perceptions, take a look within ourselves, explore unique strategies and gain an increased understanding about healing and cultural humility. Presentations, activities and tools to use in batterer intervention programs will be provided, designed to generate an increased awareness of self and illuminate pathways. Regardless of the number of years you have worked, where you’re from, how comfortable you are doing your work, or your professional focus, your journey is never over. There are endless pathways to travel and new discoveries to pursue. We encourage you to attend if you are interested in being challenged to take another step. Our best thinking has gotten us this far, but the best is yet to come and we will be stronger together.
The Office on Violence Against Women has approved our request to invite OVW grantees to attend The Batterer Intervention Services Coalition of Michigan (BISC-MI) 2017 International Conference to be held November 1-3, 2017.
The following OVW programs have conditionally approved their grantees to attend this conference. Grantees are required to contact their OVW program specialist to get approval specific to their award and to ensure that a Grant Adjustment Notice (GAN) is issued. A GAN must be completed before grantees commit or expend any funds related to attending this conference.
- Consolidated Youth
- ICJR (formerly Arrest)
- Justice for Families
- State Coalition
- Tribal Jurisdiction
- Engaging Men
Grantees from STOP may be invited to attend this conference and do not have to contact their program manager for prior approval. Grantees who are not required to get prior approval to attend this conference should be advised to place a “memo to the file” in their grant records indicating the conference approval reference number.
The reference number for this conference is OVW-2018 MU-005. This number must be used by grantees when requesting approval via a GAN or in their “memo to the file”. This approval and assigned reference number is for this conference only.
Location: Conference and Events Center of the Motor City Casino in Detroit, Michigan
Location Address: 2901 Grand River Ave, Detroit MI 48201
EARLY REGISTRATION NOW EXTENDED!
Registration Before October 17, 2017: Member Early Bird: $300 | Non-Member Early Bird: $350
Registration After October 17, 2017: Member $350 | Non-Member $400
Breakfast and lunch included in the registration cost
This course is approved by the Michigan Social Work
Continuing Education Collaborative.
Course approval #: 09417-06
Up to 21 Michigan Social Work CE Hours
Up to 21 BIPSCC CEU’s
We may be showing a movie on the 1st or 2nd evening of the conference
Attendance of the movie will provide 2 additional CEs
Social Work CEs: $30.00
Hotel Rates: $115.00 Individual/Double
Make lodging reservations early!
Offering generously low rates at MotorCity Casino Hotel
with FREE parking!
Attendees are responsible for making their own lodging reservations and expenses for the 2017 BISC-MI Annual Conference.
BISC-MI has arranged a group room block for the nights of Tuesday, October 31 – Thursday, November 2 at a significantly reduced rate of $115.00/night + *applicable taxes (single & double occupancy). The deadline to reserve a room at this rate is Tuesday, October 10, 2017. After that date, availability and the discounted rate may be extended at the discretion of the hotel but are not guaranteed.
* Local occupancy taxes in SE Michigan are currently 9%. Must present your tax exempt documentation at the time of hotel check-in to avoid the 6% State of Michigan Sales Tax.
MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE OR BY PHONE BY THE GROUP BLOCK CUT-OFF DATE:
Tuesday, October 10, 2017.
The group block at this significantly reduced rate will fill up quickly!
To make a reservations:
ONLINE
Follow this UNfriendly URL! But seriously, it’s really long, so just click here
https://gc.synxis.com/rez.aspx?Hotel=25866&Chain=10094&arrive=10/31/2017&depart=11/2/2017&adult=1&child=0&group=110117BICM
BY PHONE
Call MotorCity Casino Hotel directly at: 866.782.9622 and provide the following group code for the 2017 BISC-MI Annual Conference: 110117BICM.
Hotel check-in time: 4:00 pm
Hotel check-out time: 11:00 am
Check out TripAdvisor Reviews of MotorCity Casino Hotel
Reservations with this special group rate for the BISC-MI Annual Conference include:
• Complimentary self and valet parking
• Complimentary Starbucks coffee and bottled waters in each room
• 10% off all products in Lacquer Gift Shop
• 10% off spa services in D.Tour Spa
• 10% off all in room dining ordered electronically through television in room
• Complimentary use of 24 hour business center
• Complimentary use of 24 hour fitness center
Please Note MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Policies:
Any reservation canceled within 48 hours of the day of arrival, or no-shows, will be charged for one night’s room revenue.
Guests are responsible for payment of all of their own charges prior to departure. An early departure fee applies to any guest who checks out prior to the guest’s reserved check out date. To avoid this fee, guests must advise MCCH at or before check in or any changes to the length of stay.
MCCH reserves the right to charge any guest a charge, up to a full day rate depending on the actual time of check out, if the guest does not check out by 11:00 am.
The Ed Gondolf COMPASS Award
Recognizing and honoring those who have significantly guided and expanded efforts to protect survivors through advancing and evaluating accountable perpetrator intervention research and programming.
The COMPASS Award will be awarded to: Barbara Hart J.D. during this conference!
click for additional information
Barbara Hart’s speech given on November 1, 2017
Pre-Conference Videos of the faculty
CONFERENCE AGENDA
click for downloadable conference agenda
Day One: Wednesday, November 1, 2017
7:45 am – 8:15 am Continental Breakfast and Registration
8:15 am – 8:45 am Welcome
8:45 am – 9:45 am
Humanizing “the Other;” Humanizing Ourselves – Juan Carlos Areán
Building upon the ground-breaking 2017 roundtable on BIP’s current trends, alternative models, and promising practices, sponsored by the Office on Victims of Crime and the Office on Violence Against Women, Mr. Areán will speak of the need for BI practitioners to incorporate a trauma-informed lens, embrace cultural approaches, and engage in deep self-reflection. He will invite participants to ponder the meaning of healing in the context of responsibility, the overlap of victimization and perpetration, and the misuse of coercive systems in working with DV offenders.
9:45 am – 10:45 am
La Cultura Cura, From Cycles to Circles; Moving Beyond Trauma Informed to Healing Centered – Jerry Tello
The session will address the importance of rooting ourselves in a narrative that is beyond the immediate trauma to a place of acknowledging the generations of pain and multiple oppressions that many people carry. It reaches to the core of generational healing. It further lifts the importance of honoring indigenous based ideology, pedagogy and practice as teacher for healing westernized processes that often results in re-victimization.
10:45 am – 11:15 am Break
11:15 am – 12:15 pm
Hearing Trauma & Healing our Stories – Terri Strodoff & Floyd Rowell
Consider the mantra, any pain that is not transformed will be transferred. Our field has long known that little boys who grow-up witnessing or experiencing domestic violence or other childhood adversity, are significantly more likely to repeat this behavior themselves. Yet, when grown men come to the doors of our programs with the reality of repeating the cycle through their own perpetration of violence or abuse, we often consider their background experiences to be irrelevant, or little more than excuses to justify, blame or otherwise escape responsibility for their own choices and behavior. What difference would it make if we sincerely and authentically asked men the question of what happened to them? In this workshop we explore how a trauma-informed approach changes our program goals from fixing men’s problem, to holding space for men to heal.
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch on Own – Vouchers Provided
BISC-MI strives to provide high quality conferences that showcase cutting edge practice and research. This year BISC-MI is providing a format designed to give all conference participants exposure to some unique and innovative intervention and personal growth concepts through morning plenaries and afternoon smaller group experiential workshops, in most cases with the plenary speakers. These workshops are being duplicated to intentionally accommodate every one. There are only a few workshops that are only being offered once.
One of the goals this year is to build a sense of connection and community and expand our knowledge of ourselves through experiential learning. In order to provide everyone with a chance to maximize this opportunity we ask that you sign up for one of each of the duplicated workshops. Please understand that we may move an attendees workshop time to balance group size. We hope you are as excited as we are.
1:45 pm – 3:45 pm Workshops (2 hour)
#1a: Honoring One’s Sacred Circle – Jerry Tello (1a, 1b, 2a and 2b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
The workshop will be a deeper dive into the Overview session as to how we first of all not just give the teachings but live the teachings as we recognize the intersectionality of our work and the importance of consideration for its impact on all our relations. It will further explore the importance of social action on injustice as it relates to interconnected healing.
#1b: Honoring One’s Sacred Circle – Juan Carlos Areán (1a, 1b, 2a and 2b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
The workshop will be a deeper dive into the Overview session as to how we first of all not just give the teachings but live the teachings as we recognize the intersectionality of our work and the importance of consideration for its impact on all our relations. It will further explore the importance of social action on injustice as it relates to interconnected healing.
#1c: Story Telling – Terri Strodoff & Staff (1c, 1d, 2c and 2d are repeat sessions and have the same title and content)
This workshop will build off the themes of the plenary session. Participants will have an opportunity to explore their own emotional wellness, safety and vulnerabilities in doing this work.
#1d: Story Telling – Terri Strodoff & Staff (1c, 1d, 2c and 2d are repeat sessions and have the same title and content)
This workshop will build off the themes of the plenary session. Participants will have an opportunity to explore their own emotional wellness, safety and vulnerabilities in doing this work.
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Break
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Workshops (2 hour)
#2a: Honoring One’s Sacred Circle – Jerry Tello (1a, 1b, 2a and 2b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
The workshop will be a deeper dive into the Overview session as to how we first of all not just give the teachings but live the teachings as we recognize the intersectionality of our work and the importance of consideration for its impact on all our relations. It will further explore the importance of social action on injustice as it relates to interconnected healing.
#2b: Honoring One’s Sacred Circle – Juan Carlos Areán (1a, 1b, 2a and 2b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
The workshop will be a deeper dive into the Overview session as to how we first of all not just give the teachings but live the teachings as we recognize the intersectionality of our work and the importance of consideration for its impact on all our relations. It will further explore the importance of social action on injustice as it relates to interconnected healing.
#2c: Story Telling – Terri Strodoff & Staff (1c, 1d, 2c and 2d are repeat sessions and have the same title and content)
This workshop will build off the themes of the plenary session. Participants will have an opportunity to explore their own emotional wellness, safety and vulnerabilities in doing this work.
#2d: Story Telling – Terri Strodoff & Staff (1c, 1d, 2c and 2d are repeat sessions and have the same title and content)
This workshop will build off the themes of the plenary session. Participants will have an opportunity to explore their own emotional wellness, safety and vulnerabilities in doing this work.
6:00 pm Dinner on own
Day Two: Thursday, November 2, 2017
7:45 am – 8:15 am Continental Breakfast
8:15 am – 8:30 am Welcome and Housekeeping
8:30 am – 9:00 am A Survivor’s Voice – Merkeb Yohannes
Merkeb is a Program Manager at the Michigan Coalition to End Domestic Violence and a volunteer for the Survivor’s Speakers Bureau, and Capital Area Response Effort in Lansing, MI. Her commitment and approach to this work stem from being an Immigrant and Refugee survivor of domestic violence and child sexual abuse.
9:00 am -10:30 am
Women’s Use of Force: A Practice and Research Overview – Lisa Young Larance, LMSW
Understanding and addressing women’s use of force in intimate relationships is a controversial national issue that affects first responders, criminal legal system personnel, and social service providers at the local, county, and state-wide levels. The inaccurate perception that all women who have used force are “batterers” often (mis)informs arrest procedures, judicial actions, and chosen interventions in many states. In many jurisdictions, this means that female survivors of domestic violence are arrested, charged, and then referred to Batterers’ Intervention Programs (BIPs) for using force against their intimate male partners. Women referred to BIPs receive inappropriate “batterers treatment” rather than contextualized support and intervention. This potentially places women and their family members at a higher risk for abuse. Through lack of attention to context, interventions fail to meet the needs of these women and may also fail to meet the goals of the referring agency – to prevent future violent incidents. Using examples from Ms. Larance’s direct practice work, recent publications, and ongoing research, she will raise the awareness of those unfamiliar with the issue and contribute to a deeper understanding for those already addressing the issue. Information from this presentation can be used to directly contribute to the well-being of women and their families.
10:30 am – 10:45 am Break
10:45 am – 12:15 pm
Wica Agli -“Bringing Men Home” exploring culture as a road map to healing – Aldo Seoane
During the session we will discuss indigenous perspective of healing and approaches to in the use of culture to create a path to help men find healing and safety in the selves.
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm Lunch – Vouchers Provided
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
The Aquila Truth Squad – Jeffrie Cape LMSW ACSW CAA, Christopher Hall MSW, Chris Huffine Psy.D., Pamela Wiseman, Additional Faculty TBD
The truth squad comes to the conference to introduce and demonstrate tools that programs, advocates and others can use in their communities to answer questions and challenges about research, effectiveness, community coordination and gender considerations. A link to all materials introduced will be provided.
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm Break
BISC-MI strives to provide high quality conferences that showcase cutting edge practice and research. This year BISC-MI is providing a format designed to give all conference participants exposure to some unique and innovative intervention and personal growth concepts through morning plenaries and afternoon smaller group experiential workshops, in most cases with the plenary speakers. These workshops are being duplicated to intentionally accommodate every one. There are only a few workshops that are only being offered once.
One of the goals this year is to build a sense of connection and community and expand our knowledge of ourselves through experiential learning. In order to provide everyone with a chance to maximize this opportunity we ask that you sign up for one of each of the duplicated workshops. Please understand that we may move an attendees workshop time to balance group size. We hope you are as excited as we are.
2:15 pm – 3:45 pm Workshops (90 Minute)
#3a: Tools and Techniques: Practical Application – Jeffrie Cape, LMSW ACSW CAADC (3a and 4a are repeat sessions with the same title and content)
An interactive session focused on simple practical therapeutic strategies that can be used by new or experienced facilitators to engage group participants and enhance understanding of individual accountability.
#3b: The Allies in Change Model: An Integrative Curriculum – Chris Huffine Psy.D. (3b and 4b are repeat sessions with the same title and content)
This workshop will highlight some of the distinctive qualities of the Allies in Change model which has been “cooking” for over thirty years, been used with thousands of abusive individuals, and been reviewed and utilized by dozens of group facilitators. While this is a stand-alone curriculum, aspects of it can be used to enhance programming already in place with abusive partners. This workshop will primarily build upon and not repeat material that was shared at last year’s conference, except to provide some relevant background and foundational understanding. A brief overview of the model and underlying philosophy will be followed by heavier focus on how the groups are actually facilitated. Time will be spent highlighting effective facilitation utilizing key content themes, the use of a weekly check-in process and journal sharing, and concepts distinct to this curriculum.
#3c: Cultural Inclusivity – Aldo Seoane (3c and 4c are repeat sessions with the same title and content)
This workshop will provide a forum to look at how to discuss culture while holding men accountable. Discussion will explore creating culturally inclusive groups using indigenous approaches and how to create standards that include a cultural perspective.
#3d: Inclusive Practices for Working with LGBTQ People Experiencing IPV: Trauma & Oppression Informed Approaches – Mary Case
This workshop will provide participants with an overview of LGBTQ people’s experiences of oppression and how it intersects with their experience of Intimate Partner Violence. Participants will also be given practical tools that can be utilized to create safety and inclusivity for LGBTQ individuals who are accessing their services.
3:45 pm – 4:00 pm Break
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Workshops (90 Minute)
#4a: Tools and Techniques: Practical Application – Jeffrie Cape LMSW ACSW CAA (3a and 4a are repeat sessions with the same title and content)
An interactive session focused on simple practical therapeutic strategies that can be used by new or experienced facilitators to engage group participants and enhance understanding of individual accountability.
#4b: The Allies in Change Model: An Integrative Curriculum – Chris Huffine Psy.D. (3b and 4b are repeat sessions with the same title and content)
This workshop will highlight some of the distinctive qualities of the Allies in Change model which has been “cooking” for over thirty years, been used with thousands of abusive individuals, and been reviewed and utilized by dozens of group facilitators. While this is a stand-alone curriculum, aspects of it can be used to enhance programming already in place with abusive partners. This workshop will primarily build upon and not repeat material that was shared at last year’s conference, except to provide some relevant background and foundational understanding. A brief overview of the model and underlying philosophy will be followed by heavier focus on how the groups are actually facilitated. Time will be spent highlighting effective facilitation utilizing key content themes, the use of a weekly check-in process and journal sharing, and concepts distinct to this curriculum.
#4c: Cultural Inclusivity – Aldo Seoane (3a and 4a are repeat sessions with the same title and content)
This workshop will provide a forum to look at how to discuss culture while holding men accountable. Discussion will explore creating culturally inclusive groups using indigenous approaches and how to create standards that include a cultural perspective
#4d: Identifying Primary Aggressor in LGBTQ IPV – Mary Case
Differentiating Aggressors from Survivors is complex but necessary for providing safe and effective interventions that do not re-traumatize survivors that may have been wrongly convicted of domestic violence. This workshop will examine an assessment model that expands the concepts of victimization and aggression from the mainstream binary model into a continuum. We will also touch on trauma informed models for group and individual counseling services that organizations can develop to provide support for LGBTQ individuals, regardless of where they may fit within the assessment continuum.
5:30 pm Dinner on own
Day Three: Friday, November 3, 2017
7:45 am – 8:15 am Continental Breakfast
8:15 am – 8:30 am Welcome and Housekeeping
8:30 am – 10:00 am
Cracking the Code; Understanding Different Motives of Those Who Batter and the Connection to Risk and Lethality – Steve and Dorothy Halley
In this keynote, Dorothy and Steve “crack the code”: bringing to the practitioner an understanding of the differences among those who batter based on motive. Those with different motives display different behaviors, and present different dangers to their victim and community. The commonality among batterers—their desire to dominate and control—has been understood for a long time. Unfortunately, the different motives driving them to seek power and control have not been generally understood, making it difficult to predict behavior or provide effective response. This workshop provides information that unlocks the mystery of domestic violence, and provides practical information that will change/enhance your response.
10:00 am – 10:30 am Break – 30 Minutes to Check out
10:30 – 11:30 am
PLAYING TOGETHER: Experiential Drumming to Explore Identity, Affirm Diversity, and Strengthen Accountability – Rahul Sharma
How can the experience of drumming together connect with themes of identity, diversity, and accountability? In what ways do the individual and collective processes of making music inter-relate to themes of power, control, and equality? Through experiential drumming and facilitated dialogue, this session is geared towards all working in the field of batterer intervention with an example of how innovative modalities may be able to address complex learning objectives.
Many thanks to Lori Fithian of Drummunity for the percussion instruments
11:30 am-12:30 pm Lunch on Own – Vouchers Provided
BISC-MI strives to provide high quality conferences that showcase cutting edge practice and research. This year BISC-MI is providing a format designed to give all conference participants exposure to some unique and innovative intervention and personal growth concepts through morning plenaries and afternoon smaller group experiential workshops, in most cases with the plenary speakers. These workshops are being duplicated to intentionally accommodate every one. There are only a few workshops that are only being offered once.
One of the goals this year is to build a sense of connection and community and expand our knowledge of ourselves through experiential learning. In order to provide everyone with a chance to maximize this opportunity we ask that you sign up for one of each of the duplicated workshops. Please understand that we may move an attendees workshop time to balance group size. We hope you are as excited as we are.
12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Workshops (90 Minute)
#5a: River of Cruelty – Steve Halley (5a, 5b, 6a and 6b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
Using the Family Peace Initiative (FPI) “River of Cruelty Map”, this workshop will illustrate the impact of trauma and adverse experiences from a unique perspective. Using an experiential approach, this presentation helps the participant to understand how cruel experiences can easily be transferred from person to person and generation to generation. Understanding this process can lead the practitioner to new and powerful intervention techniques that have been shown to significantly impact FPI effectiveness with those who batter.
#5b: River of Cruelty – Dorothy Halley & Tish Taylor (5a, 5b, 6a and 6b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
Using the Family Peace Initiative (FPI) “River of Cruelty Map”, this workshop will illustrate the impact of trauma and adverse experiences from a unique perspective. Using an experiential approach, this presentation helps the participant to understand how cruel experiences can easily be transferred from person to person and generation to generation. Understanding this process can lead the practitioner to new and powerful intervention techniques that have been shown to significantly impact FPI effectiveness with those who batter.
#5c: Drumming Circle – Session to be combined with 5c Rahul Sharma (5c and 6c are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
This session will provide individuals with an unique opportunity to participate in hands on drumming and experience the way individuals can come together as a part of a collective whole to increase a sense of connectedness.
2:00 pm – 2:15 pm Break
2:15 pm – 3:45 pm Workshops (90 Minute)
#6a: The River of Cruelty: An Experiential Approach to Understanding and Intervening with Cruelty – Steve Halley (5a, 5b, 6a and 6b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
Using the Family Peace Initiative (FPI) “River of Cruelty Map”, this workshop will illustrate the impact of trauma and adverse experiences from a unique perspective. Using an experiential approach, this presentation helps the participant to understand how cruel experiences can easily be transferred from person to person and generation to generation. Understanding this process can lead the practitioner to new and powerful intervention techniques that have been shown to significantly impact FPI effectiveness with those who batter.
#6b: The River of Cruelty: An Experiential Approach to Understanding and Intervening with Cruelty – Dorothy Halley & Tish Taylor (5a, 5b, 6a and 6b are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
Using the Family Peace Initiative (FPI) “River of Cruelty Map”, this workshop will illustrate the impact of trauma and adverse experiences from a unique perspective. Using an experiential approach, this presentation helps the participant to understand how cruel experiences can easily be transferred from person to person and generation to generation. Understanding this process can lead the practitioner to new and powerful intervention techniques that have been shown to significantly impact FPI effectiveness with those who batter.
#6c: Drumming Circle – Rahul Sharma, Session to be combined with 6d (5c and 6c are repeat sessions with the same title and content, regardless of which faculty are facilitating this workshop)
This session will provide individuals with an unique opportunity to participate in hands on drumming and experience the way individuals can come together as a part of a collective whole to increase a sense of connectedness.
3:45 pm Wrap-up and Raffle
4:30 pm Conference Ends
Disclaimer: Any opinion, findings, recommendations or conclusions, expressed by any author(s) or speaker(s) do not necessarily reflect the views of BISC-MI.
BISC-MI reserves the right to substitute a qualified instructor or topic due to unforeseen circumstances
Cancellation Policy:
No refunds after October 7, 2017
$50.00 cancellation fee will apply to all refunds before October 7, 2017
Checks received after October 7, 2017 may be subject to the $50.00 late fee
Substitutions may be made
ADA or ASA: If you require ADA or ASA accommodations, please contact BISC-MI at least 4 weeks before the conference begins so that arrangements can be made.
Registration open!
We are happy to have the Self-Esteem Bookstore joining us once again during the conference
Conference Sponsoring Organizations
Click for more information about the sponsoring organizations
Cancellation Policy:
No refunds after October 15, 2017
$50.00 cancellation fee will apply to all refunds before October 15, 2017
Checks received after October 15, 2017 may be subject to the $50.00 late fee
Substitutions may be made
ADA or ASA: If you require ADA or ASA accommodations, please contact BISC-MI at least 4 weeks before the conference begins so that arrangements can be made.