Personnel And Training Standards

(1) Requirements for all personnel. All Certified Program personnel shall comply with the following: (a) Must not engage in domestic abuse in their own lives. (b) Former batterers must not have committed acts of domestic abuse for a minimum of two years prior to employment and must have completed successfully a batterers intervention program. (c) Must not abuse alcohol or drugs. (2) Characteristics of direct service providers. Personnel of Certified Programs who provide direct services to batterers should exhibit the following characteristics: (a) Demonstrate awareness of power and control issues; RULES FOR BATTERER’S INTERVENTION PROGRAMS CHAPTER 0490-1 (b) Communicate and act in ways that provide batterers with a positive role model for behavior that is consistent with gender equality and mutual respect between men and women; (c) Demonstrate an interest in working toward the elimination of domestic abuse and other forms of abuse both as a worker in the Certified Program and as a member of the wider community; (d) Demonstrate sensitivity to the racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity within the community served; (3) Diversity. Certified Programs should attempt to attract and retain personnel who reflect the racial, ethnic, and linguistic diversity within the community served. (4) Credentials and Qualifications. (a) Instructors and supervisors shall, at a minimum, have a baccalaureate degree, except as provided in item (b) below. (b) Instructors who do not have a college degree may serve as instructors provided that: 1. They are paired in a batterers intervention class with an instructor who does have the required college degree; and 2. They have at least two (2) years experience, (i) working with batterers or domestic abuse victims, or (ii) working within the criminal justice system with other types of violent perpetrators. (5) Program Supervisors. (a) Each Certified Program shall have at least one person in a supervisory position with at least two years of experience working with batterers or victims of domestic violence. (b) Each Certified Program shall have at least one person in a supervisory position with training in group facilitation. (6) Supervision Structure. (a) Supervision shall ensure instructors’ ability to conduct safe and effective interventions with batterers. (b) Certified Programs shall maintain clear records of dates, times, and content of supervisory contacts. (c) Internal Program Supervision. Each Certified Program shall designate one person who shall have supervisory responsibility for the following: 1. Supervision of Certified Program instructors and other staff; 2. Instructor training; 3. Compliance by the Certified Program with these rules; and RULES FOR BATTERER’S INTERVENTION PROGRAMS CHAPTER 0490-1 4. Compliance by the Certified Program with applicable laws. (7) Consultation with Victim Advocates. (a) Certified Programs shall require that instructors consult with Victim Advocates associated with local battered women's programs or, if there are no such programs in the local area, then Victim Advocates associated with nearby or statewide battered women programs. This consultation shall, at a minimum, include discussion of the following: 1. Problem solving techniques; 2. Information sharing; 3. Victim safety issues; 4. Program suggestions; and 5. Collaboration on efforts to eliminate domestic abuse. (b) The Certified Program supervisor and Victim Advocate shall maintain contact on a periodic schedule or as needed. (8) Training. (a) All Certified Program instructors and supervisors shall receive annual training in domestic abuse and batterers intervention. Such training shall include: 1. Training in these rules; 2. Group process and intervention techniques; 3. Safety training directed to ensuring victim safety, the safety of the Certified Program, and the safety of the participating batterers; and 4. Current knowledge about the dynamics of domestic abuse. (b) Number of hours of training. 1. All instructors and supervisors shall receive a minimum of forty (40) hours of training within the first twelve (12) months after a Certified Program has received its initial certification, except that if an instructor or supervisor has worked in a batterers intervention program for two years, or has received other domestic violence training, such instructor or supervisor may request a waiver, in whole or in part, of this requirement from the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council. 2. Newly employed instructors and supervisors shall receive a minimum of forty (40) hours of training within the first twelve (12) months of their employment. 3. After instructors and supervisors have received their initial forty (40) hours of training, they shall receive a minimum of eight (8) hours of training annually. (c) Providers of training. Training sessions may be conducted by any of the following: RULES FOR BATTERER’S INTERVENTION PROGRAMS CHAPTER 0490-1 1. The Certified Program that employs the instructors and supervisors, other Certified Programs, or battered women shelters, provided training offered by such organizations is approved by the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council, if such training meets the standards set forth in Rule 0490-1-.07(8)(a); 2. The Tennessee Task Force on Domestic Violence or other organization or individual or group designated by the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council to provide training for batterers intervention programs; or 3. Other providers approved by the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council, if such training meets the standards set forth in Rule 0490-1-.07(8)(a). (d) The forty (40) hour requirement during the first year of a Certified Program’s certification and during the first year of employment of instructors and supervisors, shall include attendance at the batterers intervention training conducted by the Tennessee Task Force Against Domestic Violence, or such other similar training for batterers intervention programs designated by the Domestic Violence State Coordinating Council. (9) Mental health personnel. Certified Programs in Tennessee are not required to employ mental health professionals. Certified Programs, however, may employ, retain, or consult with mental health professionals as needed.