Centers of Must | Courageous Fire, LLC

Centers of Must™

Healthcare Providers - Please Watch

Believe My Pain

About Centers of Must

Types of entities that would be part of this category are as follows: victim services providers, landlords, child protection services workers, corrections officers and other corrections professionals, healthcare providers (including therapy), welfare services providers (SNAP, WIC, Section 8, etc.), homeless services providers, and any other white-led, white-run entities, spaces, organizations, including nonprofits that fit that description

Definition

*Centers of Must Defined: Places she goes because she has to. The Mainstream community. Click the button below to see the recommended types for these centers.

Intervention

Click the button below to see the research, studies, and approach behind the intervention strategies

Evaluations

The best way to evaluate is through those I've trained; that 's how I know what works. Click the button below to see what they've said

Wide Dissemination

Proud to have worked with over 30 mainstream agencies - . Click the button below to take a look at who they are

Talks & Trainings

Intervention Tools

Evaluations

Dissemination Partners

Trainings

Her Trauma Language:101

This training teaches white-owned &/or white-led orgs the basics of understanding the layered trauma language of Black women.The basic vocabulary history lesson.*This training is the 1st building block in training*

Ankeny DMACC Human Svcs 3.2.2023 - photo 2.jpeg

Cause & Effect:102

What is the cause of the layered, daily recurrent trauma Black women face? What is its effect? How does that impact what you are trying to accomplish in your org's mission? This training illuminates that and provides solutions. *This training is for an org that has had 101 training*

Interpreter Services:103

Why do you need an interpreter? Because your policies, procedures, practices , and staff presently contain unseen barriers to safety for Black women. *This training works best for those who have taken trainings 101 & 102*

DV Baseline Language:201

The Society for Human Resource Mgmt (SHRM) says orgs lose $1.8 Billion per year related to domestic violence (DV). The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence says 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience DV. This health issue impacts people you employ and serve. Let me teach you the language. *For women's groups or org leaders that have taken trainings 101 - 103*

DV Disruptor Training:202

Current research shows there are identifiable stages to DV homicide, which causes 51.3% deaths of Black women annually. When you can identify something, you are poised to disrupt it. This training shows you how to use your current org's resources and relationship with the survivor to manage the risk of this silent killer in your space - no matter what space it is.*For orgs who have utilized 100 series trainings & 201*

Advanced Language:301

You've learned the vocabulary foundation of the Black woman's language, its historical context, you've even learned how to start utilizing this knowledge to correct unseen harm for her. Where do you go when you're stumped with new situations that involved advanced language knowledge? Right here. *For orgs who have utilized both the 100 & 200 series trainings*

Superpower Training:401

What is your specific field's interaction with Black women? What are those specific , inherent barriers in your field's systemic processes and language? That is what this training focuses in on and helps you build solutions that make you a leader in finding them for her and other marginalized populations. Discover your Superpower. *For orgs who have utilized all of the 100, 200, & 300 series trainings*

Self-Care for Advocates

Those who support survivors and co-survivors of DV need to be able to sustain their well-being. This training identifies your collective and individuals stressors and teaches you how to create effective strategies to mitigate them. *This training can be utilized even if no other training/talks have been utilized*

Book It

Intervention Tools

My Research

I have researched over 50 Black women, including myself, that I have worked with in Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Texas, New York, Florida, and Puerto Rico
I have researched periodicals, journals, and articles about Black women and DV in US

My Approach

I think of myself as the Rubik's cube. I give the participants access to me - whether it's human services students in a college setting, police officers at an academy, child protective services workers, victim services orgs, or white-owned, white-led orgs or any other type including governmental and nonprofit - to turn me over for examination. I encourage them to ask quesitons, run scenarios, do what ifs, and practice applying the concepts I teach. I do not approach with "shame on you!" always with "did you know?"

My Studies

My work is based on the following books showcasing the work of highly respected and educated professionals I have/am studied/studying. I will continue to add to this list as my studies will be ongoing:

Certified Community Health Worker (CHW). This certification represents 45 course hours of online training. This umbrella term is as diverse as the communities, as diverse as the communities, sites, and responsibilities this profession assumes. CHWs focus on improving individual and community health and health access. They forge connections where people live, learn, work, worship, and heal – from the inner city to rural communities. Community Health Worker Professional Skills training develops skills for new and seasoned Community Health Workers and other front-line professionals committed to advancing community health.For more information, please click here
Professor Jane Monckton-Smith's work in the UK in identifying and solidifying accuracy in the 8 stages of DV homicide. Her work proves that DV homicides begin with the history of stalking and control not incidences of violence; therefore, accurate stage identification facilitates disruption in the cycle before homicide occurs
Dr. Hillary Potter's work in the US through interviewing 40 Black women DV survivors. Her work illuminates the stark differences between Black women in DV and other women that society deems as "real victims", as well as coins the term dynamic resistance to clarify most Black women's reaction to DV based on our different cultural influences
Dr. Emma Katz's work in the UK around coercive control, post DV abuse through custody and visitation, and children being co-survivors not people exposed to violence. Her work is a guide to judges, attorneys, child protective services workers, and all mandatory reporters to more accurately dissect the true dangers long past the incidents of abuse to the mother, her relationships with her co-surviving children, and the co-surviving children's relationships with one another.
Author Heather McGhee's work in the US around Sum-Zero mindset versus Solidarity Dividend minsdet. Her work in traveling around the country uncovering communities who had decided to work together on common problems bringing the best of what both parts of the community possess proves that this is successful and necessary. Heather focuses the camera lens on why we do more effective, lasting problem-solving when whites stop assuming that equity strides for Black/African-American people equals a loss of privilege, power, and economics for them.

Recommended Books:

In Control; Dangerous Relationships and How They End in Murder: Jane Monckton-Smith
Battle Cries; Black Women and Intimate Partner Abuse: Hillary Potter
Coercive Control in Children's and Mothers' Lives: Emma Katz
The Sum of Us; What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together: Heather McGhee

Evaluations

[What are you committed to changing?] “Improving how our screenings are conducted, our choice of words for screening, and understanding indirect signs of DV."

[Now that you know 75% of DV homicides occur upon separation - only decreasing after 2 yrs - how do you view Black women "staying in abuse"?] “I am sympathetic to them realizing that they are victims of abuse and want to be there to help.”

“I really appreciated the stats as well as the discussion around personal experiences; This is such a difficult topic to listen [to] but you have great courage sharing your experiences.”

[What will change about the way you examine possible future partner organizations?] “Evaluate how well we are partnering with Black women and Black-led organizations...Where are we missing the mark? Are we helpful or harmful?”