SECTION 75:25-5-21. Personnel training, batterers intervention services

(a)   Personnel facilitating batterers intervention groups shall minimally have a graduate degree in a behavioral health or criminal justice related field and one-year related work experience, have a Bachelor's degree in a behavioral health or criminal justice related field and two years related work experience, or have been employed as a facilitator in a certified batterers intervention program prior to July 1, 2008.

(b)   A certified batterers intervention program shall contract with or employ a qualified licensed professional as defined in 75:25-1-3 under "Counseling" for purposes of providing case consultation to personnel facilitating batterers intervention groups for client mental health and substance abuse issues. All BIP staff, BIP volunteers, BIP contractors, and BIP program supervisors shall complete batterers intervention facilitator orientation training sponsored by the Oklahoma Office of the Attorney General within six months of employment or volunteer service.

(c)   Prior to providing any direct services, personnel facilitating batterers intervention services shall observe a minimum of 12 batterers intervention group sessions from an OAG certified program, and must complete 20 hours of training that includes, but is not limited to:

(1)   causes and dynamics of domestic violence;

(2)   identification of cultural and social influences that contribute to violence;

(3)   identification of coercive behavior;

(4)   coercive sexual behavior;

(5)   impact of domestic violence on children and the dynamics of the batterer as a parent;

(6)   basic defense mechanisms of batterers that promote deception, distortion and misrepresentation of the facts of the domestic abuse and the experience of the victim; and

(7)   Lethality indicators and assessment procedures such as:

(A)   perceived loss of control over the victim through separation, divorce, victim fleeing,

(B)   extreme jealousy,

(C)   escalation of abuse,

(D)   acts of abuse,

(E)   suicide/homicide threats, plan to carry out either of above,

(F)   use of, or threat to use weapon (especially a gun),

(G)   strangulation,

(H)   stalking,

(I)   history of mental health problems, substance abuse,

(J)   history of sexual abuse of victim or children,

(K)   kidnapping of partner,

(L)   unemployment; and

(M)   abuse or cruelty to animals

(8)   the effects of alcohol and drug use/abuse and domestic violence;

(9)   exploring myths and beliefs about domestic violence, including myths about provocation;

(10)   impact of domestic violence on victims;

(11)   batterers who re-offend;

(12)   group dynamics and group structure;

(13)   planning for non-violence and victim and dependent safety;

(14)   power and control;

(15)   facilitator boundaries and collusion with the batterer;

(16)   providing safe victim and/or partner contact; and

(d)   Personnel who provide batterers intervention service may not provide services for the victim that may result in a conflict of interest.

(e)   Personnel who provide batterers intervention must declare in writing that they are:

(1)   violence free in their own lives,

(2)   not abusing drugs or alcohol, and

(3)   seeking to rid themselves of sexist attitudes.

(f)   Compliance with 75:25-3-21 shall be determined by:

(1)   Review of program's policy and procedures.

(2)   Review of program's training records and other provided documentation of staff training.

(3)   Review of personnel records.

[Source: Added at 27 Ok Reg 1723, eff 7-1-10; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 1923, eff 7-11-11; Amended at 29 Ok Reg 1770, eff 8-11-12; Amended at 31 Ok Reg 816, eff 9-12-14; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1219, eff 9-11-16; Amended at 35 Ok Reg 871, eff 9-14-18; Amended at 36 Ok Reg 1388, eff 9-13-19]