B.R.A.V.E. (Building Resilience And Victim Education)

This eight-week course is designed to meet the domestic violence education and parenting requirements of the court system and Department of Children and Family Services. B.R.A.V.E. provides various tools and strategies that survivors/victims are able to incorporate into their daily lives. Course materials include activities that enable survivors to understand different tactics abusers can use, the impact abuse can have on survivors and children who witness abuse, and ways for both survivors and their children to recover from the abuse. Please have your client call the Courage Connection hotline at 217-384-4390 and ask to be enrolled in the B.R.A.V.E. course.

The course includes eight sessions:

  • Power and Control. This lesson focuses on identifying abusive behavior and labeling adult and children’s feelings.
  • Impact of Trauma. Parents learn about the various types of trauma a person may experience and the impact trauma can have on the development and growth of self and child. 
  • Impact of Trauma on Parenting and Self-Care. This lessons delves into how domestic violence can have an impact on parenting skills, techniques, and roles, whether it was an isolated incident or recurring. We also discuss how the parent can take care of themselves.
  • Emotional Regulation and Conflict Resolution. Parents are provided tools to promote emotional regulation in self, which will enable them to handle conflict resolution with their child in a healthy and effective way.
  • Boundaries. Parents will learn how to create healthy boundaries and hold accountability in future relationships and with their children.
  • Strengthening Healthy Relationships. This lesson provides activities and ways to mend the relationship between a parent and child after traumatic incidents. Parents will also learn strategies for seeking out healthy adult relationships.
  • Co-Parenting and Law Enforcement. This lesson includes discussion on co-parenting with an abuser and ensuring the safety of all parties involved. We also inform clients of various options available to make for safe co-parenting.
  • Safety Planning. Parents will review safety planning for the family in case of crisis. We will also go over essential items needed in safety planning, and each participant will create their own safety plan.