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Candidate Study Guide

for the

Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional Examination

Printed 11/2001

The following information is intended to help you prepare for the Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professional Examination. Part I of this study guide contains general information about the profession and testing procedures. Part II provides a content outline, lists the competencies covered in the examination, and identifies reference materials that support each part of this Examination. Part III includes sample questions to help you prepare for this test.

Part I--General Information

PURPOSE OF THE EXAMINATION

This examination has been developed in collaboration with Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals, Inc., to ensure that certification is granted only to professionals who are familiar with domestic violence practices, rules and regulations that will protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

TEST VALIDITY

The time limit for this examination is two hours. This examination has been developed to meet strict standards of test fairness and validity in consultation with a committee of experienced domestic violence professionals.

PHOTO ID

Each candidate must present a photo ID and a valid admission notice to be admitted to any of these examinations. Only a valid Driver’s License, Secretary of State ID card, or a current passport is acceptable as photographic identification. If the name on the photo ID does not match the name on the admission notice, proof of legal name change also must be presented before the candidate can be admitted to an examination.

SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

Any candidate who needs special accommodations in test-taking procedures because of a disabling condition must communicate that need in writing with his or her application. No accommodations can be arranged on the day of a test.

SCORING THE EXAMINATION

Candidates who pass the test will receive a certificate from Illinois Certified Domestic Violence Professionals, Inc.

MISSING AN EXAMINATION

There are no "make-up" examinations. You may re-register for the next scheduled examination date.

RE-EXAMINATION

Candidates who fail the test will receive an application to retake the examination and information to help them identify content areas on which they need to improve their performance.

Part II--Test Content and Recommended Study Materials

This examination was developed in collaboration with a committee of experienced domestic violence professionals. Content areas on the test are outlined below. All of the study materials for this examination are identified on page three of this study guide.

This examination is organized into six sections as shown in the following outline.

I. Context of Domestic Violence (8 questions)

A. Definitions of domestic violence

B. Historical and feminist perspectives

C. Societal and institutional issues

D. Myths and realities of domestic violence

II. Dynamics of Domestic Violence (12 questions)

A. Cycles of violence

B. Power and control

C. Types of abuse

D. Effects of domestic violence on victims

E. Abusers

III. Legal Issues (11 questions)

A. Illinois Domestic Violence Act

B. Federal law

C. Abused & Neglected Child Reporting Act

D. Elder Abuse and Neglect Act

IV. Serving Domestic Violence Victims (25 questions)

A. Crisis assessment

B. Safety Planning – Preparing for the future

C. Working with victims

V. Challenges in Serving Specific Victims (15 questions)

A. Children and teens

B. Older battered women

C. Lesbian, bisexual, gay & transgender clients

D. Faith issues

E. Immigrant battered women

F. Domestic violence victims of color

G. Substance abuse and domestic violence

H. HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases

I. People with disabilities

IV. Serving Domestic Violence Victims (4 questions)

A. Certification Code of Ethics

B. Violence workers’ health and burnout prevention

Recommended Study Materials

The following references support the questions on this examination. These books may be available at retail stores and in public and academic libraries. They also are available online from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble (bn.com), Borders.com and allbookstores.com, as well as directly from the publishers.

Kanel, Kristi. A Guide to Crisis Intervention (1999).

Publisher: Brooks-Cole Publishing Company, 511 Forest Lodge Road, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Website: www.brookscole.com

Lissette, Andrea, and Richard Kraus. Free Yourself from an Abusive Relationship (2000).

Publisher: Hunter House Inc., Publishers, P.O. Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-0914

Website: www.hunterhouse.com

Wilson, K.J. When Violence Begins at Home (1997).

Publisher: Hunter House Inc., Publishers, P.O. Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-0914

Website: www.hunterhouse.com

Additional Study Materials (available through the links provided below)

Illinois Domestic Violence Act and other Significant Laws Affecting Domestic Violence (2005).

Publisher: Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence

A Manual for Mandated Reporters (2005).

Publisher: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Website: http://www.state.il.us/DCFS/docs/MANDATED2002.pdf

Reporting Elder Abuse: What Professionals Need to Know (2003).

Publisher: Illinois Department on Aging

Website: www.state.il.us/aging

Russell, Jan., JD “Orders of Protection/Enforcement of Orders of Protection.”

Supplemental References

ICDVP Inc. through the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence will mail a printed copy of chapter three of the resource listed below after your application to take the examination has been approved. (This resource can also be found within many university libraries.)

Davies, Jill, Eleanor Lyon & Diane Monti-Catania. “Understanding battered women’s perspectives,” in Safety Planning with Battered Women. (1998). Sage Series on Violence Against Women

Publisher: Sage Publications.

Website: www.sagepub.com