Zero Tolerance for domestic violence

Oliver J. Williams, PH.D

Oliver J. Williams, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community, and a Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota, in St. Paul. He is also the Director of the Safe Return Initiative that addresses the issues of prisoner reentry and domestic violence. He has worked in the field of domestic violence for more than 29 years. Dr. Williams has worked in battered women’s shelters, developed curricula for batterers intervention programs and facilitated counseling groups in these programs. He has provided training across the United States and abroad on research and service-delivery surrounding partner abuse. Dr. Williams’ extensive research and publications in scholarly journals and books have centered on creating service delivery strategies to reduce violent behavior. Dr. Williams received a bachelor’s degree in social work from Michigan State University; a Masters in Social Work from Western Michigan University; a Masters in Public Health and a PH.D in Social Work both from the University of Pittsburgh.

A selected list of Dr. Williams most recent honors include:

2007 - Received Key to the City of Long Beach for addressing Domestic Violence Among African Americans
2006 - International media award winner “Telly Award” for the video Safe Return Initiative: Prisoner Re-entry and Domestic violence
2005 - Award from the Family Advocacy Project City of Phoenix Arizona
2004 - Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
2002-2005 - Appointed to the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women by the US Attorney General Department of Justice and US Secretary of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.
“Dare to Dream Award” by the sponsors of the International Conference on Children and Family Violence, London Ontario Canada
Harmony Award from the State of Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence Annual Conference in Battle Creek, MI
2001 - Key to the City, Memphis TN. For Addressing Domestic Violence
Acknowledged by the International Family Advocacy Programs by the US Air Force for addressing issues of Domestic Violence within the African American community
Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC for addressing issues of domestic violence within the African American community
Received the Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Selected Publications:

Books
Edleson, J., & Williams, O.J. (Eds.) (2007). Parenting by men who batter: New Directions in Assessment and Interventions. Oxford Press, New York.

Book Chapters:
Tubbs, C. & Williams, O.J. (2006) Perspectives of Battered Women about Co-parenting After Violence. In J. Edleson & O.J. Williams Eds. Parenting by men who batter: New Directions in Assessment and Interventions. Oxford Press, New York.

Goodley, T. & Williams, O.J. ( 2006) Fathering Voices on Parenting After violence. In J. Edleson & O.J. Williams Eds. Parenting by men who batter: New Directions in Assessment and Interventions. Oxford Press, New York.

Williams, O.J., Griffin, L., Davis, Y., & Bennett, L. (2006). Domestic violence, substance abuse and child welfare: a need for collaborative, culturally competent social service delivery. In R. Fong, R. McRoy, & C. Hendric-Ortiz. (Eds.), Intersecting Child Welfare, Substance Abuse and domestic Violence: Culturally Competent Approaches. New York, NY: Council on Social Work Education.

Williams, O. J. (2002). Developing the capacity to address social context issues: group treatment with African American men who batter. In A. Mullender, & M. Cohen. (Eds.) Gender and Group Work. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Donnelly, D. Smith, L., & Williams, O.J. (2002).Batterer’s education curriculum for African American men. In E. Aldorando, & F. Mederos. (Eds.), Programs for Men Who Batter. Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute.

See, L.A., Oliver, W., & Williams, O.J. (2002). Domestic violence in African American families. In L. Rapp-Paglicci, et al. (Eds.), A Handbook of Violence. New York, NY: John Wiley Publishers.

Williams, O.J., Boggess, J. & Carter, J. (2001). Fatherhood and domestic violence: exploring the role of men who batter in the lives of their children. In J. Edleson, & S. Graham-Berman. (Eds.), Future Directions for Children Exposed to Domestic Violence. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Bennett, L.B., & Williams, O.J. (2001). A review of research on batterers treatment. In R. Kennedy-Bergen, & J. Edleson (Eds.), Overview of Domestic Violence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Bennett, L. & Williams, O. (2001). Batterer intervention programs. In C.M. Renzetti, J.L. Edleson, & R.K. Bergen (Eds.), Sourcebook on Violence Against Women. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Bennett, L. & Williams, O. (1999). Men who batter. In R. Hampton, et al. (Eds.), Family Violence: Prevention and Treatment (2nd Edition). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Williams, O.J. (1999). The African American man who batters: Treatment considerations and community response. In R. Staples (Ed.), The Black Family. Belmont, CO: Wadsworth Publication.

Williams, O.J. (1999). Working with groups of men who batter. In L. Davis (Ed.), African American Men a Practice Guide. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Williams, O.J. (1998). Healing and confronting the African American man who batters. In R. Carrillo, & J. Tello (Eds.), Healing the Male Spirit: Men of Color and Domestic Violence. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Williams, O.J. (1992). Pride, prejudice, and preferences: When is being equal unfair in care planning and case management of aged clients? In R. Kane, & A. Caplan (Eds.), Ethical Conflicts in the Management of Home Care. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Williams, O.J., & Griffin, L.W. (1991). Abuse and the black elderly. In R. L. Hampton (Ed.), Black Family Violence. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.

Refereed Journals:

Jenkins, E. & Williams, O.J. (in press) Culture, Domestic Violence and Mental Health: Issues Facing African- American Women in Addressing Mental Health Consequences of Domestic Violence. Violence Against Women Journal.

Oliver, W. & Williams, O. J. & Hairston, C. F. (2005) Prisoner Reentry and Intimate Partner Violence in the African American Community: The Case for Culturally Competent Interventions Journal of the Institute of Justice & International Studies

Roger, B, Mcgee, G, Vann, A., Thompson, N., & Williams, O.J. (2003). Program development: The integration of substance abuse and domestic violence programs for women. Violence Against Women Journal.

Bennett, L.B., & Williams, O.J. (2003). Substance abuse and men who batter: Issues in theory and Practice. Violence Against Women Journal.

Gondolf, E., & Williams, O. (2001). Culturally focused batterer counseling for African American men. Trauma, Violence and Abuse. 2(4), 283-295.

Williams, O.J., & Griffin, L.W. (1996). Elder maltreatment and cultural diversity: when laws are not enough. Journal of Multicultural Social Work. 4(2), 1-13.

Williams, O.J., & Becker, L.R. (1994). Partner abuse programs and cultural competence: The results of a national study. Violence and Victims, 9(3), 287-295.

Williams, O.J. (1994). Group work with African American men who batter: Toward more ethnically sensitive practice. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 25(1), 91-103.

Williams, O.J. (1994). Partner abuse and fatherhood: some considerations. Consortium Connection, 3(3), 2.

Williams, O.J. (1993). Developing an African American perspective to reduce spouse abuse: Considerations for community action. The Caucus: The Journal of the National Association of Black Social Work, 1(2), 1-7.

Griffin, L.W., & Williams, O.J. (1992). Abuse among African American elderly. Journal of Family Violence, 7(1), 19-35.

Williams, O.J. (1992). Culture, elder maltreatment, violence. Violence Update, 3(4), 4-6.

Moon, A., & Williams, O.J. (1993). Perceptions of abuse and help-seeking behavior of African-American, Korean, and white aged. The Gerontologist, 33(3), 386-394.

Williams, O.J. (1990). The interaction of social learning and attribution on spouse abuse. Health and Social Policy, 1(2), 91-107.