Domestic Violence Shelters

The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WSCADV, n.d.) provides training for advocates of domestic violence (DV) survivors and their families. This paper reflects my experiences as I worked through the first three sections of training: the history of the DV movement; the key requirements of DV advocacy; and safety planning. The primary thread throughout the training sections is the importance of providing advocacy based on survivor-empowerment and meeting clients where they are. In this paper, I also explore my role as a mental health counselor in an interdisciplinary response team working with survivors of domestic violence.

Many feel if they seek help, the abuser will find them and it will only get worse. The victims need to feel safe, or else they are not going to use the programs to receive help. As both of these articles reveal, these programs are not working. On the contrary, “The Seriousness of Domestic Violence Is Exaggerated” argues that it’s not because the programs are ineffective, but that it’s due to the increase in social services available. However, due to the countless studies that were done, it has been proven that this domestic abuse is a problem. Moreover, there needs to be more effort taken into putting these programs into action. Improvements in how the programs are put into practice need to be made, since how the programs are put into practice now are not efficient

Domestic violence is defined as emotionally or physically (or both) controlling an intimate partner, often involving physical assault, stalking or sexual assault (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). Something close to my home, Fargo North Dakota 2005, 1 in 5 women reported that she had left her home due to abuse. In Fargo, 45 percent of homeless women had experienced violence from an intimate partner in the past year (ACLU Women 's Rights Project, n.d.). Living so close to Minnesota as well, 1 in every 3 homeless women were driven from their home by domestic violence in 2003 (ACLU Women 's Rights Project, n.d.). These numbers are unthinkable when a person lives in the area, and knowing that it happens to just about anyone. Many women don’t have the resources or family around them that they can rely on when something of that nature occurs. When a woman has had enough of the abuse and decides to leave the situation, they often times have

Intimate partner violence is a dangerous and frightening issue threatening women worldwide. Intimate partner violence, also known as domestic violence, describes a cycle of abuse that involves either actual or threatened physical, sexual, psychological or emotional violence performed on someone by a spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend, or significant other (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Although it is not often discussed, intimate partner abuse is an incredibly common public health problem. In fact, it is one of the most common forms of violence facing women of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, in which more than four million women in the United States experience abuse from a partner each year (Office on Women’s

Millions of women in the United States are physically, and emotionally abused by an intimate partner each year. Domestic violence is a situation that harms and kills most particularly women, children, and families members. As a result, battering of women is one of the foremost causes of injury to women. The growing awareness of how pervasive and destructive this situation is in our society, and the violence that accompanies it, has created a wide variety of programs, shelters, educational endeavors, law enforcement initiatives, and other efforts to prevent the development of this well-known trend. Fortunately, most victims of domestic violence today have one or more ways out, if they know there are available opportunities exist and able to use them accordingly.

The history of Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) recognizes that abuse is not just an individual problem, but a social one. Our culture at one time reinforced the idea that violence within relationships was acceptable, and at the same time, blamed the abused for being victims. The way we think now about violence in the home has changed. Violence is a learned behavior that often is the result of months or years of intimidation and control. Contrary to belief, violence is no longer gender specific. Preventing Domestic Violence is important to me because of the physical and psychological effects it has on victims, the impact on families and communities, and the effectiveness of laws and resources.

The one word that best characterizes the experience of domestic violence victims within the criminal justice system is, "complicated." Victims suffer from a two-fold problem when dealing with the criminal justice system. When dealing with law enforcement and courts, many victims might be not taken seriously or their wishes not respected. This poses a significant problem, as if victims feel they cannot trust the system to help them, they will not seek help in the future when they need it. This, in turn, creates the opposite of the deterrent effect the criminal justice system wants, as abusers learn that their victims will not seek help, allowing them full control over them.

Although Domestic Violence is a well-known phenomenon, “Domestic Violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence” (Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts 2015). From 2003 to 2012, 21% of all violent crimes were caused by domestic violence and 15% of domestic violence was committed by an intimate partner (Morgan, R E. & Truman, J L. 2014). Domestic violence is an important issues in the United States that is somethings over looked, or forgotten about. After researching domestic violence statistics for the United States, I was very surprised to learn that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime (Domestic Violence: Statistics & Facts 2015). With a lack of knowledge about domestic violence, it becomes more difficult to find those who are willing to take a stand against the violence. If there were more people who knew

Domestic violence is more common than most people would like to believe. About one in every four women will be victimized by a significant other at some point in their lives (Clevenger & Roe-Sepowitz 2009). Many women are not able to get out of their situation on their own and need help from others. Women in abusive relationships should consider going to a shelter for help to get out of their unsafe situation. Shelters can assist not only with a safe place to live but it can also be a stepping stone to rebuilding their lives. A shelter is there to provide a safe living environment and multiple resources that someone would need to get themselves back on their feet. Some of the resources are safety planning, legal assistance, mental health care and counseling,

Domestic Violence has always been an issue circulating women living in the United States. Alas, not many women realize the harm they are living because they are blinded by fear their partner creates for them to live by each and every day. Historically, many relationships and marriages have gone through many years of Domestic abuse, but yet have not recognized the signs of an abusive relationship. A 2014 survey ordained by the National Violence Against Women found that 25% of all women have been physically forced to have intimacy with their partner at some point during their relationship (Simmons, Catherine. A., et al. 2011). The changes within domestic abuse begin to occur with threats and verbal abuse, which later run the risk of involving

One in three women in the world has been in a sexual or physical abuse with either a non-partner or partner in their lifetime (World, 2016). There are agencies that are willing to help people from these solutions by giving shelter or help in any way they can. To have a better understand what agencies does to help there is a particular county that has an agency that helps victims of domestic violence. The agency that will be discussed is The PATH shelter in Rutherford County, and how is the experience of a member who works in the PATH shelter, and learns more about the Domestic Violence.

Therefore, a new foundation should empower, educate, and create new easily accessible resources for every woman, as well as assist her with essential needs and protect her human rights. In the hypothesis of “Women’s health and the effects of coercive and physical abuse of domestic violence” (Milana, 2016), Milana postulates that the outcome effects of domestic violence should address the need for increasing funding for resources that are not readily available. Therefore, it is necessary to create new programs and establish a necessary broader assistance for domestic violence victims/survivors. Moreover, the current services that are in place are not readily available to all women who have/are experiencing forms of abuse including coercive control abuse. Therefore, new foundations of legal framework are essential to assist and protect a woman’s freedom from all aspects and types of abuse, as well as an inclusion of coercive abuse to prevent harmful effects of domestic violence. In fact, to safeguard a woman’s right is to broaden her “space for action” (Westmarland & Kelly 1101) within her personal environments, in turn, may positively affect her physically, mentally, and

Domestic violence is an issue that effects individuals nationwide, it affects women, men and same sex gender couples. There is one in every seven males who are a victim of domestic violence. The problem we face today is that there is a lack of support for different groups. Groups such as the men as well as the same sex gender couples. Understanding domestic violence is essential and the long term effects on each person involved. Who are the underserved and why? The underserved are the individuals who are often under-reported, exposed to prior domestic violence and judged by the society. Society needs to open the doors for the under-served as everyone deserves an equal opportunity for safety.

Domestic abuse is a startling issue in today’s society, and there are many different forms of it. Domestic abuse is defined as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another” [1]. There are numerous forms of domestic abuse, including both physical and emotional violence. Many people who are trapped in these toxic relationships often feel helpless and worthless, and may think they have no way to escape their situation. However, with the right guidance and support, they can free themselves and emerge as a stronger person.

According to statistics found by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Every nine seconds a woman is abused by her husband or intimate partner. At least 1 in every 4 women and 1 in every 9 men have been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in their lifetime. Most often the abuser is one of their own family. Domestic violence is a problem that somehow affects every one of us in this room at some time and is actually the leading cause of injury to women -- more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.