Emergency Shelters

76% of all DVincidents are repeat, (Flatley, Kershaw, Smith, Chaplin and Moon 24). Employees and staff at the shelter are also given very strict guidelines on how to communicate with other agencies in order to provide abuse victims with resources without putting them in danger of future domestic violence. Victims of domestic violence are more likely to experience repeat victimization than victims of any other types of crime (British Crime Survey Reports).

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.

Even though there are differing data pertaining the varying needs of abused minority women, due to their cultures being complex, heterogeneous and even diverse there could be differing options rather than a whole single solution. Yet, with $5.8 billion cost of the nation’s economy being used for mental care, mental health care, and loss of productivity for abused victims, figuring out different solutions would be greatly needed. Viewing the results of the study and from the Violence against Women Source book, minority women, especially those who are in impoverished areas and are socially disadvantaged, are in need for financial and psychological help that will aid them. The real question now remains of how to incorporate better resources and programming specifically towards women of color to decrease the intimate partner 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

Dingman, R. L., & Ginter, E. J. (1995). Disasters and crises: The role of mental health counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 17(3), 259. Accessed online: http://www.scientificreply.com/the-effects-of-trauma-on-clients-and-counselors.html

The Vulnerable population I chose is abused individuals. I feel that everyone should have a safe place to go and feel safe if they choose to get away from their abuser. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, “85% of women and 15% of men are victims of domestic violence” (2014). The number of children who witness domestic violence annually is over 6 million. The National Children’s Alliance says the number of children annually who are abused is around 681,000 and 4 children a day die from child abuse.

In completing this essay, an opportunity was provided to select a case study and determine whether individual, group, or both kinds of services would be most effective treatment for a client. The essay will be based on the case study of Working with Survivors of Domestic Violence: The case of Charo. The issue the client is facing will be discussed, along with my recommended intervention. The essay will conclude with identifying the best delivery method for an intervention with supporting resources to validate my decision.

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 (IPV) or Domestic Violence (DV) is “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. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), n.d.).” Many victims fail to report IPV because they only consider physical assault as a form abuse, however verbal abuse falls under IPV, as well as emotional and psychological abuse. In the state of California, 32.9% women and 27.3% have experienced some form of IPV, intimate partner sexual violence, or stalking (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), n.d.). In order to reduce the rates of IPV, batter intervention programs were created. The goal of these programs was to psychoeducate the batter on IPV and its effects in an effort to prevent recidivism. However, research has shown that these programs have not been very effective and that some improvements must be made.

Homelessness, one of the worst problems in America along with unemployment, grows more and more everyday. In Southern Nevada many more problems need addressing and not many people willing to help those in need. One of these issues, domestic violence, contributes to homelessness on a daily basis, and it can mean a person uses violent and aggressive behavior in a home against their spouse or significant other. Approximately 63% of all homeless women live on the streets because of domestic violence, because when people abuse them, they often have nowhere to go (National Coalition for the Homeless). This is one of the main reasons that people are on the streets. Southern Nevada can decrease homelessness in domestic violence victims by creating more shelters,

When a victim first decides to seek help through a domestic violence shelter they may start by reaching out through a crisis hotline service or by meeting with an advocate. Each employee and volunteer is required to go through a training to help them learn to assist with a crisis situation. A crisis hotline is available at all times for any one that feels they need someone to talk to about an abusive situation (Bennett, Riger, Schewe, Howard, & Wasco, 2004). A meeting with an advocate is beneficial when a victim wants to sit down and have a serious talk about their options for leaving their abuser and what may happen afterwards. The advocate will go with the victim to legal and medical appointments as a support system. (Bennett et al, 2004). Bennett et al (2004) reported that after following a group of women who were using an advocate services for a 10 week period, 24 percent of those women were no longer being abused by the original abuser or by another partner. This is a big step compared to the 10 percent of women who were longer being abused without any help from an

(Williams 152) Many domestic violence victims lack family support because either they have passed away or they have really bad relationships with them so they instead are forced to to rely on battered shelters and homeless shelters for protection. Research conducted on homeless and domestic shelters find that shelters are temporary and they rarely provide help for more than 3 months. Research on on homeless and domestic shelters also suggest that shelters do not provide individuals with the ability to become economically dependent; therefore, it is to no surprise that women make up a large portion of the familial homeless population. (Roschelle

Education is simply the best route to achieve options in relations to breaking patterns and cycles. Domestic violence shelters provide important services to women and children whom are trying to recover from the effects of IVP. The deterrent for many victims is that crowding, being surrounded by strangers and restrictions can many times lead to depression. I can relate to the issues women face. I was in a tumultuous relationship with my now ex-husband. Although I was never physically abused I was emotionally abused and held emotionally hostage. My feelings of worthlessness hit an all-time low when I sought shelter at a women’s center with my two young children. The shelter provided me the opportunity to break away from the oppression and have a safe haven until my family could retrieve my children and myself. The services they provided were invaluable and I am thankful to them, the shelter saved my life. Whatever the reason is that a person seeks sanctuary, it is an opportunity to reevaluate what a woman wants out of her life and shelters are an important resource to tap into. Many shelters struggle financially to stay open due to limited resources. Many are underfunded. Until the country takes a closer look at the reasons why IPV is still so prevalent, the shelters will continue to be there and assist as many women and children as possible despite the financial constraints they are faced

It is important to understand how to respond to some domestic violence victims once they ask for help. There are guidelines to ensure effective evaluation and intervention and referral. The Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) has set up an efficient way to assess victims of domestic violence. FVPR first step in assess the victims immediate need for safety. The following question can be asked to assess for safety conceders. “Are you in immediate danger? Where is your partner now? Is your partner with now? Do you need to use to call the police?” The next step in assets has evaluated the pattern and the history of the abuse. Then also need assessment of the impact of the abuse had on the victims. For example, stomach ulcers from the stress of being in an abuse relationship. The need to be an assessment to see what current resources that victim’s advocacy and support group. The final step in assessment is their future risk. The goal of the assessment to provide has an effective intervention base the women responds (NASW, 2016)

There are two common ways that social workers intervene with domestic violence cases. One way is through women’s shelters. These are places meant specifically for women and their children who have abusive husbands or boyfriends. In lots of cases, the abusive partner has control over the family's finances, which makes it further difficult