Family Renewal Shelter Paper

Donna Bracewell is currently the Statewide Project Coordinator for the Georgia Coalition against Domestic Violence. While she is new to this role Donna has been part of the domestic violence movement for over 20 years. Prior to joining the staff at GCADV Donna worked with Project Safe, a domestic violence organization in Athens, GA for 17 years. Donna was hired as Project Safe’s Case Manager in 1999 and was promoted to Assistant Director in 2003. In 2005, Donna had a key role in developing, implementing, and directing Project Safe’s first Transitional Housing program. She spent the next 12 years assisting survivors with their journey to housing stability, independence, and a violence-free future. After advocating for survivors on the frontlines

They hold a strong voice and work as an advocate against domestic violence. The Drop In Center of this organization incorporates their obligation to supporting a inclusive continuation of care for those who survive and suffer from domestic violence. They not only support females and families emotionally and practically, but also assist them to heal from the trauma of domestic violence and conquer its impact on their lives at their Drop In Center. They do not hesitate of providing free and confidential services, which include crisis response and intervention, safety planning and risk assessment, counseling and support groups according to their website

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

Battered women and abused children become dependent on these residential setting because they see it as a place of comfort. They may encounter issues but due to their situation they try to contend and manage the situation. Four care issues applicable to them are:

As described earlier, Mrs. Lentz is responsible for numerous functions with the primary task and goal to assist victims of domestic violence. When I contacted Mrs. Lentz and inquired if there were 20 hours of service of volunteer work that I could provide to her, she immediately said, “Of course.” Mrs. Lenz has been employed as a family violence advocate for the City of Kirkland since 2007. She stated that her main roles as an advocate were to inform victims of court proceedings, provide outside resources, and educate victims about domestic violence. In her legal roles, Christelle assists with protecting the victims’ rights in the criminal justice system (FIND QUOTE) and helps them with obtaining court

The current laws in place for protecting victims of domestic violence are not as effective as they could be. Many times a person who is experiencing domestic violence will be referred to a refuge

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.

Confidentiality and safety are only the first step in the process that these types of programs use to help survivors of domestic violence begin their recovery process. Psychiatric counseling, a victim advocate, and social worker are required as well as a variety of classes focused on helping the victim make a transition into a life that is safe and empowered. Physical needs of the victim are addressed with donations from Salvation Army as well as many other sources led by people who simply want to help. Clothes, makeup, toiletries, books, and food are provided while the victim follows the outlined plan for recovery and shows a desire to rebuild their life.

In most circumstances, family and loved ones are usually seen as the most reliable support systems that a person can have. However, there are certain circumstances in which family members are the ones who are creating the problems. One of the prominent issues that can potentially occur within families involves domestic violence, with the victim usually being a woman. With most family matters, those who are looking from the outside are usually hesitant in intervening with those types of personal issues. In order to reduce the occurrence of domestic violence, there must be assistance and training provided for all of the parties involved. This includes providing assistance to the victim, perpetrator, and third parties in order for change

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

At my agency I work with victims of domestic violence. In training with Chesterfield County Domestic Violence Resource Center I learned a lot about how this growing problem has affected them. This county is one of two that had been recognized for efforts to ending domestic violence. They believe that effective intervention in assaults and sexual violence occurs when the agency and service coordinates their policies and practice to meet community intervention.

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,

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.

This, however, changed with the creation of one of the first domestic violence organizations: the Battered Women’s movement (“History”). With the creation of the Battered Women’s Movement came an upward push for more domestic violence reforms. In 1984 one of the first acts passed by congress was the Family Violence Prevention Services Act, which allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund states in all things domestic violence. This includes “the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of programs and projects to prevent incidents of family violence and provide shelter and related assistance for victims and their dependents” (“History”). This act has shaped what we see in domestic violence reforms today, and has spurred the creation of other programs to help those whose lives have been affected.

Domestic violence, alternatively referred to as Intimate Partner Violence, is defined by the Department of Justice as “a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.” While domestic violence is commonly thought of as only physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence can also be emotional, economic, or psychological. Domestic violence has remained constant in society throughout history, even though over time society’s response to the issue has changed. While domestic violence affects everyone regardless of race, gender, age, etc. it is estimated that approximately 90% of all victims are women. For the purpose of this paper, I will be focusing on