Empowerment in a Bureaucracy? Survivors’ Perceptions of Domestic Violence Shelter Policies and Practices

Affilia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cara A. Bergstrom-Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Financial Constraints ◽  
Social Forces ◽  
Emergency Shelter ◽  
Domestic Violence Shelter ◽  
Hierarchical Relations ◽  
Qualitative Focus Groups ◽  
Perceptions Of Domestic Violence ◽  
Policies And Practices

Ten qualitative focus groups were conducted with 31 survivors of domestic violence living at an emergency shelter to study survivors’ perceptions of whether shelter policies and practices felt empowering or restrictive. Five themes emerged: (1) shelter monitoring and privacy; (2) transportation and mobility; (3) managing chores, cleaning, and shopping; (4) relationships with staff; and (5) feelings around leaving the shelter. Themes were shaped by larger economic and social forces, including (1) financial constraints and (2) the bureaucratization and professionalization of the shelter system that led to hierarchical relations between staff and residents. Recommendations for improving shelter experiences are addressed.

After the Crisis: A Needs Assessment of Women Leaving a Domestic Violence Shelter

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 267-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cris M. Sullivan ◽  
Joanna Basta ◽  
Cheribeth Tan ◽  
William S. Davidson
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Needs Assessment ◽  
Social Services ◽  
Battered Women ◽  
Program Development ◽  
Community Resources ◽  
Legal Assistance ◽  
Emergency Shelter ◽  
Physical Protection ◽  
Domestic Violence Shelter

The current study presents the results of a needs assessment of 141 women exiting an emergency shelter for women with abusive partners. Extensive in-person interviews were conducted. Results indicate that battered women need numerous community resources upon their shelter exit, including legal assistance, employment, and housing. Race, age, and whether a woman was returning to her assailant influenced which resources she reported needing at shelter exit. Most of the women had experienced severe abuse and injuries, and required physical protection. Implications of these findings as they relate to program development and integration of social services are discussed.

Towards Coherent European Crime Victims Policies and Practices

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-127
Author(s):  
Dobrinka Chankova ◽  
Gergana Georgieva
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Crime Victims ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Victims Of Crime ◽  
Victim Protection ◽  
National Governments ◽  
Protection Order ◽  
Practical Recommendations ◽  
Policies And Practices

Abstract This study explores the latest developments on the European scale of the policies and practices towards victims of crime. Due to many economic and political factors a lot of people are in movement and exposed to the risk of becoming victims of crime. During the last decade the statistics already records enhanced victimization of the global European society. These have provoked numerous legislative actions and practical initiatives in order to ensure safety, to prevent falling victims to crime and to protect better victim’s rights and needs. The European Protection Order Directive, Victims’ Directive and Convention against domestic violence, are among the most advanced legal acts worldwide. However, it is observed that their implementation in Europe is asymmetric and sometimes problematic. This paper explores the role of the national governments and specialized agencies and mainly the deficits in their activities leading to the non-usage of victims of all the existing opportunities. The newest supra-national acts aiming at the acceleration of transposition and ratification of these important for the building of victim-friendly environment documents, are discussed. Practical recommendations for a more effective victim protection are developed.

Short-Term Response to Counseling and Case Management Intervention in a Domestic Violence Shelter

1997 ◽  
Vol 81 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1243-1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. McNamara ◽  
Melissa A. Ertl ◽  
Sue Marsh ◽  
Suzanne Walker
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Case Management ◽  
Drop Out ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Domestic Violence Shelter ◽  
Management Intervention ◽  
Case Management Intervention ◽  
Skill Deficits ◽  
Shelter Services

81 women who accessed counseling and case management services at a domestic violence shelter after three sessions reported that abuse decreased, life satisfaction increased, perceived coping ability improved, as did their satisfaction with the services. Shelter users, however, also displayed significant skill deficits in the inability to apprise or respond appropriately to abusive situations. Limitations on understanding how shelter services affect longer-term outcomes were ascribed to high drop out rates and the absence of follow-up measures. Researchers need to address the causes of drop-out and what specific interventions can meet the needs of short-term shelter users.

The Influence of Spirituality on Service Utilization and Satisfaction for Women Residing in a Domestic Violence Shelter

2011 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 1244-1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawnovise N. Fowler ◽  
Monica Faulkner ◽  
Joy Learman ◽  
Ratonia Runnels
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Service Utilization ◽  
Domestic Violence Shelter

scholarly journals Two Approaches to Focus Group Data Collection for Qualitative Health Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 160940691775078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Flynn ◽  
Lauren Albrecht ◽  
Shannon D. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Qualitative Health Research ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Focus Group Data ◽  
Qualitative Focus Groups

This article discusses four challenges to conducting qualitative focus groups: (1) maximizing research budgets through innovative methodological approaches, (2) recruiting health-care professionals for qualitative health research, (3) conducting focus groups with health-care professionals across geographically dispersed areas, and (4) taking into consideration data richness when using different focus group data collection methods. In light of these challenges, we propose two alternative approaches for collecting focus group data: (a) extended period of quantitative data collection that facilitated relationship building in the sites prior to qualitative focus groups and (b) focus groups by videoconference. We share our experiences on employing both of these approaches in two national research programs.

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