“Practicing” Social Services And “Practicing” Anthropology: a Dual Perspective On Trauma-Informed Domestic Violence Care

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Bloom

As the field of domestic violence social services evolves in the United States, anthropology has much to contribute in directing these services towards equitable models of care. While the current trend towards “trauma-informed care” may at times be in tension with feminist concerns around the professionalization of this work, this field is at a crucial moment of transition. Using the author's perspective as a former practitioner alongside her ethnographic training, this research provides insight into how front-line workers can successfully negotiate between these professionalized realities and their necessary ground-level work. Moreover, the author's dual perspective highlights the potential for shared goals between “practitioners” of social services and “practitioners” of ethnography.

Author(s):  
Kimberly L. Hardner ◽  
Molly R. Wolf

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gather information about the experiences of staff at a non-profit agency in the United States as the organisation transitioned towards the implementation of trauma-informed care (TIC). In non-profit organisations, TIC (that is, safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment) enhances the wellbeing of employees and clients by acknowledging the impact of trauma and reducing the risk of retraumatisation. Feminist theory was utilised to inform this study to empower participants to voice their experiences and to analyse the organisation’s commitment to the principles of TIC. Four focus groups were conducted (N = 17 participants in total) and all participants reported that the organisational culture was moving in a positive direction. Even in the early stages of the implementation of TIC, management reported feeling empowered and supported by the organisation; however, many participants noted that significant work will need to continue to enhance the emotional safety and empowerment of direct-line workers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 977-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frances R. Gonzalez ◽  
Lorraine T. Benuto ◽  
Jena B. Casas

Violence against women continues to be a great concern in today’s society. In the United States, women experience high rates of interpersonal violence throughout their lifetime. Among Latinas, interpersonal violence is also highly prevalent however the wide variation of interpersonal prevalence rates among Latinas is problematic. The aims of this systematic review of the literature were to (1) document the prevalence rates of violence among Latinas, (2) determine the types of violence that Latinas are most impacted by, and (3) assess the prevalence rates of interpersonal across Latina subethnicities. The research was based on seven databases including PsycArticles, PsycCRITIQUES, PsycINFO, ScienceDirect, Social Services Abstracts, Social Work Abstracts, and PubMED for articles published from January 2007 up to July 2017. The following key words were used in the search: (Latinas OR Latinos OR Hispanics) AND (victim OR victimization) AND (domestic violence OR intimate partner violence OR Interpersonal Violence). We identified 41 articles in our search that reported rates of interpersonal violence which ranged from 1% to 83% with intimate partner violence and domestic violence being the most prevalent. Interpersonal violence was found to be more prevalent among individuals who identified as Mexican. Based on the findings, it is clear that efforts should be focused on conducting a lager national survey of interpersonal violence among Latinas. It would need to include subethnicity, immigration status, and type of abuse experienced and possibly add socioeconomic factors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 533-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mickey Sperlich ◽  
Gretchen E Ely ◽  
Rebecca S Rouland ◽  
Connor A Walters ◽  
Max Carwile

A trauma-informed, thematic analysis that identified stress-related themes evident in 39 personal abortion narratives from the Tennessee Stories Project in the United States is presented in this paper. Using the Braun and Clarke model of thematic analysis, guided by the trauma-informed social work framework, researchers examined these narratives to identify stress related themes.FindingsAn overall theme of stress and traumatic stress was found to be present throughout the abortion narratives. These themes were categorized into subthemes, including: (a) existing life stressors preceding the abortion experience, (b) stressors while trying to access abortion services, (c) stressors while obtaining abortion services, and (d) stressors arising after the procedure.ApplicationsThese results suggest that stress and traumatic stress were reflected in these abortion narratives throughout the abortion seeking experience. This finding supports the need for social work practice responses that are designed to address and eliminate stress during the process of seeking and obtaining an abortion in the United States. A trauma-informed framework is recommended for guiding social work education about abortion, social worker interactions with clients who are seeking abortions, and the development of abortion policy in the United States in order to better align the abortion seeking experience with the principles of trauma-informed care.


2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 207-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Wachter ◽  
Jessica Dalpe ◽  
Laurie Cook Heffron

Abstract Despite robust evidence of the myriad consequences associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), social services in the United States may not adequately account for and respond to variations in how women resettling as refugees conceptualize service and support needs. With this study, the authors sought to develop a more nuanced understanding of needs as expressed by women resettling to the United States as refugees. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups with refugee women who resettled to the United States (n = 35) and social services providers (n = 53), including those working in refugee resettlement or domestic violence agencies or community-based organizations. The research team used structural coding and thematic analysis to examine the data, through which they identified four themes: (1) living with enduring consequences of IPV, (2) “I just want them to help me,” (3) “I need you to talk to my husband,” and (4) “How will I pay the rent?” The study findings point to broader structural concerns shaping women’s resettlement experiences, as well as areas of incongruence between women’s conceptualizations of needs and established practice approaches. Implications for culturally competent and survivor-centered practice are discussed.


2020 ◽  
pp. 284-292
Author(s):  
О. С. Дмитращук

The relevance of the article is that the analysis of the legislation of foreign countries gives grounds to assert that in most countries of the world legislation on combating domestic violence has not yet been adopted, and in those countries that have laws to prevent domestic violence has not yet had sufficient experience. combating this socially dangerous phenomenon, and some countries completely ignore measures related to domestic violence, although they have laws to combat domestic violence. The article examines the most positive experience in preventing domestic violence in Europe and other countries. It is established that the most acceptable for Ukraine is a positive experience in preventing domestic violence in European countries. It has been established that in Austria the police are empowered to evict offenders and impose prohibition orders. The country has established “intervention centers” that provide free counseling, assistance and support to victims of domestic violence. In the Republic of Bulgaria, such a form of punishment is provided as public condemnation, which is manifested in the public condemnation of the violator before the labor collective in which he works or before the organization of which he is a member. It was found that the practice of cooperation between the police and the community in overcoming the problem of domestic violence, which is regulated by the Claire Act, is relevant. In the Federal Republic of Germany, domestic violence is not only aggressive and violent acts between a woman and a man, but also between children, parents, sisters and brothers. It is emphasized that in the Republic of Poland the public condemnation of the criminal act of the offender is a positive experience, because for offenders it is more unpleasant to condemn society than legal responsibility. In the United States, children’s social services are focused not only on the child, but also on the family as a whole. There are government and community commissions to investigate cases of violence in this state, and special shelters have been set up to house women with children who have left their homes due to ill-treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 155
Author(s):  
Hyojin Im ◽  
Laura E. T. Swan

Trauma-informed care (TIC) approaches have gained popularity in various contexts of human services over the past decades. However, relatively little has been explored about how it is applicable and built into services for refugee populations in resettlement programs. This study explores the current status of the application of TIC in refugee-serving agencies and identifies perceived and experienced challenges and opportunities for culturally responsive TIC in the United States. As designed as part of the evaluation of state-wide refugee health promotion programs, this study conducted individual interviews with 78 refugee service providers from five resettlement sites. Despite the burgeoning interest and attempt to embrace TIC, our findings show that there is clear inconsistency and inexperience in TIC adaptation in resettlement programs. This study highlights that TIC that is culturally responsive and relevant to refugee trauma and acculturation experiences is a vital way to address the chasms between refugee-specific programs and mainstream services including mental health care systems. This study also discusses community resources and opportunities to bridge the deep divide and substantial gaps between mental health services and refugee resettlement services and to address comprehensive needs around mental health and wellness in the refugee community.


2022 ◽  
pp. 82-102
Author(s):  
Susan Wuchenich Parker

Defining trauma is an individualized process that includes looking at events, experiences, and effects. Best practices explicitly state the importance of an individual's experiences when defining trauma. Therefore, solely utilizing a professional lens for discussion is often inappropriate. The purpose of this chapter is to examine trauma and trauma-informed care through both a professional and personal lens. Research on outcomes for children internationally adopted or living in foster care will be intertwined with personal narrative. Erikson's theory of psychosocial development will be the lens to examine how trauma affects life and learning as children grow and mature. Finally, specific anecdotal strategies will be shared that either provided or negated support on how potentially to navigate public and higher education systems in the United States.


Author(s):  
Jay Bhatt ◽  
Andrew Jagar

This chapter starts by explaining a current trend in the transformation of the role of hospitals in advancing health in the community. The change is the result of demographic change and disease burden shifts which are moving away from acute to chronic. And hospitals and health systems are, as a result, leading an unprecedented transformation to re-envision their role and extend their impact beyond the clinic walls. They are working to create new models of care that prioritize teaming and partnership with the aim of engaging in true population health: advancing health and well-being by bridging care and community. The key, the chapter argues, is to promote affordability while enhancing value. The chapter concludes by stating that hospitals and health systems play an important role in the health of communities across the United States. While that role is changing and will likely continue to evolve, the importance of these institutions as anchors in their communities is likely to increase in coming years.


Author(s):  
Gina Fedock ◽  
Stephanie S. Covington

As the number of women under correctional supervision continues to increase in the United States, attention to gender within correctional programming is crucial as women offenders present with different concerns than their male counterparts. Gender differences exist in a range of criminal justice factors, including pathways to involvement in the criminal justice system, frequencies in types of offenses, treatment needs, and facilitating factors for treatment engagement and positive outcomes. Thus, this chapter highlights the importance of gender in terms of correctional program design and delivery. Gender-responsive programming for women involved in the criminal justice system is guided mainly by the feminist pathways theory of women’s criminality, as well as additional theories. This framework considers the interconnected roles of trauma and victimization histories, substance abuse, economic and social marginalization, and the gendered effects of criminal justice policies and practices. For gender-responsive programming, elements that should be considered in women’s treatment and services in correctional settings include: program environment or culture or both, staff competence, theoretical foundations, treatment modalities, reentry issues, and collaboration. In addition, principles of trauma-informed care are crucial elements needed in systems and services for women involved in the criminal justice system. These two frameworks of gender-responsive programming and trauma-informed care offer specific principles that can be applied across correctional settings for women to shape policies, programming design, program delivery, and daily practices. Likewise, these frameworks encourage community-based responses to women’s involvement in criminal behaviors. Gender is a crucial element for correctional programming in multiple ways.


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