scholarly journals Risk-Assessment and Victim-Support Recommendations During the COVID-19-Related Lockdowns

2021 ◽  
pp. 81-92
Author(s):  
Joachim Kersten ◽  
Catharina Vogt ◽  
Michele Burman ◽  
Jarmo Houtsonen ◽  
Norbert Leonhardmair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Private Life ◽  
Victim Support ◽  
Risks Factors ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse ◽  
Strong Concern

This chapter covers the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the incidence and severity of domestic abuse cases in Europe. First, the manifestation of the COVID-19 lockdown and its adverse effects on private life are described. Building upon this description, co-occurring risks factors with a high potential to initiate or intensify domestic abuse (e.g., cramped living conditions) are discussed. Responding to various calls on investigating the impact of COVID-19 on domestic abuse incidents, IMPRODOVA research on the first lockdown shows that the related concerns for various reasons are inconsistently reflected in domestic abuse-related statistics. In some IMPRODOVA partner countries, however, victimisation numbers went up, after the lockdown ended. Consequently, the complexity of detecting domestic abuse cases during lockdowns are discussed. In line with the strong concern about intensified victimisation, innovative responses by front-line professionals to detect and manage domestic violence and abuse cases are presented. Building on the beforehand presented assumptions, findings and explanations, the chapter closes by highlighting eighteen recommendations regarding risk assessment and victim support during pandemics.

7. Domestic Violence and Abuse

Family Law ◽  
2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Carline ◽  
Roxanna Dehaghani
Keyword(s):  
Social Issue ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Family Law ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Legal Aid ◽  
Protection Orders ◽  
The Family ◽  
Private Matter ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

The chapter examines how, historically, domestic violence was considered to be a private matter that was none of the law's concern. While domestic violence is now recognised to be an important social issue, the historical acceptance of such abuse provides a context to understand some of the difficulties that victims face today. A key focus of the chapter is the family law remedies available for domestic abuse victims. Three key remedies are examined: non-molestation orders, occupation orders, and forced marriage protection orders. The chapter also explores some of the wider factors pertaining to the family justice system's response to domestic violence. It is important to recognise the impact of the changes to legal aid as introduced by the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, and the extent to which victims of domestic violence may feel threatened during family law proceedings, particularly in cases involving the arrangements for children after separation.

scholarly journals Professionals’ views on working in the field of domestic violence and abuse during the first wave of COVID-19: a qualitative study in the Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole E. van Gelder ◽  
Ditte L. van Haalen ◽  
Kyra Ekker ◽  
Suzanne A. Ligthart ◽  
Sabine Oertelt-Prigione
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Working Conditions ◽  
Critical Evaluation ◽  
Physical Contact ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Tools ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown evoked great worries among professionals in the field of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) as they expected a rise of the phenomenon. While many countries reported increased DVA, the Netherlands did not. To understand this discrepancy and the overall impact of the lockdown on DVA support services, we interviewed DVA professionals about their experiences with DVA during the rise of COVID-19, the impact of the lockdown on clients and working conditions, and views on eHealth and online tools. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 16 DVA professionals with various specializations. This data was analyzed using open thematic coding and content analysis. Results Most professionals did not see an increase in DVA reports but they did notice more severe violence. They experienced less opportunities to detect DVA and worried about their clients’ wellbeing and the quality of (online) care. Furthermore, their working conditions rapidly changed, with working from home and online, and they expressed frustration, insecurity and loneliness. Professionals feel eHealth and online tools are not always suitable but they do see them as an opportunity to increase reach and maintain services when physical contact is not possible. Conclusion This study suggests DVA was probably under-detected during the lockdown rather than not having increased. The Dutch system heavily relies on professionals to detect and report DVA, suggesting a need for critical evaluation of the accessibility of professional help. Professionals experienced significant challenges and should themselves be supported psychologically and in their changed work practices to maintain their ability to aid survivors.

Students Exposed to Domestic Violence

2012 ◽  
pp. 129-138
Author(s):  
A. BURGESS Deseri ◽  
Lisa Weed Phifer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Social Development ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Performance Behavior

Domestic violence is a growing public health problem that affects children nationwide. In fact, research estimates that anywhere between three and 17.8 million children witness domestic abuse each year5. Therefore, it is likely that teachers will regularly encounter students in their classroom who have been exposed to domestic violence. The impact of domestic violence is widespread, affecting academic performance, behavior, and social development. Teachers can make a positive impact by learning how best to identify and support these students. The following chapter will provide an overview of domestic violence, developmental considerations, and strategies for helping children who have been affected by it.

scholarly journals Disruption of a primary health care domestic violence and abuse service in two London boroughs: interrupted time series evaluation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmina Panovska-Griffiths ◽  
Alex Hardip Sohal ◽  
Peter Martin ◽  
Estela Barbosa Capelas ◽  
Medina Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Referral Rate ◽  
System Level ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Service Disruption ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

Abstract Background Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is experienced by about 1/3 of women globally and remains a major health concern worldwide. IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety of women affected by DVA) is a complex, system-level, training and support programme, designed to improve the primary healthcare response to DVA. Following a successful trial in England, since 2011 IRIS has been implemented in eleven London boroughs. In two boroughs the service was disrupted temporarily. This study evaluates the impact of that service disruption.Methods We used anonymised data on daily referrals received by DVA service providers from general practices in two IRIS implementation boroughs that had service disruption for a period of time (six and three months). In line with previous work we refer to these as boroughs B and C. The primary outcome was the number of daily referrals received by the DVA service provider across each borough over 48 months (March 2013-April 2017) in borough B and 42 months (October 2013-April 2017) in borough C. The data were analysed using interrupted-time series, non-linear regression with sensitivity analyses exploring different regression models. Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR), 95% confidence intervals and p-values associated with the disruption were reported for each borough.Results A mixed-effects negative binomial regression was the best fit model to the data. In borough B, the disruption, lasted for about six months, reducing the referral rate significantly (p=0.006) by about 70% (95%CI=(23%,87%)). In borough C, the three-month service disruption, also significantly (p=0.005), reduced the referral rate by about 49% (95% CI=(18%,68%)). Conclusions Disrupting the IRIS service substantially reduced the rate of referrals to DVA service providers. Our findings are evidence in favour of continuous funding and staffing of IRIS as a system level programme.

scholarly journals Police Officers Do Not Need More Training; But Different Training. Policing Domestic Violence and Abuse Involving Children: A Rapid Review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annemarie Millar ◽  
Michael Saxton ◽  
Carolina Øverlien ◽  
Ruth Elliffe
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Police Officers ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Empirical Literature ◽  
Police Response ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

AbstractAlthough the police have been identified as a key service provider when responding to domestic violence and abuse (DVA), very few studies have investigated their response in relation to children. This review aims to examine children’s experiences of police response in the context of DVA and to explore how the police understand and respond to children living with DVA. A rapid review of the empirical literature on the police response to DVA involving children was undertaken. PsycINFO, Web of Science and ProQuest were searched. Studies with a qualitative element, concerning children under 18 with experience of police involvement, or police experiences of children, in the context of DVA were included. The final sample comprised of six studies. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four key themes emerged in relation to children: children’s experiences of DVA; fear, uncertainty, and mistrust of police; confronting “childism”: a matter of children’s rights; and going beyond empathy: equality and justice. Regarding the police, three key themes emerged: variability in police response; limited view of police role; lack of professional competence. The findings underscore the need for awareness raising and an urgent review of the training officers receive regarding the impact of DVA on children. They also highlight the pivotal role of police when responding to DVA where children are present, as well as to advance the frontiers of research by including not only adults and professionals but also the most vulnerable DVA victim: the child.

scholarly journals Exploring primary care responses to domestic violence and abuse (DVA): operationalisation of a national initiative

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie McGarry ◽  
Basharat Hussain ◽  
Kim Watts
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Primary Care Setting ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Team Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

Purpose In the UK, the Identification and Referral to Improve Safety (IRIS) initiative has been developed for use within primary care to support women survivors of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). However, while evaluated nationally, less is known regarding impact of implementation at a local level. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of IRIS within one locality in the UK. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative study using interviews/focus groups with primary care teams and women who had experienced DVA in one primary care setting in the UK. Interviews with 18 participants from five professional categories including: general practitioners, practice nurses, practice managers, assistant practice managers and practice receptionists. Focus group discussion/interview with seven women who had accessed IRIS. Data were collected between November 2016 and March 2017. Findings Five main themes were identified for professionals: Team role approach to training, Professional confidence, Clear pathway for referral and support, Focussed support, Somewhere to meet that is a “safe haven”. For women the following themes were identified: Longevity of DVA; Lifeline; Face to face talking to someone; Support and understood where I was coming from; A place of safety. Practical implications IRIS played a significant role in helping primary care professionals to respond effectively. For women IRIS was more proactive and holistic than traditional approaches. Originality/value This study was designed to assess the impact that a local level implementation of the national IRIS initiative had on both providers and users of the service simultaneously. The study identifies that a “whole team approach” in the primary care setting is critical to the effectiveness of DVA initiatives.

Addressing domestic abuse through FGCs

2018 ◽  
pp. 123-140
Author(s):  
Kate Parkinson ◽  
Michaela Rogers
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
North Carolina ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Child Protection ◽  
Domestic Abuse ◽  
The State ◽  
Child Protection Services ◽  
Specific Research ◽  
The Family ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

This chapter focuses on the use of family group conferences (FGCs) in cases of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). In the case of DVA, there is a disconnection between the family, domestic abuse services, child protection services, and child contact. Evidence highlights the potential of FGCs to galvanise relationships between families and professionals, and among professionals themselves. For example, research into the state-wide implementation of FGCs in Hawai'i found that the conference approach enabled professionals to understand each other's professional responsibilities, enhancing communication and leading to an improved service response to meeting the needs of families. More specific research into the use of FGCs in DVA cases undertaken in North Carolina found the potential of FGCs to offer an inclusive and coordinated response to families, bringing together families, domestic abuse support professionals, and child welfare professionals to plan for the safety of children.

scholarly journals Hope, Agency, and the Lived Experience of Violence: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Children’s Perspectives on Domestic Violence and Abuse

2019 ◽  
pp. 152483801984958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Arai ◽  
Ali Heawood ◽  
Gene Feder ◽  
Emma Howarth ◽  
Harriet MacMillan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Child Centered ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Domestic Violence And Abuse

There is a large body of research on the impact of domestic violence and abuse (DVA) on children, mostly reporting survey data and focusing largely on psychological outcomes. Qualitative research on the views of children has the potential to enable a child-centered understanding of their experience of DVA, so their needs can be better met by professionals. This systematic review reports general findings from the ViOlence: Impact on Children Evidence Synthesis (VOICES) project that synthesized published qualitative research on the experiences of DVA from the perspective of children and young people. A thematic synthesis of 33 reports identified six themes: lived experience of DVA, children’s agency and coping, turning points and transitions, managing relationships postseparation, impact of DVA on children, and children’s expressions of hope for the future. We conclude that professionals working with children affected by DVA should be mindful of the diversity in children’s experiences and listen carefully to children’s own accounts.

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