Integrated Service Model for Domestic Violence Survivors
description
Transcript of Integrated Service Model for Domestic Violence Survivors
Integrated Service Model for Domestic Violence Survivors
Catherine Shugrue dos Santos, MSWDeputy Clinical Director
Presented at the National Conference to End Family Homelessness
Seattle, WA, February 2008
Sanctuary for Families Defines Domestic Violence as:
A pattern of gender-based intimate partner, dating, or family violence with a central dynamic of power and control
Sanctuary for Families
The largest provider of clinical and legal services exclusively to survivors of domestic violence and their children in New York.
In FY 06/07, we provided legal, clinical, shelter, and hotline services to over 8,000 adults and children.
Services Must Be:
Holistic: Comprehensive and integrated
Culturally and linguistically competent
Fully sensitive to the unique needs of domestic violence survivors
Services Must Address All Forms of Abuse
Physical & Sexual– Safety planning– Counseling – Case Management– Shelter – Legal Services
Emotional/Psychological– Counseling
Economic – Case Management– Legal Services
Safety Planning
Immediate physical safety– Do you need to call 911?
Planning for safety– Home – Work– School– Church
Tools
Case Management
Service Coordination Information Referral Advocacy Follow-Up
Clinical Issues for Survivors of DV
Understanding the dynamics of domestic violence– Power and Control Wheel– Cycle of abuse
Trauma– Trauma associated with the domestic violence– Other trauma (childhood abuse, traumatic migration experiences, etc.)
Grief and Loss Relationships with children and family that have suffered from the abuse Co-Occurring Issues
– Substance Abuse– Mental Illness– Oppression (culture, immigration, bias)
Clinical and Service Issues for Children Who Have Experienced Domestic Violence
Child abuse co-occurs with domestic violence at a high rate, in over 60% of cases
Cognitive, psychological and developmental effects of the trauma of experiencing or witnessing abuse over the lifespan
Relationship with the abuser Insensitive systems (education, medical, legal, etc.)
Clinical and Service Issues for Immigrant Survivors of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence in the cultural context (e.g. FGM, honor killing)
Co-occurring trauma (e.g. political torture; traumatic migration experiences; anti-immigrant abuse)
Distrust in systems or lack of awareness of resources and local laws regarding domestic violence
Limited English proficiency as a barrier to services and resources
Possible legal remedies
Clinical and Service Issues for LGBTQ Survivors of Domestic Violence
Accessibility and availability of sensitive services
Lack of legal protections Oppression: societal and internalized
homophobia, transphobia, heteronormativity
Clinical Work with Survivors for Adults and Children
Healing and Recovery from Trauma
Psychoeducation
Empowerment
Counseling: Adults, Children and Families
Hotline Crisis Intervention Individual Counseling Group Counseling Creative Arts Therapy
Psychiatric/Psychological Consult
Augmentation of counseling services Particularly useful for co-occurring mental
health issues Essential to ensure sensitivity to domestic
violence is present in assessment of survivors and children, which can prevent misdiagnosis or pathologizing and further ensure appropriate services are received
Shelter and Housing
A safe place to be can be the one thing that helps a victim survive
50% of families in the homeless system are fleeing domestic violence
Domestic Violence Shelter Homeless Shelter Alternatives to Shelter
Economic Dependence vs. Independence
Economic Abuse and the Power of the Trap (Jody Raphael’s “Trapped by Poverty, Trapped by Abuse”)
Economic Independence as a Tool For Independence from Domestic Violence
Economic Justice and the Shrinking Safety Net
Services that Promote Economic Stability
Direct Financial and Material Assistance Public Benefits Advocacy Financial Planning Credit Counseling Tax Preparation and Education Job Preparation, Training and Placement
Legal Services
Orders of Protection Divorce (contested and uncontested) Custody and Visitation Child Welfare Immigration Housing Public Benefits Advocacy Other Criminal Law
Social Supports, Recreation and Education
Recreational, Educational and Cultural Activities
Positive Socialization Experiences
Networking
The Mentors Program
Victim Survivor Survivor Survivor Advocate Sharing Stories Raising Awareness and Educating Public Advocating for Policy Change to Help Victims Standing Up as Role Models for Others
Sanctuary for Families Integrated Service Models 1
Community Law Project attorneys partnering with dedicated Clinical staff, promoting collaborative practice with linguistic and cultural competencies:
African Domestic Violence Initiative Latina Domestic Violence Initiative South Asian Community Outreach Initiative The LGBTQ Initiative
Sanctuary for Families Integrated Service Models 2
The FamilySafe Initiative
The New York Family Justice Center (Brooklyn, Bronx and Queens)
Bronx Community Office
Catherine Shugrue dos Santos, MSWDeputy Clinical Director