Domestic Violence Shelter Research Paper

Domestic abuse is a startling issue in today’s society, and there are many different forms of it. Domestic abuse is defined as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another” [1]. There are numerous forms of domestic abuse, including both physical and emotional violence. Many people who are trapped in these toxic relationships often feel helpless and worthless, and may think they have no way to escape their situation. However, with the right guidance and support, they can free themselves and emerge as a stronger person.

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

Working with victims of domestic violence can be an extremely rewarding and fulfilling endeavor. One of the most crucial aspects for a paralegal working with victim of domestic violence is adequately engaging in the task of educating oneself to understand the commonalities of such victims and the ordeals that they have been through. Such clients are drastically different from other individuals who have suffered other physical and violent crimes. Understanding the background of someone who has lived through domestic violence is absolutely central to being able to provide adequate and sensitive legal care. Most victims of domestic violence are women (95%) though domestic violence can have an impact on ever age, class, race, ethnic, cultural or religious group (purplerainfoundation, 2012). "In the United States, nearly one in three adult women experience at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood (American Psychological Association, Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family 1996 Report)" (purplerainfoundation, 2012). These women are often terrified of their partner's temper, apologize when they are abused and often in the most extremely controlling and isolated environment where the abusive partner will control who the partner sees and where the partner goes outside of the home, jealous of outside relationships (purplerainfoundation, 2012). In these abusive relationships the women are hit,

I volunteered at my local domestic violence shelter called JCCDV or Jennings County Counsel on Domestic Violence. Volunteering at this shelter has taught me lots of strategies that I hope to use in the future. The shelter is only 5 years old and is making itself more known every day. The staff does hosts events for the community and they go into schools to talk about what services they offer. JCCDV firmly believes in self-empowerment. It is important to them that the people they shelter try to make a better life for themselves.

An agency in Stuart, Florida that helps women in cases of domestic abuse is called SafeSpace Shelter Program. This agency offers victims of domestic violence and their dependents a safe housing to escape the violence in their home. While in this program residents can attend individual and group advocacy, develop individualized safety and action plans which assists them in staying safe and setting and achieving personal goals. Initial steps that this agency takes with victims are to bring them to a secure and confidential shelter. They assess their immediate needs and help to meet these needs; this is called the acute phase. SafeSpace advocates then work with the victims to obtain employment, childcare, legal services and safe housing.

One in three women in the world has been in a sexual or physical abuse with either a non-partner or partner in their lifetime (World, 2016). There are agencies that are willing to help people from these solutions by giving shelter or help in any way they can. To have a better understand what agencies does to help there is a particular county that has an agency that helps victims of domestic violence. The agency that will be discussed is The PATH shelter in Rutherford County, and how is the experience of a member who works in the PATH shelter, and learns more about the 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.

Women will continue to suffer from domestic violence unless there is some sort of intervention to help them. When dealing with this population, it is essential to create a safe environment where the woman can talk freely about the abuse without any retaliation from the abuser. When someone comes into a therapeutic session, everyone deserves to be treated with respect and care. This in turn will create a sense of hope that a different type of life can be possible. Also, knowing that there is a support system can help the woman begin the process of change. Despite this, the process of leaving the abusive partner is slow (Warshaw, n.d.)

Domestic violence is defined as emotionally or physically (or both) controlling an intimate partner, often involving physical assault, stalking or sexual assault (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2009). Something close to my home, Fargo North Dakota 2005, 1 in 5 women reported that she had left her home due to abuse. In Fargo, 45 percent of homeless women had experienced violence from an intimate partner in the past year (ACLU Women 's Rights Project, n.d.). Living so close to Minnesota as well, 1 in every 3 homeless women were driven from their home by domestic violence in 2003 (ACLU Women 's Rights Project, n.d.). These numbers are unthinkable when a person lives in the area, and knowing that it happens to just about anyone. Many women don’t have the resources or family around them that they can rely on when something of that nature occurs. When a woman has had enough of the abuse and decides to leave the situation, they often times have

Also, Dawnovise explains “that recognizing the co-occurrence of domestic violence and substance abuse issues would help better understand their issues, by developing more need comprehensive interventions and services”, ( Dawnovise, 2009). Domestic violence among women in shelters is such a broad area. Residing in emergency shelters is a start to getting to the core of their ordeal and to help residents / clients open up about their issues and learn better coping skills ( Dawnovise, pp.322-323).

Abstract Domestic Violence is a crisis that many families have experienced. Women are often caught off guard and are unprepared for the series of battering to occur; they may be unsure of how to proceed and what they will do if they decide to leave. Crisis affects each woman differently. An individual’s personal, material, and social resources impact how a person will respond to a crisis. The individual’s resources also impact how long the person will be going through

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,

Living in fear is something no one should experience, many women have dealt with this for a very long time. An abusive relationship can lead to various outcomes, from physical to mental damage. There are many opportunities created for people living in those conditions to speak up. A residential center is a place to help women who have been a part of an abusive environment. This research report briefly outlines the basics of a residential centers for abused women, it focuses on key concepts such as the facilities provided for the individuals, what causes a person to get into the shelter, the process of change and acceptance for those who have been through traumatic experiences and many more. The subject of a residential center (for abused women) has been seen as a strong educating factor for society, not everyone is aware of abusive relationships and how to stop them. This report does not just address basic facts, but it provides detailed information on methods in helping those who have been a part of a domestic relationship. It also shares the basic outline and features of many institutions and facilities, provided for those who need assistance. Overall this report gathers a large amount of knowledge regarding the subject of residential centers (for abused women).

Women’s shelters, also called domestic violence shelters, serve as a community housing resource for individuals who need to escape abusive situations. Past maltreatment could range from physical violence to psychological or even financial control. AOTA (2011) defines domestic violence as: “pattern of coercive behavior designed to exert power and control over a person in an intimate relationship through the use of intimidating, threatening, harmful, or harassing behavior.” Oftentimes, there have been several layers of abuse happening simultaneously. While residents who end up at shelters have typically lived through traumatic experiences, their specific ordeals and personal reactions to them will vary. The people seeking shelter are survivors who have taken the first step towards changing their lives for the better or people in the middle of crisis.

Abused women shelters are designed to provide protection, temporary housing, counseling and support for persons of domestic violence.