Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sauk County, has provided shelter, advocacy, and education to people affected by
domestic violence and sexual assault. The organization has a volunteer board of
directors with an Executive Director hired in 1986 to secure funding, manage records,
promote services, and assist volunteers. Through grant funding, Hope House was able
to open a shelter and by 2001, Adams, Columbia, Juneau, and Marquette counties were
receiving outreach services. Clients, who ask for emergency shelter because they are
in physical danger from an intimate partner, are given directions to the shelter and
supported with advocacy. Advocates work to empower victims who have had their
choices taken away from them. State and Federal grants have helped the agency grow
and to provide more services including legal advocacy, child services, sexual assault
help with family living skills, and emergency transportation. This paper will discuss the
definitions, and services available to the described population. It will elaborate theories
and research as it helps understand the issue and to describe possible solutions. The
latter will be evaluated with the help of theoretical considerations as well as data
Women and children are eligible for emergency shelter in a communal living
facility. Guidelines for staying at the shelter insure a safe and comfortable stay.
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Children are required to attend school while housed at the shelter. Through community
accommodation for basic clothing needs. Advocacy is offered to assist in breaking the
barriers that prevent victims from leaving abusers. Education about domestic violence
is a goal while in emergency shelter and a children’s support group is offered every
week as an opportunity to talk about their family relationship concerns with a trained
advocate. While staying in the shelter or calling the crisis line trained advocates
address safety planning including how to prepare to leave, what to take when you leave,
safety in your home, safety at work and public places, safety with a restraining order,
and safety during an explosive incident The most dangerous time for a battered person
is when they decide to leave the abuser (Eby, 2004). There is no specific safety plan for
everyone, each individual has circumstances which make their safety planning unique.
Frequently victims are in need of housing and job skills to find a full-time job as well as
with budgeting, family living skills, and social networks. An advocate is available for
outreach services once the victim(s) leave shelter. The goal of this advocate is to find
the victim in safe housing one year after they leave the shelter, supported by the
temporary restraining orders, victim rights and victim compensation options. The legal
advocate also has information about the criminal justice system processes, working with
law enforcement, finding an attorney for hire, custody and placement concerns, and
group is available for children to attend at the same time. The group is an opportunity to
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validate feelings and discuss the violence that has been experienced. Shelter
Advocates are available on the 24-hour crisis line, 7 days a week to discuss victim
service needs and Outreach Advocates are available weekdays for outlying counties.
Self determination is the approach taken when women enter the shelter and they must
make their own personal choices and review safety planning as part of this service.
Education about the dynamics of the abuser and power and control vs. a healthy
relationship is explored.
towards a partner that one shares an intimate relationship including heterosexual, gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender relationships (Stiles, 2002). This repeated form of
control can reveal itself in several ways: intimidation, stalking, emotional abuse, and
isolation, using the children, financial abuse, and threats as well as withholding affection
or attention and forbidding someone to work, see family, socialize or keep property
(Berry, 2000). Domestic violence affects women and children of every ethnicity and
-50% of all injuries to women who come to emergency rooms are the result of
abuse.
-40% of all women who are murdered die at the hands of intimate partners.
-25% of suicide attempts by women are related to battering.
-75% of abusers experienced or witnessed abuse as children.
Hope house provides many services for victims of domestic violence but does
not meet the psychological needs of the women and children suffering from the
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treatment, an important service when battered women are more likely to suffer from
substance abuse (Chartas, & Culbreth, 2001). In 2000, 25, 021 incidents of domestic
violence were reported to Wisconsin Dept Of Justice with 61,124 hotline calls and only
6,212 women sheltered yet, many go unreported (Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic
Violence, 2002).
Wis
Data from the WCADV Wisconsin Domestic Abuse Incident Report (2002) states 44%
of domestic violence victims are injured during an incident but only 14% seek or receive
medical attention which leads one to assume a majority of women and children suffer
shelters for domestic violence, focus on education about domestic violence yet battered
women suffer from multiple psychological problems. Prioritizing clients problems and
provide options for the client to choose the best approach (Chartas, & Culbreth, 2001).
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Research has shown that approximately 56% of women that suffer domestic
abuse are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (Danielson, Moffit, Caspi, & Silva,
1991). Survivors of domestic violence are more likely to suffer from a physical disability
and mental illness due to the trauma and poor coping skills (Raphael, Tolman, 1997).
Studies about the affects of domestic violence have discovered that 83% of women
suffer from depression, 60% post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 50% anxiety and
low self-esteem issues as well as 40% experiencing drug and alcohol use and abuse
(Waldrop, Resnick, 2004). Using this data regarding mental illness and how it affects
victims of domestic violence with the number of women sheltered in Wisconsin in 2000
Sheltered Wom
Very little research exists studying the effects of children witnessing violence in
the home. The research that does exist states that witnessing traumatic events,
and emotional problems for some children (Stiles, 2002; Maker, Kemmelmeier, &
Peterson, 1998). Some researchers believe that emotional abuse affects the victim
much longer than physical abuse, when a women or child hears she/he is stupid, ugly,
and worthless it is internalized and affects her/his self image (Berry, 2000).
It is necessary for those working with the women and children in shelter to
recognize signs and symptoms of trauma, behavioral issues, and psychiatric disorders.
Battered women and children must heal the emotional and psychological wounds
associated with domestic violence to successfully break the barriers of leaving the
abuser and to lead a healthy, independent life. Attempts to help survivors of domestic
violence include use of shelters, crisis lines, family therapy, community resources, and
support groups. Shelters exist to offer victims a safe haven away from the abuser.
Across the nation non profit organizations have also formed to help battered women
with legal issues, divorce, temporary restraining orders (TRO), and child support.
Battered women and children lack social and coping skills which are directly
related and impacts mental health functioning and prevents the victim from developing
with others, take appropriate social risks, listen actively to others and build trust or to
develop a network of people who could assist with achieving their goals (Liptak, 2004).
As women and children leave the isolation created by a violent home they will
frequently interact with other people forming social networks and personal relationships
as well as necessary contact with service providers assisting with the lifestyle change.
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Social skills will help develop and maintain relationships, develop identity separate from
the abuse, cope with stress, potentially achieve self actualization, and life satisfaction at
home, work and during leisure time.(Liptak, 2004). Developing or improving upon ones
social skills will ease the stressors of moving away from home, leaving the abuser,
potentially leaving friends and family as well as other support when relocating to a
due to poor role models (Bandura, 1986). Therefore, childhood witnesses of domestic
violence are more likely to become victims or abusers as adults because they learned
how to interact with others, work through conflict and communicate through witnessing
Bandura’s (1986) Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) explains how the cycle of
violence affects the life of victims in relation to the abuser and offers guidance on the
method that may be used to solve or alleviate the problems facing women and children
as they try to overcome the affects of a violent home. A survivor of domestic violence,
feeling as though she is a hostage in her own home, will be unable to succeed in social
or work environment due to low expectations that influence behavior and coping skills.
The social cognitive theory is valuable in understanding the affects of domestic violence
on personality and behavior as it relates to the three areas of SCT: (1) self-efficacy
expectations: belief in one’s ability to achieve, (2) outcome expectations: belief about
the consequences of one’s actions and (3) personal goals. The three facets of SCT are
McWhirter, 2003). The experiences of women and children living in violent homes may
limit learning experiences due to socioeconomic status, gender, ethnicity, and education
as well as limit how they are willing to interact with others. Abused women and children
often suffer emotional abuse and degradation leading the victim to believe they are
others that share common interests. Battered women are subjected to repeated and
efficacy and outcome expectations in addition to the abuser preventing victims from
seeking medical attention, exercising, eating nutritious meals or sleeping (Chronister, &
McWhirter, 2003). At the shelter, these women can work towards improving self
efficacy, outcome expectations and personal goals leading to a healthier, happier and
independent life away from the abuser. In time, as self efficacy improves the victim will
opportunity to become an active member of the community and improve the lives of
their children. Battered women and their children have many hurdles to overcome
The emotional and physical states of fear and anxiety as well as pain and
discomfort may impair a victims job performance and increase absences
from work resulting in fewer opportunities to improve one’s life financially
(Maker, Kemmelmeier, & Peterson, 1998).
The loss of a job could lead the victim back to the abuser for financial support. Living in
a violent home may not present the victims financial resources, education, time, or
Women at the shelter experience many setbacks in their attempts to leave the
abuser and finding a life of their own. Whether the setbacks are due to lack of financial
support, debt, and lack of daycare may further enhance the depression and anxieties
resources and staff in domestic violence shelters limit the support options offered for
victims. Poor public policy limits the number of resources made available to battered
women within the community and government agencies. The welfare to work legislation
limits a victim of domestic violence to receive government assistance when they cannot
the lack of adequate coping skills, poor mental and physical health, success of
treatments, effects of children witnessing family violence and the long term
Research has shown survivors of domestic violence often experience stress, fear and
anger after the trauma as well as a greater number of difficult life conditions yet, it has
nothing to do with personal weakness which many victims believe to bet the case (Eby,
2004). Victims of domestic violence will also exhibit high levels of arousal as well as
signs and symptoms of depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and
lowered self-esteem (Berry, 2000). Women, when they enter shelter, may have trouble
concentrating, startle easily, remain constantly alert, and have disturbing dreams or
memories as well as feeling hopeless about the future and experience work problems.
Some physical symptoms may include trouble eating, sleeping, severe headaches,
worsening of chronic medical problems and failure to exercise, diet, or practice regular
healthcare and hygiene (Eby, 2004). The trauma of domestic violence can affect the
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victims with feelings of irritability, nervousness, fearfulness, easily upset, distrust others,
a negative self view, avoid people and unable to feel love, joy and only feel numb or sad
(Eby, 2004).
the victims of domestic violence to learn new skills and how to cope through this
troubling time. PTSD may occur after someone experiences a life threatening trauma,
in most cases when a woman seeks shelter it is the most dangerous time, the violence
has escalated in the home prompting the act of leaving (Eby, 2004). Depression leads
the victim to lose interest in daily or leisure activities and the victim may feel hopeless or
full of despair (Berry, 2000). Anger or aggressive behavior may be exhibited after the
trauma of family violence because the individual may feel the act was unjust or unfair
and that the police didn’t do enough to help or arrest their abuser. Alcohol and drug use
and abuse may escalate as a means of self medicating and escaping the recurring
thoughts and memories of the trauma therefore interventions are necessary to improve
coping skills.
Each shelter, across the nation, uses a similar approach when providing services
to battered women and children; educate clients about domestic violence, offer safe
housing, and assist with an employment search. Abraham Maslow (1970) developed
the Hierarchy of needs which structure involves a pyramid with each level meets a
specific needs. The needs are beginning with the basic needs progressing to life
satisfaction from physiological to safety, security, love, esteem, cognitive, aesthetic, and
domestic violence shelters when food, housing, safety and security are offered for the
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victims, therefore, meeting the physiological and safety needs yet the higher needs, that
Meeting the psychological needs for the survivors of domestic violence is important to
allow the client and family to thrive after leaving shelter and to succeed in life through
alleviating some of the affects of witnessing and experiencing the trauma of domestic
violence. Battered women use avoidance coping strategies and need to learn
appropriate social and coping skills. When the shelter fails to meet the psychological
needs a problem is created when self efficacy is low and social and coping skills are
management, support groups and self esteem building activities, providing more than
just food and shelter, has proven to be successful regarding activities focused towards
self care and maintaining employment (Kunstler, 1993). Therapeutic recreation is the
improving mental and physical health status as well as improving the overall quality of
life through predetermined health related goals (Carter, Van Andel, &Robb, 2003).
Therapeutic recreation interventions will assist the life change for victims of domestic
violence with leisure education and recreation participation to increase self esteem,
improve social and coping skills as well as learning activities of daily living (Carter, Van
domestic violence shelter would assist victims in finding healthy options and give the
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ability to make choices that will naturally move them towards self-actualization
and women succeeded by reducing the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, improved self
care as well as helping the homeless maintain employment giving them the ability to
pay rent (Kunstler, 1993). An additional study of the homeless found 40% women in
administered in a shelter setting has the potential to improve mental health and self
esteem for victims of domestic violence. Within the research sample 80% of the
homeless women had emotional problems due to isolation, alienation, and fear of losing
children as well as difficulties in goal setting, social adjustment, sense of control, and
Victims within the shelter, have the opportunity to learn how to play with their
children and develop social skills while exploring leisure interests and participate in
tendency toward poor social and emotional development suffering from dependency,
coordination will be achieved through a recreation program and learning new skills while
to directly assess client’s psychological needs and develop leisure education and social
skills as well as alleviating the stress causing depression, PTSD and lowered self
needs of clients will improve the services offered and ensure lifestyle changes with the
cognitive theory will assist the victims and their children to monitor thoughts, return to
reality, and teach coping skills and relaxation techniques while participating in goal
oriented activities. Empowering victims to discover who they are in relation to others
are very important when considering daily stressors and include “socializing, visiting,
preparing food, shopping, caring for living things, self-care, home improvement and
doing nothing at all” (Decker, 1997). Most people enjoy these activities on a regular
basis but victims of domestic violence are commonly held hostage in their own homes
and unable to participate in any of the activities mentioned. Recognizing these activities
as leisure, when given the time, and not a chore will make leisure more available to
battered women and their children. Interpersonal communication and relation skills can
and outpatient centers have proven to reduce substance abuse, reduce anxiety,
increased self esteem and leads to long term optimal health and well being (Kunstler,
1993). Victims will have greater opportunity to improve mental health, find meaning in
develop an exercise program to give a sense of physical and mental well being as well
thoughts and fears that may be difficult to describe with words. The CTRS assessment
would also identify barriers the client may experience that prevents the client from
experiencing pleasure either due to depression, PTSD or a low self efficacy as a result
Another solution to improve mental health services within the shelter setting
find mental health programs for the clients and assistance within the community for the
children. This program would incorporate the use of community and government
agencies that provide mental health services as well as resources to improve one’s life
and become self sufficient. How a woman copes with abuse is partially determined by
the resources and social support available therefore improving services offered at Hope
House can only benefit the organization and community. A goal of many abusive
relationships is to restrict contact with resources within the community that may help the
victim cope. Hope house currently provides crisis intervention but adding a referral to
community agencies to provide long term support services for the victims after leaving
the shelter would better meet the psychological and personal needs of victim (Waldrop,
Sauk county listings for organizations that could potentially assist victims of domestic
• Lime Ridge United Methodist Church offering counseling for children going
through a divorce
• Aspen Family Counseling
• Baraboo Psychological Services
• Clarion Center
• Innervisions-mental health provider
• Pathway Clinic
• Pauquette Center
• Lutheran Social Services providing outpatient mental health services
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Referral to the above community resources would provide services for the needs
unrelated to the experience of domestic violence to effectively promote healthy lives and
improving mental status for battered women and children (Eby, 2004). The community
agencies mentioned do have some hurdles to cross before an individual is eligible and
they must make and meet for appointments only between 9a.m. and 5p.m.. Most do not
offer free services and many women do not have health insurance for themselves or
their children so they must first find coverage, usually medical assistance, and then find
an agency that accepts medical assistance. Many of the agencies that do offer free or
lower cost services have long waiting lists and the victims will not have mental health
services when it is most needed. Once an individual from the shelter establishes a
relationship with a community or government agency the shelter and advocates working
for Hope House have no control of how the agencies will use confidential information,
many women do not want other people to know they are in a shelter for domestic
common interests can validate emotions, and offer emotional and social support
(Maker, Kemmelmeier, & Peterson, 1998). Opportunities for belonging are especially
important after experiencing the isolation and trauma of domestic violence. Supportive
community services whether through groups, private clinics, or public assistance will
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help victims make connections and begin the healing process as well as improve the
Many barriers exist outside of the shelter creating setbacks. Women, at the
shelter, do not always have proper identification, fees for services, security deposits or
resources listed are necessary to find housing, employment or health coverage for
children or themselves. Not only must the shelter introduce the clients to community
resources but the shelter must provide intervention to reduce the stressors potentially
causing poor mental health through community education. In order for the community
community education would be needed. Topics for presentations include: reasons why
victims stay in violent relationships, safety planning, health care response to domestic
violence, domestic violence in the workplace, and how to support a victim within the
community. The community may also be involved in community education and fund
processing until victims can obtain important documents and reference information.
the best opportunity to meet the psychological needs of the women and children
survivors of domestic violence. Benefits of in house services for mental illness are that
not all clients will go to an outside agency to maintain confidentiality and avoid the taboo
of being a victim in a domestic violence shelter. The in house program could also work
with the women and children throughout the day during time between their searches for
apartments, daycare, employment, legal assistance, attending court hearings, and when
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the children are home from school. Currently, most of the day the clients in shelter are
restless, waiting for return calls. The government and community agencies are usually
only open for business Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm. Within the shelter, after
5pm, there exists no programming, meetings or activities when the women need the
most assistance as well as the children after school. During this time would be an
specific towards coping with the symptoms of mental illness related to experiencing
domestic violence. Many negative behaviors are expressed, moms are stressed,
children scared and the mothers do not always have the parenting skills to cope after a
traumatic event and seeking shelter. Therapeutic recreation teaches coping skills and
prepares the victims for difficult situations outside of the shelter, which could include
child custody hearings, TRO injunction and other official proceedings. The therapeutic
intervention, within the shelter, have the ability to stimulate and encourage the client to
New positions are created at Hope House through grant proposals. The agency
Specialist to work in house to meet the immediate needs of the clients served.
proposal to add this service to the current services at Hope House. Once approved,
Hope House would then search and hire a CTRS. Only one CTRS would be needed to
train the other advocates as recreation assistants to assist with program implementation
and activities after 5pm and in between appointments outside of shelter. The CTRS
their children at the shelter and revamp the support group to improve attendance,
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domestic violence and leisure education and the support provided. The CTRS would
work 5 days a week (M-F) with daily leisure education , social activities in groups as well
as one on one. CTRS would work with the Children’s Coordinator to develop programs
specific to meeting the needs of children that witness trauma or experienced abuse as
well.
a shelter for survivors of domestic violence, would meet the psychological needs of the
families at the shelter through developing leisure awareness, social interaction skills,
leisure resources and leisure activity skills. Leisure education (is social in nature) and
social interaction skills will assist the women and children with decision making skills,
and the ability to fully function in their leisure time; some skills learned could include
personal presentation (Carter, Van Andel, & Robb, 2003). Leisure resources provide
information about community, family, government and personal resources for a future
independent life. Therapeutic interventions are flexible and can be adapted to fit the
needs of an individual. The CTRS would have to understand the details of low self
program to aid clients in developing appropriate leisure pursuits that alleviate the
stresses of daily life, improve quality of life, and give the clients a sense of self that was
“People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of
their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy.” Recreation
programs and services within the shelter help victims achieve a life closer to happiness
through alleviating the mental illness related to domestic violence and provide coping
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and social skills when the clients participate in self-controlled, goal-related, meaningful
actions, offering a cost effective means to solving the social problem of domestic
violence.