No abstract

Violence victims who are the primary caregivers for their children sometimes become justice-involved through efforts to protect and defend against intimate partner violence (IPV). Judges often mandate these victims to community-based services, although little is known about these services. Given increasing numbers of such victims, two human service agencies collaborated to create a program for female IPV victims who were their children's primary caregivers and who were mandated to services for violence against a male partner. Our research team conducted a feasibility study of the program using an exploratory qualitative study design to collect data from program participants (n018) and providers (n07). Analyses determined three key findings: (a) the importance of a welcoming, comfortable environment; (b) the value of certain aspects of the program content; and (c) the importance of support from like others for participant improvement. These findings point to indispensable program elements. Implications for other communities and providers serving justice-involved IPV victims who are also primary caregivers are described.Intimate partner violence (IPV) between heterosexual partners affects a considerable number of women each year in the United States. According to census-based population projections, more than a million women each year and upward of 21 million women in their lifetimes will be victimized by a current or former spouse or cohabitating partner (Tjaden and Thoennes 2000a, b). Unfortunately, women who are victimized by IPV can also become involved with the justice system and subjected to legal sanctions as a result of their IPV experiences (Hamberger and Potente 1994;Miller 2001;Rajan and McCloskey 2007). The phrase justice-involved IPV victims is used here to describe this population of women who have experienced IPV victimization and have also been arrested for IPV perpetration. In this study, we particularly focused on female, justice-involved IPV victims who are the primary caregivers for their children. In other words, the program research participants were women who were: (a) principally victims of IPV; (b) identified as perpetrators by the justice system; and (c) mothers, grandmothers, or stepmothers who were the primary caregivers for their children, grandchildren, or stepchildren respectively.

Little evidence is available regarding recommended practices for domestic violence and sexual assault services. Although there is a literature concerned with these services, few studies have investigated recommended practices from the perspective of community providers. In addition, researchers have not yet investigated the utility of specific domestic violence and sexual assault service delivery strategies. To help address these knowledge needs, the authors investigated agency directors' perspectives on six types of services typically offered by domestic violence and sexual assault agencies including crisis, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, support group, individual counseling, and shelter. The authors also examined the extent to which directors' opinions about service delivery practices differed based on key agency's characteristics, specifically the services offered (i.e., domestic violence, sexual assault, or both) and agency location (i.e., rural, suburban, or urban). A sample of 97 (94% response rate) North Carolina agency directors completed a survey on recommended service delivery practices. The authors conducted descriptive analyses to identify directors' overall opinions about service delivery practices and used multivariate analysis of variance to examine whether directors' opinions about service delivery practices differed according to agency characteristics. Findings showed differences in directors' opinions about service delivery practices based on their agency's service location. Practice recommendations were garnered from the study's results.

Community-based domestic violence and sexual assault service providers need sound knowledge regarding services that work well to improve the lives of survivors. This exploratory, qualitative research aimed to help provide such knowledge by investigating domestic violence and sexual assault agency executive directors' ( n = 14) opinions regarding what services are most helpful for survivors. In-depth interviews with directors provided findings about (a) critical services for survivors; (b) essential service delivery practices; (c) ideal services that are challenging to deliver because of funding and other barriers; and (d) areas of service delivery practice uncertainty due to a lack of best practices.

Two community-based agencies collaborated to create a program for justice-involved female intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors and their children. Our research team conducted a feasibility study of the children's program using an exploratory, multimethod qualitative design with child participants (n = 8), adult participants (n = 18), and providers (n = 7). Analyses determined four key findings: (a) importance of attendance; (b) the need for a flexible, child-driven curriculum; (c) improvement through expression and peer bonding; and (d) the value of specific program content. The findings point to indispensable program elements and enhancement recommendations. Implications for other communities and providers serving IPV-exposed children are described.