Susan F. Grossman

Domestic Violence Across Race and Ethnicity Implications for Social Work Practice and Policy

Domestic violence occurs across all ethnic and racial groups, profoundly affecting women, who are most frequently the victims. The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2050, 50% of the population will be minorities. To contribute to the growing literature on race and domestic violence, this article uses data derived from domestic violence programs in a large Midwestern state between 1990 and 1995 to focus on the experiences of victims who sought services and examine how they vary by race and ethnicity. The limitations as well as practice and policy implications of the findings are discussed.

The Mental Health and Service Needs of Young Children Exposed to Domestic Violence: Supportive Data:

As the visibility of domestic violence (DV) continues to increase, so too does our awareness of the needs of the children in violent families. This study documents the various needs and problems of over 40,000 children as reported by their battered caretakers. What follows is a description of the findings from data collected between 1990 and 1995 from approximately 50 DV agencies in a Midwestern state. The findings indicate that large proportions of children had emotional and social problems whereas about one quarter had physical health and educational difficulties. Common problems included being very protective of family members, discipline issues, mood swings, and difficulty leaving parents. The implications of these findings and ideas for future planning are identified.

Elder Abuse: Spouse/Intimate Partner Abuse and Family Violence Among Elders

ABSTRACT This article examines the experiences of 1,057 victims of domestic violence, age sixty-five and older who sought refuge, support and services from domestic violence programs between 1990 and 1995 in a large mid-western state. Specifically, the various circumstances of these elders in relation to age, gender, disability, types of abuse, relationship to the abuser, source of referral, and service needs are described. Although it is generally considered unusual for women over sixty who are victims of violence to seek services through domestic violence programs, this study substantiates that at least some elders who are victims of violence do so. The implications of the findings related to the unique needs of this population are discussed.

Clinical Research and Practice with Battered Women What We Know, What We Need to Know

Studies of treatment efficacy provided by process and outcome research with battered women is much less well developed than research on the treatment of batterers. Although there are more than 16 commonly used models, there is little clinical research that addresses their efficacy. This article gives an overview of the theoretical richness that has evolved over the past 20 years and provides a review of process and outcome research on treatment for battered women. The consequent awareness suggests the need for a more integrated model for clinical practice and research. The themes of this article are threefold: (a) more clinical practice research using a multimethod approach, (b) more explicit focus on women of color and immigrant women, and (c) more theoretical and philosophical integration of treatment approaches. The purpose is to focus attention on the need for an integrated approach to practice and research that will inform and guide practitioners.

Use of Domestic Violence Services Across Race and Ethnicity by Women Aged 55 and Older The Illinois Experience

This study focuses on 2,702 White, African American, and Hispanic female victims of domestic violence aged 55 and older who sought services from domestic violence programs. The experiences of these elders in terms of the type of abuse, the relationship to the abuser, the referral source, and service needs are described. Findings indicate that older women in the domestic violence service system have different experiences than persons in the adult protective service system. They are more frequently victims of intimate partner violence and have corresponding service needs that vary by race and ethnicity. The implications for older victims of domestic violence are discussed.

Rural versus urban victims of violence: The interplay of race and region

This paper examines individuals who were victims of domestic violence in Illinois between 1990 and 1995, comparing the traits and service needs of those who received assistance in an urban county over the 5-year period with those who were served by domestic violence programs in rural areas. Analysis focuses on the demographic characteristics of clients in each region, their relationship to the abuser, type of abuse, referral source, and need for both concrete and supportive services. In addition to looking at variations by region, analysis examines differences between African American and White clients within and across geographic areas so that the interaction of race and location is highlighted. Results indicate that apart from demographic differences related to race, there is little difference in the circumstances of abuse when victims in the urban region are compared to rural victims of violence. However, those in rural environments regardless of race, have more service needs. Differences in service needs also exist in relation to race, and for some services, both race and location are important. The implications of these findings for policy, practice, and future research are examined.

Characteristics of Women Who Do and Do Not Receive Onsite Shelter Services From Domestic Violence Programs

Shelter services are an essential means of providing help to women who are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV), but not all victims receive shelter. This article reports the results of a secondary analysis of statewide data from women using IPV services, comparing victims who did and did not obtain shelter. The demographic characteristics, abuse experiences, and service patterns of these survivors are examined. A model predicting characteristics associated with the likelihood of shelter receipt indicates that women who obtain shelter are more vulnerable and obtain more services than women who do not obtain shelter. The implications of these results are discussed.

Domestic Violence Service Users: A Comparison of Older and Younger Women Victims

No one, young or old, is immune to interpersonal violence (IPV). Female victims come from a variety of circumstances and across all ages. However, much of the research and services have focused almost exclusively on younger women. This article compares women 65 and older to women under 65, who utilized domestic violence (DV) services in a mid-western state over a five-year period. Although there are many similarities in the findings, differences include that older victims were more likely to be White, report more emotional and less physical abuse, be referred to services by a legal source, have special needs or disabilities, and receive fewer services, less service hours and fewer contacts than younger victims utilizing DV services. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

The individual and beyond: a socio-rational choice model of service participation among homeless adults with substance abuse problems.

While substance user service programs can help homeless adults solve their substance use and housing problems, relatively few needy individuals use and complete these programs. The lack of participation is poorly explained by typical empirical studies, most of which consider the role in service participation of various personal traits and client problems. The current article instead seeks to explain service participation through the application of an alternative, “socio-rational choice” model. This model has three premises: Clients weigh the costs and benefits of participating in services against alternative uses of their time and resources. The clients’ weighing procedures reflect their personal situations and perceptions of the treatment environment. The perceptions of their personal situations and perceptions of the treatment environment are affected by the manner in which clients react to representatives of service systems, members of their social network including both housed and homeless persons, and other individuals. Secondary evidence supports many of the models hypotheses and generally suggests that homeless clients may be heavily affected by their experiences with individuals and systems with which they come into contact.

Shelter and Service Receipt for Victims of Domestic Violence in Illinois

There is little empirical research about the services victims of violence in shelters receive and when, yet such information would increase our understanding of their unmet service needs especially after they leave shelter. This article utilizes data from a randomly selected sample of individuals in shelter to examine their service trajectories. Results indicate that most individuals receive service while in shelter. Individual counseling is likely to continue after shelter, but group counseling, employment, and educational assistance tend to end once shelter is over.The policy and practice implications of these results are discussed.