Simmons Domestic Violence Training

Introduction Unit: Purpose, Guidelines, and History of Training

A Note on Terminology

You might be wondering about some of the terms used so far. As you may know, there are many ways to describe domestic violence and those affected by it. The creators of this training have chosen to use the following terms based on a thorough review of the literature and much consideration.

Domestic Violence:

A detailed definition of the term “domestic violence” is provided in Unit 1. Throughout this training you will see the term domestic violence instead of other terms you may have heard (e.g., wife abuse, battering, and intimate partner violence) because it is the most well-known term among the general public and the term used most often in the advocacy community.

Survivor:

When referring to people who have experienced direct domestic violence victimization, we use “survivor” rather than “victim,” because it focuses on people’s inherent resilience, rather than their experience of trauma.

Safer:

Davies and Lyon (2014) assert that safety “requires more than the absence of physical violence;” instead, it means “there is no violence, their basic human needs are met, and they experience social and emotional well-being” (p. 6). Thus, absolute safety is an unrealistic goal when working with some survivors. A focus on “safer” or “increased safety” is generally the more realistic goal.

Person who uses abusive behaviors:

When referring to people who use domestic violence, we use the phrase “person who uses abusive behaviors,” rather than terms such as “perpetrator,” “batterer,” or “abuser.” Doing so separates people’s identity from their violent actions, which is essential when working with people in the full context of their lives and helping them to adopt non-violent behaviors.

LGBTQ*:

We strive to use language that reflects the reality that people of every gender expression and sexual orientation can experience domestic violence and use abusive behaviors. We use the acronym LGBTQ* throughout, which refers to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and all others for whom cisgender and heterosexual are not applicable. At times, gendered language may be used to reflect the historical context or because it reflects the population on which research findings were based. Finally, we use the terms LGBTQ and "sexual and gender minorities" interchangeably.

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Five Domains of Wellbeing

One of the frameworks that informs this training is the Five Domains of Wellbeing. Safety and avenues to increased safety are key factors to wellbeing but are not wellbeing in its entirety. In this training, we conceptualize wellbeing as consisting of five domains, following the framework developed by the Full Frame Initiative (FFI), the Five Domains of Wellbeing. These domains are social connectedness, stability, safety, mastery, and meaningful access to relevant resources, and are not specific to survivors of domestic violence (or any other subpopulation receiving social services) but are universal elements that all people need to thrive.

The Five Domains of Wellbeing, named by the Full Frame Initiative, are informed and supported by research from a range of fields including public health, medicine, psychology, and are validated by both human service program practice and by the lived experience of people receiving program services from across the country.

The idea that safety is only one part of survivors' lives reflects a shift from the norm: Systems and service programs responding to survivors of domestic violence have traditionally prioritized the experience of domestic violence above all else, including each survivor's varied life experiences and identities. In reality, people who have experienced domestic violence are much more than that experience. Many survivors live at the intersection of multiple oppressions (racism, homophobia) and multiple challenges (physical and mental illness, addiction); yet, every survivor also has a range of assets and strengths, including informal community resources. They also identify themselves as fulfilling many simultaneous roles (parent, employee, student, friends, church member) that might not even include "survivor" or "victim."

People and systems working with survivors of domestic violence must understand this interplay of risk factors, challenges, priorities, strengths, assets, and protective factors and be able to incorporate the full range of individualized supports each survivor needs to be healthy and thrive.

Another critical element in the framework is the recognition of tradeoffs. The weighing of tradeoffs (i.e., prioritizing one need over another or trading one opportunity for another) is part of every decision people make. For domestic violence survivors, these tradeoffs can be grave, especially if the person is dealing with other challenges, such as poverty. For example, a survivor of domestic violence may choose not to enter (or remain in) a shelter or other residential program if that program does not allow visitors, because doing so would cut the survivor off from his or her social connections. In this example, the survivor may decide that the tradeoffs between social connectedness and potential increased safety are too great or unsustainable.

In parts of this training, you will see examples of the interdependence of each of the Five Domains of Wellbeing and how paying attention to all of them helps survivors increase their safety. Importantly, you will also see examples of how your role as a helper must focus on understanding and helping to minimize the tradeoffs that create barriers to wellbeing in each survivor's life.

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Guiding Principles of the Training with Examples

1) The Five Domains of Wellbeing are universal and individually experienced

All people are "hard-wired" to make progress (i.e., build assets) in social connectedness, stability, safety, mastery, and meaningful access to relevant resources - which requires trying to minimize tradeoffs between these domains. However, because each of us has unique life experiences, priorities, and different access to the conditions that support wellbeing, how we experience each domain may differ.

Example:

One survivor you are working with might actually feel safer knowing there are weapons in the house that they can use for self defense. Another survivor, however, may feel increased threats to safety if there are weapons in the house. The experience of safety is unique for every individual and, therefore, the role of helpers is to understand each person's individual experience of safety and what contributes to it.

2) All people have assets and strengths

All people - including those experiencing domestic violence and struggling with other challenges - have parts of their lives that are going well and people they can count on in various positive ways. Further, survivors may use a variety of sophisticated strategies, including relationships, to keep themselves alive and even thrive. Identifying and capitalizing on people's existing assets is more than the "warm and fuzzy" way of saying everyone has strengths. It is a vital part of safety planning and supporting people's self-determination.

Example:

You are working with a survivor named Sherisse whose landlord is willing to be flexible about not having the rent paid on time, especially if she needs the money for gas or food. Knowing about this resource requires asking questions about what is going well, not just what the problems are. Once you are aware of people's assets, you can help access or strengthen these assets to support lasting change. Recognizing assets also means being aware of the costs (tradeoffs) of what it means to make change. In this case, if Sherisse needs to move for safety reasons, losing her flexible landlord is a tradeoff.

3) Intersecting forms of oppression (i.e. intersectionality) affect people's experiences of domestic violence and the informal and formal resources available to them

The term intersectionality, or structural intersectionality, refers to the idea that people possess multiple, converging identities that are influenced by larger social contexts (e.g., racism), and that people's unique combination of identities must be considered when developing interventions (Crenshaw, 1991). Structural intersectionality in the context of domestic violence essentially means that in addition to being abused by a partner, many survivors are dealing with other forms of oppression (e.g., discrimination, institutional poverty, classism, xenophobia) that converge to create barriers to safety and wellbeing (Crenshaw, 1991). Intersectionality also refers to the ways in which other forms of intentional violence (e.g., community violence, commercial sexual exploitation) overlap to affect survivors' wellbeing.

Example:

Jose and Marta are a young Latino couple expecting their first child. They live in a financially impoverished neighborhood experiencing disproportionate levels of violence. On their way to a doctor's appointment, they get into an argument, and Jose physically assaults Marta. When you meet with Marta, you find out that Jose just lost two friends to gun violence and has started carrying a gun for his own protection. Marta also feels unsafe in the neighborhood, which supersedes her fear of Jose. A few days later, you learn that Jose was shot near his home. He survives and eventually reaches out to Marta. Another argument ensues, and Jose strangles Marta. He is arrested immediately and goes to jail. Marta has a miscarriage a few days later. Marta is now alone, mourning the loss of her child, and is still in fear in her neighborhood. Marta cannot afford to move, however, because her income opportunities are limited by discrimination (English is her second language) and structural inequality (i.e., her health is compromised from years of living in dilapidated public housing).

In this example, we see domestic violence intersecting with racism, poverty, traumatic loss, and community violence.

4) It is essential that organizations and providers adopt a trauma-informed approach and use trauma-informed practices

In recent years, research has demonstrated that people in the helping professions must understand and consider how experiences of trauma (e.g., domestic violence, child sexual abuse, homelessness) can affect people's health, choices, and behaviors. Trauma can change a person's physical and emotional body and even affect brain development, depending on the age of the person when they experienced trauma and the severity and duration of the trauma endured. Although people are not defined solely by their traumatic experiences, trauma can influence how people process information, make choices, and weigh tradeoffs. Unit 2 provides more detail on how your work can be trauma-informed.

Example:

You are working with Mike, a gay-identified domestic violence survivor who had been badly injured in a hate crime a few years ago while waiting for public transportation. Mike may be unwilling or emotionally unable to take the bus anywhere. Without knowing his experiences of trauma, it may be easy to label him as uncooperative or even lazy. However, being mindful of his trauma history provides insight into his choices about tradeoffs, and the need to support a different plan for him.

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Guidelines Regardless of Your Role and Context

The place where you work, volunteer, or intern - as well as your role within that agency - will influence the situations and contexts in which you come in contact with people who have experienced domestic violence. Your organization and role will also affect the types and extent of your interaction with survivors and their loved ones. For example, if you work in law enforcement, you may be called to a home to respond to a violent incident and have only a few minutes with someone. In contrast, if you work in outpatient mental health, you may have more time to work with someone, but your patient/client may not disclose domestic violence or name it as their primary concern. Regardless of your role or context:

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