Bringing a Network-Oriented Approach to Domestic Violence Services: A Focus Group Exploration of Promising Practices.
Despite powerful evidence that informal social support contributes to survivors' safety and well-being, mainstream domestic violence (DV) programs have not developed comprehensive models for helping isolated survivors re-engage with these networks. Although many advocates use network-oriented strategies informally, they often do so without resources, funding, or training. This qualitative focus group study explored advocates' use and perceptions of network-oriented strategies. Advocates working in a range of DV programs across one state described the importance of network-oriented work and articulated its five dimensions, including helping survivors build their capacity to form healthy relationships, identify helpful and harmful network members, re-engage with existing networks, develop new relationships, and respond more effectively to network members.
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA lisa.goodman@bc.edu.
Lisa A
LA
Goodman
University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
Victoria
V
Banyard
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
Julie
J
Woulfe
Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
Sarah
S
Ash
University of New Hampshire, Durham, USA.
Grace
G
Mattern
D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
domestic violence; informal networks; intimate partner violence; programs; social support; trauma-informed approach