National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Web Site
Domestic violence is a pervasive problem in virtually all countries, cultures, classes and income groups. It is a complex and multifaceted problem with individual solutions that are appropriate for different women in different socio-cultural contexts.
Both short and long-term measures must be considered. Short-term measures consist of assistance programs that protect the individual woman who has been or is being abused. They often focus on the critical period after a woman leaves her home, providing her with food, shelter, and guidance. This is the period when a woman is most at-risk from the perpetrator seeking retribution, or when she might return to the home out of a sense of hopelessness. Long-term measures seek to educate the public and empower the woman to re-establish her life without violence.
Any response should involve an interrelationship between the health, legal and social sectors, so that the woman is not continually referred to another agency. One innovative approach is the use of "family crisis centers," or "victim advocates" to act as the woman's link to the various sectors. Support can come in various forms:
Crisis Intervention:
- crisis intervention services
- crisis hot lines
- shelters or other emergency residential facilities
- medical services
- transportation networks
- laws that allow either victims or perpetrators to be removed from the home
Emotional Support:
- self-help support groups
- assertiveness training
- self-esteem and confidence-building sessions
- parenting skills courses
Advocacy and Legal Assistance:
- access to and custody of children
- property matters
- financial support
- restraining orders
- public assistance benefits
- help with immigration status
Other Supportive Services:
- housing and safe accommodations
- child care
- access to community services
| 
