Sample

AStatewideSurveyofFamilyViolenceShelter

DirectorsinTexas

May 2015

CrimeVictims’InstituteCollegeofCriminalJustice●SamHoustonStateUniversity

ReportNo.2015‐01

LisaR.Muftic,Ph.D.JonathanA.Grubb,Ph.D.

Figure1.GeographicRepresentationofFamilyViolence

SheltersbyCountyinTexas

2015

ServiceProvision

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ShelterCharacteristics

Fam i l y V io l en ce She l t e r Di re c t o r s

Table1.CharacteristicsofShelterDirectors

Variable %orMean(SD) Range Age 49.4(12.7) 25‐70

Female 100.0%

Education HighSchoolGraduate/GED SomeCollege Associate’sDegree Bachelor’sDegree AdvancedDegree

5.3% 26.3% 15.8% 21.1% 31.6%

LengthofTimeinCurrentPosition(years) 7.6(8.8) 1‐35

LengthofTimeWorkingWithVictims(years) 18.1(12.0) 1‐35

Table2.ShelterCharacteristics Variable %orMean(SD) Range ServiceAreaPopulation Lessthan100,000 Morethan100,000

44.4% 55.6%

YearsinOperation 29.8(6.4) 15‐37

NumberofBedsinFacility 44.4(31.7) 6‐120

LengthofStay MinimumNumberofDays MaximumNumberofDays

6.2(11.9) 49.9(26.8)

0‐30 14‐90

StaffCharacteristics NumberofFull‐TimeStaff NumberofPart‐TimeStaff NumberofInterns NumberofVolunteers

18.5(24.2) 7.8(7.0) 5.0(10.2) 51.9(90.0)

2‐120 0‐30 0‐40 0‐380

Table3.ShelterProcedures

TheShelter... Providesextensionsforstay 100.0% Providesalternatelodgingwhenshelterisfull 66.7% IsAvailable24/7/365 96.3% IsHidden 63.0% Hasasecuritysystem 96.3% Followsasecurityprotocol 100.0% Hasadisasterplan 100.0% IsHandicapaccessible 100.0% Storesmedicine 85.2% Dispensesmedicine 46.2% Providesmaterialsforthehearingimpaired 74.1% Providesmaterialsforthevisuallyimpaired 48.1% ProvidesmaterialsinSpanish 96.3% Allowsadolescentmalesons Agerestrictionforadolescentmalesons

100.0% 37.0%

Allowssurvivorstousepersonalcellphones 81.5% Allowsvisitors 44.4% Allowspets 25.9%

Figure5:DrugUsebyTypeofIPVVictimization

SurvivorsAssisted

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2015 Fam i l y V io l en ce She l t e r Di re c t o r s

Initial contact with survivors was generally made by thesurvivor directly seeking assistance (77.8%). To a lesserextent, initial contactwasmade following a referral frompolice,socialservices,ormedicalpersonnel.

CharacteristicsofSurvivorsIndividuals who experience IPV are a heterogeneousgroup.Acompilationofresponses fromdirectorspertain‐ing to characteristics of shelter clients seeking assistanceover thepast yearprovides ageneralpro ile of survivorsaccessingshelters.Directors reported that roughlyhalfofsurvivorswhosoughtshelter(46.4%)didsoalone.Amongthose,4.7%wereminors.Morethanone‐thirdofsurvivors(37.4%) had previously received shelter from the sameagency, while roughly one‐quarter (21.8%) of survivorshadhadalsoreceivedservicesfromanothershelterinthepast12months.Morethanone‐thirdofsurvivors(37.6%)weremarriedtotheirabuser,andoneinten(10.8%)werepregnantatinitialintake.

ImmigrationandLanguage

Figure2.PercentofSheltersProvidingSpeci icServices

Table4.NumberofSurvivorsServed Variable Mean

(SD) Range

Survivorsassistedin2013 366.0 (398.7)

20‐1,633

Malesurvivorsin2013 10.2 (19.6)

0‐73

Numberofchildrenin2013 186.2 (229.1)

6‐877

Figure3.SourceofInitialContact

Table5.SurvivorCharacteristics

Percentofsurvivorswho… Mean Range

Areseekingshelteralone(withoutde‐pendents)

46.4%

20‐75

Ofthosesurvivorsseekingshelteralone,whatpercentageareundertheageof18 4.7% 0‐40

Havereceivedshelterfromyouragencyinthepast12months 37.4% 5‐100

Havereceivedshelterfromanotheragen‐cyinthepast12months 21.8% 0‐90

Aremarriedtotheirabuser 37.6% 0‐80

Arepregnant 10.8% 1‐25

2015

their victimization to thepolice.While only 1 in 3 survi‐vors (30.8%) had a safety plan when they came to theshelter,almostall(98.8%)hadonewhentheyleft.

SpecialPopulationsAssistedandServicesProvided

Children

OlderWomen

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SubstanceAbuseandMentalIllnessResearch has suggested that survivors accessing familyviolence shelters are often at an increased risk for sub‐stanceabuse(Schumacher&Holt,2012)andmentalillness(Helfrich, Fujiura,&Rutkowski‐Kmitta, 2008). In the cur‐rent study, directors reported that almost one‐quarter ofsurvivors seeking assistance in the previous year had is‐sueswithalcohol(23.9%),nearlyone‐thirdwithdruguse(32.5%),andnearlyone‐thirdwithmentalillness(31.3%).

Disability

VictimizationandSafetySurvivorsofdomesticviolencecommonlyhavebeenfoundtoexperiencevictimizationearlyinlife(Riggs,Caul ield,&Street, 2000). Directors in the current research reportedthat themajorityofsurvivorswerevictimizedaschildren(54.6%).Questionswerealsoaskedaboutpresentvictimi‐zationandsafetyissues.Whensurvivors irstarrivedattheshelter,directorsstatedthatroughlyhalfwereinimminentdanger(54.3%)andaboutone‐third(39.3%)hadreported

Fam i l y V io l en ce She l t e r Di re c t o r s

Table6.ImmigrationandLanguage

Percentofsurvivorswho… Mean Range

ArefromoutsidetheU.S. 12.2% 0‐30 Areinthecountryillegally 9.9% 0‐25 SpeakEnglish luently 87.9% 75‐100 SpeakalanguageotherthanEnglish 19.1% 0‐75

Table7.SubstanceAbuseandMentalIll-ness

Percentofsurvivorswho… Mean Range Haveaproblemwithalcohol 23.9% 0‐80 Haveaproblemwithdrugs 32.5% 0‐85 Haveamentalillness 31.3% 0‐75

Table8.Disability

Percentofsurvivorswho… Mean Range Haveaphysicaldisability 10.1% 1‐25 Haveanintellectualdisability 13.6% 0‐45

Table9.VictimizationandSafety

Percentofsurvivorswho… Mean Range Asachild,werethesurvivorofchildabuse 54.6% 24‐90

Areinimminentdanger 54.3% 3‐100

Reportedtheirvictimizationtopolice 39.3% 0‐100

Haveasafetyplanwhentheycomeintotheshelter 30.8% 0‐100

Haveasafetyplanwhentheyleavetheshelter 98.8% 90‐100

Table10.SpecialPopulations

Percentofsurvivorswho… Mean Range Areage65orolder 4.5% 0‐15 AreLGBT 4.4% 0‐20 Arethesuspectedvictimofhumantraf icking 2.9% 0‐10

Figure5:DrugUsebyTypeofIPVVictimization

MaleSurvivors

LGBTIndividuals

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2015 Fam i l y V io l en ce She l t e r Di re c t o r s

HumanTraf ickingVictims

BarrierstoServiceUtilization

Figure4.PerceptionofBarrierstoHelp-Seeking

Figure5:DrugUsebyTypeofIPVVictimization

Conclusion

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2015 Fam i l y V io l en ce She l t e r Di re c t o r s

Endnotes

ReferencesBrownridge, D.A. (2006). Partner violence against women with

disabilities: Prevalence, risk, and explanations. ViolenceAgainstWomen,12(9),805‐822.

Dunn, J.L., & Powell‐Williams, M. (2007). “Everybody makeschoices”: Victim advocates and the social construction ofbatteredwomen’svictimizationandagency.ViolenceAgainstWomen,13(10),977‐1001.

Fisher, B.S., Zink, T., Pabst, S.,Regan, S.,&Rinto,B. (2003). Ser‐vices andprogramming for older abusedwomen:TheOhioexperience.JournalofElderAbuse&Neglect,15(2),67‐83.

Grossman, S.F., Lundy, M., George, C.C., Crabtree‐Nelson, S.(2010). Shelter and service receipt for victims of domesticviolenceinIllinois.JournalofInterpersonalViolence,25(11),2077‐2093.

Hahn, J.W., McCormick, M.C., Silverman, J.G., Robinson, E.B., &Koenen,K.C.(2014).Examiningtheimpactofdisabilitysta‐tus on intimate partner violence victimization in a popula‐tionsample.JournalofInterpersonalViolence,29(17),3062‐3085.

Helfrich, C.A., Fujiura, G.T., Rutkowski‐Kmitta, V. (2008).Mentalhealthdisordersandfunctioningofwomenindomesticvio‐lenceshelters.JournalofInterpersonalViolence,27(4),437‐453.

Helfrich,C.A.,&Simpson,E.K.(2006).Improvingservicesforles‐bianclients:Whatdodomesticviolenceagenciesneedtodo?HealthCareforWomenInternational,27(4),344‐361.

Lundy, M., & Grossman, S.F. (2009). Domestic violence servicesusers: A comparison of older and youngerwomen victims.JournalofFamilyViolence,24(5),297‐309.

Macy,R.J.,Giattina,M.C.,Montijo,N.J.,&Ermentrout,D.M.(2010).Domesticviolenceandsexual assault agencydirectors’per‐spective on services that help survivors. Violence AgainstWomen,16(10), 1138-1161.

ResourcesNationalCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolence(http://www.ncadv.org/)

TheNationalCoalitionAgainstDomesticViolencewebsiteseeksgenerallytobringattentionaboutdomesticvio‐lencetomainstreamsociety.Inadditiontoprovidingassistancetovictimsandotheragenciesintheformofpro‐grammingandeducation,theorganizationprovidesinformationaboutcollationsagainstdomesticviolenceatthestatelevelandpromoteseventscombattingdomesticviolence.

TheNationalDomesticViolenceHotline(http://www.thehotline.org/)

TheNationalDomesticViolenceHotlinewebsiteoffersavarietyofdifferentservicesandpublicationsrelatedtodomesticviolenceaswellasinformationforsurvivors,family,friends,andabusivepartners.Thesitealsopromotesproviding24/7phonesupportandtheabilitytolivechatwithanadvocate.Informationforindividualsthatwanttocombatdomesticviolenceisalsoavailable.ToseekassistancethroughtheNationalDomesticViolenceHotlinecall1-800-799-7233.

TexasCouncilonFamilyViolence(http://www.tcfv.org/)

TheTexasCouncilonFamilyViolencefocusesonpreventingfamilyviolence,supportingserviceproviders,andin‐formingpolicy.ThewebsiteoffersresourcesunderscoringfactsandstatisticsoffamilyviolenceinTexasaswellasenactedlegislationandasectionhonoringvictimsoffamilyviolence.Inaddition,acompletelistoffamilyviolencesheltersinTexasismaintainedbythewebsite.

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Rutherford,A.&McKay,J.(2013).Fromsocialpuritytowomen’sliberation:AhistoryofviolenceagainstwomenintheUnitedStates.InJ.A.Sigal&F.L.Denmark(Eds.),Violenceagainstgirlsandwomen:InternationalperspectiveVol.1 (pp.5‐20).SantaBarbara,CA:Praeger.

Schumacher, J.A. & Holt, D.J. (2012). Domestic violence shelterresidents’ substance abuse treatment needs and options.AggressionandViolentBehavior,17(3),188‐197.

Walters,M.L.,Chen,J.,&Breiding,M.J.(2013).Thenationalinti-matepartnerandsexualviolencesurvey(NISVS):2010 ind-ingsonvictimizationbysexualorientation.RetrievedfromtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionwebsite:http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/NISVS_SO indings.pdf

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Macy, R.J., Giattina,M., Sangster, T.H., Crosby, C., &Montijo, N.J.(2009).Domesticviolenceandsexualassaultservices:Insidetheblackbox.AggressionandViolentBehavior,14(5),359‐373.

Mears, D.P., & Visher, C.A. (2005). Trends in understanding ad‐dressing domestic violence. Journal of Interpersonal Vio-lence,20(2),204‐211.

Murdaugh,C.,Hunt,S.,Sowell,R.,&Santana, I. (2004).Domesticviolence in Hispanics in the Southeastern United States: Asurveyandneedsanalysis.JournalofFamilyViolence,19(2),107‐115.

Murray, S.B. (1988). The unhappymarriage of theory and prac‐tice: An analysis of a battered women’s shelter. NationalWomen’sStudiesAssociationJournal,1(1),75‐92.

Riggs,D.S.,Caul ield,M.B.,&Street,A.E.(2000).Riskfordomesticviolence:Factorsassociatedwithperpetrationandvictimiza‐tion.JournalofClinicalPsychology,56(10),1289‐1316.

Fam i l y V io l en ce She l t e r Di re c t o r s

Authors:

2014 Fam i l y V io l en ce She l t e r Di re c t o r s

We’re on the web www.crimevictimsinstitute.org

CrimeVictims’InstituteAdvisoryBoard

Victoria Camp, Austin Consultant Dottie Carmichael, College Station Texas A&M University Blanca Burciaga, Ft. Worth Director, Victim Assistance Unit Stefani Carter, Austin Robert Duncan TTU System Chancellor Ana Estevez, Amarillo District Judge

Rodman Goode, Cedar Hill Law Enforcement Teacher Ann Matthews, Jourdanton Domestic Violence Henry Porretto, Galveston Chief, Galveston Police Department Geoffrey Puryear, Georgetown District Attorney Richard L. Reynolds, Austin Psychotherapist

Stephanie Anne Schulte, El Paso ICU Nurse Jane Shafer, San Antonio San Antonio PD Victim Liaison Debbie Unruh, Amarillo Captain, Randall County Sheriff’s Office Ms. Mary Anne Wiley, Austin Office of the Governor Mark Wilson, Fort Worth Police Officer, Fort Worth Police Department

TexasStateUniversitySystemBoardofRegents

Dr. Jaime R. Garza, Chairman San Antonio Rossanna Salazar, Vice Chairman Austin Charlie Amato San Antonio Kevin J. Lilly Houston

Ron Mitchell Horseshoe Bay David Montagne Beaumont Vernon Reaser III Bellaire William F. Scott Nederland

Donna Williams Arlington Ana Sandoval Student Regent, Alpine Brian McCall Chancellor