Domestic Violence and Abuse - Assignment Example

Introduction

Domestic violence is known using many terminologies including spousal abuse, battering, domestic abuse and family violence. The behavior transpires when a partner in a domestic setting abuses the other. The abuse takes many forms such as sexual, emotional and physical abuse. The abuse involves one partner taking dominance and control over the other (Smith & Segal, 2016). Though domestic violence occurs in many homes, in many circumstances it ends up being denied, excused or denied especially if the abuse is psychological. Physical abuses are easily identified through evidence of physical form. Smith and Segal argue that abusers in a domestic violence tend to use implicate fear, guilt and shame to intimidate their victims (2016). Domestic violence is not biased in any one side; it occurs in all ethnic backgrounds, at different economic levels, within all ages and among heterosexual as well as same-sex partners. However, in many cases, women end up being the victims.

Why support services work for victims of domestic violence

Supporting services work for victims of domestic violence should be voluntarily done by those with the ability to do so. Numerous reasons are advocating the need to support these victims. The help and support can be done in many ways including working with the victims in court, hospitals as well as in their residential homes. Domestic violence victims should be supported to help them improve their economic and psychological independence. During the abuse, the freedom and independence of victims is taken away from them. They leave them being unable to engage in economically beneficial activities. They are also affected psychologically which results in compromise of their thinking independence. Supporting the victims ensures they regain their independence hence enabling them to fit and take part in socioeconomic activities ("The Social Work Response to Domestic Violence", 2016)

Most victims of domestic violence victims end up developing physical and mental health problems. Supporting the victims is, therefore, essential to prevent the possible consequences such as depression and substance abuse. Routine screening, especially for girls and women, should be regularly done to detect possibilities of domestic violence. If detected, a well-designed plan should be used to protect the victim. This support should be done to help in identifying and intervening before the acts and results of domestic victimization develops beyond the peak. Supporting the victims helps in reducing the long-term effects that may result from violence prevalence ("The Social Work Response to Domestic Violence", 2016)

Effectiveness of support groups in affecting DV

Support groups have been very effective in affecting domestic violence. Their impact has been broad and with numerous benefits. Their help to the victims of domestic violence have been aimed in the early stages of violence with a goal of identifying and intervening before the violence develops beyond limits ("The Social Work Response to Domestic Violence", 2016). This has impacted the life of victims in many ways. For instance, they are protected from later effects associated with violence which is more harmful. For example, intercepting a domestic violence involving physical harm ensures the victims is protected early enough before more dangerous harm takes place. Stress and depression occur from violence involving mental and psychological abuse. Stress and depression build with time and their long-term effects may be dangerous not only health-wise but also in decision making. Support groups are tasked with preventing all these repercussions. They achieve this through identifying the victims either through screening or reports and calls. They after that take the necessary steps to intervene. Through well-established plans, they able to get the victims out of the situations and prevent them from more violence.Additionally, they offer them guidance on how to react in cases of similar cases of violence, guide them on how to cope with what happened and continue with their lives.

Effectiveness of Educational Groups

Educational groups have been very effective in affecting domestic violence. Their significance in the vicinity of domestic violence has been well brought. Educational group offer their support services through the use of informing and educating people. Lack of information has been established to be one of the key issues preventing victims of violence from reporting those manipulating them. Moreover, lack of information leaves the victims without knowledge of what to do in the course of and after domestic violence occurs and how to react. Educational groups have been effective in providing people, especially girls and women as they are more vulnerable, with information and knowledge on various issues. They also educate on how to prevent violence from taking place in the first place.Firstly, they educate potential victims on what to do in case of violence, the first step being to report the incidence to the relevant authorities. In case of serious sexual or physical harms that may be impossible to be taken to authorities for reporting, the nearest hospital should be visited for the appropriate medication ("Domestic Violence: What to do as a Victim", 2016). Secondly, they educate on how to cope with cases of violence after they are solved. This is to bring back harmony and facilitate forgiveness. Thirdly, they educate on how potential victims should relate with people close to them and share their problems with them. This enables them to get multiple bits of advice on what to do and choose the best method. Sharing with other people also helps in reducing stress and depression that a victim is maybe suffering from. Through this informative and educative techniques, the educational groups have been able to develop informed consent to people. This has led to a reduction in cases of violence, more prompt reporting of violence incidences and healthy recovery by domestic violence victims.

Why these service help in developing copies skills and lower DV victims stress level

Services offered by support and educational groups play a significant role by helping in development of skills and lowering victims stress level. Certain skills have been considered necessary in all phases of domestic violence; whether it's before violence, during the violence or after violence. Social skills are one of those developed. The services help potential and active victims to develop social skills. They enables them to interact with those people and share their tragedies and experiences. With this, they can share and discuss alternative solutions to eradicate the violence facing them. Sharing helps people to talk about the issues deep in their hearts. Through this, stress levels are reduced through consolation from those they are sharing with.

Why is this important in Social worker? How DV affects family

Helping domestic violence victims is critical in social work. Not only does it help the-the victims personally but also their performance at their workplaces. The roles of social workers is to help people overcome day-to-day difficulties.Helping victims to reduce stress and develop to cope with the experiences is therefore important for the social workers as it satisfies their responsibilities. Domestic violence affects a family in numerous ways. Thawley (2016) argues that children and women are the subjects mostly affected.

One of the effects is change of behaviors. The victims of domestic violence may end up overreacting and becoming aggressive and defiant. This results from traumatization which dissociate them from the others. For instance, the woman or children may decide to run away from home due to violence. The relationship in a family is also destroyed. The closeness is between family members’ drifts away. It has been noted that children who have undergone violence tend to seek alternative secure bases as they feel insecure at home. This, in most cases, leads them to join gangs and other unsafe groups. The emotions of the family members are also affected. Family members should be loving and caring. Domestic violence replaces these with hatred and distrust. This corrupts health relationships as it damages the attachment between the members. For instance, when there is violence from the parent, the children often develop a hatred attitude toward him or her. ("Violence against children", 2016). Domestic violence also destroys the normal functioning of a family. This occurs as a result of the fear created through threatening and experiencing violence. Additionally, it leads to reduced social skills among the family members in general ("Community Services - Effects of domestic violence", 2016).

Explain the limited resources

The resources of fighting domestic violence are limited. This is mostly because the issues are not as prevalent as other violence such as those associated with theft. The ministries and agencies related to addressing issues of domestic violence are therefore limited. This negatively affects the issue of domestic violence as matters about such violence ends up taking time to be solved.

How coping is essential in life especially for traumatic event

Coping is very fundamental in life, especially for traumatic events. A traumatic event is an incident that results in psychological, emotional or physical harm bringing with it excessive stress and distressing experience. Domestic violence may lead to such an event resulting in the victims becoming frightened, experience denial and become depressed. The victims require coping with these experiences to avoid being affected by long-term adverse effects that my result. They should be empowered to counteract the effects associated with the trauma resulting from domestic violence victims should be guided on how to cope with these traumatic experiences. Empowerment ensure victims access information to make informed decisions regarding their interests such as through post-victimization assistance (EMPOWERING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 2011).

How we need to find alternative ways for dealing with trauma not only for DV victims

Additionally, there is need to find alternative ways of dealing with trauma even for other victims other than those involved in domestic violence. The connection should be created to make the victims associate with each other and eradicate loneliness associated with trauma. The victims should also have hope by overcoming the horrible experiences through self-consolation that others have also gone through e same experiences and recovered. Talking and sharing is also a good alternative in overcoming traumas. It aids in healing the trauma and reducing instances of stress. Additionally, taking personal responsibility is another alternative. Those undergoing trauma should take control of their lives and avoid being misguided by others ("Dealing with the Effects of Trauma", 2012)

Discuss the strength and limitations of the support services. The implication for Social Workers in group work, and community work

Support services are surrounded with strengths and limitations. Their aim is helping victims of domestic violence. They do this through supporting them psychologically, financially and legally. A major strength is that they are equipped with expert personnel who can guide the victims and counsel them on how to cope with the experiences they have undergone. The support services have the connection with authorities and law enforcers. Through this connection, they are able to help sufficiently the victims get justice. However, the support services are also faced with limitations. They lack enough funds to carry out their services and hire and maintain well-experienced personnel to help the victims such as in court (Sanders-McDonagh, Neville, &Nolas, 2016). In other cases, the support service may identify a victim, but the victim fails to cooperate as he or she does not want to sue the oppressor. This leaves the support services with no alternative as they cannot sue the oppressor if the victim refuses to cooperate. Social workers are faced with an implication in group work and community work. Most of these implication are similar to the limitations discussed above on support services such as lack of adequate funds and timid victims who are not ready to sue their oppressors. According to Murray, most victims are usually not ready to share and disclose their experiences in a formal setting, which leaves the social workers with inability to help (Sanders-McDonagh, Neville, &Nolas, 2016).