NCJ Number
155595
Journal
Violence and Victims Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1994) Pages: 287-296
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
A national survey of 142 programs for abused spouses focused on the extent to which these programs make special efforts to understand and accommodate the needs of minority populations, because partner abuse literature reveals that treatment is less effective with minorities than with their white counterparts.
Abstract
The participants were those who responded to an instrument mailed to a purposive nonprobability sample of 212 programs for battered spouses and partners. Results revealed that little or no special effort is being made to understand or address the needs of minority populations. This colorblind approach lacks the effectiveness of a culturally competent approach, which promotes an environment that helps minority groups succeed in treatment. The major characteristics of an organizational transformation towards cultural competence occur when these programs take four actions: (1) network with the minority community, (2) locate outside consultants with expertise in working with minority clients, (3) obtain information concerning service delivery and programming for minority clients, and (4) have at least one bilingual counselor. These four characteristics accounted for .58 of the variance in the minority-focused activities. Tables and 28 references (Author abstract modified)