NCJ Number
63474
Date Published
1978
Length
32 pages
Annotation
A SPOUSE ABUSE SHELTER IN ORANGE COUNTY, FLA., IS EVALUATED IN ITS SECOND YEAR OF OPERATION.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION FOCUSES ON THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF THE SHELTER, RATHER THAN ON ITS IMPACT. EVALUATION DATA WERE OBTAINED THROUGH GENERAL OBSERVATION OF THE PROGRAM, ANALYSIS OF AGENCY RECORDS, AND INTERVIEWS WITH STAFF MEMBERS, COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORKERS, AND POLICE OFFICERS. A REVIEW OF CLIENT DATA FOUND THAT 85 PERCENT OF CLIENTS HAD PREVIOUSLY LEFT THEIR SPOUSES, 70 PERCENT MORE THAN ONCE. OVER 80 PERCENT SAID THEIR SPOUSES HAD USED ALCOHOL PRIOR TO OR DURING ASSAULTS. ONLY 29 PERCENT NOTIFIED POLICE OF ASSAULTS, AND 4 PERCENT REQUESTED THAT THE SPOUSE BE ARRESTED. ONLY 16 PERCENT PLANNED TO RETURN TO THEIR SPOUSES, AFTER LEAVING THE SHELTER. SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND POLICE OFFICERS EXPRESSED A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD THE SHELTER AND ITS STAFF. A MAJORITY OF THE OFFICERS INTERVIEWED SAID THEY HAD REFERRED WOMEN TO THE SHELTER. A MAJOR DEFICIENCY OF THE SHELTER WAS THE LACK OF FUNDS TO HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO PROVIDE AROUND-THE-CLOCK SUPERVISION, CHILD CARE, AND MAINTENANCE. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE LACK OF FOLLOWUP INFORMATION ON CLIENTS ONCE THEY LEFT THE SHELTER. THE EVALUATION REPORT INCLUDES METHODOLOGY, FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, CASE STUDIES OF CLIENTS, DETAILS OF SHELTER ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATION, SUPPORTING DATA, AND A COPY OF THE INFORMATION SHEET GIVEN CLIENTS.