NCJ Number
91182
Date Published
1981
Length
69 pages
Annotation
Three case studies demonstrate local responses to the problem of domestic violence, focusing on Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) and locally funded activities in five California communities, two shelter programs in Michigan partially supported by HHS funds, and domestic violence intervention activities on three military bases.
Abstract
California was selected for one study because it has progressive legislation and services targeted at battered women and numerous grassroots organizations. It also provides the opportunity to examine how domestic violence programs service Hispanic and Asian women. Interviews with program staff and grassroots organizers showed that specialized community-based programs were most directly involved with family violence problems. Respondents perceived needs for long-term planning, more aggressive work with batterers, counseling to minimize trauma to children, more information dissemination about resources and legal options for battered women, and increased criminal justice system responsiveness. The second case study examined two shelter programs in Michigan's Ionia and Macomb Counties which have developed extensive linkages with other local services agencies. Keys to these programs' acceptance in the service system and the community appear to be their efforts to establish interagency linkages, high visibility, and ongoing public awareness activities. The last study highlights activities occurring on and near Camp Pendleton, a Marine base in California, to help military families experiencing spouse abuse. It also summarizes interviews with military personnel from a large Army post and an Air Force installation. Through the commitment of a few military personnel and the staff of a shelter in the neighboring community, the spouse abuse program at Camp Pendleton has evolved into an exemplary model. In contrast, little activity directed toward victims of spouse abuse existed at the other military installations visited. See also NCJ-91181 and NCJ-91183 for related materials.