Sexual Assault Agency Research Articles

Organizational Readiness and Response During COVID-19: Reflections From a Sexual Assault Agency Serving a Predominately African American Community.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic forced victim service organizations to establish new service provision protocols to include remote/telehealth services. We conducted N = 12 qualitative interviews with sexual assault advocates working in an urban agency in a predominately African American U.S. city to understand how they adapted services to meet the needs of their community. A thematic analysis revealed this organization was under-prepared for prolonged interruption of in-person services. Even though this agency was able to create telehealth options, many clients did not have the financial and technological resources to utilize these services. Advocates reported that survivors expressed a strong preference for in-person services, which afford more privacy and confidentiality. The pervasive digital divide within this urban community limited survivors' access to comprehensive services and jeopardized their safety.

중학생과 고등학생 성폭력 피해경험에 관한 특성 분석

This study attempted to provide basic data by identifying differences according to the characteristics of adolescents' sexual violence and perpetrators. The subjects of this study were 228 case of middle school and high school students who visited a sexual assault agency in D city from January 2018 to July 2022. The results shows statistically significant differences in duration of assaults depending on graders of sexual assault victims, and statistically significant differences in types of assaults depending upon gender of assaults are presented. Depending on whether the victim had disabilities, statistically significant differences in the offender-victim relationship. Depending on whether the victim had two parent family, statistically significant differences in the offender-victim relationship, types of assaults. On characteristic of sexual assault by offender's characteristic, there were statistically significant differences in types, location of assaults depending upon offender's gender. There were significant differences in type, duration, frequency, location, time of assault depending upon offender's age. Depending on the offender-victim relationship, statistically significant differences in type, duration, frequency, location at assault are shown.

Food security for survivors of intimate partner violence: Understanding the role of food in survivor well-being.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and food security are two leading public health issues that disproportionately impact women in the United States. Despite this connection, the relationship between IPV and food security has been relatively unexplored. While food security is a known factor in increased well-being, it is not often explicitly included in care for survivors. As part of a larger study on survivors of domestic violence who are receiving services from a domestic violence and sexual assault agency in the Southern United States, we analysed participant responses (n=26) to various scales (i.e. depression, anxiety, PTSD, disability, well-being, hope, food security) to determine the relationships between mental health and food-related variables. Importantly, findings from our study show that survivors experience low food security at higher rates (53.8%) than the U.S. national average (11.5%). Additionally, the proportion of survivors in our sample who are receiving some form of food aid and remain food insecure is high (26.9%), leading to questions about the adequacy of food aid. Finally, our results underpin the relationship between food security and mental health for survivors, as low food security is positively correlated with depression, PTSD, disability, trouble concentrating, lack of hope and decreased well-being. These findings have implications for how we evaluate food security and the role it plays in well-being for survivors.

Examination of a Culturally Specific Sexual Assault Intervention for African American Female Survivors

ABSTRACT Despite the prevalence of sexual assault against African American women, there are few culturally specific interventions available to address the unique needs of these survivors. This article reports the results of a qualitative case study that examined the experiences and outcomes of 12 African American female survivors participating in a community-based, culturally specific group therapy program through an Afrocentric sexual assault agency. Results indicated that participants reported overall positive outcomes and satisfaction with the intervention. This study provides a preliminary understanding of the potential benefits of utilizing a culturally specific approach to sexual assault service provision in community-based settings. By documenting the experiences and outcomes of women participating in a culturally specific group intervention, this study helps bridge the gap between academic and practice-based knowledge and sheds new light on the value of culturally specific sexual assault services for African American survivors.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Service Providers' Perspectives on Nigerian Immigrants' Domestic Violence Experiences.

We investigated 13 domestic violence (DV) and sexual assault agency directors' perspectives regarding Nigerian immigrants' experiences of violence, DV-related service needs, and best strategies for providing those needs. Directors across five U.S. states were surveyed. Descriptive analyses showed the most common DV types were controlling behavior and cultural/traditional. The most important DV support needs were informational, informal, and legal. Formal support from DV agencies, support groups, and law enforcement was rated the most helpful strategies. Participants wanted to learn more about Nigerian immigrants' DV experiences. Findings highlight implications for the development of Nigerian-specific DV services.

Sex-Trafficked Survivors: The Relation Between Posttraumatic Growth and Quality of Life

ABSTRACTSex-trafficking experiences and the psychological traumas generated often inspire profound, behavioral-life changes, which are explored in this quantitative study. Correlations between posttraumatic growth (PTG) and quality of life (QOL) were investigated with (N = 109) females, ages 18–62 years old and sex trafficked as youth or adults in the United States. Recruitment occurred using random and snowball sampling from sexual-assault agencies in the United States. The PTG and QOL inventories were used to collect data and a Pearson’s r analysis was conducted to test the correlation between PTG and QOL. Results indicated a weak correlation r(.253) = .008, p < .01 between variables. Multiple regression analysis revealed Personal Strength (R2 = .067, p < .01, β = 0.259), Appreciation of Life (R2 = .067, p < .01, β = 0.258), and New Possibilities (R2 = .049, p < .05, β = 0.221) as the most significant PTG predictors of QOL. Pearson’s r analysis of the QOL life domains indicated that Creativity, r(.256) = .007, p < .01, and Help r(.250) = .009, p < .01, were significant PTG outcomes. The study indicated a weak yet positive correlation between PTG and QOL.

What Do Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Service Providers Need to Know About Survivors to Deliver Services?

Using survey data, we investigate perspectives of 80 program directors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault agencies regarding whether gathering specific information at intake is helpful in determining survivors' needs for five service areas: legal advocacy, medical advocacy, support group, counseling, and shelter. We explore whether directors' opinions of information-type usefulness differ by type of service agency (single- or dual-focus). Findings show directors perceive the information most helpful to early service provision includes survivors' goals, experiences of violence and trauma, and health status. MANOVA results show no significant differences among directors from single- or dual-focus agencies.

Providers' perspectives about helpful information for evaluating domestic violence and sexual assault services: a practice note.

This practice note presents findings from a statewide survey of domestic violence and sexual assault agency directors (n = 80; 77% response rate), regarding their opinions about the outcome information that should be collected from victims during evaluations of five commonly provided services: legal advocacy, medical advocacy, group services, individual counseling, and shelter. The findings showed that four information types were repeatedly ranked among the most important to collect to understand whether services helped victims including victims' satisfaction with services, victims' progress toward meeting their goals, changes in the extent of violence and/or trauma that victims experienced, and changes in victims' knowledge.

Directors’ Opinions About Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Service Strategies That Help Survivors

Little evidence is available regarding recommended practices for domestic violence and sexual assault services. Although there is a literature concerned with these services, few studies have investigated recommended practices from the perspective of community providers. In addition, researchers have not yet investigated the utility of specific domestic violence and sexual assault service delivery strategies. To help address these knowledge needs, the authors investigated agency directors' perspectives on six types of services typically offered by domestic violence and sexual assault agencies including crisis, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, support group, individual counseling, and shelter. The authors also examined the extent to which directors' opinions about service delivery practices differed based on key agency's characteristics, specifically the services offered (i.e., domestic violence, sexual assault, or both) and agency location (i.e., rural, suburban, or urban). A sample of 97 (94% response rate) North Carolina agency directors completed a survey on recommended service delivery practices. The authors conducted descriptive analyses to identify directors' overall opinions about service delivery practices and used multivariate analysis of variance to examine whether directors' opinions about service delivery practices differed according to agency characteristics. Findings showed differences in directors' opinions about service delivery practices based on their agency's service location. Practice recommendations were garnered from the study's results.

Percentage of Named Offenders on the Registry at the Time of the Assault

Sex offender registries were designed to protect the public from convicted sex offenders and future sexual violence. This study determines the percentage of clients seen at a sexual assault agency whose attacker was on the registry at the time the attack occurred. According to case files, only 3.7% of the identified offenders could possibly have been identified as a registered sex offender at the time of the attack. While considering the limitations of this methodology, the findings highlight a significant limitation of registries and support the idea that registries cannot be relied on exclusively to prevent sexual abuse.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Service Goal Priorities

We investigated agency directors' perspectives about how service goals should be prioritized for domestic violence and sexual assault service subtypes, including crisis, legal advocacy, medical advocacy, counseling, support group, and shelter services. A sample of 97 (94% response rate) North Carolina domestic violence and/or sexual assault agency directors completed a survey asking participants to rank the importance of service goals. Overall, participants considered emotional support provision to be a critical service goal priority across all service types. Social support and self-care service strategies were deemed less important. However, prioritization of other service goals varied depending on the service type. Statistically significant differences on service goal prioritization based on key agency characteristics were also examined, and agency characteristics were found to relate to differences in service goal prioritization.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agency Directors’ Perspectives on Services That Help Survivors

Community-based domestic violence and sexual assault service providers need sound knowledge regarding services that work well to improve the lives of survivors. This exploratory, qualitative research aimed to help provide such knowledge by investigating domestic violence and sexual assault agency executive directors' ( n = 14) opinions regarding what services are most helpful for survivors. In-depth interviews with directors provided findings about (a) critical services for survivors; (b) essential service delivery practices; (c) ideal services that are challenging to deliver because of funding and other barriers; and (d) areas of service delivery practice uncertainty due to a lack of best practices.

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services

More than 20 years ago, concerns were raised about whether domestic violence and sexual assault agencies need for stable funding would conflict with the values that initiated these respective movements. Since then, the movements have evolved considerably. Therefore, it is timely to investigate the challenges domestic violence and sexual assault agencies face today. This exploratory study used focus groups and interviews to identify the challenges facing North Carolina domestic violence and sexual assault movements from the perspectives of agency directors and funding staff. Using an open-coding approach, seven challenges were identified including funding, sustainability, community norms, tension between grassroots versus professional service providers, lack of attention to sexual assault, the need for welcoming services for all survivors, and the need for comprehensive services to help survivors with co-occurring mental illnesses and substance abuse problems. The findings also pointed to recommendations for ways to address these challenges.

Predicting Women's Perceptions of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agency Helpfulness

Study goals were to assess if community agency interactions, the characteristics of services provided by staff, and the combinations of services received can predict women's perceptions of victim service helpfulness around domestic violence and sexual assault. Data were collected from agency representatives in 26 communities, and both women who used services and others living in the community (n = 1,509 women). Women found nonprofit victim services more helpful based on staff behavior in those agencies and the extent to which women felt control when working with staff; helpfulness of services was enhanced when agencies interacted with the legal system and other community agencies.

The intern and the challenging client

The symptomatology and clinical treatments for physically and sexually abused children and adolescents are addressed in this article, with a special focus on adolescent clients who live with domestically violent and substance abusing families. A case presentation provides a detailed look at an intern's experience confronting the multitude of issues occurring simultaneously in the life of an adolescent client. A retrospective look at the intern's lack of experience and supervision while treating this adolescent client highlights the need for research into the overwhelming experience of interns in underfunded, understaffed and undersupervised domestic violence and sexual assault agencies.