5 Recently Published Books Domestic Violence Programs Should Have on Their Shelves

If you have been a reader of this blog for any length of time you know well how I feel about sharing information with all staff and volunteers and ensuring materials and learning opportunities are readily available. Hopefully every DV program has a reference library for staff members. Hopefully every DV program keeps materials updated and is receptive to suggestions in growing and enhancing your knowledge hub.

Along with the classics such as  Getting Free: You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your Life (New Leaf)
by Ginny NiCarthy, some newer books that should be included  and available to staff and volunteers are:

Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others
by Laura van Dernoot Lipsky – If you can only afford to purchase one item for the library this year, this is the book it should be. Written with humor and grace by a long time advocate, social worker and educator who understands the effects of doing advocacy work, both obvious and unseen. I cannot say enough about this helpful book ( a full review will be in a future post) and, if possible, more than one copy should be ordered.

Time's Up: How to Escape Abusive and Stalking Relationships Guide
 by Susan Murphy Milano – Full of step –by – step tools to assist victims escaping violence. See review HERE.

 Judging Victims: Why We Stigmatize Survivors, and How They Reclaim Respect
by Jennifer L. Dunn – from Amazon.com: 'Why didn't she resist?' 'Why is he telling us only now?' 'Why can't she move on?' Unpacking the questions that cast victims as deviants, Jennifer Dunn critically examines why we stigmatize survivors of rape, battering, incest, and clergy abuse - and how they reclaim their identities. Dunn explores the shifting perceptions over time of victims as blameworthy, blameless, pathetic, or heroic figures. She also links those images to their real-world consequences, demonstrating that they dominate the ways in which people think about intimate violence and individual responsibility.

Dangerous Exits: Escaping Abusive Relationships in Rural America (Critical Issues in Crime and Society)
 by Walter S. DeKeseredy and Martin D. Schwartz -  highlights the often under-researched, over neglected area of how battered women living in rural areas leave abusive relationships

 Dream Big: A Simple, Complicated Idea to Stop Family Violence
by Casey Gwinn with contributions by Gael Strack - "Casey Gwinn's work with women and families that are survivors of domestic abuse is nothing short of extraordinary. I have been inspired by his vision and dedication to ending the cycle of violence against women in this country and I hope Dream Big will inspire others as well."
-- Reese Witherspoon, Actress, Avon Global Ambassador

The Concept of Informed Advocacy in Victim Services Organizations

Informed Advocacy

A central mandate in any policy I have created for staff or volunteers (not to mention, myself) is that they practice informed advocacy. Informed advocacy is a fluid practice of seeking relevant, up-to-date knowledge that will enhance their effectiveness as an advocate. Informed advocacy is self- propelled. There is no stagnant mindset resulting in “No one told me how” or “ I didn’t know” responses to unresolved problems.

This management mindset not only ensures better outcomes for the crime victims we are advocating for but it is also empowering  for the advocate doing the work. Advocates are inspired to be pro-active, to research and to think outside the box.  The boundaries, of course, are the ethics established in any victim services agency. Those are rigid - with no exceptions - to ensure confidentiality, safety and professionalism. Thorough staff training in the beginning of any advocacy career provides a reference point. Once staff are trained on  ethics and best practices, trust must follow. The onus of laying this foundation is on the administration. Beyond that, agencies must provide the tools, share information, allow free discussion and encourage new ideas.

Some victim services agencies/ domestic violence shelters have become notorious for their own power and control issues leading to disenfranchised staff members and unappreciated volunteers.  Only an empowered staff can selflessly and effectively empower crime victims.  To achieve this paradigm shift administration must open the door to staff and volunteers. Involve those effected in grant writing and reporting. Allow staff to do internet research, involve them in writing a social media policy and participating in outreach, encourage staff to go to trainings and meetings and network in the community. Support self improvement, further education and even career advancement within or outside your workplace.

Without this freedom, many advocates, after a time, experience disengagement, apathy and perceive themselves as increasingly ineffective. In the practice of informed advocacy an advocate owns their actions, contributes to the formation of their professional legacy and enhances their resume, along the way they learn to provide the best service for victims and their families.

Policies that expect staff to take initiative without worrying about upsetting a stagnant administrative mindset is an investment of trust that is returned many times over. Encourage activism. Employee involvement is creating an environment in which advocates have an impact on decisions and actions that affect their daily work environment and policies. Keeping the workplace environment inclusive and alive translates to providing the best and most innovative services to those who seek our help.

Critical Ethics Training Every Victim Advocate Should Have

Training information and notices are typically relegated to my Advocate Trainings blog however this ethics training put together by the Office for Victims of Crime Training and Technical Assistance Center contains an overview of what I consider essential for anyone advocating for victims of interpersonal violence and other crimes. All materials are downloadable for an experienced advocate/ trainer to conduct the class including manuals, power point slides and movie vignettes. The following topics included in this training should be mandatory for everyone working in the field:
-Boundary Issues
-Confidentiality
-Legal Advocacy vs. Legal Advice
-Professional Competence

From the site:
This training, Ethics in Victim Services, explores common ethical conflicts and how to apply ethical standards and decisionmaking to resolve them. There are several goals associated with this training:
-To increase self-awareness and understanding of how attitudes and beliefs influence responses to victims of crime.
-To become familiar with and be able to apply the Standards for Victim Assistance Programs and Providers developed by the National Victim Assistance Standards Consortium.
-To recognize when a person is acting in an ethically questionable way.
-To use a standard decisionmaking process when faced with an ethical dilemma.
The participants will learn information and skills related to:
-Values and responses to victims.
-Ethics in victim services.
-Standard decisionmaking process.
Target Audience
The training is designed for those who work in the field of victim services with at least 2 years of experience. The training material is useful for both supervisors and direct services staff.
To be most effective and best use the participatory techniques in the training, enrollment should be limited to 40 participants.
Instructor Requirements
Instructors for Ethics in Victim Services should have
practical experience as a victim advocate/counselor.
Experience conducting training, particularly experiential and interactive (rather than lecture-based) programs.