Addressing domestic violence is a complex endeavor for social workers and survivors. The collaborative relationship focuses on two things above all else: safety and empowerment through self-determination. Many times it seems these goals are at odds with each other. When survivors end relationships, persons harming them, often becomes more dangerous. When survivors remain, abuse usually worsens. Our responsibility as social workers is to create, maintain, advocate for, and make accessible the supports and resources survivors need to make their decisions. We stand with survivors and their families as they navigate extremely difficult times, weaving a net of support that strengthens and grows each year. Despite these efforts, when Covid-19 came, that net of support strained and tore just as many survivors needed it most.
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic violence refers to the behavioral patterns employed by one person to maintain power and control over another person in an intimate relationship (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2020). These behaviors can encompass physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse. Often they manifest in a pattern known as the cycle of violence. Tension rises leading to a violent episode, followed by a honeymoon phase of remorse. Soon enough tension begins to build once more (Women’s Center Youth and Family Services, 2020). On and on this cycle continues, and the result can be fatal. In the United States 1 of every 6 homicides is committed by the partner of the deceased (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, 2020). Domestic violence is also widespread, present in all groups regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, socioeconomic level, and other factors. Nationally, 1 of every 4 women and 1 of every 10 men report experiencing domestic violence (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019).
The Impact of COVID-19 on Domestic Violence
Due to the high and varying levels of risk involved in dealing with persons who harm, there are always varying levels of difficulty for survivors to engage in services. The pandemic heightened this challenge. Local and state ordinances enforced curfews and stay at home orders. Workers were quarantined, placed on leave, even fired as businesses struggled. Schools and day cares closed. Every action taken was an effort to maximize safety, but for for survivors of domestic violence these actions increased danger.
Survivors and the persons who harm them experienced the same things everyone else did. Stress over loss of income, fear of infection, worry for loved ones, grief over the deceased, loneliness, boredom, irritation, panic. This increase of negative circumstances and feelings, combined with being home together all day, creates a recipe for a dramatic increase of abuse, whether it be more often or more severe or both. For survivors there was now no possibility of leaving home for a few hours when abuse was imminent. With children home, it became harder to avoid them witnessing or becoming targets of abuse. Social distancing decreased the opportunity for loved ones to intervene. Survivors also lacked privacy and safety to engage in help seeking behaviors. In March, calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline dropped by 6% (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2020).
The Struggle of Social Workers Amidst the Pandemic
I was completing my field placement at a local domestic violence agency when the pandemic reached Illinois with full force. The agency’s building closed indefinitely. Educational workshops were cancelled. Support groups were stopped. In-person advocacy and counseling sessions were switched to Telehealth. For survivors unable to utilize these services, there were no sessions. Courts closed. Legal advocates scrambled to figure out new procedures for orders of protection. Homeless shelters quarantined sporadically as they responded to infections. Survivors debated whether to risk another day in an abusive home or risk living in a shelter during a pandemic. Hospitals and clinics struggled to keep up with the rising number of patients. Health care appointments where survivors would have been screened, were delayed. I felt frustrated and lost as I struggled with a pandemic that affected both my personal life and my ability to serve survivors. My internal struggle and the agency’s struggle to continue mirrored the experience of social workers all over the country. Every form of aid we could offer survivors was affected. The whole support net was shaking and we were teetering on it as we tried to go on.
Adapting to a Changed Environment
A few months have passed since Illinois first became affected by the COVID-19. Across the United States, the level of impact to survivors and service delivery, vary according to the number of infections and the regulations in place. Still, when this pandemic passes, social work will not be the same. Between the months of March and May, the National Domestic Violence Hotline saw a 9% increase in contact, bringing them up to a total of 62,413 contacts in just three months (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2020). About half of these contacts were made through chat and text options (National Domestic Violence Hotline, 2020). Petitions for orders of protection are being completed online. Usage of Telehealth is on the rise, with more and more social workers engaging clients through video conferencing platforms such as Zoom, Doxy.me, Simple Practice, and VSee (Zencare, 2018). These methods are excellent choices, not just for social distancing purposes, but also for survivors who may struggle with: disabilities that limit mobility, lack of transportation, residence in rural areas, obtaining child care, or busy schedules (Coyle, 2020). Technology and this pandemic are teaching us that a video call with spotty Wi-Fi is better then no service at all. To provide survivors access to competent service, we social workers must also adapt and lean into new methods of serving.
Final Thoughts
The support net ripped, but social workers are mending it and expanding it in order to widen its reach. I believe that these adaptations increase survivors’ ease of access and enhance survivor’s self-determination in the collaborative relationship. I am honored to be part of this process. This October, as we observe National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I invite everyone to celebrate the resilience of social workers and survivors, even in the face of COVID-19. I also invite everyone to continue advocating, adapting, and innovating social work practice against domestic violence. Together we will continue to raise awareness, spread empowerment, and end domestic violence…even if it takes a socially distanced approach.
- Amy Garcia De La Vega
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence call:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233
TTY 1-800-787-3244
References
Arizona Coalition to End Sexual & Domestic Violence. (2020). Power and control wheel.
https://www.acesdv.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/PC-Wheel_Color.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Intimate partner violence.
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html
Coyle, S. (2020). The continued growth of telemental health. Social Work Today (18)2, 18.
https://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/MA18p18.shtml
National Domestic Violence Hotline. (2020). COVID-19 Special Report.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. (2020). Intimate partner violence
and child abuse consideration during COVID-19.
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/social-distancing-domestic-violence.pdf
Women’s Center Youth & Family Services. (2020). Cycle of violence.
https://www.womenscenteryfs.org/index.php/get-info/prevention/education/14-cycle-of-violence
Zencare. (2018). Best teletherapy platforms: Pricing, features, and rating comparisons.
https://blog.zencare.co/best-teletherapy-platform-comparison/
Great read! I agree domestic violence has increased since the pandemic. Partners who have been constantly working 8-12 hours Monday-Friday their routines have been impacted due to COVID19. Some of the stressors that has contribute to domestic violence are; anxiety, socially isolated, financial hardships, loss of family/relatives due to COVID19, substance abuse, etc. Domestic violence can be contributing from both partners, female and male. The stressor of not knowing how the mortgage, rent, bills, etc. bills will be pay. Victims of domestic violence feel they cannot seek for refuge with a family relative because they fear that they could expose them; especially the elderly population. Not only had domestic violence increased but the numbers of children taken into custody by the Department of Children and Family Services.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the Domestic Violence Hotline #!
Amy,
ReplyDeleteI really admire your passion for change and your praise of the social workers and survivors of domestic violence during the pandemic. These really are some crazy times for us and it can be supper difficult when individuals don't feel like we have anyone to reach out to. There are so many additional stressors that have come from this pandemic and stress is just pilling up. I think it's essential that social workers learn how to provide services for those who are survivors of domestic violence and are looking for help. It has been a struggle to work around the barriers of the pandemic, but you've provided some great points that we need to adapt to this new way of life in order to help our clients.
-Tess Boretti
Hey Amy,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, I never really thought about how Covid can height domestic violence. Reading your post has inlighted me about how it can. Thinking on how you mention, the stress that covid brings to household either financial or physically can cause tension. This tension can cause relationships to build up more stress or tension that may or may not have already been there. Like you also mentioned, being locked up home can cause the survivor to have the feeling that they cant get away.
thanks
Isaac
Hi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI honestly appreciate this post and this topic also sparked my interest due to me working part time at a Domestic Violence shelter in DuPage county. I have seen first hand the increase in safety concerns and hotline calls ever since COVID 19 has started. A pandemic does not stop abusers from harming their partners. New methods of serving is a great way of putting it and I think domestic violence is a unique way to serve clients. They go through different barriers and challenges for example, if there abuser comes home unexpectedly and then there can be a safety concern. Domestic violence workers need to be considerate of these barriers and safety plan ahead of time just in case instances like this happen. Telehealth is a challenge but, like you said it is better than no services at all.
Thank you for sharing such a relevant and under spoken topic!
-Mark Marroquin