On the Front Lines of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Occupational Experiences of the intimate Partner Violence and Sexual assault Workforce

In the face of increasing risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need to understand the experiences of the workforce providing support to survivors, as well as the evolving service delivery methods, shifting safety planning approaches, and occupational stress of frontline workers. We addressed this gap by conducting an online survey of members of IPV and sexual assault workforce using a broad, web-based recruitment strategy. In total, 352 staff from 24 states participated. We collaborated with practitioner networks and anti-violence coalitions to develop the brief survey, which included questions about work and health, safety planning, and stress. We used chi-square

Factors Influencing Help-seeking Choices Among Non-Service-Connected Survivors of IPV

Background: Substantial evidence highlights the role of formal intimate partner violence (IPV) services in reducing the negative impacts of IPV for survivors and their families. The decision to seek help and the process survivors navigate in the help-seeking journey is influenced by individual, interpersonal, and sociocultural factors. Understanding why survivors choose not to seek formal services is necessary to better understand their experiences and to improve survivor-centered outreach and support. Purpose: The goal of this study was to understand the perspectives and choices of survivors who are not engaged with IPV services. The primary research question was what factors influence help-seeking choices among non-service-connected IPV survivors. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 23 survivors in community settings or over the phone. The researchers used a process of inductive and deductive coding to identify themes and subthemes. Results: The researchers identified three themes1) intrapersonal barriers, 2) interpersonal barriers, and 3) macro/systems barriers. Conclusion: Implications include identifying factors that facilitate help-seeking to expand services to a wider group of survivors while providing support and information for informal support people, as well as the need for future research to engage and understand the perspectives of survivors who have not sought help from any formal services

Exploring the feasibility of shared mobility services for reducing transportation disadvantage among survivors of intimate partner violence

Introduction: Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) experience transportation disadvantages due to financial constraints often caused by their abusive partners. Shared mobility services like ridesource and car-share programs may be a feasible solution to transportation barriers for survivors to access needed resources like employment and healthcare. Methods: This study presented scenarios to providers who work with IPV shelter residents to determine if having access to an on-demand ridesource and car-share service would mitigate survivors’ transportation challenges. Ten participants were interviewed using scenario planning and an accompanying semi-structured interview guide. Participants were presented with two scenarios: 1) imagine if there was a ridesource service which operated at the shelter and 2) imagine if there was a car-share service placed at the shelter. Thematic analysis was used to develop themes around the utilization of the ridesource and car-share services, barriers and concerns that may need to be addressed, and policy recommendations that would make the program successful. Results: Participants agreed that with the proper policies in place, ridesource and car-share services could greatly aid survivors in getting the transportation they need to regain their independence both socially and economically. Conclusion: Exploring the potential for shared mobility services to be a viable transportation solution can aid social service providers, city planners, and shared mobility companies in understanding how to use the services to benefit not only survivors of IPV, but also other members within communities who may experience transportation disadvantage

Faculty Bystanders: Capturing University Faculty’s Willingness to Engage in Prosocial Behavior

This study explores faculty members’ rape-supportive beliefs and bystander attitudes and behaviors. An online survey was administered to a non-probability, convenience sample of 167 faculty from a university in the US. The results indicate that faculty gender influences bystander behaviors and their age influences rape myth acceptance. Study results found younger faculty and faculty from specific colleges were more likely to engage in bystander intervention programming. Younger bystander intervention program participants were also less likely to endorse rape myths. The findings offer insight regarding specific content to include in faculty-focused bystander intervention programming and suggestions for messaging to ensure that bystander intervention initiatives are impactful to faculty