Technology in Human Services Organizations Area of Interest Domestic Abuse

New Technologies in Domestic Abuse Service Organizations

Author's note with contact information, more details on affiliation, etc.

The focus of this paper will be on the organizations that serve victims of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse victims can be women and men. Domestic abuse is when a spouse or domestic partner physically, emotionally, psychologically, verbally or otherwise abuses a his or her partner. Many victims of domestic abuse do not leave their domestic circumstances because the partner has made them financially or otherwise co-dependent, and many times, the abusive partner uses fear to coerce the abused partner to remain in the relationship. Organizations that service victims of domestic abuse provide services for the abused partner as well as any children or other dependents accompanying the abused partner. Therefore, human service organizations that cater to the needs of domestic abuse victims serve a great need in our culture. These organizations must attain and remain technologically efficient so as to serve their consumers with greater efficacy, acceleration, and depth. This paper will propose technologies for domestic abuse organizations and provide a cost-benefit analysis of the technologies.

New Technologies in Domestic Abuse Service Organizations

The human service organizations this paper will focus upon are those that serve victims of domestic abuse. Domestic abuse is an issue at the forefront of American culture. There are many women, men, and children that suffer from domestic abuse. Mazur and Aldrich contend that

"domestic violence continue[s] unabated. The FBI estimates that a domestic violence crime is committed at a rate of once every fifteen seconds. According to conservative estimates, one million women are battered by an intimate partner annually. Other surveys say the number assaulted each year is as high as four million." (Mazur, Aldrich, 2003)

Before proposing what kind of technology would serve this kind of human service organization best, it is vital to understand what kind of people are serviced by the organizations and why. The technology must be useful, helpful, and realistic if, as Cole states, "the optimistic view holds that some technologies have the power to level the playing field." (Cole, 2007) Proposed technologies should restore power to the victims. How can technology serve the victims best if no consideration for the victim or the services is given before integrating the technology into the organization? If human service organizations do not understand the victims, organizations will not serve them well, if at all.

Domestic abuse centers make the victims feel safe and anonymous. Many victims are in great fear for their lives, especially in the case when the abusive partner becomes aware of their escape. Providing a sense of safety is vital within these centers. Domestic abuse organizations should also help the victims feel as if they cannot be located. The abused partner wants to feel as if she or he will not be found by her or his abusive partner.

Organizations that service domestic abuse victims should have resources and staff that can help victims become financially independent. There are service organizations that collect and disperse donations, but donations are short-term or for a transition to an independent life. Victims of domestic abuse need resources that can help them seek education, vocational training, and government programs such as WIC, Food Stamps, Welfare, Disability or Social Security. Victims may need staff to teach them life skills such as time management, interview skills, preparing a resume, or just helping them hone the skills they have into a profitable profession or career.

Victims of domestic abuse will also require emotional support. They will need counselors, therapists, social workers, and psychologists to help them process and move through the significant change in their lives. They need trained professionals to help them understand what kind of situation they are leaving and help them visualize and actualize the new life without the abusive partner they truly want. Domestic abuse victims need to rebuild their self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-respect. They need professionals, who are trained to handle their mental, emotional, and physical stresses and needs. Speaking of physical needs, if the domestic abuse is physical, victims will absolutely require professional health care.

In cases of physical violence and marriage, victims of domestic violence will further require the assistance of attorneys and other legal professionals. Abused partners may wish to take out restraining orders, file for divorce, file for sole custody of children, and file for other legal proceedings. Mazur and Aldrich believe the need for domestic abuse victims to have access instantaneously to legal advocates is paramount to independent living and personal safety. They write: