Helping Abused Women in Shelters (2008)

Helping Abused Women in Shelters

101 Things to Know, Say and Do

by Alison Cunningham & Linda Baker (2008)
ISBN 978-1-895953-42-8

Helping women in a residential program such as an abused women's shelter, refuge or transition house is a unique opportunity to provide intensive support at a time of crisis and transition. Building on the material in the "Helping Hands" guide called Helping an Abused Woman: 101 Things to Know, Say and Do, this second "Helping Hands" guide is written specifically for those who work in women's shelters, transition houses and refuges, grounded in an understanding of the unique context and the needs expressed by women. You'll find concrete "tool box ideas" for interventions with women, reference to the latest research, ideas for discussion as a staff team, and also worksheets and other handouts to supplement your one-on-one or group work with women.

10 Assumptions About Women Living in Shelters
10 Assumptions Guiding Work in a Shelter Context
10 Principles in a Staff Code of Conduct
5 Points About Stress Reactions in Anti-Violence Work
10 Issues With Which a Woman Might Want Assistance
10 Potential Barriers Between Your Help and Her Needs
5 Ways to Match Your Support to Her Stage in the Leaving Process
5 Challenges Faced by Women Living in Shelters
5 Types of Coping You Might See in Shelter
10 Strategies to Intervene with Women Living in Shelters
5 Dilemmas Sometimes Facing Shelter Workers
5 Suggestions from Women as they Exit Shelter
10 Celebrations of the Work
1 Final Thought
Handouts for Women
- Ideas About Using the Worksheets/Handouts
- Have I Left Yet? The Process of Ending a Relationship
- Barriers to Physical Leaving
- Thoughts and Feelings Maybe Blocking Emotional Leaving
- Reasons I Think About Leaving
- Life in the Balance: The Stay/Leave Decision
- The Power of NO: 10 Tips for Saying "N" - "O"
- S.O.S.: Signs of Stress
- How Full is My Tank?
- 10 Things I Can Do for ME
- Red Flags in Relationships
- My Life in the Balance
- The Soundtrack of My Life
About the first guide in this series: "Helping an Abused Woman"

Features

Integrated throughout the resource you will find references to:

suggested further readings
concise summaries of the latest research
"tool box" ideas and suggestions for practice
caution flags for issues of safety
ways to discuss controversial issues as a staff team

Took Box Ideas for Practice

Shelters workers will find suggestions and ideas about how to work with women.

Helping a Prospective Resident Know What to Expect
Leaving as a Process
The Power of "No"
Collaborating to Create a Full Spectrum of Services
Reporting to Child Protective Services
Being Conscious About Using "I" Statements
The "Fairness Filter" to Aid Decision Making
Healer, Heal Thy Self
Red Flags for Abuse While Dating
The Power and Control Model for Women's Substance Abuse
Choosing Words to Speak with a New English Speaker
Helping the "Time-out" Woman
Helping the Women Who is Leveraging Power
Helping the Decision-making Woman
Helping Transitioning Women
Motivational Interviewing
Avoid Triangulation of Staff
10 Simple Strategies for Self Care
The Soundtrack of my Life
Being Ready to Capitalize on "Reachable Moments"
The Story of my Life
The Miracle Question
Coping Among Sheltered Women
The Exit Interview

Research Summaries

The latest and highest quality research addressing a relevant topic is briefly summarized in small highlight boxes throughout the text. These topics are addressed.

Homicide Rates Among Separated Women
Profile of Violence Experienced by Shelter Residents
Shelter Admission Patterns and the School Year
Returning to Partners After Shelter Stays
Balancing Empowerment and Control
Thinking About Staff/Resident Roles
Don't Generalize Research Results to Individual Women
Burnout Among Shelter Workers
What Women Want
Revictimization by New Partners
Health Antecedents of Abuse
Mental Health Profile of Sheltered Women
How Shelters Respond to Substance Abuse Among Women
An Integrated Shelter Model
Shelter Worker's Opinions of Women�s Mental Health Needs
Life After Shelter
Comfort Levels in Disclosing Personal Information
Can She Find You?
When Leveraging Power Works
Historical Abuse Among Women Seeking Counselling
Mothering in a Shelter
Stalking with Technology
Music and Mood
10 Categories of Strengths
Assessment for Addictions Among Women Entering Shelter
Broader Dilemmas in Feminism
Measuring Satisfaction with Shelter Services
Keeping Women Safe in their Own Homes

Ordering Information

This resource is designed to be used in conjunction with material in Helping an Abused Woman: 101 Things to Know, Say and Do so they are distributed as a 2-volume set. You can purchse the pair for $45.00 plus the cost of postage. See the Publication Order Form for more information.

Americans can purchase copies on-line through the Syracuse Cultural Workers web site.

Profits from the sale of this resource cover the cost of printing and the remainder is committed to the development of the next Helping Hands Guides:

Helping an Abused Woman as a Mother
Helping a Child who Lived with Violence at Home
Helping a Child Living in a Shelter
Helping an Economically Abused Woman

If interested in seeing other publications produced by the Centre, check out our Chronological List of Publications.

On-site Training

Training sessions on these topics can be tailored to your needs. Contact Karen Rhiger for more information.