|
creating
change |
understanding
disability |
understanding
deaf culture |
addressing
accessibility |
understanding
violence |
responding
to violence |
safety alert
If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, call 911 or your local hotline or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233 voice), 1-800-787-3224 (tty). There is always a computer trail, but you can click ESCAPE to leave the site quickly.
You are here: home>responding to violence>enhancing your service response>screening for violence and abuse>
Basic Screening Tips
There are a number of things that should be in place before you begin to screen:
- Be aware of the confidentiality policies within your organization; make any necessary changes to further protect the individuals you serve.
- Know how the mandatory reporting laws for your state- especially regarding domestic violence and disability- affect disclosure.
- Develop screening materials.
- Make sure you have information about domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking available in accessible formats.
- Make connections with various, relevant organizations in your community.
Once the above pieces are in place, you can begin to work with individuals around issues of violence against women. Following are a few basic tips for asking individuals with whom you work about their experiences with violence.
- Always interview clients individually, in private, away from partners, family members, caregivers or personal care attendants. If the third party is present to accommodate the needs of the client, advocates should, at the soonest possible time, get the client alone.
- Identify and use appropriate language for screening that recognizes personal caregivers, or other specialized support personnel as potential abusers/ perpetrators/ stalkers. Avoid using words like “husband” or “boyfriend” until you better understand the relationship with the abuser/ perpetrator/ stalker.
- Ask questions and give examples that recognize the ways in which a person’s disability may affect her or his experience of violence.
- Use the language the individual with whom you work uses when referring to his/her experiences. Be cautious when using words like "domestic violence" or "rape" in initial conversations.
- Do not ask “why” questions, as they can feel blaming.
- Ask open-ended questions about behaviors or feelings individuals may have experienced.
- Ask questions designed to elicit broad responses and give you a full picture of her/ his experiences and relationships.
