NCJ Number
115860
Journal
Social Casework Volume: 69 Issue: 8 Dated: (October 1988) Pages: 483-490
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper discusses six areas that social workers should consider to provide culturally sensitive services for black battered women: community outreach, shelter services, shelter environment, shelter policies, staff training, and counseling.
Abstract
Social workers and other professionals who are likely to come into contact with black battered women must be aware of the impact of racial and ethnic identity and accompanying cultural experience on the client's willingness to seek and use services for the battered. Some black women may believe that shelters are established for white battered females, while others may lack knowledge about services for battered women. Thus, active outreach is needed in the black community. Social workers and other professionals must also advocate for greater resources to establish new shelters and to support and extant existing facilities. Creative and cost-containing ways to provide services are also needed. Attention is also needed to the physical environment and the interpersonal atmosphere of a shelter. Shelter residents must also receive explanations of policies related to communications with families, child discipline, and other issues. Staff training about minority history and experience is also crucial. Finally, counselors must deal with three issues that may affect the counseling process with some black women: client resistance, incongruent expectations of worker and client, and client perceptions about her battering. 31 footnotes.