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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Blue Shield of California Foundation
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV)
Parent Voices
All those who participated, especially parent survivors

Disclaimer

The research reported herein was performed with the permission of CDSS. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the authors and should not be considered as representing the policy of the collaborating department, agency or any department or agency of the California government.

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Agenda

Impetus for the Project
Understanding the Landscape: Setting the Context for Domestic Violence Discourse
Project Background
Study Results: Barriers to Accessing Services
Recommendations
Next Steps and Future Work
Open Discussion
Closing

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IMPETUS FOR THE PROJECT

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Audience Poll

What organization do you represent?
What level of interaction do you have with survivors of domestic violence?
Rate your knowledge base around the issues faced by parent survivors of domestic violence.

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Understanding the Landscape: �Setting the Context for Domestic Violence Discourse

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UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE �

Setting the Context for

Domestic Violence Discourse

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Setting the Context

One in three women and one in four men experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in their lifetime.¹
The COVID-19 pandemic increased economic, physical, and mental health strain on families, and as a result, there has been a rise in reported domestic violence cases and incidents (specifically in psychological/ emotional and sexual domestic violence).²
The first years of a child’s life are marked by tremendous brain growth and excessively stressful environments can have negative effects on brain architecture and growth.³
Women who experience IPV are more likely to drop out of school, earn less money, and have greater mental and physical health challenges, resulting in 42 percent higher health care costs than their non-abused peers, even long after living in abuse-free situations.⁴
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Disproportionality of Domestic Violence

American Indian, Black, or multiracial people report Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) more than those of other races.⁵
Those who live in rural communities experience a greater incidence and more severe IPV, more property damage, and increased incidence of murder than their non-rural peers.⁶
Over half (54 percent) of the transgender community will experience IPV in their lifetime.⁷

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PROJECT BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to improve practices, policies, and services for survivors of domestic violence in California.

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Key Stakeholder Listening Sessions

36 listening sessions completed

12 sessions with 67 parent survivors

8 sessions with 40 CDSS staff

6 sessions with 44 child care workforce members

4 sessions with 15 direct service providers

6 sessions with 21 statewide agency staff

Maria (don't need to state all of the below; just for reference if there are questions). Can state that some sessions were held in Spanish.

36 listening sessions completed

12 sessions with 67 parent survivors (8 English; 3 Spanish; 1 Tribal)
8 sessions with 40 CDSS staff (General CDSS staff, CalFresh and Nutrition Branch, CalWORKs and Family Resilience Branch, Child Care and Development, Children and Family Services and Office of Child Abuse Prevention, Housing and Homelessness, Office of Equity, Office of Tribal Affairs)
6 sessions with 44 child care workforce members (Bay area, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, and 2 Spanish speaking sessions)
4 sessions with 15 direct service providers (e.g. DV shelter staff; 2 shelter sessions; one culturally specific org session; one tribal org)
6 sessions with 21 statewide agency staff (CWDA (one with leaders and one with line managers/supervisors), Victim’s Compensation Board, CA Assoc of Food Banks, Bananas R&R Agency and End Child Poverty CA)

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Parent survivors represented 12 counties

Alameda	San Diego
Contra Costa	San Francisco
Fresno	San Joaquin
Los Angeles	San Mateo
Marin	Shasta
Monterey	Stanislaus

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Parent Survivor Demographics

73% Latino/ Latina/ Latinx/ Latine/ Hispanic
78% had two or more children across a wide age range
49% have Spanish as their preferred language or Spanish and English
42% have children under 5 years old
27% had physical, emotional, or cognitive disability
Represented: those with disabilities, those identifying as LGBTQIA+ or Two Spirit

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STUDY RESULTS�Barriers to accessing services

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Barriers to accessing services for survivors

Lack of awareness of available services

Lack of access to services

Lack of empathy from staff

Documentation barriers

Eligibility barriers

Cultural competency barriers

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Barrier: Lack of Awareness of Services

Survivors reported

Not knowing where to go
Not knowing what services are available for survivors
No up-to-date resource list

Some phone numbers didn’t work
Calls were not returned

CDSS and other stakeholders reported

Divisions and programs are siloed
Desire to increase understanding of all services/ programs available to survivors
Desire to increase knowledge of who to contact to address questions

Feels siloed. We are so big, touch so many common programs. –CDSS staff

Lack of awareness of available services

Susan

Listening session participants mentioned not knowing where to go or what is available for accessing services. [NOTE per CDSS feedback – remove who from notes; but in case the audience asks who: Survivors, CDSS staff, and ECE Workforce Members] Many mentioned there was no up-to-date resource list, phone numbers didn’t work, or their calls were not returned.

Participants also reported that the divisions were siloed and staff don't know what services are available to DV survivors and who to contact to address questions. [CDSS staff and ECE Workforce]

I was going back and forth between two agencies one day and they were both telling me to call each other. – Survivor

They shared that they are often given number for resources that are not available, or number doesn’t work. “When my husband got arrested all they did was hand me a pamphlet saying victims on it that was all they did. That’s all I got. The recent event that happened last year, they explained a little bit more but same thing they just gave me a pamphlet.” – Survivor

“I had some challenges during my time obtaining the domestic violence homeless vouchers, and the motel assistance through the county. I had not too long ago used the homeless side and was educated by another person inside the county building at the time that they had an opportunity for another 14 to 16 days. You just had to advise them of your situation. I went to the county building to get the assistance and I had challenges with it. I don't know if it was just the person that I was working with, but I did experience challenges where there was some pushback. I learned later on that I didn't necessarily need a police report, but I was denied hotel assistance due to not having a police report at that time. I was definitely in fear of calling the police. I was dealing with a pretty tough gang member that was threatening my life and did not want to call the police for anything.” – Survivor

Sometimes too in these offices that offer services, they don’t answer. Sometimes I’ve been told [by parents], ‘I left 20 messages and no one answers and no one answers.’ I know that the system is like that, sometimes there are not enough employees, but there is a lot of people in need. – ECE Workforce Member

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Barrier: Lack of Access to Services

Unable to access services
Limited availability of resources/services

Especially vouchers, housing, and mental health clinicians

No resources in the area
Transportation to services

It's almost like a broken promise when offering our clients services during the pandemic. Knowing that they were very limited in our county being able to provide additional resources. - Agency Staff

Lack of access to services

Susan

We do have some vouchers, but again, it's limited to resources and again, funds. So, that's something that we also come across that can be difficult. We can place someone maybe for safety for a couple of nights, but where do they go from there? -Agency Staff

It's almost like a broken promise when offering our clients services during the pandemic. Knowing that they were very limited in our county being able to provide, additional resources.” - Agency Staff

[Another child care] provider asked me to help find resources for going through DV. I reached out to all shelters, got on 211, none of them were available for emergency shelter. Reached out to her 2-3 months later. She went back to relationship because had no where to go. Not providing services; forcing them back into those situations.” – ECE Workforce Member

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Barrier: Lack of Empathy from Staff

Survivors expressed the need for staff providing services to be more service oriented and have more empathy for survivors. Most reported feeling judged for seeking services.

They look down on you for needing help. - Survivor

Lack of empathy from staff

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Barrier: Lack of Access Due to Documentation Requirements

The documentation requested of survivors seemed unnecessarily confusing and cumbersome.
Most survivors were unaware of their potential eligibility for a CalWORKs waiver.
The process of having to repeat their stories “over and over again” to prove their need for services is traumatizing and causes many to feel shame.

…[Having] to prove experiencing DV put me through mental health issues. Very discouraging, stressful. - Survivor

Documentation barriers

Susan

limited flexibility

unclear about "good cause,"

“If I had had a guidance, if I had had somebody taking me step by step to explain whether I have to write here or there, that would have been really ideal for me because paperwork is a challenge for all types of services. If you have no help, you have no idea of what it is to do all this paperwork.

I have been in that situation with paperwork. It's frustrating when you don't know what you're doing, and you don't have anyone to guide you with those. -Survivor

Experience trying navigate child care system…[Having] to prove experiencing DV put me through mental health issues. Very discouraging, stressful. Prove every week, quota of hours to keep child care. Put me through reliving experience in order to keep services, keep child in child care. If didn’t keep up with quota hours, lost benefits, food stamps. Put me in place have to always be victim in the system instead of survivor moving forward.

-Survivor

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Barrier: Lack of Access Due to Eligibility

Survivors also expressed the need for clear eligibility guidelines. Many were told they were not eligible for services (e.g., some were denied services because they were still financially tied to their abuser).

[Survivor was told], Must apply for child support to get CalWORKs. Really hard, I didn’t want to be involved with [my] son’s dad, because of DV, [I]struggled with that trying not to be afraid, what if he gets mad that I put him on child support.

- Survivor

Eligibility barriers

Susan

Participants shared their thoughts on types of changes they would like to see around processes, and requirements:

Participants also expressed the need for clear guidelines and eligibility. It was shared that when asked to apply for child support to qualify for another program, this would jeopardize the safety of a survivor's family. They would like to have instructions on how to access services, for example what documentation is required and for this to be clearly outlined and for paperwork to be less complicated. They also recommended for the process to be streamlined in such a way that it would provide faster assistance for services in emergency situations. The comments made by participants around access and guidelines, speaks to the need for a Navigator/Advocate person to help them navigate through the process. Another suggestion included placing posters around the offices or have pamphlets available explaining some of the rights one has as an applicant and outlining how to qualify for services.

Q: “Must apply for child support to get CalWORKs. Really hard, I didn’t want to be involved with son’s dad, because of DV, [I]struggled with that trying not to be afraid, what if he gets mad that I put him on child support.”

Q: “Easier access and more information, compassion, when talking to you. Advocate that is more helpful and has more information. Easier application process.”

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Barrier: Immigration Status and Language Barriers Exacerbate Challenges

Immigration status and/or English as a secondary language made accessing services more difficult. Many survivors were told that applying for services would negatively affect them when they applied for citizenship. Many documents (and staff language ability) are still primarily in English.

I felt discriminated and rejected because of language. There was a big bad language barrier because not everybody wanted to accept that [I] wasn't able to speak English, and some of these people were uncomfortable even trying to look for an interpreter to assist. - Survivor

Cultural competency barriers

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RECOMMENDATIONS

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Recommendations That May Be Low-Cost and Impactful

Develop a comprehensive list of CDSS programs, services, and resources available to CDSS staff and parent survivors of domestic violence.

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Recommendations That May Require Additional Time or Funding

2. Provide enhanced technical support from CDSS to counties administering CDSS programs about domestic violence survivor rights and program eligibility.

3. Develop videos on how to apply to specific services for survivors of domestic violence.

4. Increase access for CDSS program leaders to data on survivors participating in their programs to ensure equitable services.

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Recommendations That May Require Additional Time, Funding, or Policy/Statute Change

Embed a racial equity approach in all aspects of CDSS programs' service delivery.
Continue reducing the documentation burden for parent survivors.
Expand efforts to update statewide and county staff training relevant to domestic violence.
Create a centralized office of domestic violence prevention within CDSS to coordinate all related domestic violence services within the Department.
Expand the Family Stabilization Program in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.
Fund domestic violence advocates/ navigators within counties.
Allocate additional resources to bolster housing assistance initiatives.

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NEXT STEPS AND FUTURE WORK

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OPEN DISCUSSION

LaWanda – 25 minutes (end by 5 min before the hour)

Ask audience what questions arose based on this information.

Raise hand and come off of mute

Type responses in the chat

Per CDSS feedback – have these as possible questions if there is no audience engagement:

Do these findings and recommendations resonate with your experience in working with survivors of domestic violence?

What else needs to change, in your experience?

Given the "next steps" you heard, how can you get involved?
What successful initiatives are you aware of that could be taken to scale to improve services for survivors?

How do you intentionally identify survivors of domestic violence among those you serve?

What are some challenges you face that we haven’t addressed in the presentation?

What are some ideas to better support survivors?

What resources do you need to better support survivors?

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Share Out

How do you intentionally identify survivors of domestic violence among those you serve?

What are some challenges you face that we haven’t addressed in the presentation?

What are some ideas to better support survivors?

What resources do you need to better support survivors?

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Closing: Thank you!��ADD CDSS PRESENTER(S)��Lucia Corral Pena�Blue Shield of California Foundation, Chief Program Director�lucia.corralpena@blueshieldcafoundation.org��Maria Romo�CCRC Government Relations Specialist�mromo@ccrcca.org ��Susan Savage�CCRC Research Director�ssavage@ccrcca.org��LaWanda Wesley�CCRC Director of Government Relations�lwesley@ccrcca.org ��

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References

¹ https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html “Fast Facts: Preventing Intimate Partner Violence.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 Oct. 2022, www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/fastfact.html.Accessed July 31, 2023.

²Thiel, F., Büechl, V.C.S., Rehberg, F., Mojahed, A., Daniels, J.K., Schellong, J., Garthus-Niegel, S. (Apr. 2022) Changes in Prevalence and Severity of Domestic Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry.

³ "Brain Architecture." Center on the Developing Child: Harvard University, 2024, https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/brain-architecture/. Accessed January 11, 2024.

⁴ Institute for Women’s Policy Research. August 14, 2017. “The Economic Cost of Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking.” https://iwpr.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/B367_Economic-Impacts-of-IPV-08.14.17.pdf. Accessed July 31, 2023.

⁵Smith, S.G., Chen, J., Basile, K.C., Gilbert, L.K., Merrick, M.T., Patel, N., Walling, M., & Jain, A. (2017). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010-2012 State Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/NISVS-StateReportBook.pdf. Accessed July 31, 2023.

⁶DuBois, K., Rennison, C. M. & DeKeseredy. W. (Jan. 2019) “Intimate Partner Violence in Small Towns, Dispersed Rural Areas, and Other Locations: Estimates Using a Reconception of Settlement Type.” Rural Sociology, 84 (1), 1-27.

⁷James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). The Report of the 2015 U. S. Transgender Survey, Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/usts/USTS-Full-Report-Dec17.pdf. Accessed August 8, 2023.