Research Proposal Project Draft

1

Research Problems (Women in Distress)

Brenda Rouse

The University of Arizona Global Campus

HUM 5100 Integrative Project for Human Services

Instructor: Claudia McCann

July 12, 2022

2

Research Problems (Women in Distress)

There are a lot of people in Broward County that face domestic violence. These people

range to children, women, and sometimes men, not ignoring the youths. Women in Distress is a

human service organization located in Broward County whose overall mission is to stop

domestic violence abuse for everyone through intervention, education, and advocacy. Women in

Distress of Broward is an organization founded by Edee Green and a group concerned with the

well-being of the citizens in 1974. Initially, the organization could offer assistance to homeless

refugee women. Still, quality sponsorship has expanded over the years, embracing people

affected by domestic violence (Women In Distress, n.d.).

In modern society, domestic violence is one of the most common types of crime in home

settings. The major challenge is that many people do not take domestic violence as something

serious as long as death is not involved. For this reason, many domestic violence victims seek

medical attention while trying to protect the perpetrator, and many other cases go unreported.

Women in Distress has been on the front line, ensuring that domestic violence cases are known

and that victims are offered necessary help that protects them from emotional and psychological

traumas while recovering from physical injuries. In reality, the organization has saved many

victims from succumbing to injuries.

The organization's website is alarming the number of people affected by domestic

violence daily in a single county (Women In Distress, n.d.). The website shows that in 2022

alone, the facility managed to serve 3,051 clients, falling into the categories of women, children,

and men. It is the number recorded as having received services like crisis intervention, group

sessions, safe shelter, individual counseling, and therapy. There are also a total of 23,679 people

3

who have gone through mental support after going through tormenting domestic violence abuse.

The support has been offered through advocacy, therapy, and counseling.

Surprisingly, at least 27,743 people have been offered emergency safety services for

shelter nights, including food, clothes, and a place to spend the night. Lastly, approximately

15,301 people have been recorded as having called the organization's hotline number, where they

have been offered critical lifeline help after surviving a domestic violence attack. Such people

have been assisted in accessing emergency medical attention, getting psychological counseling,

and being guided on how to handle the issue legally. These numbers show that domestic violence

cases have been rampant, and their effects have been detrimental to the victims.

With the high number of people assisted within six months in the year 2022, it is evident

Women in Distress is an essential human service organization serving Broward County. The

relatively high number of emergency calls means that people within the county have, over the

years, built trust in the services offered at the organization. Nonetheless, the solution is not

entirely on the organization's services. The answer lies in community members learning how to

avoid domestic violence cases. However, this is by first understanding the various ways domestic

violence is carried out and learning how to prevent it. By so doing, there would be no victims, or

at least the number of cases would reduce by huge margins as well as the effects involved

From this understanding, the most effective solution is for the Women in Distress

organization to establish a center and program through which members of Broward County can

be assisted in overcoming domestic violence. All the same, this is not still possible without first

understanding the entire domestic violence concept. By so doing, the problem would be resolved

4

from the causes and effects perspectives leading to quality eradication or at least some levels of

problem reduction within the society.

Understanding why women stay in abusive relationships is key to breaking the cycle of

domestic violence.

According to The Cycle of Domestic Violence (2019), As a domestic violence victim,

breaking a cycle of abuse can be challenging, even if you are aware of it. The cycle is divided

into three parts: 1. When the victim feels like they have to walk on eggshells to keep the abuser

from bursting, tension rises. They may not know what will set things off, but the victim may

sense the simmering rage beneath the surface. Victims of domestic violence appear to be on their

best behavior during this period, which friends can observe. 2. Unfortunately, an abusive episode

is the most likely trigger for the building tension to explode. It is not uncommon for the abuser to

use physical force against their victim, but this can also occur in cases where the abuser uses

psychological pressure. There are various ways in which the abuser might humiliate and deny the

victim access to money or other requirements. 3. After the stress has dissipated, the abuser may

try to "make up" for the abuse by working extra hard. An attempt to keep the victim in the

relationship may entail making several apologies or vows to change, giving lavish presents, or

showing excessive attention. As soon as the victim agrees to have another go, the cycle of abuse

can begin again.

5

How do women rebuild their trust after overcoming domestic violence and lead a healthy

lifestyle thereafter?

Women's needs as they move toward a life free of domestic violence and the impact that

domestic violence has on their lives. Five women in a battered women's shelter and five women

who had been in the shelter but were now living independently, free of abuse, were studied using

a phenomenological design. According to Javaherian et al. (2007), rebuilding one's life was

characterized by five distinct themes: "You should live your life. In the end, it's all about making

connections. I don't have a second to myself," she said. (four) "It's hard," he said. The road I used

to travel is no longer the road I'm on" (Javaherian et al., 2007). Due to these women's stories,

occupational therapists are forced to pause and reflect on their role in working with survivors of

domestic violence.

6

References

Heather Javaherian, Victoria Krabacher, Krista Andriacco & Dana German (2007) Surviving

Domestic Violence: Rebuilding One's Life, Occupational Therapy In Health Care, 21:3,

35-59,

Leedy, P. D. & Ormrod, J. E. (2019). Practical research: Planning and design (12th ed.).

Pearson.

Netting, F. E., O'Conner, M. K., & Fauri, D. P. (2008). Comparative approaches to program

planning. Wiley.

The Cycle of Domestic Violence: Understanding Why Women Return to Abusive Partners. (2019,

April 12). Women against Crime | Albuquerque, New Mexico.

https://womenagainstcrime.com/the-cycle-of-domestic-violence-understanding-why-

women-return-to-abusive-partners/

Women In Distress | Broward County, Inc. (n.d.). https://www.womenindistress.org/