The Role of Social Workers in Domestic Violence Intervention and Prevention
12 Min Read
Social work requires a passion for improving the lives of other people. Whether you specialize in child welfare, mental health counseling, veteran support or another area of the field, a strong sense of commitment is necessary to support your clients through their challenges. For social workers who specialize in domestic violence prevention, a deep understanding of the resources available for victims and effective strategies for intervention is also necessary.
The Prevalence of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence includes any form of abuse carried out by a person with whom the victimized individual has a close emotional, physical, or sexual relationship. Also called intimate partner violence, domestic violence is a dangerous situation that can lead to severe injuries or even death. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports troubling domestic violence death statistics, with 1 in 2 female and 1 in 13 male homicide victims attributed to intimate partners.1
The most recent National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found alarmingly high rates of intimate partner abuse despite increased domestic violence prevention efforts. Overall, 47.3% of women and 44.2% of men surveyed reported that they had experienced physical violence, sexual violence or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetimes.2 A further breakdown of the NISVS results can be found in the table below.
| Type of Domestic Violence | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| Contact sexual violence | 19.6% | 7.6% |
| Stalking | 13.5% | 5.2% |
| Physical violence | 42.0% | 42.3% |
Notably, while men and women reported being “slapped, pushed or shoved” at a near-equal rate, severe physical violence was more common in abuse against women (32.5%) than in abuse against men (24.6%).2 The impact of this violence is far-reaching, with survivors of abuse reporting high rates of PTSD, need for medical care and continued fear of their abuser. Women were also more likely than men to report experiencing these impacts, as indicated below.2
| Impact | Women | Men |
|---|---|---|
| PTSD Symptoms | 1 in 3 | 1 in 7 |
| Needed Medical Care | 1 in 8 | 1 in 23 |
| Felt Fearful | 1 in 4 | 1 in 13 |
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a concerning increase in reports of domestic violence against women in particular led the United Nations (UN) to call the rise in abuse “The Shadow Pandemic.” Across the globe, restricted movement, increased stress and cramped living conditions exacerbated the issue and led to increased calls to domestic violence hotlines.3 U.S. cities weren’t immune from this unfortunate trend. Police departments in New York City reported a 10% rise in reports of domestic violence during the pandemic, while those in Portland responded to 22% more reports of abuse.4
In the context of high and rising reports of intimate partner abuse, the role of social workers in domestic violence prevention and intervention has never been more important. How can domestic violence social workers and others within the field improve the lives of individuals who have suffered abuse? Continue reading to learn more about how to spot and prevent domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Intervention Resources
The first step to intervening in domestic violence is making sure the victimized individual knows help is available. If you know someone who is experiencing abuse, connect them with these resources:
- The National Domestic Violence Hotline can help you identify abuse, make a plan, and find local resources for support.
- StrongHearts Native Helpline offers culturally appropriate, anonymous, and confidential service to Native Americans and Alaska Natives impacted by domestic violence.
- The Women’s Law Email Hotline connects people experiencing abuse with attorneys who can offer U.S.-based legal information related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
- This extensive list of Mobile Apps for Victims and Survivors includes technology to support a variety of victim needs.
- Lila.help maintains an international database of trustworthy gender-based violence helplines and NGOs for countries worldwide.
- Articles from the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) include valuable information for people experiencing abuse and their advocates:
Identifying Domestic Violence
Domestic violence may involve various forms of abuse, and many abusers do not leave physical evidence of the harm they’ve inflicted. To help prevent domestic violence, you need to be able to identify the signs of abuse when you see them.
Physical, sexual, emotional, and financial abuse are common in instances of intimate partner violence. Learn more about each one below.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse is a form of domestic violence in which an abuser causes their target physical pain through actions such as punching, shoving, kicking and strangling. This type of violence may include the use of weapons and sometimes extends to violence against animals and other people who are important to the primary victim.
Signs that a person may be experiencing physical abuse include5:
- Unexplained bruises, cuts and other injuries
- Increased use of drugs and/or alcohol
- Seeming disoriented or confused
- Loss of memory
- Fear of their intimate partner
- Increased symptoms of depression and/or anxiety
- Social isolation and withdrawal from friends and family
The physical impacts of physical abuse can include severe injuries, such as concussions, broken bones, burns and dental injuries.6 Further, people who are the targets of physical abuse may experience increased psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, disassociation, social isolation and low confidence.6
Steps for Domestic Violence Intervention: Physical Abuse
Domestic violence intervention can be dangerous, especially when physical abuse is involved. As a social worker, your job is to help the victim without making their situation worse or risking your safety. If you witness physical abuse firsthand, call 9-1-1 instead of attempting to intervene on your own.
If you recognize the signs of physical abuse when the individual is not in immediate danger, use your expertise and training to initiate a conversation about the resources available to help them. If you are a licensed clinical social worker, you may also be able to provide mental health counseling to help survivors of physical abuse process trauma. To learn more about physical abuse, see the resources below.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse includes any sexual acts that are not fully consensual, such as forced sex, unwanted violence during sex, denial of contraception and more. Sexual abuse also includes coercion and making an intimate partner afraid to say no to sex.
Signs that an individual may be experiencing sexual abuse include7:
- Sudden symptoms of depression, including social withdrawal and loss of interest in hobbies
- Self-harm and thoughts of suicide
- Decreased self-esteem and confidence
- Increased use of drugs or alcohol
- Changes in the way a person dresses, including covering more or less of their bodies than usual
- Avoiding specific situations, places or people
- Injuries, including bruising, in intimate areas of their body
- High levels of worry about a partner’s anger
The impacts of sexual abuse can be far-reaching. Victimized individuals may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), difficulty in future relationships and long-term harm to their self-esteem and self-image.8 Physical impacts of sexual abuse include eating disorders, anxiety, depression, insomnia, substance abuse and more.8
Steps for Domestic Violence Intervention: Sexual Abuse
Sexual abusers can be very dangerous and often hold a great deal of power over their victims. If you witness sexual violence firsthand, call 9-1-1. If you suspect an individual is experiencing sexual abuse and it’s safe to do so, initiate a conversation with them about the resources available for support.
Licensed clinical social workers can also help victims of sexual abuse by providing mental health counseling. Processing trauma from domestic violence with support from a professional is an important step in healing. The following resources can also be helpful for victims of sexual abuse:
- National Sexual Assault Hotline
- National Adult Protective Services Association
- Enough Abuse Campaign
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center
Emotional Abuse
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), all instances of domestic violence include emotional abuse. This form of abuse occurs when one intimate partner intimidates the other with fear, constantly criticizes the other, makes the other person feel irrational, isolates the other partner from family and friends, frequently accuses the other person of affairs and more. While emotional abuse is separate from physical abuse, it may also include threats of physical violence.
If any of the following patterns are common in an intimate relationship, they may be signs of emotional abuse9:
- Screaming, yelling or swearing
- Belittling or patronizing a partner
- Purposely embarrassing a partner in public
- Dismissing a partner’s emotions (excitement, sadness, anger, etc.)
- Spying on or monitoring an intimate partner’s location and movements
- Threatening an intimate partner with physical violence or harm to their reputation
- Trivializing the hurt caused to an intimate partner
- Trying to limit communication between an intimate partner and their friends or family
- Using the silent treatment or withholding affection as punishment
Emotional abuse can be deeply traumatic for the victim of domestic violence. Even if the targeted partner is able to escape the abuse, the impacts can last for many years and may include low self-esteem, difficulty in future relationships, distrust of others, increased anxiety, feelings of shame and more.9
Steps for Domestic Violence Intervention: Emotional Abuse
If you notice the signs of emotional abuse, it’s important to intervene whether or not you believe the situation includes physical or sexual violence. Connect the victimized partner with resources that can help them escape their relationship safely. If you are providing counseling to the individual, you will also be able to assist them in processing trauma from domestic violence. Monitor their progress and have follow-up conversations to ensure they are staying safe from their abuser.
For more information about emotional abuse, check out the resources below.
- What Is Emotional Abuse?
- Signs of Love Bombing
- How to Recognize Coercive Control
- What Are the Signs of Codependency?
Financial Abuse
Financial abuse occurs when one partner takes complete control over another’s access to money and assets. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), this form of abuse is prevalent, often co-occurring with other forms of domestic violence, and can make it much more difficult for survivors of abuse to leave their abusers.
When financial abuse occurs in an intimate relationship, one partner may10:
- Forbid the other to work
- Sabotage the other’s employment or advancement opportunities
- Control how all of the money is spent
- Not include the other in investment or banking decisions
- Block access to bank accounts
- Withhold money or limit money to “an allowance”
- Force the other to write bad checks or file fraudulent tax returns
- Run up large amounts of debt on joint accounts
- Refuse to work or contribute to the family income
- Hide assets
- Steal the other’s identity, property, or inheritance
- Force the other to work in a family business without pay
- Refuse to pay bills and ruin the other’s credit score
- Refuse to pay or evade child support
The impacts of financial abuse make it very difficult for a victim to escape. They may not have access to money for food, housing, and other resources.10 The survivor of financial abuse may also have a ruined credit score as a result of the abuse.
Steps for Domestic Violence Intervention: Financial Abuse
Individuals need a lot of support to leave a domestic violence situation that involves financial abuse, especially when children are involved. As a social worker, you can help by connecting the person who has experienced abuse with resources to help them create an individual bank account and become financially independent from their abuser.
If you are a licensed mental health provider, you may also be able to help survivor of financial abuse process trauma from domestic violence. Check out the resources below created by NNEDV for financial abuse survivors and their advocates.
- Financial Safety Planning
- Financial Tips for Survivors
- Independence Project
- The Moving Ahead Curriculum
Become a Stronger Advocate with an MSW
Quality education and training are essential for any professional hoping to succeed in social work for domestic violence prevention and intervention. In the University of Montana’s online MSW program, you’ll study a curriculum focused on clinical skills and social justice with guidance from supportive, expert faculty members. Complete a 900-hour practicum experience for hands-on learning and graduate in three years with the educational requirements needed to pursue a clinical social worker license.*
UM’s program is CSWE-accredited and has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best School for Social Work.11 Request more information about this 100% online MSW today.
Sources and Disclaimer
*Licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) requirements vary by state. Check the Social Work License Map to learn more about requirements in your state.
- National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “Domestic Violence Fact Sheet.” Retrieved July 1, 2024 from https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/2497/domestic_violence-2020080709350855.pdf?1596828650457.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “2016/2016 Report on Intimate Partner Violence.” The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. October 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2024 from https://www.cdc.gov/nisvs/documentation/nisvsreportonipv_2022.pdf?.
- UN Women. “The Shadow Pandemic: Violence against women during COVID-19.” Retrieved June 26, 2024 from https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/in-focus/in-focus-gender-equality-in-covid-19-response/violence-against-women-during-covid-19.
- Kluger, Jeffrey. “Domestic Violence Is a Pandemic Within the COVID-19 Pandemic.” TIME. February 3, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2024 from https://time.com/5928539/domestic-violence-covid-19/.
- Pace, Rachel. “Physical Abuse in a Relationship: Signs, Coping Mechanisms & More.” Marriage.com. February 15, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024 from https://www.marriage.com/advice/domestic-violence-and-abuse/signs-of-physical-abuse/.
- Editorial Team. “The Physical & Physiological Effects of Physical Abuse & Healing.” Marriage.com. February 15, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024 from https://www.marriage.com/advice/domestic-violence-and-abuse/the-effects-of-physical-abuse/.
- Bedsworth, Jennie. “How to Recognize Signs of Sexual Abuse in Adults and Children.” GoodRx Health. May 23, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024 from https://www.goodrx.com/health-topic/mental-health/sexual-abuse-signs.
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. “Effects of Sexual Violence.” Retrieved June 28, 2024 from https://rainn.org/effects-sexual-violence.
- Pietrangelo, Ann and Raypole, Crystal. “How to Recognize the Signs of Emotional Abuse.” Healthline. July 13, 2023. Retrieved June 28, 2024 from https://www.healthline.com/health/signs-of-mental-abuse.
- National Network to End Domestic Violence. “About Financial Abuse.” Retrieved June 28, 2024 from https://nnedv.org/content/about-financial-abuse/.
- U.S. News and World Report. “Best Schools for Social Work.” Retrieved June 26, 2024 from https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-health-schools/social-work-rankings.