Bringing a Network-Oriented Approach to Domestic Violence Services: A Focus Group Exploration of Promising Practices

Abstract

Despite powerful evidence that informal social support contributes to survivors’ safety and well-being, mainstream domestic violence (DV) programs have not developed comprehensive models for helping isolated survivors reengage with these networks. Although many advocates use network-oriented strategies informally, they often do so without resources, funding, or training. This qualitative focus group study explored advocates’ use and perceptions of network-oriented strategies. Advocates working in a range of DV programs across one state described the importance of network-oriented work and articulated its five dimensions, including helping survivors build their capacity to form healthy relationships, identify helpful and harmful network members, reengage with existing networks, develop new relationships, and respond more effectively to network members.