A1 Journal article (refereed)
Domestic Violence Interventions in Social and Health Care Settings : Challenges of Temporary Projects and Short-Term Solutions (2021)

Husso, M., Notko, M., Virkki, T., Holma, J., Laitila, A., & Siltala, H. (2021). Domestic Violence Interventions in Social and Health Care Settings : Challenges of Temporary Projects and Short-Term Solutions. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(23-24), 11461-11482. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519898438

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Husso, Marita; Notko, Marianne; Virkki, Tuija; Holma, Juha; Laitila, Aarno; Siltala, Heli

Journal or series: Journal of Interpersonal Violence

ISSN: 0886-2605

eISSN: 1552-6518

Publication year: 2021

Volume: 36

Issue number: 23-24

Pages range: 11461-11482

Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc.

Publication country: United States

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519898438

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68315

Abstract

Social welfare service and health care providers are in a key position to implement successful domestic violence (DV) interventions. However, it is known that DV intervention and prevention work is often lacking in coordination and continuity. In addition, the limited resources, hectic work pace, and changing practices negatively affect the development of successful ways to prevent and intervene in DV. This qualitative study involving 11 focus groups, composed of social welfare and health care professionals (n = 51) in a midsized Finnish hospital, examined the challenges and possibilities within DV interventions and the adoption of good practices produced by a DV intervention development project funded by the European Union (EU). The results show that short-term development projects, amid the pressure of limited time and resources, encounter serious challenges when applied to wicked and ignored problems, such as DV. Developing successful violence intervention practices requires a broad understanding of the challenges that rapid development projects present to professionals and social welfare service and health care practices at the organizational level. Hence, the implementation of good practices requires continuity in managerial and organizational support, distribution of information, documentation of DV, awareness raising, education, training, and agreement on basic tasks and responsibilities. Otherwise, the failure to continue development work derails the results of such work, and short project durations lead to unnecessary work and the need to reinvent temporary work practices time and again. Short-term interventions provide inefficient solutions to the problem of DV, and a built-in organizational structure can prevent the misuse of organizational and human resources.

Keywords: family violence; intervention study; development projects; work practices; documentation

Free keywords: domestic violence; intervention research; short-term development projects; temporary work practices; domestic violence documentation

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2021

JUFO rating: 2