Glossary
Abuser or Abusive Partner - A person who
engages in a pattern of coercive, exploitative and violent tactics
against an intimate partner, in order to establish and maintain
power, control and dominance over the partner.
Advocacy - The word is used to describe the
support that domestic violence programs offer to individual
survivors. The support can include: 24-hour crisis hotline; crisis
intervention; shelter; food; clothing; transportation; legal and
medical assistance; accompaniment to court and other services;
information and referrals; assistance with rent and utilities;
support groups; therapy groups for abusers; and childcare and other
children's programming.
Advocate - Over the past 35 years, reform
efforts for battered women have produced two distinct yet
interwoven forms of advocacy. The first, "individual case
advocacy," involves an advocate who attempts to assist one victim
or survivor. The second form of advocacy, "systems or institutional
advocacy," involves an advocate who works to alter the practices
that produce unfair outcomes for domestic violence victims as a
group.[1]
Assets - Attributes someone possesses that are
valuable, including education or special skills, as well as
valuable objects someone owns, including a car, house, small
business or savings account.
Domestic Violence Victim or Battered Woman or Domestic
Abuse Survivor - Someone who has experienced verbal,
emotional, financial, physical or sexual abuse.
Child Support - Financial support paid by a
parent to help support their child or children who do not live with
them. When a parent's children do not live with them, they are
called the "non-custodial parent." Depending on state law, child
support can be entered into voluntarily or ordered by a court or
administrative agency. The support can be supplied in different
forms, including medical support that is typically covered by the
non-custodial parent or through public assistance, the cost of
which may be wholly or partially reimbursed by the non-custodial
parent. It can also be in the form of a one-time payment, regular
installments paid directly to the custodial parent or regular
withholdings from the non-custodial parent's wages. Sometimes child
support requires seizing state and federal tax refunds or
administrative payments made to the non-custodial parent, including
federal retirement benefits.
Child Support Enforcement Agency - An agency
authorized to locate non-custodial parents, establish paternity and
establish and enforce child support orders. It was established by
Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and exists in 50 states and
four territories, as well as several Native American tribes.
Child Support Enforcement Program - The
federal/state/local partnership established under Part D of the
Social Security Act to locate parents, establish paternity and
child support orders and to enforce these orders.
Confidentiality - Advocates from domestic abuse
programs are bound by state and federal guidelines regarding the
release of information. Advocates will not acknowledge anyone's
presence or participation in a local domestic abuse program or
shelter without written permission from the domestic abuse survivor
to release information. State laws give staff at domestic abuse
programs legal protection from being forced to testify about anyone
seeking services without a confidentiality waiver from the domestic
abuse survivor.
Domestic Violence or Domestic Abuse - A pattern
of emotional, financial, physical and/or sexual violence to
maintain power over another person. Abusers are motivated by the
need for control and willing to use force or coercion to get
it.
Domestic Violence Coalition - A statewide
nonprofit organization committed to ending domestic abuse by
promoting social change through public policy advocacy. The
coalition provides domestic abuse shelters with training and
technical assistance that coordinates community responses to
domestic violence and systems-based advocacy within the legal,
healthcare, homeless and social services communities. It also
provides information and referral services to survivors.
Domestic Violence Services - Describes the
range of support domestic violence survivors receive from domestic
violence programs. The support can include: 24-hour crisis hotline;
crisis intervention; shelter; food; clothing; transportation; legal
and medical assistance; accompaniment to court and other services;
information and referrals; assistance with rent and utilities;
support groups; therapy groups for abusers; and childcare and other
children's programming.
Financial Literacy - A strategy that educates
individuals about economics and their own finances. It has the goal
of assisting individuals and families of all income levels in their
efforts to attain economic independence and to have strong
financial futures.
Financial Abuse - A tactic used by abusers to
control victims by preventing access to money or other financial
resources. It occurs when an individual attempts to take total or
partial control of another person's financial resources, including
money, property, and an inheritance or employment income.
Individual Development Account (IDA) - A
matched savings account that is similar to IRA or 401(k) retirement
savings accounts. Sources for IDA matching funds include community
organizations, foundations, financial institutions, businesses,
government grants and private contributors. Matching funds are
typically reserved for high-return investments including home
ownership, small business development and post-secondary education
or training. IDA programs are a key strategy for helping
low-to-moderate-income domestic violence survivors attain assets
and increase their financial security.
Local Domestic Violence Program - A
community-based nonprofit organization committed to providing free
and confidential services to domestic abuse victims and their
children by providing crisis support, safe shelter, counseling,
legal advocacy and information and referral services. Advocates
from domestic abuse programs accompany victims to court, social
service organizations and police stations. It's not a requirement
that domestic violence victims stay at the shelter to get help from
these programs.
Micro-Enterprise - A small business that
employs five or fewer people and can be started with less than
$25,000 in capital.
Micro-Enterprise Development - An anti-poverty
strategy that provides specialized services and training to
low-income people interested in entrepreneurship. Micro-enterprise
development programs are typically operated by nonprofit agencies
that provide training and technical assistance, credit or access to
credit and market access.
Partner - Individuals may refer to their
partner as their girlfriend/boyfriend, lover, roommate, life
partner, wife/husband, spouse or significant other. Use "partner"
until you know what term the person prefers.
Pro se - An individual representing him or
herself in a legal matter.
Public Assistance - Money granted from the
state or federal government to a person or family for living
expenses. Eligibility is based on need.
Safety Plan - A set of response strategies that
women can use in a variety of situations, including living with an
abusive partner, escaping abuse at work, attending school and
attending court. The plans are specifically personalized to fit the
needs of women experiencing abuse and are used to assess safety and
legality risks and evaluate options.
Shelter - A refuge that provides safety and
protection from abuse, advocacy services, time and space to rest,
and resources to create a non-violent life. It includes advocates
who are respectful and non-judgmental and who work to provide
accurate information, transportation and accompaniment to court and
protect women's confidentiality. Advocates support women's
decisions and freedom to choose, including returning to their
abuser, without giving up other rights.
Strategy - Well thought out action steps and
plans that an individual uses to respond to specific needs,
challenges or barriers.
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) -
Assistance payments made on behalf of children who do not have the
financial support of one of their parents by reason of death,
disability or continued absence from the home. The program provides
parents with job preparation, work and support services to help
them become self-sufficient.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) - Federal
legislation created to provide funding to support domestic violence
victims and to end violence against women. The law includes rape
and sexual abuse, physical abuse and battering, stalking, and
murder. VAWA provides additional resources for programs that combat
domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking,
and it creates new resources to meet emerging needs of communities
working to prevent domestic violence.
In addition to enhancing criminal justice, civil justice and
community-based responses to these crimes, VAWA creates notable new
focus areas such as:
- developing prevention strategies to stop the violence before it
starts;
- protecting individuals from unfair eviction due to their status
as victims of domestic violence or stalking;
- creating the first federal funding stream to support rape
crisis centers,
- developing culturally and linguistically specific services for
communities; and
- enhancing programs and services for victims with disabilities,
and broadening VAWA service provisions to include children and
teens.