Measuring Community Engagement Practices in Domestic Violence Programs: The Network Oriented Practices Scale (NOPS)

Intimate Partner Violence Survivors’ Perspectives on Coping With Family Court Processes

“…Some noted that they had to adapt their demeanor to ensure that their requests would be taken seriously in court. This finding is consistent with a prior study indicating that survivors’ demeanors (i.e., pleasant vs. hostile) are a predictor of custody evaluators’ recommendations (Hardesty et al, 2015) and existing qualitative research, in which survivors have described pressure to act in a calm and unemotional manner in the courtroom for fear of appearing unstable and unfit to parent (Khaw et al, 2021; Miller & Manzer, 2021). Displays of emotion or disordered testimony (sometimes a result of PTSD, traumatic brain injury, or the re-traumatization caused by facing an abusive ex-partner) may influence judges to see an abusive ex-partner, who may appear comparatively relaxed and organized, as more plausible (Campbell, 2017; Epstein & Goodman, 2019; Khaw et al, 2021; Saunders & Oglesby, 2016; Ward, 2016).…”

“…While a few participants in this study described learning to navigate the system alone, when able to access committed attorneys, advocates, and therapists as well as supportive friends, peers, and family members during this time of vulnerability, such supports bolstered survivors’ ability to cope. Our findings echo calls for a network-oriented approach to supporting survivors that involves the engagement of survivors’ social networks (Goodman et al, 2016, 2023; Goodman & Smyth, 2011). Such an approach is likely key for family court-involved survivor mothers.…”