Open Collections

Belitski, Savanna

University of British Columbia

Women-identified survivors of domestic violence (DV) experiencing co-occurring problematic substance use (SU) have complex service needs which are inadequately addressed by traditional siloed approaches to service delivery. Combined programming, which simultaneously addresses needs related to both DV and SU, demonstrates effectiveness in addressing the needs of this population. However, research is only recently emerging, and agencies have been slow to incorporate combined interventions. Addressing this critical gap, this qualitative study explored the strengths and limitations of community-based agencies in Canada offering combined DV/SU programming. Using an Interpretive Description design, semi-structured interviews with service providers offering combined DV/SU programming were used to explore the specific motivations, theoretical approaches, policies, successes, and barriers to implementing such programming. The study found that successful programming was informed by trauma-informed, client-centered, and harm reduction approaches, and focused on addressing DV/SU needs holistically. The study also uniquely described the unanticipated impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, including increases in complex client needs and limitations placed on community-based agencies, in motivating practice shifts towards combined interventions. Practice recommendations garnered through participant interviews included efforts to increase staff competencies, address stigma and misconceptions, build agency capacity, and further incorporate trauma-informed, client-centered, and harm reduction approaches. This study provides useful insights for future research, policies, and supports that would address the unique needs of women experiencing DV/SU.

Text

2025-03-17

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/90497

Social Work

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/