Creating Rule Reduction Organizational Culture in Domestic Violence Shelters

Background and Purpose: On a given day in the United States, over 18,500 intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors and their children find refuge in an emergency IPV shelters. (NNEDV, 2015). For these survivors, shelter is a critical source of safety and support (Allen, Bybee & Sullivan, 2004). In the mid 2000’s, some IPV programs and state coalitions began critical conversations regarding shelter rules (Tautest, 2006; MCADV, 2012). As Glenn and Goodman (2015) point out, in their worst manifestations, shelter rules can unintentionally lead to environments as controlling and deficit based as the abuse survivors are fleeing. Such service delivery environments run counter to the foundational values of the domestic violence movement and the mounting evidence regarding the effectiveness of trauma-informed approaches which emphasize individualized, empathetic care (SAMSHA, 2014). Emerging best practices suggest that shelter rule reduction may be critical in restoring survivor empowerment and enhancing service engagement; however this philosophical realignment poses significant challenges for existing service delivery models (Davies & Lyon, 2014). Our study sought to identify successful rules reduction implementation strategies currently being employed within IPV shelters.

Methods:Purposive sampling was utilized to identify national experts with direct experience implementing rules reduction and trauma informed IPV shelter services. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with seven key informants (e.g. shelter directors, state coalition trainers) using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviewees were asked about organizational context, changes following and challenges associated with implementation, and specific shelter policies and procedure adoption (e.g. curfew, child supervision, substance use, etc.). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically coded by two researchers using constructivist grounded theory methods (Charmaz, 2014). Coding discrepancies were resolved through consensus.

Results:Organizational culture themes emerged across three domains: 1) developing staff; 2) building internal collaboration; and 3) operationalizing values.  Organizations invested in staff by hiring based on relational competencies, providing trauma-informed training, and cultivating survivor-centered expertise. Internal collaboration was facilitated through improved communication and team building across positions and shifts.  Leadership within successful organizations made significant investments in maintaining staff wellness. They also challenged staff to redefine safety and empowerment goals through a survivor-centered lens.

Implications: Findings document diverse and innovative rules reduction implementation strategies and highlight shared philosophical commitments across shelters. Specific shelter implementation strategies varied from one another reflecting unique practice contexts. All successful organizations described shifting philosophy, supporting new practices, and overcoming organizational resistance to change. State coalitions play a critical role by providing training and technical assistance as shelters embrace rules reduction initiatives. Additional research is needed to more fully assess the impact of rules-reduced IPV shelter environments on survivors, staff, and service quality.