Information+Sources

Information Sources
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I. Introduction
 Faced with a vast amount of information needs, abused women must locate community resources that can help them obtain both the information they need and the services they require. Reaching out to local resources can be life-threatening, as the abuser’s behavior may escalate if he finds out his partner is planning to leave. It is with this in mind that social service, government and local institutions gather resources for abused women in their community.

II. Personal Contacts
 Abuse survivors most frequently turn to family members, friends and clergy members for assistance. These personal contacts may already be familiar with the abusive situation or be able to offer housing or financial assistance to the victim. The advice of friends and family is heavily depended on throughout the pre-escape, post-abuse and rebuilding stages.

III. Emergency Room and Physicians
 Victims of physical abuse often turn to emergency room departments and physicians for assistance. As a common initial intake for many victims, the hospital can supply information on local shelters, hotlines and police services. Personal physicians or counselors are often contacted as they offer confidential services and can provide information on symptoms of abuse as well as post-abuse counseling for the survivor and her children.

IV. Digital Information
 Increasingly popular sources of information for abused women are digital resources and the internet. More victims are logging-on to find out information about abuse, shelters and resources in their area. As more websites begin implementing chat and email enabled contact options access to resources and information increases. With this, the threat of the abuser discovering the searches and communication increases, leading websites to create “pop-up” windows warning information seekers about potential discovery and encouraging them to clear internet histories or seek help in person.

V. Government, Justice and Legal
 Individuals and departments within the government, legal and justice systems provide valuable information to survivors. Government agencies offer information on benefits and assistance programs to aid the victim during and after her escape. The justice and legal systems work together to provide police assistance and protection, attorney services and information on court proceedings and documentation.

VI. Sources
This study tracked the number of women who accepted help and advocacy from hospital staff after being admitted into the emergency room as a result of domestic violence. It identifies the emergency room as a main information source and reaffirms the information needs mentioned in the other readings. This study identified popular information resources for domestic abuse survivors. Conducted surveys revealed these resources to be family and friends, police assistance, emergency departments and additional resources such as the YWCA, other women’s groups, legal counsel and clergy members. This article focuses on digital based support for domestic violence/IPV survivors. It examines the survey-identified resources women turn to in an increasingly digital world, touching on the impact the digital divide has on information seeking. It looks at email, online support groups and online support searches and how women access these resources including how they do so safely if computer use is being monitored.
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