Common Ground: The Development of a Support Group for Survivors of Homicide Loss in a Rural Community

ABSTRACT

Losing a loved one from human-perpetrated violence can lead to a debilitating process of stigma-generated isolation and trauma. Layers of social services are needed to support surviving family members, all secondary victims of homicide. Although urban populations have enriched access to victims-of-crime services, rural-bound populations often do not. This article describes homicide-specific trauma and the development of a community support group for rural-bound persons suffering homicide loss. The support group process offers potential for real help in areas where few trauma-informed options exist. The authors chronicle their journey of group-work practice with underserved persons coping with homicide loss.     

Unmet Home Care Service Needs of Rural Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease: A Perspective of Informal Caregivers

This study assessed unmet service needs of rural older adults with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and identified factors that were related to these needs. Data were collected from 109 informal caregivers of AD patients. Over half of the patients experienced unmet service needs in 1 or more areas of activities of daily functioning. Informal caregiver burden and patient's gender and functional status were significantly related to patients' unmet service needs. Patients' use of formal services was marginally related to their unmet service needs. To better address patients' service needs, a comprehensive needs assessment should be conducted with both patients and their caregivers.     

Cultural Barriers to the Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse in Asian Communities: Listening to What Women Say

There is apparent under-reporting of child sexual abuse in Britain’sAsian communities and a varied capacity amongst professionalsto respond with cultural competence. Professional approachesoriginate in cultural contexts, which are often different fromthose of most British Asians. If the proportion of childrenand non-abusing carers from Asian communities who access relevantservices is to increase, professionals need to develop betterunderstandings of cultural imperatives which determine behaviourin those communities. Consultations with Asian women in Bradfordreinforce the view that culturally competent practice and respectfuldialogue are essential to the protection of children. They alsohighlight a number of recurring themes. Members of Asian communitiesare aware of child sexual abuse, they recognize that the issueneeds to be addressed by all communities and they report thatmany of those affected within their own communities have foundit difficult to access relevant services. These consultations,like reports of similar work elsewhere, indicate that difficulties,which appear to arise from Asian women’s fears about howagencies will respond, are frequently compounded by the impactof cultural imperatives arising from izzat (honour/respect),haya (modesty) and sharam (shame/embarrassment), which havea considerable influence on how many will behave.     

Women’s Strategic Responses to Intimate Partner Violence: A Study in a Rural Community of Bangladesh

The objective of this study was to explore women’s strategic responses to physical violence perpetrated by an intimate partner. Twenty women from a rural area of the Narshingdi district in the Dhaka division of Bangladesh who experienced physical violence at home participated in the study. Development of the interview protocol and data analysis were carried out by applying the consensual qualitative research (CQR) method. The results showed that several themes, such as women’s responses to intimate partner violence, arose from the data. First, coping strategies to pre‐violent events included three themes: (i) leaving the scene; (ii) trying to divert attention; and (iii) preparing to protest. Women’s strategic responses to violent events consisted of four themes: (i) leaving the scene; (ii) remaining silent or no giving response; (iii) seeking help from others; and (iv) protesting against the violence. Lastly, women’s strategic responses to post‐violent events consisted of three themes: (i) temporary abstinence; (ii) verbally abusive behavior to family members; and (iii) going to the parental home. Given the findings of this study, we conclude by suggesting that more work is needed to better understand effective strategies and to draw women to institutional services to prevent violence to a greater extent.     

农村留守老人需要社会关怀

本文分析了我国农村留守老人的形成原因,并对农村留守老人的社会关怀展开具体论述。对农村留守老人施以社会关怀,既是农村留守老人的主观愿望,又是农村经济发展的客观需要。对这一问题的探讨,具有很强的现实意义。     

The Day-to-Day Reality of Delivering Shelter Services to Women Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence in the Context of System and Policy Demands

ABSTRACT

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common form of gender-based violence affecting Canadian women. Women often seek help from shelters to deal with IPV and its consequences. These shelters function within a broader context that shapes how services are delivered. This study was undertaken to better understand how structural factors including policies shape shelter service delivery and reveal systemic and structural complexities that influence those services and women's ability to rebuild their lives. This feminist qualitative study combined in-depth interviews and focus groups with 37 staff and 4 executive directors from 4 shelters in Ontario, Canada, and included critical discourse analysis of salient policy texts. The findings illuminate the complexity of the structural challenges faced by abused women and the shelters that support them. Systemic impediments were shown to determine how shelters support abused women, the obstacles women face moving forward, and the extent and availability of their options. Future research should include policy evaluation of policy written and enacted, cost analysis examining the actual costs of delivering shelter services and supporting women after leaving, examination of potential alternatives to the identified structural challenges, and investigation of system coordination of services and support for abused women.     

依托资源和特色优势:加快黑龙江省农村专业合作经济组织发展

黑龙江省农村专业合作经济组织虽然得到了一定的发展 ,但总体上仍是规模小 ,水平低 ,难以满足农业产业化发展的需要。应根据我国加入WTO后农产品市场及国际市场竞争规则的变化 ,借鉴国际农业合作社的发展经验 ,依托黑龙江省资源优势和特色优势 ,充分利用现代经营方式 ,在总结供销社改革和专业合作社发展经验的基础上 ,加强政策支持和引导 ,加快黑龙江省农村专业合作经济组织发展。     

西部农村消费需求的边际倾向与收入弹性比较分析

收入是拉动消费需求增加的非常重要的动力,但在我国,由于地域差异大,经济一直落后的西部农村地区,收入虽然也有所增加,但由于经济基础薄弱而使收入的增加对消费增加的作用不明显,消费的边际倾向和收入弹性相对东部地区的省份高,所以进一步增加西部农民的收入就很容易启动潜在消费,从而刺激全国的有效需求,使我国经济尽快走出低迷的状态。     

从和亲看玄宗朝东北边境问题

历来史学界认为唐代的边患主要存在于西北,其实玄宗朝更关注东北边境问题。玄宗朝公主和亲主要是联姻东北的奚、契丹。同时,考察当时节镇的设置、调整、兵力分配等,均可发现唐政府对这一地区的的关注与防范程度。