EAST LANSING, Mich. — A team of MSU researchers aims to improve services to victims of domestic abuse and sexual assault through a unique, five-year project in collaboration with a Detroit-area women’s shelter.
The initiative, funded by a $2.6 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, is the first comprehensive project in the nation to bring together researchers and field workers with a goal of strengthening the system for abuse victims, said Cris Sullivan, an MSU psychology professor and lead researcher on the project.
Work on the initiative, which started this month and continues through mid-2012, could potentially prompt changes at domestic violence shelters across the country, said Sullivan, who’s recognized internationally for her research on violence against women and its broader impact.
“We’re going to have a wealth of information over time about how these types of assaults affect women and what communities can do to more effectively respond to them,” Sullivan said.
MSU will partner with Turning Point, a 41-bed shelter for women and children in Mount Clemens. With more than 5,300 clients a year, the Macomb County facility is one of the state’s largest domestic violence and sexual assault centers.
Suzanne Coats, chief executive officer of Turning Point, said “the idea of pairing frontline researchers with those of us who work in the field is a great idea.”
“I think it’s an outstanding opportunity for Turning Point to be working with brilliant researchers on violence against women,” Coats said.
The initiative combines research with new programs and service enhancements. The first step: installing a new computer network at Turning Point that will create a comprehensive database for all clients and programs. Services at Turning Point include a 24-hour emergency shelter, counseling, hospital and court advocacy, support groups and others.
Sullivan said MSU researchers will then analyze the database to determine “which services are most effective for which women under which circumstances.” Service changes could then be made accordingly, she said.
Another facet involves creating a victims’ advocacy program in the Mount Clemens area modeled after one that Sullivan started at MSU. Through the local program, which ran from 1986 to 2003, MSU undergraduates provided assistance in the privacy of victims’ homes. It hasn’t been determined how the Mount Clemens program will be staffed.
Finally, MSU researchers will conduct an as-yet-undetermined study based on the newly collected data from Turning Point. It will likely be in the area of sexual assault, said Rebecca Campbell, MSU associate professor of psychology and a project researcher.
While the initiative is expected to improve the way local services are delivered, it could have broader implications, Sullivan said. MSU researchers plan to write articles for stakeholder newsletters and scholarly journals and a training manual for graduate students wanting to engage in collaborative research.
They’ll also hire an independent evaluator to gauge the success of the project.
Sullivan said traditionally there has been “a lot of mistrust” between organizations such as Turning Point and university researchers.
“Organizations that provide services to survivors often feel like researchers don’t understand the issue, sensationalize the issue or pathologize survivors,” she said.
But Sullivan and Campbell have both volunteered at programs serving abuse survivors, which helped build trust with the Turning Point staff.
“We’ve earned our reputation with them, but that’s very unusual,” Sullivan said.
Also serving on the MSU research team are Deborah Bybee, professor of psychology, and Celia Willis, associate professor of nursing.
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