DVIP Awareness: Rural communities face specific challenges

IOWA — October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and The Southeast Iowa Union is partnering with the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) to share victim-survivor stories.

The following is a true narrative from a survivor-victim of domestic abuse in a local rural area. The name has been changed to protect their identity.

Carrie had heard at church about the services DVIP provided.

As she was only allowed to socialize at church functions, she had very little chance to reach out to DVIP.

Her husband of 40 years had isolated her on their farm in southern Iowa for what seemed like forever.

“In very rural areas the isolation can really increase,” Community Engagement Coordinator Meghann Foster. “Abusers tend to use isolation as a form of power and control.”

She had no idea there were options available for her until she picked up our flyer in the church bathroom.

Carrie called the DVIP advocate number on the flyer the following Sunday from the phone in the church office.

According to DVIP Volunteer Coordinator and In-Kind Donations Manager, Allison Tippe, community Engagement staff and advocates connect with faith communities as an access point to victim/survivors. By developing relationships with faith communities, rural advocates maintain a stronger connection with the broader community as churches are often a cornerstone of rural community life.

To best support rural areas, DVIP continues to take initiative to promote their supports in a variety of areas.

According to Division Six Rural Manager Marquise Lewis, putting up information for DVIP in local gas stations and bars is crucial to get needed information to the rural community.

“Additionally, DVIP is building connections with public health departments in rural communities to broaden our service capacity and referral system, particularly as it pertains to substance abuse, mental health, and children’s health services,” Tippe said.

She was able to arrange for the advocate to meet her during her usual Bible study at the church.

“Outreach advocates within DVIP operate in a mobile capacity, meaning they meet clients where they are located, whether that be a public place in their community such as a church or library, at the county courthouse, or at another location which is safe for the client,” Tippe said.

With a plan in place, she was able to see hope and have faith in her future.

The DVIP advocate was able to meet Carrie multiple weeks in a row to work on a safety plan, provide her with an emergency phone and discuss options available to her.

According to Tippe, DVIP services currently span 8 counties in Iowa, including a majority which are considered rural.

For many victim-survivors in rural areas, confidentiality remains a large concern.

“If you’re in a smaller community, maintaining that confidentiality is a challenge,” Foster said. “Our advocates always work to meet victim-survivors where they’re at because we are aware of those types of barriers.”

They meet victims where they are physically, and help them to create a safety-plan, which is not always an immediate escape plan.

When an escape plan is determined to be the best plan, housing proves to be a necessary hurdle to overcome.

“The housing challenge in our more urban communities, it is generally fixed around supply and demand, but in more rural communities it is just access.” Foster said. “There isn’t as much housing stock to choose from.”

Additionally, housing in rural areas have more specific needs for victim-survivors to access resources.

“Within those rural counties, services and response to victims' needs are navigated differently than in metropolitan areas,” she said.

According to Foster, one of the biggest challenges in rural communities is transportation, especially when it comes to accessing services.

“Rural clients often have limited access to transportation and further, within rural communities public transportation is almost nonexistent,” Tippe said. “Access to DVIP services can be a challenge for victims and advocates alike due to this barrier.”

“The approach to victim services in rural counties is also different in that the prevalence of trafficking victims is notably higher,” Tippe said. “Iowa has one of the nation’s highest rates of human trafficking and this is particularly noticeable in rural areas.”

According to Tippe, Victim/survivors of human trafficking often consider themselves victims of domestic violence, as that is often where their relationship with their abuser began.

“As such, navigating services for victims/survivors of trafficking often includes additional peer counseling and referrals to community mental health resources,” she said.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com