Tulsa: Study finds success at violence shelters

Domestic violence victims say shelters designed to meet their needs have been effective in immediate, emergency safety issues and long-term recovery, according to a federally funded national study.

Included in the national study were 271 Oklahomans at 22 domestic violence shelters. The national sample of 3,368 victims came from 215 shelters in eight states.

The needs of domestic violence victims in Oklahoma were similar to those in the national sample, with a few differences.

In Oklahoma, domestic violence victims were less likely to report a need for housing when they enter the shelter but more likely to say they needed help paying attention to the needs of their children.

The state results showed shelter residents rated better in terms of outcomes at the end of their stay, such as knowing about community resources, children understanding what is happening and children being able to express their feelings without violence.

Most needs are basic

The study found primary needs expressed by victims are basic: safety, information, help with children and help with emotional distress. Victims rated shelter stays highly and credited purposeful change to their experiences, said main researcher Eleanor Lyon of the University of Connecticut.

Of the Oklahomans surveyed, 75 percent had at least one child younger than 18. As a first priority, 78 percent of the mothers said they needed help tending to their children’s needs and 69 percent were most concerned about the safety of their children.

In Oklahoma, the median time spent at a shelter is 21 days, with 71 percent of victims staying for less than 30 days. This compares to 60 days as a median stay nationally.