The Goals of Intervention in Domestic Violence

Safety for the abused

The first priority is the safety of the abused partner and of any children in the home. Any action or recommendation must be considered in the context of safety.

Accountability for the abuser

Until this person accepts that his, or her, behavior is the problem, the situation will not change. The faith leader, the faith organization membership, and the community can encourage this process but not guarantee it will happen.

Healing of the person who has been abused

After this, if possible, sometimes the relationship can also be healed. However, in many cases, healing can mean mourning the loss of the relationship.

Continued support for the survivor

Give the abused person continuing opportunities to seek help. If a survivor decides to remove her or himself from the person who abuses, this can take several attempts. Many survivors seek support to be safe within the relationship with the person who abuses, however this can be dangerous.