Intimate Partner Violence

The social work profession is positioned to play a critical role in redefining services for responsible parties in intimate partner violence. The traditional approaches to intimate partner violence services, which focus on confrontational rehabilitation rather than therapy, are due to undergo a shift. Models of trauma-informed care and restorative justice are promising alternatives for responsible parties and harmed parties alike. By building on the transformative work advocates have already done around intimate partner violence for harmed parties and focusing on the inclusion of the diverse identities of those we serve, we can begin to form a nuanced response to a nuanced social issue. From trauma-informed care, we can learn to make space for the personal trauma histories of survivors as well as those who have harmed them. From restorative justice, we can learn about techniques that have helped bring a sense of justice and healing to individuals, families, and communities affected by intimate partner violence, including those who have perpetrated that violence.