PROJECT REPORT
Project Report
Lakisha Franklin, Brenda Sanchez, Amanda Preston, Glendaliz Quinonez
Springfield College, School of Social Work and Behavioral Science in the Department of Human
Services
SU PROJ 351 -R1 Human Services Practicum II
Mary Beth Campion
July 25, 2021
PROJECT REPORT
Project Report
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities worldwide have felt the impact of
increased IPV (Intimate Partner Violence) due to the COVID-19 quarantine stay-at-home order,
leaving victims experiencing domestic violence isolated with high-risk perpetrators at increased
rates.”Women from non-English-speaking backgrounds are at an increased risk for domestic
violence, although this likely varies between groups and cultures.” (Boxall & Morgan, 2021,
P.g.2). The pandemic has caused limitations in the availability of resources, referrals, and
funding that provide emergency assistance and support safety for domestic violence victims.
Providing Voices for the Voiceless research project aims to identify the breakdown in the
availability of emergency funding sources to secure ESL female domestic violence high-risk
victims in the Springfield, Massachusetts, area.
Social service providers, including advocates and translators, who provide essential
services to ESL females experiencing domestic violence while living isolated in high-risk
situations due to the COVID-19 pandemic with limited options, and circumstances are struggling
with ways to immediately provide safety, relocation, and to maintain effective communication
with victims while at home with their abusers. Trying to plan and connect this identified
population to emergency housing and other social services, attempts have been unsuccessful due
to a lack of accessible funding and program closure.
Hampden County’s population is 466,372 (Census, 2019). Hispanicis the most significant
race population in the Springfield, Ma area. This target community requires increased support
due to COVID-19 limitations. It has been challenging due to the government’s quarantine orders
and decreased financial support for domestic violence victims.
PROJECT REPORT
Historically in this community Womenshelter/ Companares has been empowering
violence survivors for over forty years, empowering survivors of domestic violence to stay safe
and achieve greater independence. Womanshelter Companeras has been helping with logistics
such as safe housing, food, clothing, medical support, court orders, legal help, therapy, and
childcare.
Community Demographic
In Hampden County, the population is 469,818 (91% urban, 9% rural) according to the U.S.
Census Bureau website (census, 2010). The most significant race population is Hispanic in the
Springfield, Ma area. Most of the Hispanics are of Puertorican descent. The median age of
residents living in Springfield is 38 years old; males are 36 years old. Females are 40 years old.
The median age for White residents is 47 years old, 32 years old for Black residents, 28 years old
for American Indian residents, with 27 years of age being the median for although in residents
Hispanic or Latino residents, and 30 years of age is the median for all other races. (area connect,
2020) 75.2% of residents of Hampden speak English at home. (area connect, 2020) 17.0% of
residents speak Spanish at home, 66% speak English very well, 13% speak English well, 13%
speak English not well, 7% don’t speak English. 5.6% of residents speak another Indo-European
language at home, 62% speak English very well, 21% speak English well, 8% speak English not
well, and 9% don’t speak English (area connect, 2020). 1.4% of residents speak althoughian or
Pacific Island language at home, 58% speak English very well, 21% speak English well, 16%
speak English not well, 4% don’t speak English (area connect, 2020). 0.8% of residents speak
another language at home, 75% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 9% speak
English not well, 1% don’t speak English. (area connect, 2020)
PROJECT REPORT
The population of Springfield, MA, consists of 45,587 married couples with children. 43,619
single-parent households, 7,471 have men within the household, and 36,148 have females within
the household. The single population is higher than those married. 71.1% of adult residents drank
alcohol within the past 30 days. The average weight of males is 195 pounds. This is about
average (area connect, 2020). The average value of females is 164 pounds. 12.6% of residents
keep firearms around their homes (area connect, 2020). Due to limitations to funding during the
pandemic, access to social services has been limited. Working with community stakeholders
such as the translators, social service providers, victim advocates, and other community
members in the Hampden County area will allow a clearer insight into the issues. Although lack
of funding sources, language barriers, and emergency shelter for ESL women are experiencing
domestic violence while isolated at home with a perpetrator during this global pandemic of
COVID-19.
This community has many multilingual organizations that offer services virtually and out
in the community during the pandemic. WomanShelter Companeras offers emergency shelter
referrals, translators, and safe plan advocates. OLA Precise Language Services provides certified
court and conference interpreters to support victims in the court system and receive services in
the community. The community needs are affected by the lack of funding due to the pandemic
emergency funding has halted. Victims have fewer alternatives to remove themselves from high-
risk domestic violence situations while at home isolated from their perpetrators. Social service
providers have decreased options available for relocated high-risk victims that are separated from
their perpetrators.
PROJECT REPORT
Culturally responsive strategies have been increased to meet the community’s needs through
social media, religious gatherings, translators and interpreters, and other multicultural
organizations in the community.
METHODOLOGY
Summer of 2021 Human Services Practicum II course has introduced Providing Voices to
the Voiceless with the opportunity to understand the lack of resources and emergency housing
for E.S.L. female domestic violence victims during COVID-19 residing in Springfield,
Massachusetts. We aim to understand the need for support for victims and survivors and To
collaborate with community leaders and stakeholders to end the cycle of abuse during
quarantine. To begin this process, Providing Voices to the Voiceless worked with our
Community Partner and Technical Advisors, who serve as the Executive Director of
Womanshelter/Companeras. Flyers were distributed within the facility for volunteers to be
interviewed on issues faced in the community related to the lack of support for domestic violence
victims. Providing Voices to the Voiceless conducted 25 to 30-minute interviews with a diverse
group of social service providers that work near domestic violence victims. Participants consist
of our Community Partner/Technical Advisor, Victim Witness Advocate for the District
Attorney’s Office for Hampden County, Court Interpreter, staff members at
Womanshelter/Companeras, Senior Safepaln Advocate, Special Needs Advocate, and worker in
the Springfield Police Department. Before each participant’s virtual interview, a debrief was
given about the research project, confidentiality and consent forms were issued to ensure
research is adequately handled. Once interviews were concluded, researchers translated audio
interviews into transcripts and sent them to participants for dialogue approval. As transcripts
PROJECT REPORT
were being approved, researchers began the analysis and data collection of responses from
questions asked.
Analysis of data
Using Microsoft Excel, Providing Voice to the Voiceless collectively, inserted key
evidence from each participant’s interview for similarities and differences in the questions asked.
This research has discovered that there has been a decrease in services for domestic violence
victims in Springfield, Massachusetts, since the pandemic. Before COVID-19, advocates were
accessible to victims in rendering aid and support on their behalf. Courthouse and Safeplan
Advocates were utilized to file restraining orders on sight in the courthouse, and the police were
able to see victims as walk Ins. Currently, these are not as available as they once were for
victims, causing hardships to victims, or as some may call it, “Experiencing a pandemic in a
pandemic.” Based on the response from social services participants, culturally competent
services are available for providers and victims included staff, advocates, translators employed
by the trial court, the District Attorney, office, and interpreters, who speak Russian, Spanish,
Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Polish. O.L.A. (Office of Language and Accent) is also an
interpretation service utilized through the court system. Resources were provided through virtual
meetings, diversity training, grants, and even police officers fluent in sign language. Referral
agencies have been impacted, and the court systems are being shut down for months at a time,
resulting in cases being put on hold and pushed back for months. Victims have not been able to
access technology. They lost the ability to walk in and receive immediate services, which leaves
them vulnerable at home with perpetrators. Services needed to support victims but no longer are
available due to COVID-19 limitations includes: emergency funding on the agency level to
support the victims, immediate court intervention, access to welfare services, housing services
such as vouchers for emergency housing or shelters, funding for hotel rooms for victims to help
Commented [1]: this is a quote where is the citation
PROJECT REPORT
flee abusers, funding for placement in other locations, and funds for transportation services like
Uber and Lyft services were also affected due to the pandemic and no longer available limiting
the mobility and independence of the victim.
Recommendations
In conducting this research, Providing Voices to the Voiceless has evaluated the need for
support in Springfield, Massachusetts, for domestic violence victims during COVID-19.
Literature Reviews have shown that this issue within communities nationwide is a huge concern
and needs immediate attention. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has caused significant effects on
victims at home with their abusers due to the stay-at-home order. Due to the lack of finances,
job loss, and closing the outside world, abusers are taking the frustration out on their partners.
Victims are vulnerable and scared to seek assistance because of the widespread COVD-19 virus,
