ICDVP Survivor Support 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A survivor expresses that she still loves her partner and does not want him arrested. An advocate should:
- Respect her feelings while informing her of the legal process and her options (Correct answer)
- Urge her to stop loving someone who hurts her
- Tell her that love is irrelevant when abuse is involved
- Decline to assist until she agrees to press charges
Correct answer: Respect her feelings while informing her of the legal process and her options
Advocates must validate the survivor's complex emotions while ensuring she understands her rights and the legal options available to her.
Question 2: Which element is most critical when conducting a lethality assessment with a domestic violence survivor?
- Determining how long the relationship has lasted
- Assessing the presence of weapons, strangulation history, and escalating threats (Correct answer)
- Evaluating the survivor's emotional stability
- Reviewing the abuser's prior employment history
Correct answer: Assessing the presence of weapons, strangulation history, and escalating threats
Lethality assessments focus on known risk factors for homicide, including weapon access, prior strangulation, and escalation of violence.
Question 3: A domestic violence shelter is at capacity when a survivor calls. The advocate should:
- Tell the survivor to call back when space is available
- Provide a list of other shelters and community resources and safety plan with her (Correct answer)
- Inform her that no help is available
- Refer her exclusively to law enforcement
Correct answer: Provide a list of other shelters and community resources and safety plan with her
Even when shelter is unavailable, advocates must connect survivors with alternative resources and help them develop a safety plan.
Question 4: The Power and Control Wheel is primarily used in DV advocacy to:
- Measure the frequency of physical violence
- Illustrate the range of tactics abusers use to maintain power over victims (Correct answer)
- Assess the survivor's readiness to leave
- Document injuries for legal proceedings
Correct answer: Illustrate the range of tactics abusers use to maintain power over victims
The Power and Control Wheel, developed by the Duluth Model, illustrates how abusers use various tactics beyond physical violence to control their partners.
Question 5: Secondary traumatic stress in DV advocates is best addressed by:
- Ignoring emotional reactions to maintain professionalism
- Taking on more cases to stay productive
- Utilizing regular supervision, peer support, and self-care practices (Correct answer)
- Avoiding discussion of traumatic client cases with colleagues
Correct answer: Utilizing regular supervision, peer support, and self-care practices
Organizations must support staff well-being through supervision, peer support, and self-care to prevent burnout and secondary traumatic stress.
Question 6: A survivor discloses that her abuser has threatened to 'out' her sexual orientation to her family and employer. This tactic is best described as:
- Physical coercion
- Identity-based abuse (Correct answer)
- Legal system abuse
- Property destruction
Correct answer: Identity-based abuse
Using a victim's marginalized identity (such as sexual orientation) as a weapon is a form of identity-based abuse particularly common in LGBTQ+ relationships.
Question 7: In Illinois, mandatory reporting of domestic violence for adults WITHOUT disabilities or vulnerability is:
- Required for all DV advocates under IDVA
- Not required — adult survivors have the right to make their own decisions (Correct answer)
- Required only when children are present
- Required when the abuser has a prior criminal record
Correct answer: Not required — adult survivors have the right to make their own decisions
Illinois does not mandate reporting of domestic violence against competent adults, honoring their autonomy and right to make decisions about their own safety.
ICDVP Survivor Support 3
A survivor expresses that she still loves her partner and does not want him arrested.
An advocate should: