ICDVP Survivor Support 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A survivor is experiencing PTSD symptoms including flashbacks and hypervigilance. An advocate's most appropriate response is to:
- Diagnose the survivor and develop a treatment plan
- Acknowledge her symptoms, avoid re-traumatization, and refer to trauma-informed mental health services (Correct answer)
- Tell her that trauma responses are normal and she does not need professional help
- Focus exclusively on safety planning and ignore mental health needs
Correct answer: Acknowledge her symptoms, avoid re-traumatization, and refer to trauma-informed mental health services
Advocates should recognize trauma symptoms, avoid triggering re-traumatization, and connect survivors with appropriate mental health services — diagnosis is outside their scope.
Question 2: Under Illinois law, which of the following is included in the definition of 'domestic violence'?
- Only physical assault between married couples
- Physical abuse, harassment, intimidation, interference with personal liberty, and willful deprivation (Correct answer)
- Any argument or disagreement between household members
- Only acts that result in documented physical injury
Correct answer: Physical abuse, harassment, intimidation, interference with personal liberty, and willful deprivation
The Illinois Domestic Violence Act defines domestic violence broadly to include physical, emotional, and economic forms of abuse and control.
Question 3: A survivor who has recently left a shelter asks an advocate for help finding long-term housing. This need represents which phase of survivor support?
- Crisis intervention
- Transitional and long-term advocacy (Correct answer)
- Lethality assessment
- Court accompaniment
Correct answer: Transitional and long-term advocacy
Long-term housing support represents transitional and long-term advocacy, which addresses stability needs after immediate crisis has been addressed.
Question 4: A survivor tells an advocate she has been strangled by her partner in the past. The advocate should recognize this as:
- A common argument escalation that will likely not reoccur
- A significant lethality indicator that greatly increases risk of homicide (Correct answer)
- A matter to address only if there were visible injuries
- Something to document but not prioritize in safety planning
Correct answer: A significant lethality indicator that greatly increases risk of homicide
Research shows strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of future lethal violence and must be treated as a serious lethality indicator.
Question 5: Cultural humility in domestic violence advocacy requires advocates to:
- Assume that all cultures have identical views on domestic violence
- Continually examine their own biases and learn from survivors about their cultural context (Correct answer)
- Apply universal solutions that transcend all cultural differences
- Avoid discussing culture to prevent making assumptions
Correct answer: Continually examine their own biases and learn from survivors about their cultural context
Cultural humility is an ongoing process of self-reflection and learning, prioritizing the survivor's own cultural knowledge over the advocate's assumptions.
Question 6: A child witnesses their parent being assaulted by an intimate partner. Under Illinois law, this situation may require:
- No additional action if the child was not physically harmed
- A report to DCFS, as witnessing domestic violence may constitute child abuse or neglect (Correct answer)
- Only a notation in the survivor's file
- Immediate removal of the child from both parents
Correct answer: A report to DCFS, as witnessing domestic violence may constitute child abuse or neglect
In Illinois, children witnessing domestic violence may trigger mandatory DCFS reporting obligations, as it can constitute abuse or neglect under state law.
Question 7: When a survivor recants her statement to police after an assault, an advocate should:
- Encourage prosecutors to drop the case immediately
- Understand that recantation is common due to fear, financial dependence, or love, and continue to provide support (Correct answer)
- Tell her that recanting will result in her being charged
- Document the recantation and close her case file
Correct answer: Understand that recantation is common due to fear, financial dependence, or love, and continue to provide support
Recantation is extremely common in DV cases and does not mean the abuse did not occur; advocates must understand the complex reasons survivors recant and maintain support.
ICDVP Survivor Support 5
A survivor is experiencing PTSD symptoms including flashbacks and hypervigilance.
An advocate's most appropriate response is to: