Historically marginalized communities don’t always have the same access to domestic violence support organizations. Unfortunately, this lack of access has been made worse by the COVID pandemic. Today we speak with Adrienne Simpkins, the Director of Outreach and Capacity Building at the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence. Our conversation dives deeply into issues around access and the impact that COVID has had on survivors. Early in our discussion, we look at the stats around domestic violence in New Jersey, and Adrienne explains how the African American community is affected by domestic violence. We chat about the need for culturally-specific services to tackle the context of each community and why representation is key in providing support. Highlighting the benefits of a survivor-centered approach, Adrienne shares her views on why survivors are the experts on their own lives. A crucial theme this episode, we explore how organizations can expand their outreach by building relationships with both the community and other organizations, embracing a shared responsibility for domestic violence support. After reflecting on the progress that’s been made, we look at more statistics that show how the pandemic has increased instances of domestic violence while limiting access to shelter for marginalized groups. Tune in to hear more of Adrienne’s keen insights.
Adrienne Simpkins LinkedIn
New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence
New Jersey Fatality Review Board
Harambe Social Services on Instagram
Harambe Social Services on Facebook
Harambe Phone Number — 609-225-6936
Historically marginalized communities don’t always have the same access to domestic violence support organizations. Unfortunately, this lack of access has been made worse by the COVID pandemic. Today we speak with Adrienne Simpkins, the Director of Outreach and Capacity Building at the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence. Our conversation dives deeply into issues around access and the impact that COVID has had on survivors. Early in our discussion, we look at the stats around domestic violence in New Jersey, and Adrienne explains how the African American community is affected by domestic violence. We chat about the need for culturally-specific services to tackle the context of each community and why representation is key in providing support. Highlighting the benefits of a survivor-centered approach, Adrienne shares her views on why survivors are the experts on their own lives. A crucial theme this episode, we explore how organizations can expand their outreach by building relationships with both the community and other organizations, embracing a shared responsibility for domestic violence support. After reflecting on the progress that’s been made, we look at more statistics that show how the pandemic has increased instances of domestic violence while limiting access to shelter for marginalized groups. Tune in to hear more of Adrienne’s keen insights.
Adrienne Simpkins LinkedIn
New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence
New Jersey Fatality Review Board
Harambe Social Services on Instagram
Harambe Social Services on Facebook
Harambe Phone Number — 609-225-6936
[INTRO]
[00:00:05] ANNOUNCER: Welcome to this episode of We Hear You from Harambe Social Services in South Jersey. We Hear You is designed to give a voice to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. This forum is for survivors and their allies to discuss issues that impact them and their families, as well as to educate communities. In the comment segment, we will hear from survivors. They will tell us their stories and what they would like for us to know. As allies, we want to hear how we can support them.
[INTERVIEW]
[00:00:47] RW: Welcome, everybody to tonight’s episode of We Hear You podcast. Tonight’s special guest is Adrienne Simpkins. She is a licensed professional counselor and a domestic violence advocate. She currently serves as a Director of Outreach and Capacity Building at the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence. In this role, she collaborates with various domestic violence and allied professionals to address and eliminate barriers that members of underserved communities face as they’re their access to services.
Adrienne strives to utilize the platform to center and amplify the voices of those who are marginalized and to ensure that those impacted by the trauma of domestic violence have access to safe healing spaces. She received her undergraduate degree in telecommunications from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Masters of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Rider University.
Well, with all that, welcome, welcome, welcome, Adrienne. We’re so glad you’re here tonight.
[00:02:04] AS: Thank you. I’m honored to be here.
[00:02:07] RW: We Hear You podcast is relatively new but we are inviting guests who have been in the field of domestic violence for a while, and you’re one of those folks that we really wanted to hear from. Tell us a little bit more about your role at Coalition to End Domestic Violence.
[00:02:29] AS: Sure. The New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence is an organization that’s about 40 years old. And what the coalition does is we lead collaborative community and systemic responses to domestic violence by providing training, technical assistance, policy development, and public awareness.
Essentially, what that means is we provide support to 31 member programs. So each county has a domestic violence program and then there are other organizations that provide support to survivors of domestic violence. There are culturally specific organizations, allied partners, and other community stakeholders. So through that support, we just are committed to ensuring that all survivors have access to safety and what they need to continue to thrive.
What I do there as a Director of Outreach and Capacity Building is to really share information, resources, and education so that programs have the ability to provide services to people from historically marginalized communities. That can be communities of color, people who immigrated here, the LGBTQIA community, and also individuals with disabilities. Our program houses deaf advocacy project as well.
So those are some of the communities that my role is focused on, just really helping programs to look at how maybe their policies and procedures and service provision may be lacking for folks who are from historically marginalized communities. Then also, the outreach aspect of my work has me doing, like, some outreach to community, organizations, and partners so that we can really look at some of the barriers that have been erected in terms of access points to services and support and trying to knock some of those down. That’s through a needs assessment and going out into the community, identifying culturally specific organizations who are doing the work with survivors. Or encountering survivors to make sure that they have that connection, and we’re able to build bridges again, so survivors have access to the things that they need to be able to thrive in society.
[00:04:45] RW: That sounds like an enormous job.
[00:04:48] AS: It definitely is.
[00:04:52] RW: It definitely is, and only one of you.
[00:04:55] AS: Yes. But I represent many, so —
[00:04:59] RW: Absolutely, absolutely. But so needed, when you talk about outreach to the more vulnerable populations. Certainly, that’s something that we identify with as being a culturally-specific program. Harambe Social Services is focused on the black African-American community. Because we do understand that very often those needs are not necessarily addressed by mainstream organizations.
Do you have some statistics that would give us an idea of how many domestic violence cases there are in New Jersey? Or maybe just within the last month or so what those numbers have been?
[00:05:48] AS: Yes, sure. We use stats from the New Jersey State Police but I want to preface the information that I share by saying that — by no means these numbers do they capture, like, all communities. So we know that domestic violence in historically marginalized communities is often underreported, if not reported at all. So based on the last uniform crime report from the New Jersey State Police, I think it was 2017 is the last we had, was that there were 63,420 reported incidents of domestic violence offenses.
That doesn't mean that there were necessarily arrests or charges made but actual domestic violence offenses. Then they’re followed by a total of 52 homicides. What we know from the Fatality Review Board’s information about who’s most impacted by domestic violence fatalities, we know that that’s African-American women. I don’t want to say imagine, but you can probably guest-timate how much based upon this number and what we know the statistics of — not statistics but the census of who makes up the population of New Jersey and how many people from communities of color are impacted.
I can also share that in 2019, in one day in New Jersey ,1,230 victims were served in one day. That’s 521 adults and child victims of domestic violence were in emergency shelters. It’s something that I have also been able to gather from our stats is just that the access point for African-American women typically is for shelter, and so we know that African-American women access shelter more than other domestic violence services. Which could be like counseling or court intervention. They also stay in shelter longer than their counterparts, so that says a lot I think just about the need for culturally-specific services or, again, thinking about the access points that survivors utilize to get support.
[00:07:59] RW: Well, let’s talk a little bit about the Fatality Review Board. You mentioned their particular numbers, and I know that back in 2013 the Fatality and Near Fatality Review Board did a study on domestic violence in the African-American communities. In the study, they determined that black and African-American women were I think at least 3 or 3.5 times more likely to be murdered by intimate partners. That was 2013, so I’m not sure how all or if any other statistics have come up to continue to support the same statistic. Are you aware of that?
[00:08:50] AS: I'm not aware of that. I mean, I know that the Fatality Review Board continues to be — and I think they have a report that they might be working up on but I’m not sure when it will be released.
[00:09:01] RW: But in terms of having that level of, well, 3.5 times more likely to be murdered than other races, do you find that with some of the statistics that you mentioned that the ratio of services go within those communities to address that need within the African-American community?
[00:09:27] AS: I will say that they unfortunately do not. I’m thinking about, again, those access points and the knowledge of services available. Not everyone knows where to access services. To be quite honest with you, I think that sometimes not being able to see yourself represented or being turned away like there are so many barriers and sometimes so many requirements, especially for people of the black experience. Which I, personally, could speak to, that sometimes is not so easy to access services. Yeah. So I’m not sure if that answers your question but I don't think that people from the black community are accessing mainstream services the way that they’re packaged or presented.
[00:10:20] RW: It sounds like two things I heard. One, that even though we have the sort of broad numbers at least from back in 2013 when Fatality reviewed their study to show this disproportionality of deaths, and that’s something you can't skew death. Do you have other numbers in terms of how many cases reported or how did they report this as DB? They reported it as an assault but didn't say it was [inaudible 00:10:54]. You could kind of skew those numbers in different ways — and that happens for different reasons. Not necessarily maliciously intentioned but it happens. But you can’t skew — it’s a murder. So when there are clear numbers to indicate that there's that much of a differential within races, I'm just wondering why is not more emphasis put on outreach to those specific communities.
[00:11:29] AS: I think, like, we can’t have this conversation without sort of addressing oppression and racism and how that unfortunately it exists within domestic violence programs. It exists within other systems that people who experienced domestic violence may encounter long before they even come to domestic violence services.
Yeah, I think that barriers just exist. If we consider the very foundations of our country and the laws, the policies, and then how they trickle down into other service areas, you'll be able to know or notice how services, how there’s a disconnect between the African American community and the resources that are vital for our survival.
[00:12:19] RW: Well, a couple things that you mentioned just now. You mentioned that one of the things that may influence whether or not a victim may seek services. Or seek services but may not stay is because they don't see themselves represented in the space. Or they are the advocates that might be there or the counselors that may be in that particular program don't look like them. So how do you see that as a barrier?
[00:12:49] AS: Well, I think why representation matters, so being able to meet with someone not who just looks like you but not having to explain some of your experience. I think the African-American experience is very unique. Not even unique but just in terms of the centuries of oppression and racism that we faced. And having to deal with that, like not having to explain that to someone. I think that there is an understanding or being able to be heard without fear, to be considered as a whole person. And the things that I need to make my life work for me or to be able to sustain my family, that that’s being heard. Rather than being told, like, what works best for me or what you think will work best for me based upon best practices that don't necessarily reflect my community.
[00:13:45] RW: That’s that whole notion of a range of stereotypes that may come with someone's particular bias and they bring that to the workplace. And they think they know better what will serve me than I know better, than I know about my own life. So then there’s kind of an imposing of values on someone when they say, “Right now is not the time that I'm going to leave the abuser.” They choose to continue. They get sort of a breather and then they go back.
[00:14:22] AS: Right. I will call it a more ‘survivor-centered approach’ or even just listening to understand, like, what my experiences are and what's important to me right now. And what’s important to me today like could very well change two weeks from now and just being able just to support me where I am and meet me where I am, instead of, again, like you said, imposing value and beliefs upon me.
[00:14:50] RW: Right. I think that something that you’re touching on as well is that when we’re talking about a person as a woman and as a black woman, of course, they have dual impressions of sexism and racism that you have to compete with. And, well, stereotypes that you meet in all of institutions along the way when you are a survivor, as a person trying to navigate these various systems to just have the abuse stop and want to just live your life in peace.
That’s kind of what you want, so it does not always translate that I want to uproot my children, move to another home or apartment, get a new job, all of the above, be in court for several days, and lose work. I don't want to do all of those things. I just want peace in my home. How can you help me with that? When you’re not able to get that, then you’ll think, “Okay, it’s not good enough for me. Goodbye.”
[00:15:59] AS: Right, and I think that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach I think to anyone, right, because people are not monolithic. But, I think, for us like sometimes our — we have extended family, right? So, like, my choice to leave or my choice to report the domestic violence, it doesn't just impact me. It also impacts my children or it may impact my financial stability. There are so many considerations to make. And I think sometimes what is suggested practice or deemed best practice isn’t necessarily best for all.
[00:16:40] RW: I’ve heard, and again, I’m not sure if this is a practice that continues. But I have heard that some shelters have either demanded or suggested that a woman need to file a restraining order in order to stay at the shelter — that she must do that. Is that something that you’ve heard is still being practiced or is that gone now?
[00:17:04] AS: I don't know that that’s still being practiced. I do know that we are having more and more conversations with member programs of the coalition about, again, those considerations to make. That not everyone is going to access the criminal legal system. Not everyone wants to file a restraining order.
Again, it's about what the survivor wants and looking at the survivor as the expert in their own life and not, again, imposing or putting these hard requirements for shelter on folks who want to access safety and honestly have that right to safety.
[00:17:40] RW: Well, that’s good to hear because certainly there are just a multitude of issues that come up once you access law enforcement. Then also that men who harm, and I think that's one of the newer terms now, men who harm or abusers or perpetrators or however we’re going to refer to them. Not all are. Not the stereotypical thug that doesn’t have a job and is on drugs and is drinking. Some guys are the church guys going to church, going to Bible studies. He’s got his white shirt and tie. They’re guys who are not in trouble, who have not ever been in trouble.
They harm their partners. So when you have had all you can take and you just want somebody to help you and you call the police or your child calls the police, that opens up like a major can of worms because you have your mother-in-law calling you. You’ve got your sister-in-law calling you. You’ve got your brother-in-law. You have all of these people calling you that, “Well, why would you call the police?” You have done something wrong. Am I exaggerating?
[00:19:07] AS: No, you’re not. It’s really like compromising your supports, right? Am I willing to risk the support that I have in place if I choose to call the police? It’s not as easy as, “Well, call the police. They’re there to help you and protect you.” I think sometimes when you think about your spouse’s job and not wanting that person to lose their job. There are some jobs that people have that if they commit any crime or any violent offense, then they lose their job. And that impacts your ability to feed your children or feed your family. There's just so much more that goes into these decisions that we encourage survivors to make, to leave. It’s just important to remember, like the survivor has the right to choose and not every survivor chooses to leave.
[00:20:01] RW: It’s their life. With or without leaving home, they are entitled to services of support and counseling and whatever else tangible physical kinds of resources — if that’s available that their shelter can offer. Another point that you mentioned is that some folks may be going to this, especially within our community, and not even know that there are services available.
Because there's not necessarily enough outreach to let them know, like, “Oh, they saw a flyer somewhere.” Or they saw a poster or they heard somebody came to their church or their women's group. Can you talk a little bit more about the access to services because of not knowing about services and why you see that happening?
[00:20:58] AS: I don’t know if I should, like, do a disclaimer that all of the views that I expressed aren’t necessarily reflective of my organization. But more so what I hear the experience of my people are — and they’re survivors. So I will say that. I’ll preface my next statement by statement, but I think that sometimes it's just a blatant lack of outreach. This idea that we serve everyone but they're just not coming to us without asking why we’re not seeing survivors. I think sometimes it's a lack of effort. I also think it could be like not knowing where to go. Yeah, like there’s definitely like space for learning to develop those methods of outreach. I think sometimes there's this fear too, right? If I reach out to you or I share information with you, you're going to steal our clients away. I think that there’s a number of things that get in the way. I hate to say it and admit it, but it’s the truth.
[00:22:08] RW: That’s very sad. We both know, and you gave these startling numbers. You said that those numbers are most likely underreported in the black community. So the thing is there’s plenty of victims that go around.
[00:22:23] AS: Absolutely.
[00:22:24] RW: The bottom line. How could we possibly be worried that we’re losing people? There’s clearly people that are not being served. I understand it’s difficult to be in that position. Because I once worked for the coalition, so I totally get that. And I still do in my capacity as the Executive Director for Harambe. I still am called to come around to different counties within the state. And I am still shocked in 2020, when people say they did not know where the domestic violence program was. Or that there was one in their county. They just didn’t know anything about it.
I think that there is something amiss when we’re saying that in 2020, with all of the various platforms that are available to us to do outreach. I know when I — back in 2002 up to 2013, when I was working at the coalition, the programs always said, “There’s not enough funding. So we don’t have a person that’s dedicated to that. We can’t get to everybody, so we kind of just go to the people that call us.” Oddly enough, we’re only going to call you if we know you exist. The folks that are underserved continue to be underserved.
[00:24:02] AS: One of the things that we’re encouraging at the coalition is breaking down silos that organizations often keep to themselves. Where there isn’t like cross-communication between organizations. Of course, shelters have relationships with like — not even just shelters but outreach centers. Because there are some programs that offer counseling services or additional services outside of shelter. But really going into your community, finding out what organizations exist in your community. Because if we really think about domestic violence and how it impacts all of us, we know that every organization in our community is likely encountering a survivor of domestic violence.
So it doesn't hurt to go and say, “Hey, tell me more about your services.” Or really working to build relationships. Finding out what programs are happening in the community. Is there a way that we can partner and collaborate to share this information so that more people have access and realize like, “Oh, there is help for me and there’s help available.”
I think, again, breaking down those silos and not thinking that I'm the only domestic violence program in the county and I have to solve — I have to end — we’re solely responsible for ending domestic violence in, say, Camden County. That it takes a communal approach, right? It takes communal accountability and not just one organization is going to be able to eradicate the issue.
[00:25:47] RW: That’s so sad to hear those kinds of comments when, as I said, that back in 2002, that was the same attitude. I'm just baffled to understand how that mindset continues and I can only say that it continues because they're not people who look like the victims that need those services at the table.
When these policies are being set around outreach, especially around not only outreach and policy but when they’re set around funding, then there are just not enough people that look like the people that need the services at the table. That’s the only way that those kinds of things can actually change — is that the funding streams change. Because if you have the same people sitting at the table, making the decisions about who gets the funds to provide services. And then they don’t provide them but you still get your money the next go around. Something’s wrong. That’s wrong. That’s what I believe because, you know, I was there. And now I’m like, “You know, so many years later. I’m hearing the same.” What the heck is going on? That’s the same thing. That is very disturbing to me.
[00:27:13] AS: There are some programs within the state that, I believe, have definitely made efforts and attempts to take a communal approach to ending domestic violence.
[00:27:25] RW: That’s awesome.
[00:27:26] AS: Which I’m happy about. It’s like, we've been waiting a long time. When I say ‘we,’ I’m talking about the black community or communities of color. We’ve been waiting a long time for that, and so I guess it’s like — we’re tired of celebrating the small victories, but it’s like we’re in transformation as an organization by at least acknowledging it. And as an organization looking at developing our organization to become anti-racist. Then in our influence with programs, sharing that and spreading that same message to them. And then elevating and highlighting the programs who are doing the work to encourage other programs to do so.
One of the things I’m excited about with my project is that our leadership is very open to expanding membership and building connections and relationships with organizations who may have never been included in the conversation. I'm excited to continue outreach efforts. I think COVID slowed some things down.
[00:28:32] RW: Slowed everything down.
[00:28:34] AS: Yeah. But there’s definitely some relationships that we’re looking to build as an organization, again, because a survivor’s first point of contact is not always with the mainstream organization. There are so many other organizations, other systems that survivors may have contact with first. So I definitely want to highlight some of the work that we are doing, though it seems — it feels like it's moving at a snail’s pace. That there is some work being done and there’s at least some acknowledgment that we need to invite more folks to the table that don't look like the folks who have always been at the table.
[00:29:12] RW: That’s definitely good news because, I think they said the definition of insanity is, “Continue doing the same thing and expecting different results.” Is that going to be different in doing the same thing over and over again with the same people. With just — no fresh ideas are coming, no real commitment? If there are fresh ideas coming that just need up getting squashed. I’m glad to hear that. That is one wonderful, wonderful news.
Also, so glad that you’re there to be a dedicated person at the coalition. Because that was a missing piece for us. Several years, there was just kind of a void there that was like a vacancy there. Is that correct?
[00:29:57] AS: Correct. I give you credit all the time for the work that I'm able to do because you definitely paved the way for me to be where I am. And so I know that you're someone that I looked up to when I first came into the movement. You were at the coalition when I came into the movement. And so you have definitely paved the way and left some building blocks for me as I continue this work. It’s the work that I believe that you pioneered, so I’m just grateful for you.
[00:30:30] RW: That’s so sweet of you to say. I sometimes feel it’s unfortunate that there had to be that gap and that could not have been a continuum when I did leave. Because that was kind of not a smooth transition. But it’s unfortunate. But, again, that it's beginning now. It’s been that a little lull. But I just know that even on the federal level, that this is a conversation that’s been happening for a long time. And to get each individual state to come on board with, “Hey, what are you doing to serve underserved populations? What are you doing to serve people of color? More specifically, what are you doing to serve African-Americans? They’ve been very specific now.
That’s been coming from the federal government who, of course, the funding stream — the money trickles down to the state and then out to the county. I'm aware of all of that and just — I know that it's a difficult process when there is not a critical mass of folks that are working towards it. You’re kind of pushing against this resistance that wants to be here because it's change that they don't want to happen.
But I think that just having more access for people like me. I'm at the table. If I’m being funded, I’m at the table. That was just unbelievable that that could happen because it just doesn't happen enough for programs that are culturally-specific. And I believe I'm only one of eight programs that are in this culturally specific program, only one that serves specifically black and African American women. That’s just hard to believe but it’s true. So it's just that much harder to — obviously, you can’t reach everybody but certainly you want to be available.
That’s one of the reasons why we’re doing these podcasts. Because we want to have different ways to reach out to the community. We don’t ever know who's going to hear or something. Or read a pamphlet or get a palm card. We don’t ever know, so this is just one other way we are attempting to reach that person that may need to hear this.
[00:33:11] AS: Yeah, and that’s so necessary, like creative ways to reach out to people who need to hear the message or who need the information and need the help and need the support. I'm really grateful for Harambe and just even thinking about, like, access to mental health and how taboo like mental health services have been in the black community. And just seeing these conversations continue to be elevated through podcasts and social media that are bringing light to these situations, so people no longer have to suffer in silence. It’s really invaluable, so I’m grateful for the space that you’ve created.
[00:33:55] RW: Well, this is something that we are definitely going to reach out to the coalition because they have extended a hand to assist, and one of the things that I think that they can assist with is assisting with — help us to connect to those other victims and survivors.
How do we do that? How can we expand our voice? And we think of one way maybe to connect with your Facebook and your Instagram, those accounts on YouTube or and whatever else. And so we are looking to expand our reach by collaborating. We do want to collaborate with not only the state coalition but with other communities. So those are things that we are planning to do going forward to reach out to, say, the family success centers. And try to make that a connection. They’re reaching hundreds to thousands of families every day with the things they do.
Just general resources for communities. Helping with resumes and helping them look for jobs, just having access to a computer to do homework, tutorials, also to things that they do with the family success centers. That's something that — we want to support that and assist. And so we hope that we can help them. But that they can help us as well. That’s one of the things that we’re planning to do as we’re moving forward over this next year. You’re right about just the need to work together and not in silos and not feel like, “Well, I'm such a total expert, and no one else could possibly assist with this. It has to be done just this way.” I don’t agree with that. I just don’t agree with some portion of that that we can parcel out. And I think that we have to figure out what that is. Of course, you want to maintain the integrity of the training needed for the work because it is very specialized. However, I do believe that we can share. I think you’re right. I think you’re absolutely right.
[00:36:16] AS: Yeah. There’s definitely a need to share this information. Again, like the access points aren’t always people reaching out for help, so how can we make sure — I want to say everyone has information about what services are available and what action survivors had. Sometimes, it’s just good to know, right? You have more than one option and you can pick the option that’s best for you and your needs at the time that you are seeking help. So, yeah, I'm definitely grateful for Harambe.
[00:36:48] RW: I think that one of the things that we would like people to know too is that I know that because, okay, and this is the sort of reality. If you only have one counselor at your program and you have a waiting list, why aren’t you referring out to the other program you just heard about? Why aren’t you referring? Why should somebody be waiting? They want to talk to somebody today. They should be referring out. Again, in the midst of COVID, we’re all have been — everybody is virtual, so then you don’t have to come to Camden County. If you’re in Trenton or if you’re even in Somerset, we can talk to you. If there’s no counselor available, you know about Harambe. We'll call Harambe. We’re actual counselors. No waiting.
[00:37:36] AS: Right. I think it is like, again, sort of this idea that I’m the expert or because we have this specialized training in domestic violence that we're the only ones capable of offering services. It’s like, you can get other counseling services and also go to an agency that specializes in domestic violence. If the need is urgent. There are ways to work together essentially is what I’m trying to say.
[00:38:08] RW: Absolutely.
[00:38:10] AS: And that if folks need the information that we make the information accessible. Again, it's all about breaking down the barriers, right? Not keeping them erected but breaking them down so that everyone has access.
[00:38:25] RW: That’s so important. Well, you know, I wanted to touch on the whole issue of COVID. But what in particular has been happening for victims during COVID because, I know I kind of sit with the social distancing issue, and people trying to live in a shelter situation. How has that impacted the victims?
[00:38:47] AS: I just want to say that I think that, if anything COVID has exposed so much, it has exposed what we already knew. Again, by the communities of color, black folks, what we already knew just about the disparities in service provision. I know that you asked specifically about shelters, but some of the things — I mean, there are definitely changes in terms of shelter. There’s a certain capacity that shelters have, so no longer putting families in the same room but making sure that every family has their own room and their own space and then if the shelters add capacity. At one point, I knew that NJCEDV was providing hotel placement for survivors. However, that responsibility has now been shifted to the programs and the counties that have shelter, so survivors have the option to go in shelter and be in communal settings or if it’s best for them to be in the shelter.
Say they’re an essential worker or they’re immune-compromised, that they have the ability to access safety through hotel placements. Ultimately, we’re doing a lot of work around housing. So if it’s best that we find a housing alternative for survivors, then programs working with survivors to ensure that they're able to obtain safety by having their own housing. Which is a whole issue in and of itself. But really trying to make sure that, again, everyone has access to safe spaces.
Some other things, like just that have impacted survivors and what we knew was going to happen once the social distancing guidelines were released back in, I think it was March — was knowing that survivors having to be at home with the person who’s causing them harm.
[00:40:41] RW: Yes. What did you find out with that? Do you have any numbers on those issues at this point?
[00:40:50] AS: We knew that the amount of incidents were going to increase. Just based on conversations that we’ve had with our member programs, we know that the incidents of violence have been more escalated and violent. I can tell you for the first quarter in 2020. Again, this is a uniform crime report. It was given to us from the Attorney General's office that the first quarter reports, so I think it was, what, January through March. There were five domestic violence homicides. As of the second quarter, that number has increased to seven for assault in the first quarter of 2020 or 5,944 assaults reported.
It did go down in the second quarter to 5,542. In terms of terroristic threats, the number was 483 in the first quarter, and it's gone up to 515. Harassment was up at 5,745 and has gone down to 5,669. Current stats are as of July 28, 2020, so they’re only about a week old. It was 1,033. Then for those in contempt, the second quarter stats increased to 673 from 584.
[00:42:17] RW: When you say in contempt, what does that mean?
[00:42:21] AS: I'm assuming like people who aren’t complying. So I will tell you that my legal acknowledgment is not my strong suit.
[00:42:31] RW: That’s okay.
[00:42:32] AS: But for someone to be in contempt.
[00:42:35] RW: That’s in contempt of the restraining order?
[00:42:37] AS: That’s what I'm thinking. Where they’re not adhering to the things that are — Yeah, I’m like, “I know what the other ones are but contempt.” I’m like, “Are they in contempt of court?”
[00:42:50] RW: But those numbers certainly do indicate. As you said, we don't have, always, the full numbers. Those numbers indicate that COVID is a dangerous time for victims because we already know that a big tactic, a major tactic of those who harm is that isolation. And now you're in total isolation. You’re in quarantine, so now you don’t even have – For some people who are not essential workers and do not go out of the home, maybe they have to work from home, and perhaps the person that’s harming them is working from home too. You have that issue going. So I just can imagine it would be 24/7 with someone who is just dangerous to your health, mentally and physical. This has to be so alarming and so frightening for those who are going through that. So those statistics do say a lot.
You’ve mentioned at the beginning when you started to talk about the first line of contact in shelters. You mentioned that the things that you already were aware of, they came to life during COVID. So do you want to speak a little to that?
[00:44:13] AS: Sure. I think that — and I spoke with some of my colleagues just to ask if there was any information that they wanted me to raise on my conversation with you today. And I think that just looking at accessibility, knowing that sometimes — if I choose to reach out for shelter, that victimization for folks who are in communities of color may look different. And those considerations not be made during screening, right? If I share something, is that impacting my ability to be accepted into shelter?
[00:44:57] RW: Okay. That’s interesting. So the access may become even more limited during COVID.
[00:45:05] AS: Right. I mean, I think just generally it’s like that but I think like in the calls that we've gotten in the past four months, those who may have been turned away from shelter or had difficulty accessing safe housing and shelter do come from marginalized communities.
[00:45:23] RW: Because that’s still, I believe, the process that victims have difficulty at their local shelter, and then they call the coalition to assist them in either getting in or staying in if they are being asked to leave or whatever.
[00:45:38] AS: Right. Or just like even the hotel placements. That even there might be that additional layer of advocacy that can be done to help folks to, again, gain access to those services that are vital to people’s safety.
[00:45:55] RW: And who actually gets that additional advocacy and who does not get that additional advocacy is a continuing question. That’s really getting back to having one of the things you said at the very top of the segment — having advocates who look like you who. Who will understand the nuances of your experience and take that in consideration, as they’re listening to you. So that they can understand that, “Okay, here is someone who does need to be in housing in a different way.” Or you have continued housing because you should no longer be in a shelter. Or whatever is that additional resource may be. But it doesn't always get offered to the women of color.
[00:46:53] AS: Even if we think about the conversations around COVID and how we know that the African American community has been disproportionately impacted because of pre-existing conditions. But even when you think about, like, who makes up the makeup of essential workers sometimes, right? Like considering what essential work is — or considering poverty. Like considering some of the issues that our community — not even issues but challenges or barriers that our community faces and what that means. That those aren’t things that should impact our ability, again, for safety, that we’re so concerned about the safety of others that we’re neglecting to acknowledge the ways that this other person can benefit from safety as well.
[00:47:41] RW: Your level of risk, your level of vulnerability is stronger, and that’s part of how the level of outreach or the level of advocacy needs to be proportional to the risk. And that’s why I just feel the strong need for, like, culturally-specific services, so those folks can see that in every county. In every county, they could see people that look like them, who understand them, and they can feel like, “Okay, I can get this across.”
I know I'm going to say there are no people of color in any of these programs, but there are some programs where there are none or some, and that’s frightening. So I just think that this is a conversation that needs to continue to happen. Again, I just want to thank you for coming on board, and I know some topic areas are a little bit sensitive. But I think you've been very candid and I do appreciate that. You came on and we really have had a wonderful conversation with you, so I just thank you so much for coming on board. Before we close our segment, is there anything else that you’d like to add that we kind of missed or didn’t touch on?
[00:49:04] AS: I think we’re doing a good job of just being — when I say that, I mean the coalition. We also have a Women of Color Task Force that meets monthly to discuss issues that communities of color are facing. And so we have these very candid conversations about what's needed to ensure that survivors of color have access, and we have a number of different affinity groups at the coalition as well that address specific needs.
So we really are working to center and elevate the voices of those who are most marginalized. Again, like I said earlier, working to also promote and highlight programs who are doing the work well and also starting to branch out and reach out to culturally-specific organizations. And partner with culturally specific organizations, bridging the gaps between existing programs and culturally specific programs. Again, to increase the access point to domestic violence services. Yeah, that was important just to say that — that there is definitely work that needs to be done. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done, but we’re very active and seeing to it that change happens within our state because it’s definitely needed.
[00:50:30] RW: It’s very important that the work — continuing that. As we’ve heard often, we definitely have to keep hope alive. And we want, certainly, those victims and survivors that may be listening to this program even tonight to be hopeful that there is help for them.
We want them to know that, as we close our program, we always like to say that for those that are listening or maybe if a family member or friend knows about the services that Harambe Social Services provides. And that we do provide individual counseling. We provide support groups, and we do have some other services to support the needs of victims.
Those services are offered free of charge, so you can reach out to us at 609-225-6936. That’s 609-225-6936 and that’s — we’re here in New Jersey, South Jersey. But, again, with Zoom, everybody is nearby. So please call us if you need our help. With that, we’re just going to say goodnight. Thank you so much, again, Adrienne Simpkins, from the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence. Thank you so much for being our guest for this episode.
[00:52:01] AS: You’re so welcome. Thank you for having me.
[END OF INTERVIEW]
[00:52:04] ANNOUNCER: Thanks for joining We Hear You podcast with our host, Rose Williams, from Harambe Social Services, a grassroots organization in South Jersey. Harambe is Swahili for pulling together in unity. We use the principles of the Nguzo Saba in all of our services to educate communities about domestic violence and sexual assault.
Our primary focus is to provide counseling services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs to talk to us, please call 609-225-6936. Again, that number is 609-225-6936. Our counseling services are free of charge.
Be sure to follow Harambe Social Services on Instagram and Facebook. We would love to hear your feedback about tonight's focus. Tell a family member and a friend about the show. You can help us get the word out. Go to buzzsprout.com to make a review. Thank you. Be safe. Be well.
[END]