Women in Treatment at Collaborative Solutions Institute (CSI):

Statistics on Program for Women Accused of Domestic Violence Abuse

Research project by Genevieve Nehrt, Illinois Wesleyan University intern at Collaborative Solutions Institute, Summer 2006

The Collaborative Solutions Institute (CSI) AVERT program is for adults who have stress, anger, and control issues.  Some of the AVERT clients are sent by the court for treatment because they were found guilty of domestic violence abuse.  This is data collected from all women clients in the AVERT women’s domestic violence group therapy from January 2005 to July 2006 who are no longer participating in the program.  The clients in this survey made up approximately 21% of our AVERT domestic violence clients.  Approximately 27% of our male AVERT clients in the same time period did complete this program, while about 44% of our female clients did complete this program.  This summary includes relevant statistics discussing completion of the program, children, education level, employment level, substance abuse, mental health issues, and absences during the clients’ time at domestic violence abuse treatment program at CSI.

Number of women who completed the program out of 36:16

The average time it took these clients to complete the program:

 9 ½ months.  If a woman came on a regular basis, the program is designed for completion in 6 months (Fig. 2).

The number of months that clients who did not complete the program were present at AVERT:

The mean was 5 ½ months and the median was 4 months

The number of clients who had children:

20 clients total had children, but only 9 of these women completed the program

The education level of clients in the program:

6 women reported not receiving a high school education, half of these stopping at grade 9 (4 of these clients completed the program).

15 clients reported having a high school education 6 of whom completed the program

12 clients reported having an education above high school, 2 of whom had B.A. degrees, and 4 of whom completed the program. 

The employment level of the clients varied:

 10 clients reported being employed full time 7 of who completed the program.

 7 women reported having part time work 3 of whom completed the program.

 13 clients reported being unemployed, 3 of whom completed the program.

Number of clients that had treatment fees paid by COC which means that the person was homeless:

4 total, with 1 who completed the program

Number of clients who reported using a substance during the incident in question:

13 total of who 6 completed

19 reported using substances including crack, alcohol, pot, acid, cocaine, and speed.

Of these 10 completed the program.

Number of clients that presented with other mental health issues: 

27, 12 of whom completed the programs.  Counselors reported schizophrenia, depression, ADHD, bipolar with psychosis, Anxiety, OCD, PSTD, anorexia, and adjustment reaction with disturbance of conduct being included in the client’s diagnosis.    

Number of clients who went back to jail during their time at AVERT:

There is only one documented client who went back to jail during her time in AVERT, though reasons for absences were not always documented in files.  This client never completed the AVERT program. 

There are a number of obstacles that face women who attend AVERT that may prevent them from coming to group sessions and thus finishing the program.  Currently less than half of the women who begin group therapy classes at AVERT will complete the program (44%).  A major hurtle that may impact a client’s ability to finish AVERT is the presence of children: less than half of the women with children were able to complete the program (45%).  Clients that attend the AVERT program are a diverse population, education ranges from the completion of middle school to BA degrees.  It’s interesting to note that there was a significant difference in the number of clients who completed and their education level.  Women who did not complete high school were more likely to complete the program (66%) than those who only completed high school (40%) and those who went on to further education (33%).  The employment of these clients also ranges from unemployed, to full time employment.  The employment level of the clients impacted their ability to complete the program: those who had full time employment or part time employment were more likely to complete than were those who were unemployed (23% with full-time employment completed the program and 43% with part-time employment completed the program while only 70 % of those unemployed completed the program.  Two more hurdles that may obstruct clients from completion are substance abuse problems and other mental health issues.  Of those clients who reported previous substance abuse issues a little over half did complete (53%) while those who were diagnosed with other mental health issues less than half were able to complete the program (44%).  The major difference between the clients who complete and those who do not is employment and education.  Those who have full-time employment but only a high school education are more likely to complete.  While those who are unemployed with at least a high school education are less likely to complete the program.  Overall the population of women that AVERT services is varied, but the many obstacles that face this group of women make completing the program more difficult, especially for those with a low income and other mental health issues to overcome.