Aftercare for Survivors

What is long-term aftercare?

Long-term aftercare means active support available to survivors beyond the short-term transition phase after leaving; and/or active support available to survivors later in their life.

Though there are a number of organizations in existence that offer resources and programs to survivors, they are mainly aimed at the prevention of abuse; at immediate relief from violent situations; and at short-term transitional assistance. While these are imperative resources for survivor wellbeing, our experience has been that long-term aftercare is hard to find. Outside of shelters, community health centers, and online networks, survivors’ long-term needs are largely unsupported. Even within the therapy room, a primary option for longer-term care, many survivors report receiving victim-blaming and uninformed support.

So why is this important?

Because disempowerment, disconnection, no social support, and weak or non-existent channels of communication increase survivors’ vulnerability to continued emotional and physical struggles. The aftereffects of IPV can manifest at unexpected times and be triggered by the smallest of incidents, while memories and experiences can continue to return to the survivor for a long time after the violence ended. These struggles can develop into medical or mental health complications; job and financial wellbeing disruption; impact on friendships; other personal and social losses; and a general reduction in quality of life.