Type:	Journal Article
Title:	The women's circle comes full circle
Other Titles:	Journal of psychoactive drugs
Authors:	Saylors, Karen
Keywords:	Cross-cultural;Indigenous issues;Sexual assault;Mental health;Drug and alcohol misuse
Year:	2003
Publisher:	Haight-Ashbury Publications
Citation:	35 (1), Jan-Mar 2003
Notes:	This US article looks at quantitative outcome measures and ethnographic ways of exploring the impact of the Women’s Circle. The contributions of Native American women are reflected in the Women’s Circle of the Native American Health Centres in San Francisco and Oakland, USA. Women receive a range of services through the Women’s Circle – in residential substance abuse treatment facility; in groups; in personal counselling; and at a residential women and children’s facility. It also looks at the programme elements identified by clients as important. Women’s health issues such as physical, emotional, mental and spiritual issues are examined in the programme development. During the 3-year period of the funding for the Women’s Circle Project, data were collected from clients when they first entered for services and then at 6 and 12 months. Some 742 client interviews were conducted. Women’s Circle client data show high levels of violence – physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Of the women surveyed, 85.2% said they had been physically abused; 91.8% said they had been emotionally abused; and 63.1% indicated they had been sexually abused. Programme staff were interviewed. Counsellors found that many female clients had experienced depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, associated with extreme sexual abuse and domestic violence. It found that substance use decreased significantly after treatment. Comparison of intake data with those collected at 12-month follow-up interviews shows that the programme has improved women’s lives. The role of culture has also been an important factor for female participants.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12806
ISSN:	2791072
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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