Institutional Strategies to Promote the Health of Black Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence is the use of physical, sexual, and/or psychological aggression by a current or former intimate partner as a tactic to maintain control. Abuse can have devastating long-term health consequences, including physical injuries and mental health problems such as depression and anxiety disorders. Despite these challenges, Black women actively seek out support from multiple formal institutions to keep themselves and their families safe. Yet Black women face structural barriers when they seek assistance. Using a Black feminist perspective, this paper describes strategies that can be employed to improve institutional responses to Black women survivors and concludes with suggestions for future practice.