Adaptation of a Technology Abuse Clinic Model to a University Context: Interdisciplinary and Community-Based Collaborations

Background and Purpose: Technology-facilitated abuse (TFA) refers to the use of digital technologies to stalk, harass, threaten, or coercively control another person. TFA is increasingly common in the context of intimate partner violence (TFA-IPV) and difficult to combat due to the constantly evolving nature of technology and its deep integration in our day-to-day lives. One model for addressing TFA-IPV is technology abuse clinics (TACs), which have traditionally leveraged volunteer work from information technology (IT) professionals to support survivors receiving services from community-based agencies. While these TACs have shown promise in supporting survivors, only three currently operate in the U.S., and none of them center trauma-informed social work as part of their model. To respond to the need for expanding TAC services across the country and integrate disciplinary expertise in IPV dynamics, faculty and students in Social Work partnered with faculty and students in Computer Science to establish a TAC serving two large violence agencies in a metropolitan area in the Southern U.S.

Methods: Principles of community-based participatory research guided the adaptation of the established TAC model to fit the needs of the local context through deep engagement with leadership, frontline staff, and survivors at two large, urban-based violence agencies. This included semi-structured research interviews (n = 25) as well as ongoing meetings over the course of two years to guide intervention adaptation and implementation. To assess the efficacy of adaptation, we employed a mixed methods evaluation design, assessing client level use and need indicators, programmatic documents, and staff service memos. The study sought to evaluate: Can the TAC model be adapted for implementation by University students and faculty, and are services of the adapted TAC acceptable and appropriate for service-engaged IPV survivors facing TFA?

Results: In the first year of the TAC, we provided internships and specialized training opportunities for 10 graduate students. We have trained 44 agency staff and conducted interactive workshops about TFA safety with 86 survivors in residential services. We have provided one-on-one consultations and tech safety planning for 10 survivors experiencing complex TFA. Findings demonstrate that harassment, account compromise, and location tracking are among the most frequently encountered TFA issues in our community-based agencies, and that adapted TAC services are appropriate and acceptable for this population.

Conclusions and Implications: Our early work as a university-based TAC demonstrates feasibility and sustainability of the model due to existing expertise within institutions of higher learning and the need for practice experience within schools of social work. We have also seen strong uptake by community partner agencies and survivors. Challenges exist with model fidelity due to high turnover rates among student staff and the demand on faculty time. This adapted model has the potential to expand access to TAC services across the country, while also providing unique cross-disciplinary educational opportunities for students in social work and computer science, strengthening the workforce pipeline of professionals who are equipped for addressing TFA. Findings emphasize the need for an effective and succinct universal TFA screener for use in IPV service settings.