A group of women who are homeless due to domestic violence would benefit from which occupational therapy intervention?

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Individuals experiencing homelessness often have deficits in independent living skills. Life skills interventions provide the knowledge needed to perform living skills independently, teach clients how to use this knowledge, and provide opportunities for clients to practice newly learned skills during therapy sessions. Helfrich and Fogg (2007) implemented a program, based on empowerment and situated learning principles, teaching "skills in room and self-care management, food management, money management, and safe community participation" (p. 318). Teaching clients these skills not only increases participation in meaningful and necessary occupations, but it also serves a preventative function by reducing the recurrence of homelessness (Davis & Kutter, 1998). For clients experiencing homelessness, there are numerous areas where a deficit in life skills may be interfering with occupational performance. Based on the unique needs of those experiencing homelessness, meaningful and necessary life skills include: safety planning, drug and alcohol awareness, self-advocacy, coping skills, money management, health management, medication management, safer sex practices, personal hygiene, and leisure exploration (Davis & Kutter, 1998; Gutman et al., 2004).
Gutman et al. (2004) provided a range of life skill interventions to homeless women who had experienced domestic violence. Interventions were identified through the literature and selected based on an initial needs assessment completed by each participant. Among the intervention topics selected, the authors found that stress management, anger management, and personal boundary setting were effective. All modules implemented during the study were found to improve life skills among participants, and data collected at six months post study indicated that skills continued to improve after the intervention. Other intervention topics included: safety planning, safety in the community, practicing safer sex practices, assertiveness and personal advocacy, vocational and educational training, money management, applying for housing applications, and leisure exploration (Gutman et al., 2004).

A Group of Women Who Are Homeless Due to Domestic