Community-based spouse abuse protection and family preservation team

Fragmentation and lack of communication plague agencies that serve families in which spouse abuse occurs. Spouse-abuse families may have service needs that span the fields of medical, legal, and social services; law enforcement; and employment. This article provides a brief overview of the multiple service needs of spouse-abuse families and describes a framework for developing, organizing, and implementing a community-based spouse abuse protection and family preservation team. The proposed model recognizes the needs of victims, perpetrators, and their family members.