Are Collaborations Enough? Professionals' Knowledge of Victim Services

Service providers must be aware of community resources to make referrals, and yet studies have found providers to be less knowledgeable of services other than their own. This article describes a survey of 279 domestic violence, victim assistance, law enforcement, legal professionals, public health, and mental health professionals who were asked about a range of services for victims of domestic violence. Results indicated that groups had less knowledge of some services, notably, special services provided by domestic violence shelters and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), food, and goods. Perceptions of service availability differed across professional groups in terms of overall health, law enforcement, and shelter services. Results call for purposeful interprofessional communication and cross-training.