NCJ Number
156626
Date Published
1992
Length
77 pages
Annotation
This Minnesota assessment of services provided by statewide victims' programs identified and defined the array of services for sexual assault victims, developed a consensus on the level of State-supported services, and established criteria for State support for local sexual assault services.
Abstract
The assessment was conducted by a group of 14 consultants who represented sexual assault programs supported by the Department of Community Development and the Department of Social and Health Services as well as medical professionals who serve sexual assault victims. They met on four occasions and provided the essential content for achieving the project objectives. In addition, a survey was conducted of over 1,200 individuals identified by the consultants, representing community professionals who have the opportunity to refer sexual assault victims for services. The survey responses show that most communities have developed numerous services for victims. A large majority of respondents reported that a broad range of medical and psychosocial services exist in their communities; however, they believed that a significant percentage of eligible victims were not receiving these services. They cited a variety of reasons for this, most often noting cost, long waiting lists, and long distance to the service. This suggests that communities are in greater need of enhancement of current services, especially for victims with limited resources, rather than the creation of new services. Participant responses also revealed that certain other obstacles to service existed that might be addressed through increased community awareness, education, and coordination. At this time, there is no empirical evidence to support the effectiveness of any of the medical or psychosocial services, with the exception of certain types of therapy for rape victims and fear symptoms in child victims; few programs offer these forms of treatment. Consultants agreed that the fairest way to allocate State dollars would be based on population, with consideration for the special circumstances of rural areas where other services might not be available. 14 references and appended tabular data