NCJ Number
199919
Journal
Corrections Today Magazine Dated: April 2003 Pages: 70-72
Date Published
April 2003
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the collaboration between the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and California State University to deliver a coordinated community response to domestic violence and substance abuse.
Abstract
Court records and crime statistics suggest that the majority of those who commit acts of domestic violence have substance abuse problems and are from underserved communities. Intervention and treatment programs for these offenders rarely occur once the offender enters a correctional institution. As such, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office and California State University partnered to develop a program that addresses the needs of these offenders. The goal of the collaboration was to offer a continuum of services that would bridge gaps left open by a model of single-service treatment. Key aspects of a successful collaboration are outlined; these aspects must be met in order to avoid barriers to the development and implementation of an effective, coordinated program of care. Typical barriers that present themselves during program collaboration include task conflicts, role confusion, formal power differences, lack of interpersonal skills, and turf disputes. Desired outcomes of collaboration include an open exchange of information and joint action planning to meet the stated goal. The process of collaboration requires that individuals be problem-oriented and flexible. The authors assert that successful collaborations among social service agencies and other community-oriented institutions would benefit those in need by minimizing duplications of services and bridging gaps in services that were otherwise overlooked.