WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO RAPE CRISIS CENTERS? A LOOK AT THEIR STRUCTURES, MEMBERS, AND FUNDING

• NCJ Number: 54221
• Journal: Victimology Volume: 3 Issue: 1-2 Dated: (1978) Pages: 45-62
• Author(s): E O'SULLIVAN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Visage Press, Inc
• Sale Source: Visage Press, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES, STAFFING PATTERNS, AND FUNDING STATUS OF 90 RAPE CRISIS CENTERS THAT RESPONDED TO A JANUARY 1976 MAIL SURVEY OF 118 CENTERS ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY WAS TO CONTRIBUTE TO AN ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE ANTIRAPE AND WOMEN'S MOVEMENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, TO PROVIDE INFORMATION OF USE TO INDIVIDUAL RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, AND TO OFFER OBSERVATIONS PERTINENT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OTHER GRASS ROOTS PROJECTS, SUCH AS SHELTERS FOR BATTERED WOMEN. ONLY CENTERS WHICH WERE AUTONOMOUS, WHICH HAD OPENED PRIOR TO 1976, AND WHICH PROVIDED DIRECT SERVICES TO VICTIMS WERE CONTACTED. THE REPORT COVERS THE SERVICES, STRUCTURE, AND POLICY-RELATED ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTERS; THE CHARACTERISTICS, RECRUITING, TRAINING, AND UTILIZATION OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE CENTERS; AND FUNDING SOURCES AND BUDGETS. THE SURVEY FINDINGS INDICATE THAT, DESPITE THEIR LIMITED SIZE AND RESOURCES AND PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE DEDICATION OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS, THE CENTERS HAVE BEEN SURPRISINGLY SUCCESSFUL. HOWEVER, FUNDING PROBLEMS HAVE TROUBLED MANY OF THE CENTERS, SOMETIMES FORCING THEIR INCORPORATION INTO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. THE MERGER OF RAPE CRISIS CENTERS WITH OTHER CRISIS INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES COULD AFFECT THE CENTERS' ABILITY TO ADDRESS SOCIAL ISSUES UNDERLYING SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND COULD ALSO DILUTE RAPE-RELATED ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE NOT INVOLVING DIRECT VICTIM SERVICES. THE VARIETY OF ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACHES TAKEN BY THE CENTERS COULD BE USEFUL IN RESPONDING TO DIFFERENT CONSTITUENCIES, RAISING NEW ISSUES, AND DEVELOPING NEW STRATEGIES. HOWEVER, RATHER THAN USING THEIR DIFFERENCES CONSTRUCTIVELY, THE CENTERS HAVE TENDED TO BE ISOLATED. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME EFFORTS TO COMMUNICATE--EXCHANGES OF NEWSLETTERS, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MEETINGS, JOINT TRAINING PROGRAMS. BUT LACK OF FUNDS HAS LIMITED MOST CENTERS' PARTICIPATION IN SUCH ACTIVITIES. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS FACED BY RAPE CRISIS CENTERS ARE SHARED BY OTHER VOLUNTARY AGENCIES. WHETHER THE CENTERS CONTINUE TO INFLUENCE CHANGE AND TO DELIVER SERVICES MAY DEPEND AS MUCH ON EXTERNAL FORCES AS ON THE CENTERS' OWN EFFORTS. SUPPORTING DATA A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LKM)