Protocols for Victim Support and Assistance
last updated August 2013
 
Numerous protocols and best practices exist for domestic violence victim support and assistance. In general, protocols address a wide range of topics, from crisis intervention and safehomes to counseling support groups and community education. Some are tailored to the work of the advocate (i.e., providing shelter), while others may focus on responding to underserved populations (victims with criminal records). This page lists just some of the many protocols and best practices that have been developed for victim support in the United States. Also included are minimum standards adopted by the Council of Europe in 2008 and a study conducted in the United Kingdom in 1999. For additional information, see the Victim Protection, Support and Assistance section of this website.
United States
Washington: Social Worker’s Practice Guide to Domestic Violence (2010) focuses on the role of the social worker in working with families experiencing domestic violence, including children and adult victims, as well as perpetrators.[5]
Michigan: Best Practices Toolkit for Working with Domestic Violence Survivors with Criminal Histories (2011) focuses on supporting women with criminal histories who are also victims of domestic violence.[6]
Europe
Council of Europe: Combating Violence against Women: Minimum Standards for Support Services (2008) aimed to develop consensus on the range and extent, core principles, and practices of victim support services.[7]
United Kingdom: From Good Intentions to Good Practice: A Mapping Study of Services Working with Families Where there is Domestic Violence (2000) provides a framework of domestic violence best practice indicators that are designed to help professionals and agencies better meet the needs of battered women and their families.[8] The framework is based on a 1999 study of domestic violence work being done in the United Kingdom. The framework includes eight indicators of good practice that function as a whole; each indicator is subdivided into subindicators that can help guide responses to victims of domestic violence and to perpetrators. These subindicators can also guide community education and awareness raising efforts.
 

[1] Arizona Service Standards & Guidelines for Domestic Violence Programs (2011–12), accessed August 13, 2013, https://www.azdes.gov/uploadedFiles/Aging_and_Adult_Services/Community_Services_Unit/Domestic_Violence_Program/ Service%20Standards_fillable_final%20%283%29.pdf.
[2] N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Best Practices Manual for North Carolina Domestic Violence Programs (2011), accessed August 13, 2013, http://www.nccadv.org/members/pdf/resource_library/bestpracticesmanualforncdomesticviolenceprograms2006.pdf# page=56&zoom=auto,0,26.
[3] Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Domestic Violence Services Guidelines Manual (2010), accessed August 13, 2013, http://www.ilcadv.org/resources/services_guidelines/ServicesGuidelinesManual2010.pdf.
[4] Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, Service Standards and Guidelines for Domestic Violence Programs (2010), accessed August 13, 2013, http://www.dps.mo.gov/dir/programs/cvsu/documents/SVServiceStandards.pdf.
[5] Wash. State Dep’t of Social and Health Services, Social Worker’s Guide to Domestic Violence (2010), accessed August 13, 2013, http://www.wscadv.org/docs/Social_Workers_Practice_Guide_to_DV_Feb_2010.pdf.
[6] Sheryl Kubiak, et al., Best Practices Toolkit for Working with Domestic Violence Survivors with Criminal Histories (2011), accessed August 13, 2013, http://www.mcadsv.org/projects/Toolkit/Files/Best_Practice_Toolkit_Entire_Document.pdf.
[7] Liz Kelly, Combating Violence against Women: Minimum Standards for Support Services (2008), accessed August 13, 2013, http://www.coe.int/t/dg2/equality/domesticviolencecampaign/Source/EG-VAW-CONF%282007%29Study%20rev.en.pdf.
[8] Catherine Humphreys, et al., From Good Intentions to Good Practice: Mapping Services Working with Families Where there is Domestic Violence (2000), accessed August 13, 2013, http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/jr087-families-services-violence.pdf.