NCJ Number
91183
Date Published
1981
Length
325 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes major findings of a 1980 State-by-State survey of Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) funded State programs which could serve victims of domestic violence and their families although they have no specific mandate to do so.
Abstract
Telephone interviews with administrators representing 463 programs focused on where and how staff met the needs of battered women and barriers to serving such victims. The HHS programs selected for the survey were Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Emergency Assistance, Child Welfare Services, Medicaid, Social Services (Title XX), Community Mental Health Center Program, Indian Health Services, Alcohol Formula grants and Alcoholism Treatment and Rehabilitation, and Drug Abuse Demonstration and Community Service Programs. Survey findings are organized into 51 State profiles which cover demographic data, legislation related to domestic violence, and factors respondents identified as affecting the incidence of domestic violence in their State. The summaries of respondents' replies note relevant program policies, regulations, any special programs directed toward battered women, and barriers to helping battered women. The profiles also include information on grassroots organizations and interviews with State level administrators in States with State-funded programs on domestic violence. The following factors appear to influence the extent to which States act on the HHS programs' potential to serve battered women: State mandate regarding domestic violence intervention; interpretation of program mandate, purposes, and eligibility criteria; staff identification of victims within the service population; service priorities and funding levels; and programs' administrative function. See also NCJ-91181 and NCJ-91182.