"No Wrong Door:" A Training and Resource Tool for Domestic Violence Protocol

Domestic violence is a problem of epedemic proportion in the United States. In examining the issue of domestic violence it is necessary to understand the nature of the problem, its pervasiveness and severity. Secondly, to understand how the problem is percieved and addressed by the community, particulary by those agencies and services to which victims turn for help. Lastly to understand the primary goal of establishing effective domestic violence protocol, is to accomplish a reduction in overall incidents of physical abuse. Increasing the attention by the public at large is important. Heightened public awareness will enable battered women to seek the support that they need to make decisions about their lives. The intent of establishing consistent protocol will assist in the endeavor of convincing society that domestic violence is not a private matter, but is a crime. A policy of "No Wrong Door", is the ideal protocol for assistance to victims of domestic violence. Since abused women may recieve several different responses from different sectors of society, this paper addresses the issue of domestic violence within those parameters on separate levels, i.e. medical, legal, and social domains; recognizing the difference in the mode of operation depending on the door the victim approaches for assistance. It is hoped that through this paper, that more effective protocols will be administered in the medical, social, and legal domains to address domestic violence as a result of educational and training efforts made by these agencies.Master'sCollege of Arts and Sciences: Public AdministrationUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/117889/1/Prince.pd