Make Referrals
As a community mental health worker you are already familiar with the process of referring clients to other social service agencies for assistance. Use the same process when referring clients experiencing domestic violence to appropriate resources, or simply refer clients to the local Domestic Violence Center which will assist them with all other referrals. Chapter 7, Utilizing Community Resources, outlines in detail the specific roles of other agencies in responding to domestic violence, but the following guide highlights appropriate referrals for community mental health staff to utilize for their clients. Remember, whether or not a client admits to the presence of domestic violence in her home, provide her with the hotline number ot the local domestic violence service center. See the resoruces module for a table containing hotline numbers across the nation.