Providing crisis counselors on-site to victims of domestic violence in the emergency department: a report of a local pilot project

Abstract

In order to facilitate appropriate referral and aftercare for victims of domestic violence who present to Sioux Falls hospital emergency departments, Children's Inn (a local domestic violence shelter) and city hospitals collaborated to develop a program to provide crisis counselors to these patients during their ED visits. This program, which has been in place for over two years, has provided services to 63 patients. These services include on-site counseling to the victims, assistance with filling out protection orders and with making police reports, and referral of many of the women to shelter and/or support groups. Having the crisis counselors meet and talk with these patients during the ED visit has facilitated the provision of these services to victims who otherwise may have been unable or hesitant to avail themselves of local resources.