INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY-SERVICES FOR RAPE VICTIMS - AN APPLICATION OF MULTIPLE CASE-STUDY METHODOLOGY

A qualitative multiple case study design was used to examine communiti es across the United States that halle developed coordinated community -based programs to assist rape victims. Previous studies have suggeste d that coordinated community programs help victims obtain needed resou rces and services. This study provided a follow-up examination of how and why these programs are helpful to rape victims. In-depth interview s were conducted with rape victim advocates, rape crisis center direct ors, police officers, prosecutors, doctors, nurses and rape survivors from 22 communities with coordinated programs. A comparison sample of 22 communities with fewer coordinated programs was also obtained. Resu lts indicated that the high coordination communities had three types o f programs to address sexual assault: coordinated service programs, in teragency training programs, and community-level reform groups. Althou gh not all of these programs directly address service delivery for rap e victims, they help create a community culture that is more responsiv e to victims' needs. The research team and participants developed an e xplanatory model of why these program are effective in addressing rape victims' needs. This model hypothesizes that coordinated programs ref lect an understanding of the multiple contexts of service delivery and embody that knowledge in services that are consistent with victims' n eeds. Narrative data from the interviews with service providers and ra pe survivors are used to develop and support this model.