Coordination with other Community Services

It is essential that men's programs do not operate in isolation from other community services relating to violence against women in relationships, particularly services for women. Services providing safety for women, such as transition houses, supportive counselling and advocacy are a prerequisite to effective men's counselling. Women need a safe place to go and a source of empowerment so that men's treatment can be conducted safely. Women's service providers need to have information about men's treatment and an opportunity to have input in order to ensure consistency of service for the couple. Moreover, there needs to be a level of trust established between women's and men's service providers to ensure mutual referral and case consultation. Coordinated service delivery appears to function more effectively, as offenders and victims receive the same message wherever they go and are less able to manipulate the system. Consistent consequences and responses help motivate men to change and serve to protect women. Coordination can be accomplished through specific liaisons between agencies and by community coordinating committees.