5.6.1 Making Referrals

It can be helpful to provide a survivor with a list of referral agencies and organizations, which includes information about each one.

Be sure that the information you provide includes contact information, including a phone number, email address, website and a physical address, as well as when they are open.

Advise the survivor if they need to bring any documentation with them and what kind of service and service-related charges they should expect.

If there are any eligibility criteria that the survivor must meet in order to access these services, make it clear in the material as well.

Review this information with the survivor so that they can decide if they want to access these services.

Sometimes, when you make referrals, there may be problems such as:

1. The referral agency or organization is not available for a particular service,

2. The referral agency or organization provides deficient or substandard care,

3. The survivor cannot access the referral location, or

4. The eligibility requirements make it difficult for the survivor to qualify for the service.

For this reason, it can be helpful to follow up with the survivor, if you have permission to do so.