5.6.2 Maintaining Referral Networks

Maintain your referral network by regularly, at least every three months, contacting the agency or organization to confirm that the following are still correct:

1. The name of the organization;

2. The services being offered;

3. Their contact information (telephone number, email, etc.);

4. Their location; and

5. Their hours of operation.

Keep informed and up-to-date about new services that may be offered or new agencies or organizations that may offer them.

If you are volunteering with a network of other advocates, communicate regularly about referrals and consider sharing documentation concerning which referrals are the most valuable and useful to survivors in your context and community.

Documentation can also help bring attention to gaps in services.

Keep confidentiality central to these conversations. The survivors do not need to be discussed for the referrals to be evaluated and shared.