Opening the Black Box: Identifying Common Practice Approaches in Urban and Rural Rape Crisis Centers

Abstract

This study sought to open the black box of services at rape crisis centers (RCCs), particularly related to counseling, to better understand what is available to survivors in urban and rural settings. Findings from a survey of directors and counselors in Texas RCCs reveal a number of strengths: supporting services for survivors of sexual assault and insights that can help to further advance the implementation of evidence-based trauma treatments in this sector. Although many areas of congruence were found between urban and rural settings, differences were noted that have implications for implementation of evidence-based trauma treatments.

Examining Implementation of Crisis Centers on Police Officer Emergency Hold Petitions

“…While crisis centers are a common and expanding mode of service for helping people in crisis, there is a lack of literature on them. One study referred to them as the “black box” of the service sector (Edmond et al, 2020 ). This may be from the small and community nature of these centers, or that taboo nature of the services they provide.…”