Almost all providers surveyed reported adapting at least one service because of the pandemic
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Researchers at RTI International, a nonprofit research institute, today published results of a study showing that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruptions and adaptations of services for victims of crime in North Carolina.
The study, which consisted of a statewide survey of 89 victim service providers conducted between August and September, uncovered several reasons for the disruptions, with the two most common being issues with access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and restrictions to or closures of schools and courts, where services are typically provided.
Victim service providers in North Carolina offer a wide range of support for crime victims, which varies by provider and can include information and referrals, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, and financial and housing assistance, among other services.
“We shouldn’t take for granted the essential support that victim service providers offer crime victims, who are often emotionally, socially, and financially vulnerable,” said Rebecca Pfeffer, Ph.D., research criminologist in RTI’s Center for Community Safety and Crime Prevention. “Our research shows that while there have been disruptions, many providers have gone above and beyond to try to limit the impact of the pandemic on these critical services.”
Some services, such as hotlines, were mostly able to continue without interruption, but almost all survey respondents (92%) had adapted at least one service they provided, according to the study. Providers reported that they were able to shift resources to continue some core aspects of their service delivery by changing physical locations for service delivery or moving it online when possible, procuring PPE and/or implementing sanitization practices.
The study identified six main challenges to service delivery among North Carolina's victim service providers: 1) changes in demand for services, 2) changes in the services victims needed, 3) client access to technology for virtual service delivery, 4) limited referral ability because of pandemic-related challenges faced by other agencies, 5) stretched resources, and 6) concerns about client and staff safety and well-being.
Additionally, the study outlines innovative strategies victims service providers took to address these challenges, and provides actionable strategies that victim service providers, policymakers, and community members can take to help organizations work around the hardships posed by the pandemic.
The study was internally funded.
To learn more about RTI’s Center for Community Safety and Crime Prevention, visit: www.rti.org/practice-area/community-safety-and-crime-prevention.
