How to Start and Facilitate a Support Group for Victims of Stalking

How to BeginCommunity Assessment FindingsInformation gathered from a community assessment will significantly broaden a facilitator’sunderstanding of the range of resources available to stalking victims. It can also assist grouporganizers in making decisions about the group (e.g., group purpose, location, or format) 19 or inidentifying potential partnerships to help the group meet victims’ needs. The information mayalso be used to educate the community on stalking or to design publications that encouragestalking victims to seek help. Additionally, data may be used to educate criminal justice systempersonnel and victim service providers on the importance of responding effectively to stalking.Collaborating with Community AgenciesStalking victims often need a broad range of safety and emotional support services from thecommunity and from their support groups. No one agency or support group can provide victimswith everything they need. Many support groups have formed alliances with agencies thatoffer additional services, such as counseling or shelter assistance. Such collaborations can helpboth the agencies, by improving their stalking services, and the support groups, by referringmembers to appropriate services.The level of collaboration between groups and community agencies varies widely, fromdeveloping a one-time event such as a fundraiser to planning joint projects over a number ofyears. Groups and agencies can refer clients to each other, problem-solve challenging casestogether, share resources, and co-sponsor events. Police departments, prosecutors’ offices, andmental health service providers can help support group organizers by providing information,services, and support to both them and members of the group.Below are some ideas for how to work with community partners:• Give potential partners clear, concise information about the group. One stalking supportgroup facilitator developed a brochure that described her group and explainedhow to join. She brought the pamphlets (along with cookies) to the police station andasked the officers to distribute the brochures to stalking victims.• Adapt approaches to the audience and their circumstances. When one facilitator firstbegan reaching out to law enforcement by distributing brochures and speaking at meetings,she found that some officers were well informed about stalking and others werenot. She started sharing stories about stalking victims and the impact of the crime ontheir lives. The facilitator found that by consistently returning and patiently deliveringthis information, she was able to educate many officers. The officers, in turn, becamebetter at identifying stalking and referred more stalking victims to the support group.19 See Chapter 3 for more information about defining a support group.11