Training on Handling and Managing Gender-Based Violence/VAWC Cases for Health Service Providers

Multi-Disciplinary Approach involved in the Referral System

Presented by:
Ms. Naira Aratuc
DSWD Field Office XII

Basically, the presentation of the resource person consists of flow charts on what
should be done in managing VAWC cases. It also includes the services that should be given to
the client and who is the responsible agency that should deliver it to them.

The multi-disciplinary approach in handling or referring VAWC cases practically means

involving different agencies as key actors towards the successful case management of abused
cases.

In her presentation, the roles and responsibilities of different agencies who are involved
in the case management of abuse women are clearly defined. These agencies includes the
BLGU, C/MSWDO, law enforcement agency and at the prosecutor level.

She also presented the flow on the issuance and enforcement of barangay protection to
the victim as well as the referral protocols. . She stress out that the role of the barangay is not
limited to the issuance of BPO but they also have to assist in the reintegration of victim-
survivor in coordination with the C/MSWDO/case manager.

Ms. Lyra pointed out that the case management process does not end on referral.
There should be a follow up on what is the status of the cases that were referred.

After her presentation, Ms. Ballocanag also presented the guidelines in making a
referral which includes techniques in achieving effective referral, to wit;

1. Be clear about the reason why referral is under consideration.

 Training on Handling and Managing Gender-Based Violence/VAWC Cases for Health Service Providers

2. Referral is appropriate when your agency cannot provide the service needed and
wanted by a client

3. Referral is also appropriate when you do not have the knowledge or skills needed to
work with a particular client and when you have reason to believe your own values,
attitudes, religious beliefs will be a barrier to developing an effective relationship.

4. Attempting to rid yourself of responsibility for dealing with a difficult client is never an
acceptable reason for referral. ”Passing the buck” or “dumping” a client on another
agency is both unprofessional and unethical.

5. Before deciding on a referral to another agency be sure to consider the client’s friends,
relatives, neighbors, natural helpers, and other informal resources as a source of
assistance.

6. Make sure you know of all the agencies already involved with a client before
considering a referral. Some problems are best handled through interagency case
coordination and improved case management rather than by expanding the number of
agencies involved with the client.

7. Help the client tell his/her story about the agencies and resources he/she has used or
rejected in the past and how he/she approached and interacted with these resources.

8. Whenever considering a particular service that might prove beneficial to the client, give
special attention to the practical problems that may be a barrier to utilization (e.g.
client’s lack of transportation, inability to read).

9. Assume the client is ambivalent about the referral. Although the client may see the
logic of using the services of another agency or professional, he/she may be fearful.

10. The referral process is stressful and frustrating for many clients. They may encounter a
harried agency receptionist, an overwhelmed worker, red tape, and confusing eligibility
requirements. Thus, the client may need a great deal of emotional support during the
referral process.

11. Do not speak for another professional or agency. Remember that all agencies have
their own procedures, policies, and eligibility criteria. Be careful not to tell a client that
he or she is eligible for a particular service.

12. Whenever possible, clients should make their own arrangement for the services they
want. In some cases, however, the frightened, immature, overwhelmed client will need
help in setting up an appointment, securing transportation, and the like.
 Training on Handling and Managing Gender-Based Violence/VAWC Cases for Health Service Providers

13. Sometimes you will need to accompany clients if they are confused or fearful about
going to an agency. Family members, friends or volunteers may be able to provide the
support.

14. 13. You must thoroughly understand existing community resources. Social Work case
management practice involves linking people to needed resources; a social worker
should therefore invest the time and energy to learn about available resources.

15. Just knowing that a resource exists is seldom sufficient. It is important for the worker to
know someone on the agency staff who can be used as a contact point.
16. Use interagency visits and other professional meetings as an opportunity to meet
people working in the agencies to which you will be referring clients.

17. Make sure the client becomes linked to the resource. The use of connection techniques
(Weissman 1976) can increase the likelihood that a referral will be effective.

 Writing out the necessary facts e.g., the name of a specific person to contact at
the resource, how to get to the resource

 Providing the client with a brief written statement addressed to the resource,
describing the precise terms the nature of the problem and what the client would
like done.

 Calling the resources to make an appointment while the client is in the worker’s
office to ensure that the appropriate person will be contacted.

18. Check back or follow up. Ask the client to call you after the initial contact or you may
call the agency.

19. Evaluate your referral work. It is important to do a follow up evaluation or referral to

assess whether the client actually received what he/she wanted from the agency to help
guide the referral experience with other clients in the future.

20. View the referral as the first step in a new helping process. It sets the stage for what will
follow .If done well, the referral process itself will be an empowering and therapeutic
experience for the client. Because the referral process involves the use of problem –
solving skills such as problem definition, gathering information, and decision making,
the worker’s involvement with the client during the referral process gives him/her an
opportunity to learn these skills and how to secure needed resources.
 Training on Handling and Managing Gender-Based Violence/VAWC Cases for Health Service Providers

Open Forum

1. Ms. Quimsing mentioned that the flow is very systematic. But in the actual context,
there are couple/victims who do not want to file a case in court and just ask for a written
agreement. However, mediation is not allowed for VAWC cases.

2. Another issue she raised is on the issuance of protection order. The order is only valid
for 15 days and after that, the complainant must file a case in court. There are many
VAWC cases filed in court but sad to note that only a few prosper because many
complainant files an affidavit of desistance.

- Ms. Lyra responded that most Filipinos have this mentality that once you they get
married, they believe in “till death do you part.”
- As workers, we cannot do anything because the final decision still lies on the victim.
Our role is only to conduct counseling and not to mediate or dictate the victim on what
to do.
- Ms. Ballocanag added that when giving services, workers should not only focus on the
victim alone but also to the perpetrator. This is harder on the part of the LGU because
have only one social worker.
- She added that the decision to file a case or not remains on the victim. Our job as
workers is to provide for the victim’s needs.

3. PCI Intong shared that there are victims who go to their office and all they want is a
written agreement for the financial support of their partner for their children. She asked
if written agreement allowed for VAWC cases.
- Ms. Lyra replied that written agreement is allowed if the concern is only for financial
assistance. They may have the agreement notarized and the PNP officer may sign as a
witness provided that the agreement are made by both parties concerned.
 Training on Handling and Managing Gender-Based Violence/VAWC Cases for Health Service Providers

4. Ms. Recibe asked, what is the difference between counselling and mediation? She also
shared that there are cases where victim came to their office who also do not want to
file a case but only wanted to teach their partners a lesson.
- Ms. Ballocanag explained that in counseling, you act as a facilitator so that both
parties are able to sort the cause of the problem. Also, in counseling you make sure to
inform both parties on their rights should they choose to file a case against the other.
The decision should emanate from them and not from the worker.
- Mediation, on the other hand, is where you facilitate both partners to come up with a
solution to a problem. You may suggest actions which both parties may opt to follow.