Citation

Pennell J, Francis S. Violence Against Women 2005; 11(5): 666-692.

Affiliation

North Carolina State University, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1077801205274569

PMID

16043566

Abstract

To reach out to women from different backgrounds, the battered women's movement needs to place women and their informal supports at the center of a coordinated response. This article shares the views of domestic violence survivors, staff, and supporters on how to create such a coordinated and inclusive response, lays a conceptual foundation for a decision-making forum called safety conferencing, and sets forth guidance for its practice. Safety conferencing is proposed as one means of building the individual and collective strength to reshape connections, make sound choices, and promote the safety of women and children from diverse cultures.