To create appropriate intimate partner violence (IPV) services for Latino immigrants, practitioners must be aware of their needs. We conducted interviews with 100 recent Latino immigrants in a rural North Carolina county. Overall, IPV was not perceived to be a problem; however, men and women differed in their perceptions. Men were more likely to agree with IPV myths, and both men and women felt that IPV had a detrimental impact on children. Many did not know about the local domestic violence agency, and knowledge about protective orders was limited. Outreach should emphasize the seriousness of IPV, adapt content for gender-specific audiences, and increase awareness about local resources.

A new training programme for US Government officials features simulations that require them to reach across normal bureaucratic boundaries to rehearse actual responses to real-life overseas emergencies. The simulations use a planning template that builds on lessons learned from recent, non-traditional, civil-military and humanitarian operations. The programme aims to help officials from many different parts of the government improve their capacity to coordinate inter-agency responses by institutionalizing advance planning among those most likely to be involved in any US action. A discussion-capture software package developed at the War Gaming and Simulation Centre that incorporates the planning template facilitates this process and supports the training goals. 1

This paper discusses the findings of a mixed-methods research study conducted in an English city, Nottingham. The study examined the ‘Response to Complexity’ (R2C) project, aimed at increasing support for survivors of domestic and sexual abuse with ‘complex needs’ (defined by services as: substance and/or alcohol misuse and/or mental health and/or English as a foreign language). In-depth interviews with practitioners and survivors; participant observation of R2C Steering Group meetings; and statistical outcome data was used to evaluate R2C. One of the successes of the project was the provision of wrap around support that met the needs of the women, rather than the women being further marginalised trying to meet the needs of the service. Additionally, the work of the R2C Steering Group provided an example of best practice in multi-agency partnership working to ensure better service provision for survivors. The focus of this paper is to provide discussion of the qualitative element of the study, which explored the needs and experiences of survivors of domestic abuse and what their experiences of a new service might mean in relation to policy in terms of defining and responding to ‘complex needs’ and multi-agency partnership working.

A set of polymorphic microsatellite loci was identified for population and behavioural studies of the rainbow bee-eater ( Merops ornatus ). Eight loci were newly isolated from a rainbow bee-eater genomic library enriched for GA-containing repeats, and six loci from those previously reported for the European bee-eater ( Merops apiaster ). From these two sources, the seven most variable loci that amplified reliably were unlinked and in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, had five to 13 alleles (mean 7.7) and an expected heterozygosity of 0.60 -0.86 (mean 0.73).

When women involved in prostitution experience multiple and intersecting needs, they may face barriers in accessing help and support. These barriers can include geographical location and opening hours of agencies, limited childcare support, and a lack of female-only provision. As a result, women are frequently disadvantaged, and their personal safety put at risk, as they become increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, particularly if they do not have access to secure accommodation. This research project seeks to understand the choices and decisions women make when they engage with helping services. The findings report on an indepth qualitative study with 11 women involved in, or at risk of involvement in, prostitution. The women attended a third sector drop-in centre in an English city. Semi-structured interviews were used to understand the experiences that led participants to seek support and what they liked or did not like about helping services. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using Bacchi's (1999) 'What is the problem?' approach in order to understand how women framed their experiences, as well as how they negotiated service provision. Women's decisions to use services were shaped by a number of factors, including knowledge, availability, suitability, and assessment of caregivers' behaviour. The way caregivers behaved was important in determining whether they could be trusted. A dissonance emerged between the framing of women's needs by policy and services, and women's lived experiences. This mismatch led to a complex network of support services that were both difficult for women to access and often failed to meet their needs. It is vital that social care services and training providers pay attention to the interactions between caregivers and women seeking help and support. A model is presented to reflect the decisions and choices made by women when seeking help and support, and the associated responses required by policy, service commissioners and providers. ABSTRACTWhen women involved in prostitution experience multiple and intersecting needs, they may face barriers in accessing help and support. These barriers can include geographical location and opening hours of agencies, limited childcare support, and a lack of femaleonly provision. As a result, women are frequently disadvantaged, and their personal safety put at risk, as they become increasingly vulnerable to exploitation, particularly if they do not have access to secure accommodation. This research project seeks to understand the choices and decisions women make when they engage with helping services. The findings report on an in-depth qualitative study with 11 women involved in, or at risk of involvement in, prostitution. The women attended a third sector drop-in centre in an English city. Semistructured interviews were used to understand the experiences that led participants to seek support and what they liked or did not like about helping services. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using Bacchi's (1999) 'What is the problem?' appro...