Victim services agencies often address sexual assault and domestic violence as unrelated offenses. Historically, rape crisis centers and domestic violence safe homes were different facilities, organized and run by groups with distinct policy interests, training, and problem-solving visions. This remains mostly true. While specialization can lead to effective management of many of these cases, with good results for some victims, the reality for victims of intimate partner sexual abuse is that neither type of agency may have the capacity to provide adequate support. The ongoing safety issues of domestic violence victims may exceed the capabilities of a rape crisis center; the long-lasting trauma flowing from sexual assault may seem beyond the expertise of a domestic violence counselor. While domestic violence advocates are typically expert in securing orders of protection and formulating safety plans for a woman and her children, they often lack expertise in evidence collection and support through prosecution of a sex offense that their counterparts at a rape crisis center have.

Most women are reluctant to disclose sexual abuse. Without sensitive, patient, and thorough interviews – often multiple interviews – the issue is frequently missed altogether. Women who did disclose have reported being turned away from both types of agencies in their quest for help and safety.

While collaboration and cross-training are increasing, a 2005 survey revealed that less than half of battered women's shelter programs and rape crisis centers were providing training on marital rape to staff members and volunteers. (Bergen, Marital Rape, 2006 at 7.) Only 5% of such centers offer a support group specifically for marital rape survivors, Id. From her study of victim service agencies' response to intimate partner sexual abuse, Raquel Kennedy Bergen gives this example of a woman being passed from a rape crisis center to a domestic violence shelter and why the center did not fully address her needs.

"‘I called [the rape crisis center] and they couldn't help me. They told me they didn't have any openings [for shelter] and gave me another number to call.' The reason that Emily was denied shelter was written in her file: ‘Per [the director] I explained we were unable to take her because we don't handle domestic violence.' After writing this, the staff member who received the call turned to another worker and explained, ‘It was a domestic violence case, but she knew we were a rape crisis center, so she talked about the rape.' Emily was referred back to the battered women's shelter, and a few days later, when space became available, she was accepted into the shelter as a battered woman."

— Bergen, Wife Rape (1996) at 65.