These findings regarding outcomes of integrated services reinforce Allen et al.’s (2013) suggestion that how services are delivered to women with abuse histories may be as important as what is provided. Our findings also broaden understanding of how system navigation may be most effective for survivors. System navigators seek to overcome survivors’
logistical and individual (literacy, culture, language) barriers to connecting with needed resources and services in a timely way We found that facilitating ways around such barriers was essential but not sufficient. Effective system navigation required repeated and persistent validating, coaching, and skill-building to enable each woman to strengthen her ability to position herself to use available resources to her advantage.