Health Cares About Domestic and Sexual Violence Collaborative
By Linda Sloan Locke
Hackensack, New Jersey – Domestic and Sexual Violence can have a profound impact on health, from immediate physical injury and psychological trauma, to long term chronic health problems and mental health sequelae. There are over 2 million injuries in the U.S. annually as a result of Domestic and Sexual Violence, with a cost of over $4.1 billion for direct medical and mental health care services. This constitutes a major public health concern, affecting individuals of every age, race, gender, religion and economic status.
In New Jersey, over 65,000 citizens experience an act of domestic or sexual violence every year, which averages to aproximately one incident every 7 minutes. As most New Jerseyans will have four or more health care visits each year, healthcare providers have a unique opportunity to identify and address these issues with their patients, and thereby help reduce both the immediate and long-term consequences.
Wednesday, October 8th, is being recognized as "Healthcares About Domestic and Sexual Violence Day" in New Jersey,to help healthcare providers in focusing on the issues of Domestic and Sexual Violence and their impact on health.
The New Jersey "SAFE" Initiative, a new collaborative effort initiated by a group of concerned stakeholders to address recognition, awareness and screening for current or past violence in healthcare settings, will launch tomorrow on "Heathcares Day".
"The vision of the initiative is a New Jersey healthcare culture in which all providers recognize the prevalence and health impact of Domestic and Sexual Violence", said Linda Sloan Locke, CNM,MPH,LSW, Chair of the Collaborative, and President of the New Jersey Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. "In this enviornment, providing trauma-informed care will be the standard in all healthcare settings. Our primary goal is to improve and support provider awareness, knowledge and confidence in this critical area"
"The SAFE acronym provides a framework for healthcare providers: S: Screen all patients; A: Assess for saftey and impact of violence on health; F: Facilitate referrals, and E: Educate and empower" says Sloan-Locke. "The goals of the initiative also include encouraging patients to share information about violence with their providers to promote care which is sensitive to their needs, and to encourage collaboration between providers and domestic and sexual violence agencies."
As Healthcares About Domestic Violence Day falls within National Midwifery Week, "the New Jersey Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives feels strongly about helping to take the lead in this initiative" says Sloan-Locke. "Midwives care for women not only for pregnancy and birth, but also throughout the life-cycle,’delivering’ primary care as well as pregnancy care. Also, as violence often escalates during pregnancy, contributing to complications such as preterm birth, pregnancy loss, and even maternal death, midwives need to be aware of these interactions.Midwives are partners with women in their health care, and we are also strong advocates for women". Although domestic and sexual violence impact both men and women, 75% of survivors are women.
The Healthcares About Domestic and Sexual Violence Collaborative members are: The NJ Affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM); NJCBW (NJ Coalition for Battered Women), NJCASA (NJ Coalition Against Sexual Assault), NJ Section of Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), NJ Chapter-International Association of Forensic Nurses , Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern NJ, Central NJ Family Health Consortium, and the Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative.
Contact: Linda Locke (201) 404-3649
[email protected]