Rebecca R. Levenson, MA, Futures Without Violence
Surabhi Kukke, MPH, Texas Council on Family Violence
Laurie K. Crawford, MPA, Virginia Department of Health
Stephanie Karr, MA, Center Against Family Violence
Tanya Draper Douthit, MSW, Rose Brooks Center
Mikisha L. Hooper, B.A., National Hotline on Domestic Violence
Ruth Micklem, *, The Haven Shelter and Services
- Identify strategies for integrating health care services in domestic violence programs
- Describe challenges with confidentiality and reporting associated with providing on-site health services and how to implement policies and procedures to overcome them
- Know how to assess the “culture of wellness” in their own shelters and explore opportunities to improve/enhance.
Description:
Integrating onsite health assessment and primary health services into domestic violence programs provides an important resource for clients to develop medical homes and access resources and information. In addition, it provides an opportunity for domestic violence programs to create a culture of wellness and develop a more comprehensive array of services for their clients and staff. This session will highlight experiences from Texas and Virginia on developing shelter-based primary and preventive health services with a vision toward creating a culture of wellness. Other approaches to addressing the reproductive health needs of clients from programs across the country will also be shared. As communities differ from rural to urban, state to state, so do the models of service for programs. In order to sustain these fragile programs, access to healthcare and a focus on good health will need to be an important priority to both shelter staff and shelter clients.