Going beyond the “are you currently pregnant?” question at domestic violence shelter intake: The impact of assessment for reproductive coercion on staff/client relationships and client health outcomes

Crawford, Laurie K.

Saturday, March 21, 2015: 11:25 AM-12:45 PM

Room 4 (Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel)

Speaker:
Laurie K. Crawford, MPA, Virginia Department of Social Services

PDF file

Presentation Format:
Innovative/Promising Practice Program Report

Learning Objectives:

Be able to describe how to implement assessment for reproductive coercion screening at shelter intake.
Identify and address challenges to implementing assessment at shelter intake.
Be able to list four things domestic violence programs should do to prepare staff to implement assessment for reproductive coercion.

Description:
In 2013, six residential domestic violence programs in Virginia piloted assessment for reproductive coercion at shelter intake. 257 clients were assessed over a three month period, and both quantitative and qualitative findings were significant, demonstrating not only the prevalence of reproductive coercion and reproductive health care needs but also the prevalence of other health care issues and the need to enhance access to primary health care for victims of violence.