National Health Initiative Kicks Off to Support Survivors of Abuse

MEDIA CONTACT:
Tracy Tierney, Futures Without Violence
ttierney@futureswithoutviolence.org
415.678.5619

 

National Health Initiative Kicks Off to Support Survivors of Abuse

Three leadership teams across the nation receive funding, training, and support to address intimate partner violence and human trafficking across their states/territories

 

SAN FRANCISCO (January 15, 2019) — Today and tomorrow Futures Without Violence (FUTURES) is convening leaders from three newly funded states and territories to kick off “Project Catalyst Phase II: State and Territory-Wide Transformation on Health, Intimate Partner Violence, and Human Trafficking.” This marks the second phase of a project focused on fostering intimate partner violence (IPV), human trafficking, and health leadership and collaboration at the U.S. state/territory level to improve the health and safety outcomes for survivors of IPV and human trafficking and to promote prevention. Three leadership teams from Colorado, Guam, and North Carolina—consisting of leaders from each state/territory’s Primary Care Association, Department of Health/Department of Human Services, and Domestic Violence Coalition—were awarded grants to:

• promote state/territory-level policy and systems changes that support an integrated and improved response to IPV and human trafficking in community health centers and to other needed services in domestic violence programs/community-based organizations.
• offer training and technical assistance to five community health centers and five domestic violence programs/community-based organizations (in each state/territory) that will partner with one another on trauma-informed practice transformation.
• implement a vision and strategy to promote policies and practices that support ongoing integration of the IPV and human trafficking response into health care delivery statewide, and significant inroads into implementation of an action plan to train and engage at least 50 percent of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded health centers by the end of the project period.

“Survivors of intimate partner violence and human trafficking can experience some serious health problems as a result of their abuse, such as chronic physical and mental health issues,” said Lisa James, director of health at FUTURES. “These leadership teams have the potential to make a tremendous impact on the health – and lives – of survivors in their respective states.”

Project Catalyst has an ambitious 10-month timeline (December 1, 2018-September 30, 2019) and following the kick-off meeting, a two-day training of trainers will be scheduled in each of the three states/territories.

State/Territory Leadership Teams include:

• Violence Free Colorado, Colorado Department of Human Services, Colorado Community Health Network
• Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault & Family Violence, Pacific Islands Primary Care Association, Guam Department of Public Health & Social Services
• North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, North Carolina Community Health Center Association

Project Catalyst states/territories will use comprehensive training curricula, health care provider resources, patient education materials, and quality improvement tools developed by FUTURES. This includes ipvhealthpartners.org, an online toolkit developed by and for community health centers and domestic violence agencies looking to forge or expand partnerships.

Project Catalyst Phase I participants included leadership teams from Arkansas, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, and Minnesota. The four funded state leadership teams trained more than 20 health centers and 15 domestic violence agencies in their states. As a result of the trainings, health providers and advocates reported increased comfort in talking to their patients and clients about the health impact of IPV and human trafficking.

This project is supported through a collaboration of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) partners, including the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Family and Youth Services Bureau, the HRSA Bureau of Primary Health Care, and the HRSA Office of Women’s Health. Technical assistance and training is provided by FUTURES, along with an evaluation conducted by the University of Pittsburg.

Since 1996, FUTURES has managed the National Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence, supported by the U.S. DHHS’ Administration for Children and Families, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program to provide resources and trainings to health practitioners and advocates across the country in order to promote model health responses to IPV. For more information visit acf.hhs.gov/fvpsa.

 

About FUTURES

Futures Without Violence is a national health and social justice nonprofit that develops groundbreaking programs, policies, and campaigns to empower individuals and organizations working to end violence against women and children. Striving to reach new audiences and transform social norms, we train professionals such as doctors, nurses, judges, educators and athletic coaches on improving responses to violence and trauma. We also work with advocates, policymakers, and others to build sustainable community leadership and educate people everywhere about the importance of respect and healthy relationships. For more information, visit www.futureswithoutviolence.org.