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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Pamela D. Connor, PhD, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 N. Pauline, Ste. 633, Memphis, TN 38163, 901-448-3110, dconnor@utmem.edu

Early childhood is a period in development where environment actually has an important impact on determining how the brain and central nervous system grows and develops. Knowing that families are typically the sole or primary providers of children from birth to age 3 and therefore the most influential force impacting a child's environment, expanding traditional community level domestic violence (DV) constructs into an exploration of family psychosocial determinants is a logical consideration that supports both women and their families. This expansion also provides an opportunity to expand collaborative opportunities, funding sources, and a perspective that public officials and the community at large can openly discuss and support. Using a family perspective also increases the opportunity for many health professionals to incorporate domestic violence screening into their multiple care modalities. Findings from our most recent studies have redefined the traditional demographic of who DV victims include within our community and are being used as a springboard to realign agency services. We have just embarked on an early childhood study incorporating domestic violence constructs into family unit psychosocial determinants. Results will offer an opportunity to expand on what we know about community families and an additional perspective from which to support our agenda against DV. This presentation relates how we are transitioning traditional DV research into a family perspective to expand our audience and support.

Learning Objectives: