184583 Coordinated public health response to family violence through universal screening and assessment

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 9:30 AM

Martha Garcia, RN, PHN, BSN , South Region Public Health Center, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Chula Vista, CA
Amelia Barile Simon, MPH , Office of Violence Prevention, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, CA
Laura A. Carter, RN, PHN, BSN , East Region Public Health Center, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, El Cajon, CA
Bernadette Dragoon, RN, PHN, BSN , Public Health Nursing Administration, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, CA
Elizabeth Grasse, RN, PHN, BSN , North Central Public Health Region, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, CA
Linda Lake, RN, PHN, MSN , Chief Public Health Nurse, County of San Diego, Health & Human Services Agency, San Diego, CA
Terra Marroquin, MSW , Office of Violence Prevention, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, CA
Denise Thompson, MSN, CPNP, PHN , Central Region Public Health Center, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, CA
Sharney R. McLaughlin, MPH, CHES , South Region Public Health Center, County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency, Chula Vista, CA
     
This presentation will provide an overview of a California county health department's development and implementation of a standardized domestic violence (DV) screening and assessment protocol for Public Health Nursing, including a comprehensive staff training program.

Family violence is linked to a host of public health problems, both physical and behavioral in nature. Children exposed to DV may be particularly impacted neurologically and psychologically. These children face an increased risk for substance abuse, depression, and suicide attempts. The County's DV hotline routinely receives 1000 calls per month, while local law enforcement receives in excess of 20,000 DV reports annually. This County may be the first in California to adopt a coordinated Public Health Nursing response to address DV through institutionalizing staff training and universal screening and assessment procedures.

A multidisciplinary workgroup was convened to research and develop a standardized approach to DV screening and assessment by Public Health Nurses. This group was comprised of the Public Health Nursing Chief, Regional Public Health Nurse Managers and Supervisors, frontline clinic and field Public Health Nurses, County violence prevention program staff, and health promotion specialists. The workgroup reviewed existing evidenced-based DV screening and assessment tools. Tool selection criteria included consideration of the overall ease of administration, length of time to administer, level of training required, age of targeted population, and cultural and linguistic appropriateness. The workgroup ultimately chose a five-question screening tool as well as a more comprehensive assessment tool to use when warranted by initial screening results.

The DV training program was developed and conducted in partnership with a national resource center dedicated to “promoting community investment in evidence-based strategies for reducing the impact of children's exposure to violence.” All Public Health Nursing staff were mandated to complete the training, which covered general family violence education, universal screening and assessment procedures, anticipatory guidance, appropriate interventions, documentation, mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse, safety planning, and resource referrals. Community partner agencies that provide services to families were also invited to send staff to the trainings.

An evaluation plan was developed to track program adherence and effectiveness. Preliminary outcomes will be shared in this presentation.

Learning Objectives:
1. By the end of the session, the participant will be able to describe the role of public health nursing in screening for and assessing family violence. 2. By the end of the session, the participant will be able to describe an effective approach to convening a multidisciplinary/multi-agency team to develop protocols and training modules.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I participated in the Public Health Nursing Workgroup that selected the screening tools, developed the protocols and coordinated the training for the public health staff.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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