A domestic violence program funded by the Administration for Children and Families and the Indian Health Service has showed dramatic success at improving the health system’s response at IHS facilities across the United States, according to Building Domestic Violence Health Care Responses: A Promising Practices Report, published this week by the Family Violence Prevention Fund.
The program, called the IHS/ACF Domestic Violence Project, began in 2002. It included routinely screening women for domestic violence when they sought services at more than 100 participating IHS facilities in 18 states as well as training staff members at these facilities and domestic violence advocacy programs across the country on domestic violence health system change, the development of community-wide domestic violence response teams, creating patient education materials and other components.
When the program began, only 4 percent of women at IHS facilities were screened by doctors and nurses for domestic violence. By 2009, when the program ended, 48 percent were being screened.
“In Indian country, health care providers are often the first responders to domestic violence, and the health care setting offers a critical opportunity for early identification and primary prevention of abuse,” said Anna Marjavi, FVPF program manager and co-author of the Promising Practices report, said in a press release.
Indian Country is full of violence by our tribal leaders here in Taos New Mexico. Due to it being a theocratic form of government we the women are not allowed to vote or voice our opinions. Yes! this is true, whether you want to believe it or not. Recently, a young women was put in jail, only to find out that her trailer home was removed from where her and her kids live. She was sent to jail by the Lt. Governor Richard A Suazo, who has anger problems. We did not choose him for the position. They are not elected by the people, but a group of cronies rotate chairs year after year. This has to stop, abuse of power is too common here. The officials are suppose to protect their community members, here they mistreat them. We all think they need psychological evaluations. This is the worst year ever. If there is anyone out there to help please call me, for I am not a paid person but I help tribal members anyway I can. Please! help us, we sure can use pro bono help. call 751-7221 Ac575 Our civil rights are being violated. I want to hear what you have to say.
ReplyDeleteWe want peace and love.
Guess IHS is in denial with what actually happens because there really hasn't been any improvement due to the fact that the nurses and doctors are afraid to put down who is doing the abusing. therefore, what is on there as a success is really the opposite. It is increasing folks. Indian Health Services are in denial.
ReplyDeleteMaybe in some areas there is improvement but not everywhere as the article claims.