Domestic Violence Prevention and Treatment Domestic violence has been around for centuries, affecting millions of Americans and is becoming a global health problem. Violence is not selective as it occurs across all income levels, racial and cultural groups and has no gender or sexual boundaries (Allender, Rector & Warner, 2014). Therefore, it 's imperative that communities not only understand the cycle of violence, but also the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of violence prevention.
Intimate partner violence affects millions of Americans and occurs among all types of relationships, including heterosexual and gay and lesbian couples. According to the CDC, "approximately 27.3% of women and 11.5% of men in the United States have experienced …show more content…
The goal of secondary prevention is early detection and intervention, looking for early signs of domestic violence and providing appropriate, coordinated services to those affected by domestic violence (Wolfe, & Jaffe, 1999). Community health nurses should screen their patients regularly, "asking specific questions about violence, which indicates knowledge of a potential problem and a willingness to help" (McClure, 1996). In addition, nurses should be asking direct questions, which leave little room for interpretation, such as: "Sometimes when I see injuries like yours, the person has been hurt by someone close. Is that happening to you?" (McClure, 1996). In addition, it 's vital that nurses listen to their patients and help them develop exit plans for when they are ready to leave. Have patients keep a bag packed with clothing, extra money, special documents, including a birth certificate and identification and keep it in a safe place that they can access if they decide to leave. Give patients names and phone numbers of local resources in the community, such as hotlines, shelters, safe homes and local emergency rooms. Finally, respect your patient 's decision to take action and leave, and continue to remain supportive to those patients who aren’t ready to leave by …show more content…
These interventions focus on the collaboration and coordination of services across agencies within the community, including police, court system, and social services (Wolfe, & Jaffe, 1999). There are many community resources and educational programs surrounding the Springfield area for those suffering from domestic violence, including: shelters and safe homes, hotlines, and services for children. For example, there are local shelters, which are safe and the addresses are kept private from the general public to keep victims safe, including children. These safe houses provide shelter and a safe place for those suffering from domestic violence to live and provide advocacy, counseling, referrals, food, and limited clothing, while the victim and children develop a safety plan. There are also programs designed to help children cope with the violence they have witnessed to avoid becoming the abuser or the victim later on in life. The abuser can obtain a 209A order, more commonly known as a restraining order from any District Court, Superior Court or Probate and Family Court in Massachusetts. Furthermore, an emergency 209A can be obtained from any police department after court hours and on weekends and holidays. Once the order is granted the patient will have to go
Intimate partner violence affects millions of Americans and occurs among all types of relationships, including heterosexual and gay and lesbian couples. According to the CDC, "approximately 27.3% of women and 11.5% of men in the United States have experienced …show more content…
The goal of secondary prevention is early detection and intervention, looking for early signs of domestic violence and providing appropriate, coordinated services to those affected by domestic violence (Wolfe, & Jaffe, 1999). Community health nurses should screen their patients regularly, "asking specific questions about violence, which indicates knowledge of a potential problem and a willingness to help" (McClure, 1996). In addition, nurses should be asking direct questions, which leave little room for interpretation, such as: "Sometimes when I see injuries like yours, the person has been hurt by someone close. Is that happening to you?" (McClure, 1996). In addition, it 's vital that nurses listen to their patients and help them develop exit plans for when they are ready to leave. Have patients keep a bag packed with clothing, extra money, special documents, including a birth certificate and identification and keep it in a safe place that they can access if they decide to leave. Give patients names and phone numbers of local resources in the community, such as hotlines, shelters, safe homes and local emergency rooms. Finally, respect your patient 's decision to take action and leave, and continue to remain supportive to those patients who aren’t ready to leave by …show more content…
These interventions focus on the collaboration and coordination of services across agencies within the community, including police, court system, and social services (Wolfe, & Jaffe, 1999). There are many community resources and educational programs surrounding the Springfield area for those suffering from domestic violence, including: shelters and safe homes, hotlines, and services for children. For example, there are local shelters, which are safe and the addresses are kept private from the general public to keep victims safe, including children. These safe houses provide shelter and a safe place for those suffering from domestic violence to live and provide advocacy, counseling, referrals, food, and limited clothing, while the victim and children develop a safety plan. There are also programs designed to help children cope with the violence they have witnessed to avoid becoming the abuser or the victim later on in life. The abuser can obtain a 209A order, more commonly known as a restraining order from any District Court, Superior Court or Probate and Family Court in Massachusetts. Furthermore, an emergency 209A can be obtained from any police department after court hours and on weekends and holidays. Once the order is granted the patient will have to go