The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71640

Linda Chamberlain, PhD, MPH, Maternal and Child Health Department, Alaska Department of Health, 3601 C St., Suite 934, PO Box 240249, Anchorage, AK 99524-0249 and Rebecca Whiteman, CA Clinic Collaborative Coordinator, Family Violence Prevention Fund, 383 Rhode Island Street Ste 304, San Francisco, CA 94103-5133, 415 252-8900, Rebecca@endabuse.org.

Although lifetime exposure to abuse has significant implications on reproductive health, very few public health professionals are routinely integrating violence prevention or intervention programs into their programs. This workshop will highlight elements of a new curriculum designed to help public health leaders and workers in women’s health and/or family planning arenas to see the connection between abuse and reproductive health and understand the need to create culturally relevant prevention, screening and intervention initiatives. The presentation will begin with a comprehensive overview of the research on the connection between abuse and unintended pregnancies, increased abortions, pregnancy complications, sexually transmitted infections (including HIV/AIDS) and ability to use birth control and control sexual decision making. The implications of this research for family planning programs and clinicians will then be shared along with innovative strategies culled from around to country on how to establish systematic clinical and policy responses to abuse. Two specific programs will be highlighted as best practices: 1) The Alabama Medicaid Agency has integrated screening and response protocols, training for providers, and provides coverage for clinical responses to abused pregnant women seeking care in Medicaid funded clinics in Alabama. They are currently exploring expanding that program in all family planning settings across the state. 2) The California Office of Family Planning integrated domestic violence screening and response as an integral part of policies and training programs for Family PACT providers. This program provides comprehensive family planning services to eligible low-income men and women in California.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, participants will be able to list at least five ways in which family violence impacts family planning - specifically as it relates to to abortion; unintentded, teen & rapid repeat pregnancies; and birth control sabatoge.
• At the end of the session, participants will be able to articulate clincical procedures for identifying and assisting victims of violence in family planning settings to improve their reproductive health and safety.
• At the end of this session, participants will be able to articulate at least five strategies for constructing a systematic policy reponse to family violence in their family planning divisions or settings.
• At the end of the sessions participatants will be able to discuss promising practices from two state family planning departments that have integrated systems to responsd to family violence victims as part of routine, and reimbursable care.

Keywords: Family Violence, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The data presented in this session on the relevance of lifetime exposure to to abuse to family planning programs is part of a broader Public Health Tool Kit on Family Violence that the Family Violence Prevention Fund has developed. This powerpoint curric
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.