Research to Practice NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault Lynne Stevens, LCSW,BCD Assistant Professor, Boston University Medical School Director, Responding to Violence Against Women Program Boston Medical Center December 11, 2006

1. Needs Assessment Develop client centered programs Identify providers’ needs Offer incentives to patients and providers Do baseline chart reviews-find out what is going on now Start small and develop model programs

2. Training and Sensitization Training is only one part of program Everyone needs to be sensitized Pre and post tests are not enough Screeners need in-depth standardized training Regular booster trainings needed Supervisory/support groups for staff

3. Policies and Procedures Need clear policies about: √ Confidentiality √ Where screening will take place √ Roles of staff √ Follow-up with survivors √ Communication between providers and referral groups

3. Policies and Procedures (con’t.) Procedures that must be put into place: √ Patient step-by-step routing √ How and when to ask about VAW √ What happens when a woman answers “yes”? √ Sensitized care for survivors √ Staff who are victims of violence

4. Screening and Documentation Develop standardized questions Ask about past and current violence Documentation forms in charts Quality control of screening

5. Services Ask clients what services they need Evaluate quality of local services Develop relationships with community groups Develop on-site services Build communication between providers and services Follow-up on referrals

Screening: Provider fills out IPV form No Yes Past Current Assess How often? Level of abuse? Assess Type? Symptoms? Past help? Referral to DV Advocate No Referral give materials No Referral give materials

6. Monitoring and Evaluation Old View: It’s “good” so don’t need M & E Assign monitoring as a staff task Develop work plan and monitoring forms Develop time tables for M&E Regular exit interviews, focus groups Find out what works, what doesn’t, then tweak

Barriers to Implementation Lack of understanding of seriousness of VAW Lack of programmatic thinking, integrating into services at health sites Providers reluctance to screen if there is not an advocate or services on-site

Barriers To Implementation Training without supervision Environment not safe for survivors to disclose Lack of efficacy and effectiveness research to encourage more programs

Strengths Have referral resources Ability to make health care programs front end and resources back end Much research on this problem Access to technology Use research as a way of encouraging more programs