Health Care Screening for Intimate Partner Violence—Ohio

Overview
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) partners with the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) to train health care agencies in how to screen patients for intimate partner violence.

Goals
The goals are (1) to identify victims of intimate partner violence during routine health care delivery and (2) to encourage appropriate responses and referrals when patients disclose intimate partner violence to health care professionals.

Making the Idea a Reality
ODH and ODVN staff worked together with other health care partners to develop the curricula, make contact with training sites, and implement and publicize the trainings.

Benefits to Victims
Victims are more likely to receive timely and appropriate responses and better referrals from health care professionals.

Benefits to Criminal Justice
Increased support to victims leads to better success when the criminal justice system becomes involved.

Lessons Learned
Public and private sectors need to work together to provide training to a greater number and variety of organizations. The work also builds relationships and increases cooperation among programs, leading to other projects.

Contact Information
Ohio Department of Health
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215