CONTENTS

About This Course

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to the Issues
2. Understanding Alcohol Abuse
3. Understanding Violence Against Women
4. Alcohol and Domestic Violence
5. Alcohol, Sexual Assault, and Rape
6. Prevention and Early Intervention
7. Screening and Assessment
8. Diagnosis and Treatment
9. Legal and Ethical Issues

Supplements
Fact Sheets
Videos
Resources

Silence Hurts
Alcohol Abuse and Violence Against Women

Module Content Objectives Introduction General Screening For Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault -- Domestic Violence Screening Statements -- Additional Statements of Support Addressing Alcohol Abuse With Domestic Violence Clients -- Screening Instruments for Alcohol Use -- Assessments For Alcohol Use -- Talking About Alcohol Abuse -- Supporting Sobriety Assessing Violence for Women in Alcohol Treatment -- Domestic Violence Screening -- Domestic Violence Assessment Tips Addressing Alcohol Abuse With Men in Treatment For Violence -- Alcohol Screening -- Alcohol Assessment Addressing Domestic Violence With Men in Alcohol Treatment -- Abuse Screening -- Timing for Batterer Intervention/Relapse Prevention Child Maltreatment and Abuse Psychiatric Comorbidities -- Dual Diagnosis Safety Planning Summary of Module References Module 7 Quiz

General Screening For Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Who should be screened routinely?

• All females aged 12 years and older

Who should do the screening?

At a minimum, screening should be done by a health care provider who:

1. Has been educated about the dynamics of domestic violence,
2. Is familiar with the affects of the violence on the victims, and
3. Who is culturally competent.

This person should be trained to introduce the subject of abuse into conversation and should know how to intervene appropriately. Authorization to record in the patient's medical file should be obtained by a doctor in order to assure accurate documentation. Obviously, (and certainly in court-ordered counseling) the screener should attempt to establish a relationship or some level of trust with the patient before asking personal questions.

How should screening occur?

Screening for domestic violence and sexual assault should be a regular part of a face-to-face encounter for the health care professional. Questions need to be direct and nonjudgmental, and the interview needs to be conducted in private. That means that no relatives or friends of the patient or children over the age of two years should be present. Patients need to know that the information is confidential, but they should also be informed of the limits of confidentiality. Use professional interpreters, instead of a family member or friend, whenever possible.

When should screening occur?

1. As part of a routine health exam or history.
2. During an initial visit for a new complaint.
3. During every new patient meeting.
4. At any visit after the client has started a new intimate relationship.
5. During every periodic comprehensive visit.

Where should screening occur?

Trained health care providers should provide domestic violence screening as a routine part of patient care in the following settings: Primary care, urgent care, OB/GYN and family planning, mental health and inpatient care.