Domestic Violence Healthcare Project

The Domestic Violence Healthcare Project (DVHP) is a partnership between United Family Services (UFS) and Carolinas Medical Center (CMC). We train hospital staff to screen for and document domestic violence, and we assist patients on-site 24-hours a day, seven days a week including holidays with safety assessment, safety planning, photo injury documentation and referrals. Additionally DVHP attempts to maintain follow up contact with each service recipient three months following their release from the hospital.

DVHP also offers Women Talk, a support group for women experiencing intimate partner abuse. The group meets every Wednesday from 6:30-8pm at Carolinas Medical Center's main campus. Parking is free and child care is provided. Call (704) 446-3999 to register.

How long has DVHP been operating? During FY 2003 DVHP was initiated in the Emergency Department and Women's Services Department. DVHP started serving patients in October 2002 and by the end of the fiscal year (June 2003) DVHP had served 194 patients and provided training to nearly 450 staff.

Who provides the services? DVHP employs two full-time staff and one master's level intern and has trained 36 volunteers who are on call evenings and weekends. Volunteers donated 4,498 on call hours and 468 on-site service hours to DVHP in FY 2003. Additionally an Emergency Department physician serves as our medical director and DVHP regularly receives guidance from an advisory committee of CMC clinical and administrative leaders.

How are we funded? DVHP receives its major funding from the Duke Endowment and the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. Carolinas Medical Center donates substantial staff time, office space, equipment and supplies to the project. Additionally, DVHP is supported by the annual UFS Art with Heart art auction.

How do service recipients learn about DVHP services? Most service recipients are referred by hospital staff. DVHP also provides outreach through television, radio and newspaper interviews and presents information about the program by speaking at community agencies and events. DVHP maintains domestic violence posters and brochures throughout the hospital where potential service recipients may access information.

What are our services like? The average advocate response time to a domestic violence call is 19-23 minutes. The busiest times for requests are morning and afternoon hours and the busiest days are Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The average amount of time spent with each patient is one hour, 18 minutes. In FY 2003, 71% of service recipients were assisted by staff and the remaining 29% were assisted by volunteer advocates.

Who are our service recipients? 97% of DVHP service recipients are female. 63% are African American, 29% are Caucasian, five percent are Latina, two percent are Asian American, and one percent are bi-racial. 94% of service recipients are from Mecklenburg County with the other six percent residing in nearby counties in North and South Carolina. 96% of service recipients are English speaking while the other four percent are Spanish speaking. 80% of service recipients are between the ages of 22 and 49. 15% of service recipients are under age 21 and five percent are over age 50. 56% of service recipients have children living in their home.

87% of service recipients have annual incomes of $16,000 or less and 69% are uninsured or utilize Medicaid. 41% of service recipients are employed while 17% receive some type of public assistance and 42% have no income. 49% of service recipients were transported to the hospital by police or ambulance while others arrived by public transportation, car, taxi or by foot. 

62% of domestic violence incidents were committed by an unmarried partner, 21% were committed by a married partner and the remaining 17% were committed by an ex-spouse or ex-unmarried partner. 30% of service recipients reported being in the relationship with the perpetrator less than one year. 28% were in the relationship one-to-three years and 62% were in the relationship more than three years. 51% of service recipients live with the abuser.

In 62% of cases the abuse occurred at the service recipient’s or shared residence, 13% occurred at the partner’s residence and 10% occurred at the home of a friend or relative. The remaining locations of abuse included the workplace, outdoors, bus stops or transit centers and other public locations.

94% of DVHP service recipients reported physical abuse, 76% reported emotional abuse and 19% reported sexual abuse. 62% of service recipients reported violent actions such as slapping or punching, 19% reported severe or permanent injuries as a result of the abuse. 13% reported that the perpetrator used a weapon to attack them and six percent of service recipients had critical injuries.

When asked about characteristics of the perpetrator, 60% of service recipients reported controlling behaviors, 77% reported threats and intimidation, 63% reported the use of drugs or alcohol by the perpetrator, 29% reported that weapons were kept in the home, and 45% reported that the perpetrator was violent outside the home. 62% reported that the violence had increased over the past year, 31% reported that the perpetrator attempted to choke or strangle them and 44% reported that the perpetrator had threatened to kill the victim or themselves.

How successful is DVHP?  In FY 2003 DVHP successfully followed up with 34% of our service recipients after they left the hospital. 48% reported that they were able to complete all of the steps in their safety plan. The remaining 52% reported that they were able to partially complete the steps in their safety plan. 81% reported that their living situation had become safer after meeting with DVHP and 100% reported that they were satisfied with DVHP services. 35% of service recipients requested additional assistance including safety planning and referrals.

What are our plans for the future? In FY 2004 DVHP plans to continue  services and staff training as we expand to other hospital departments including pediatrics, surgical intensive care, intensive care and clinics. We have begun a domestic violence support group and will offer advanced training on domestic violence for hospital staff.