NCJ Number
214428
Date Published
August 2005
Length
28 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings on a 1-month snapshot of routine screening for domestic violence conducted in 17 Area Health Services across New South Wales in November 2004.
Abstract
Key findings reveal that 15 Area Health Services have begun screening in all or some of the targeted programs while 8 are screening in all targeted program areas, which are antenatal, early childhood health, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs. Of the 10,343 women who attended participating services, 75 percent were screened during November 2004, up from 70 percent in 2003. The percentage of women screened who had experienced domestic violence in the past 12 months was 6.5 percent. The percentage of women accepting an offer of assistance increased from 41 percent in 2003 to 71 percent in 2004. Police notifications were made in 4 percent of cases in 2004, up from 2 percent in 2003 and the number of referrals to other agencies increased from 35 percent in 2003 to 49 percent in 2004. Key issues emerging from the November 2004 data include the finding that the Health Routine Screening for Domestic Violence Program is an effective and sustainable strategy for intervening in domestic violence. The health services reported on here have made considerable progress in implementing the screening in the four targeted programs. It is recommended that Area Health Services continue to provide training in the routine screening for domestic violence for new staff. Data were collected from each of the 17 participating program facilities that were screening women for domestic violence in 2004 in New South Wales. Data were collected from agency personnel and included information on eligible women seeking services, the number of women screened, and key actions taken. The appendixes contain a sample data collection form and comparisons of the November 2003 and November 2004 snapshot data. Tables, figures, appendixes