The National Family Justice Center Alliance has released the results of a national survey of domestic
violence survivors – identifying major unmet needs and significant long-term health impacts from violence and abuse.
The survey, conducted in Family Justice Centers across the United States during a one week period last fall, found that victims and their children are uninsured or underinsured, rarely receive needed medical, dental, and vision services, and fail to understand the profound short and long-term impacts of the violence and abuse they are suffering at the hands of abusive partners.
The major findings of the study included:
Respondents were largely un/under-insured: 44% have no insurance and of those with insurance 65% have public insurance such as Medicaid or Medicare.
Half went to an Emergency Room in an effort to meet their medical needs, while only 30% saw their primary care provider in 2013.
Respondents reported more mental health needs (an average of 4 concerns) than physical or sexual health needs.
Less than one in four victims attribute their health problems to abuse;
…..The Alliance is calling for all domestic violence agencies, Family Justice Centers, and other community-based service providers to:
Begin screening survivors for pressing health needs in their intake and case management services;
Build partnerships with community-based health clinics, hospitals, and health service providers to ensure victims receive the medical services they need.
Help get survivors signed up for health insurance immediately pursuant to the Affordable Care Act.
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