New Effort Engages Healthcare Field to Address Domestic Violence in California

Cross-sector collaboration aims to improve screenings and expand access to services for survivors

 San Francisco, CA (April 2, 2014) — Today, Blue Shield of California Foundation announced a new funding initiative to integrate healthcare and domestic violence (DV) systems in California. Leveraging the issue-expertise and leadership of partner organization Futures Without Violence, the effort kicks-off with a new learning network and series of grants to support greater collaboration between safety net providers and DV service organizations across the state.

 “Given new opportunities created by the Affordable Care Act, there is more incentive than ever to expand the way in which we address and prevent domestic violence," said Peter Long, Ph.D., president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation. "Through this grantmaking effort, we are bridging the historical divide between these two sectors to achieve a more integrated and effective system of care for families and individuals experiencing, or at risk for, abuse."

As the state’s largest private funder of DV services and prevention, this body of work further extends the Foundation’s commitment to ending domestic violence in California. The investment also comes with broad public backing, as found in a recent statewide survey that shows the majority of Californians strongly support a greater role for doctors and nurses in addressing domestic violence. The effort launches with fortuitous timing, given new guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and federal policy changes under the Affordable Care Act, which now covers domestic violence screenings as part of women’s preventive health visits.

To support initial cross-sector partnerships, the Foundation is working with Futures Without Violence through a grant to facilitate a peer-learning learning network, provide technical assistance to grantees, and evaluate the impact of integrated service-delivery models. A widely recognized leader in the field, Futures Without Violence played an instrumental role in getting victims of abuse included in several new protections and programs under the Affordable Care Act.  

“We’re both pleased and proud to be working with a partner that recognizes the vital connection between health care and domestic violence, and we’re looking forward to a productive collaboration,” said Esta Soler, founder and president of  Futures Without Violence.

Grantee organizations include:

Los Angeles

East Los Angeles Women's Center

Jenesse Center, Inc.

University Muslim Medical Association, Inc.

YWCA of San Gabriel Valley

Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

The Children's Clinic, Serving Children and Their Families

North

Lake Family Resource Center

Sacramento Valley

WEAVE, Inc.

San Francisco Bay Area

Community Solutions for Children, Families, and Individuals

North East Medical Services

STAND! For Families Free of Violence

South

Center for Community Solutions

Family Health Centers of San Diego

Central

Center for a Non Violent Community

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ABOUT BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA FOUNDATION

Blue Shield of California Foundation is one of the state’s largest and most trusted grantmaking organizations. Our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians, particularly the underserved, by making health care accessible, effective, and affordable, and by ending domestic violence. For more information visit: www.blueshieldcafoundation.org

 

ABOUT FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE

Everyone has a right to live free of violence. For more than 30 years, Futures has set the pace for innovative educational programs, leadership training, and policy and public action campaigns to end violence against women, children, and families around the world. For more information, visit: www.futureswithoutviolence.org

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