Health Sector United Against Family Violence
The Department of Health and health organizations from across the province have teamed up to help address family violence.
Health care providers working in hospitals, emergency health, clinics and community settings will receive training to help them identify individuals who are in abusive situations, leading to more effective prevention, early identification and improved intervention.
"Those working in the health care field are frequently in a position to identify those in abusive relationships and provide interventions to help stop the cycle of violence," said Health Minister Jamie Muir. "We welcome this team approach, with our health partners, in working to achieve our commitment to zero tolerance towards violence."
The Department of Health will assist each health care organization in developing and implementing a plan centred around responding effectively to the abuse of children, women, older persons, persons with disabilities and others vulnerable to abuse. A key component of this program is training for all health-sector workers. The training will ensure care-givers are aware of:
- the indicators of abuse
- the mandatory reporting legislation
- how to respond effectively and safely with victims, potential victims and perpetrators
- how to make prompt referrals to the appropriate services
Every person in Nova Scotia is required under the Children and Family Services Act to report suspected cases of abuse and neglect of children to Child Protection. Similarly, all persons are required to report adults in need of protective services under the Adult Protection Act, to Adult Protection. Under the health sector initiative, if abuse is suspected, staff will provide an opportunity, an atmosphere and an environment in which an individual would feel comfortable to share their situation and learn of options and resources available.
Universal screening for violence and abuse will also be introduced. This will involve health sector staff asking all persons 16 years of age and older, in a sensitive way, two or three questions designed to encourage disclosure of abuse. This also provides an opportunity for prevention and early intervention to provide support before abuse happens.
"We know that many people, particularly women are afraid or uncomfortable to ask for help, so by asking all patients the same questions and making the procedure part of our routine practice we can remove some of pressure and make it easier for people to disclose their situation and ask for help," said Dr. Sam Campbell, director of continuous quality improvement of the Emergency Department at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
Since 1997 the Department of Health's Family Violence Prevention Committee has been working to develop a health sector policy which would help address family violence. The group includes representation from the QEII Health Sciences Centre, the Nova Scotia Hospital, the IWK Grace Health Centre, the Cape Breton Healthcare Complex, the four regional health boards and department staff from Public Health, Emergency Health Services, Home Care, Addiction Services, Long Term Care and other key program areas.
Each health care organization will develop a program tailored to its patients' and residents' needs based on the framework developed by the committee. The Department of Health will support this goal by developing a training program in collaboration with provincial partners. There is $25,000 allocated within the department's current budget to help get these efforts underway and training is expected to start this spring.
The Provincial Family Violence Prevention Initiative was established as a multi-disciplinary, multi-departmental government-community partnership in 1992. It was established in response to growing concerns regarding systemic, societal violence in Nova Scotia, particularly against women and children. For more information on the initiative or on family violence, go to www.gov.ns.ca/coms/fvpi.htm .