A review of intimate partner violence for case managers.

This article provides case managers with updated information on intimate partner violence. Case managers provide an important role in the identification, treatment, and preven- tion of intimate partner violence. Current federal laws provide direction and funding for a complex network of services for survivors. Effective identification involves screening and assessing risk of harm, severity of violence, and the survivor's readiness for change. Care planning involves working with the survivor and their families to build protective skills, make a safety plan, and build their life independent of violence.Keywords: violence against women; domestic violence; battered women; case managementMost people enter intimate relationships assuming they will be safe. Regrettably, many people experience some form of abuse at the hands of their partners. Abuse affects the partners, their children, and other members of their families. Early identification of violence might help prevent a lifetime pattern of abuse. Identification and treatment of intimate partner violence might prevent further harm and, sometimes, might save a person's life. Case managers might be among the first people to identify and provide aid to survivors. Therefore, case managers can serve an instrumental role in preventing and stopping abuse.This article seeks to update case managers on intimate partner violence. Case managers need to understand its prev- alence across the general population; among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning, and Intersex (LGBTQI); and among teens. Case managers need to be famil- iar with the policies that shape services to survivors by fixing program funding, housing reporting, and mandated report- ing standards. Finally, current practice standards require that case managers understand screening, assessment, and planning for survivors.SCOPE OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCEWorldwide, violence in the form of emotional, physical, or sexual abuse affects many people in intimate relationships (World Health Organization, 2010). The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that intimate partner violence affects about 25% of the women in the United States (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2007). The World Health Organization (2010) defined intimate partner violence as any behaviors that harm survivors emotionally, behaviorally, physically, or sexually. This includes assault, harassment, threatening, stalking, and controlling behaviors. Often, physical and sexual abuse coexists with emotional abuse and controlling behaviors.In the United States, women living with male partners, including husbands, constitute roughly 85% of the 6 million annual reports of intimate partner violence (Domestic Violence Resource Center, 2013). Heterosexual women are more likely to be abused by their current partner. Almost 75% of the women sur- vivors report that their current partner is their abuser. Women who are at higher risk of intimate partner violence are younger than 25 years old, have limited financial resources, and limited educa- tions (Domestic Violence Resource Center, 2013).Intimate partner violence also occurs within LGBTQI relation- ships. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, 2011) found that LGBTQI people reported unique violence patterns. Among the LGBTQI community, there were almost 4,000 incidents of intimate partner violence and 16 incidents of intimate partner homicides in 2011. Roughly one- third of the reports involved a Gay couple. Another one-third of the reports involved a Lesbian couple. Roughly one-third of the survivors were younger than 30 years old. About two-thirds of the survivors identified as African American. Transgender- and Queer- identified survivors were more likely to report sexual violence. Young adults more often reported physical violence in their inti- mate relationship than other LGBTQI people. …