04/03/18  Portland, Ore.

In partnership with community organizations Home Free and Raphael House, OHSU Family Medicine at Richmond announced receipt of a 30 month-long Community-Based Advocacy and Health Care Partnerships grant from the Department of Justice. The purpose of the Community-Based Advocacy and Healthcare Partnerships funding initiative is to expand the availability of services to survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) through partnerships with local health care providers. 

With the funding, two full time IPV advocates will be placed at Family Medicine at Richmond. Rotating through Richmond, the Walk-In Clinic and the high school-based Benson Wellness Center, the two advocates will help perform: 

• Safety planning

• Emergency shelter assistance

• Connection to housing resources

• Support groups

• Youth services

• Legal advocacy

• Emotional support

• Assistance with screening

• Confidential support

• Trainings and education

• Support for survivors navigating the health care system

• Referrals

• And more (full role description here)

"Having advocates on site will increase patient access to IPV specific resources and support, and will also improve health care provider recognition of intimate partner violence and its impact on health," explains Tara O'connor, P.M.H.N.P., Assistant Professor of Family Medicine. "Similar partnerships have been found to reduce violence and improve patient well-being over time."

Ultimately, O'Connor explains, this grant will "improve IPV survivors' access to both advocacy services and health care, improve quality of care, and potentially reduce overall healthcare costs to our community."