2017 Annual Meeting
September 12–14, 2017
Aurora, Colorado
The links below contained detailed information for the upcoming 2017 Safe States Alliance Annual Meeting, taking place September 12-14, 2017 in Aurora, Colorado.
Please note:
- A total of five concurrent sessions will take place during the Annual Meeting, and there will be up to five breakouts occurring simultaneously during each of those concurrent sessions. Within each breakout, there will be up to four presentations that take place.
- This online system does not allow us to embed the individual presentations within each breakout. Please note the session presentations listed under each Concurrent Breakout title for associated content.
- The on-site mobile app WILL embed these sessions for ease of use.
- A printable, detailed agenda can be found on the 2017 Annual Meeting website.
- If you have any questions, please contact info@safestates.org
- All session times and locations are tentative and subject to change. Safe States will continue to update these details as changes take place.
Brain Injury: A silent epidemic in the domestic and sexual violence population.
Learning Objectives
- Explain how to train D/SV (Domestic/Sexual Violence) shelter staff to recognize and understand traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- Assess the incidence rate of TBI in sample urban and rural D/SV shelters.
- Discuss the intersection of D/SV and TBI.
Statement of Purpose
TBI research in D/SV is limited. The targeting of head/face in assaults makes the likelihood of TBI greater in those exposed to D/SV. They may also have increased exposure to repeated TBI.
Methods/Approach
The Nebraska Injury Prevention Program provided funding to the Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska who partnered with the University of Nebraska Center for Brain Biology and Behavior. Training was provided to staff of domestic violence shelters. The training covered basic neuroanatomy, effects of TBI, TBI severity, and how to support individuals with TBI. Training was designed to increase staff sensitivity and understanding of appropriate referrals and accomodations. Staff were trained to screen individuals utilizing the services of the shelters.
Results
Sixty-seven participants from 4 shelters completed the training. All training participants (100%) reported an increased understanding of the challenges facing an individual with TBI and 95.4% reported a good understanding of the screening tool and how to use it.
Ninety-three screens were collected over 4 months. 60.2% of those screens were positive for potential TBI. 90% reported sustaining the TBI due to being hit in the head or strangled and 42.9% endorsed multiple events where their head was struck or they were strangled. 81.2% reported some functional difficulty and/or physical symptomology related to the incident.
Conclusions & Significance to the Field
This project highlights the focus area of traumatic brain injury and the intersection of TBI with domestic/sexual violence. It underscores the importance of addressing shared risk and protective factors; factors that reduce violence will ultimately reduce TBI.
The project was conducted by Nebraska Injury Prevention partners with expertise in TBI who developed and provided the training. Avenues to continue and expand this project are being explored. The extremely high incidence rate (60% of individuals screened positive for TBI) provides strong support for more work to be done in this area, including research, increased education, and allocated resources.
Presenters
Peg Ogea-Ginsburg, Nebraska Dept of Health & Human Services
Biography
Peg Ogea-Ginsburg is the Injury Prevention Program Manager at the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. She oversees the work of CORE SVIPP and PDO PfS and manages the RPE grant in Nebraska. Peg has been extensively involved in Safe States in several capacities including being a member of the Executive Committee and being chair/co-chair of several committees.