Spotlight on domestic violence

Domestic violence is a very real threat to the health and safety of women and men throughout the world. According to a 1998 Commonwealth Fund study, nearly a third of American women reported physical or sexual abuse by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. At the MGH, victims of domestic violence have many resources available to them. During October — National Domestic Violence Awareness Month — the MGH acknowleged the work of many programs across the hospital that address this important topic.

The MGH's domestic violence program, HAVEN (Hospitals Helping Abuse and Violence End Now), an initiative of the MGH Community Benefit program, celebrated its 10th anniversary Oct. 22 with a reception in the Thier Conference Room. Friends of the program and families that have benefited from its services gathered to honor the HAVEN advocates, led by Bonnie Zimmer, LICSW. Since the program was established in 1997, it has provided 3,628 consultations and accepted 4,020 intakes from the MGH main campus and the Chelsea and Revere HealthCare Centers. Said Zimmer, "I am proud of what HAVEN has accomplished, but we can do more. Every patient entering the hospital should be screened for abuse, and HAVEN is working to create partnerships within the hospital to seamlessly integrate our work into the larger mission of the MGH."

MGH Men Against Abuse also hosted three events in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The first was a talk, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Profiles of Abusive Men," during which David Adams, EdD, co-founder and co-director of Emerge, a Cambridge-based organization dedicated to combating domestic violence, spoke about different issues relating to batterers. On Oct. 16, MGH Police, Security and Outside Services, in collaboration with the MGH Domestic Violence Working Group, hosted an information table for MGHers working the night shift. Steven Durant, EdD, of MGH Psychiatry, spoke Oct. 29 about male aggression on the playing field and the importance of serving as a postitive role model for children.

Also during October, two MGH caregivers were recognized for their work addressing domestic violence. Leslie Halpern, DDS, MD, of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMS), was honored by RESPOND, Inc., a domestic violence support organization. Halpern received the Timothy White Take a Stand Award for her work screening MGH emergency room patients for possible domestic abuse using techniques developed by her mentor, Thomas Dodson, DMD, MPH, also of MGH OMS. Georgia Green, LICSW, who works with the Police Action Counseling Team at MGH Chelsea, was honored with a Public Service Award from the Chelsea Domestic Violence Task Force at a community breakfast Oct. 26. Green received the award for her work with the Chelsea Police Department providing on-site interventions for children who have witnessed or been involved in domestic abuse cases.