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Op-eds

Wrap Up of March

The Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council is a domestic violence agency, and as such, part of our mission is to raise awareness about domestic violence and its impact on individuals and communities. This month, we have covered several important topics that are relevant to our mission. These topics included the difference between strangulation and choking, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Women’s History Month.

Knowing the difference between strangulation and choking, is especially important to highlight because it is a common form of violence that often goes unnoticed or minimized. Most people use the terms interchangeable, but strangulation is a serious form of violence that can cause long-term physical and psychological harm, including brain damage and breathing difficulties. It is also one of the leading predictors of lethality in a relationship. By educating the public about the differences between strangulation and choking and the associated risks, we hope to raise awareness about this often-overlooked but commonly used form of violence and encourage survivors to seek help and support.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common consequence of domestic violence. Survivors of domestic violence may experience repeated blows to the head from a perpetrator or repeatedly having their head smashed against something. Both can cause brain damage, memory loss, and other long-term health problems. By raising awareness about the link between domestic violence and traumatic brain injury, we hope to encourage survivors to seek medical attention and support. We also hope this will help to promote policies and programs that address this issue.

Finally, this month is Women’s History Month, which is a time to celebrate the achievements of women and recognize the challenges they face, including domestic violence. We know that domestic violence disproportionately affects women, and we are committed to raising awareness about this issue and advocating for practices that support survivors and promote gender equality.

By addressing these important topics, we hope to educate the public about the impact of domestic violence on our community and encourage survivors to seek assistance. We also hope to promote policies and procedures that address the root causes of domestic violence and promote healthy, respectful relationships. As we continue our work, we remain committed to raising awareness about domestic violence and promoting a society that values safety, respect, and equality for all.
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Op-eds TBI

The Intersection of TBI and IPV in Harris County

Intersection of TBI and IPV in Harris County

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, approximately 67% of women who experience domestic violence also have symptoms of traumatic brain injury. It is important that programs screen for TBI and also encourage law enforcement and healthcare partners to do the same.

Our Senior Program Director, Abeer Monem shares below facts about traumatic brain injury:

TBI as a result of head injury(ies) and/or strangulation, suffered at the hands of the perpetrator, can be mild to severe and cause many detrimental effects that impede the pursuit of safety and economic stability. Examples of the devastating cognitive effects of TBI that would clearly be impediments to obtaining and/or maintaining employment and, thus, economic stability, are as follows:

– Decreased concentration, attention span

– Difficulties with executive functioning (goal setting, self monitoring, planning, ability to solve problems, learn and organizing tasks)

– Memory loss

– Difficulty displaying appropriate emotional/communication responses

– May appear disorganized and impulsive

– Difficulty spelling, writing, and reading

– Difficulty understanding written or spoken communication

– Difficulty feeling initiative, sustaining motivation

– Depression

There are also behavioral and physical effects that include:

– Changes in behavior, personality or temperament

– Increased aggression and/or anxiety

– Decreased or increased inhibitions

– Quickly agitated or saddened

– Changes in emotional expression (flat, non-emotional, inappropriate or overreactions)

– Avoidance of people, family, friends

– Difficulty sleeping

– Increased irritability or impatience

– Hearing loss

– Headaches, neck pain

– Nausea and vomiting

– Changes in vision

– Ringing or buzzing in ears

– Dizziness, difficulty balancing

– Decrease in, or loss of, smell or taste

– Decreased coordination

– Loss of bowel or bladder control

– Increased sensitivity to noise or bright lights

– Seizures

– Weakness or numbness

A woman with a TBI who enters the criminal justice or family law system may face additional challenges. She may appear to be disorganized, aggressive, temperamental or confused. If her behaviors are misunderstood or misdiagnosed as indicating a mental health disability, which often happens, she may have difficulty obtaining custody or being credible as a victim or reliable witness.

Maricopa County, Arizona (Phoenix area) has paved the way for our county to incorporate their innovative approach to Harris county’s law enforcement response to an IPV incident.

· Officers and detectives do not limit testing to strangulation or sexual assault cases but offer ConQVerge Near Point Convergence (NPC) testing to all IPV victims reporting head trauma.

· Social workers and advocates assumed a larger role in testing and guiding victims through the process.

· Concussion information will be given out at the scene by nurses, officers, advocates an social workers as a part of an awareness campaign on the dangers of TBI for IPV survivors.

Why can’t we do something similar in Harris County? What are the possibilities that can be reality and really address the impact of IPV in Harris County?

• Add TBI screen questions Strangulation supplement that officers already complete?

• Establish concussion protocol when law enforcement responds to an IPV incident? Use advocates or forensic nurses to conduct the concussion protocol?

• Develop neurofeedback program – the only evidence-based treatment option – for our survivors to give them a chance to truly recover from the debilitating impact of head trauma?

• Develop a coordinated care system so no matter where the touch point for a survivor is, they receive the care they need after head trauma resulting from IPV?

 

For more information, please contact Abeer Monem.

About the Author

Abeer Monem is the Director of Housing and Innovative Services for HCDVCC and has worked in the field of domestic violence for over 25 years in both Harris and Fort Bend counties as a domestic violence advocate, trainer and programs director.