Abuse Prevention Whakamana Whanau Project

The Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Whakamana Whānau, works with staff of Manaia Public Health Organisation (PHO), General Practices and others within the Primary Health sector in Whangarei to recognise and respond to family violence, and to refer where appropriate.   A component of the role, in conjunction with existing community agencies, is to provide education and training on family violence and support community action in this area.

Rationale:

• Victims of abuse use health services at a significantly higher rate than those not abused.
• As health harm from abuse is cumulative, early intervention is instrumental for improving physical and mental health outcomes.
• The significant health, social and economic costs of family violence has been clearly documented.
• To improve the detection and quality of assessment of family violence, a formal organisational change approach is required.

Goal:

• To reduce the health harm of family violence by implementing quality early intervention (routine enquiry) programmes in Manaia PHO, associated General Practices, and other Primary Health Services.
• A systems response to addressing family violence within General Practice, with the four components of policy development, training, referral processes and practice systems support.

Endorsement

• The Board of Manaia PHO has endorsed this Project.
• A Steering Group consisting of representatives from some Practices, government and community agencies provides strategic oversight of the project.

Implementation

• Shelley Crawford, has been employed as the Abuse Prevention Coordinator, based at Manaia Health.

Her contact details are : Manaia PHO, PO Box 1878, Whangarei, 0140.

shelleyc@manaiapho.co.nz; ph 09 438 1015, Fax 09 438 3210, Mobile 021 876 256.

*Family violence is used as an inclusive term covering intimate partner violence, child abuse, sexual violence and elder abuse.