Domestic Violence Counseling Manual - Hot Peach Pages

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
The Ministry of Health provides the following services to potential victims of Domestic Violence:
1. Screening
• Used to determine if an individual who seeks medical attention at a facility is experiencing
abuse/violence and provide an appropriate response.
• The health professional may ask the following questions: Have you ever been in an abusive
or violent situation at home Have you been affected by abuse or violence in your home Are
you presently experiencing abuse or violence in your home
• Done in a confidential, safe, private, and supportive environment.
• Others may be present at the request of the client, provided that their presence is not going to
skew the accuracy of the assessment or put the client at further risk.
• The health professional conducting the interview will inform the client of his/her rights and
options in a non-judgmental and sensitive manner.
• Usually conducted by a nurse.
• There are five categories of harm that are used to determine the seriousness of the crime and
injury and will affect the police’s reaction to the case. They are (in order of increasing
seriousness): harm, wounding, grievous harm, dangerous harm, maiming. The following are
copies of the forms that a woman will be filling out if she is examined at the hospital or files
a report of domestic violence with the police:
36-56