Domestic violence is a serious issue that not only affects the victim and the perpetrator, but also the children who are exposed to the abuse. Children who witness violence in the home are more likely to be abusive or become involved in an abusive relationship as teens and adults. Domestic violence costs society financially in increased health care costs, time off from work, poorer work performance due to stress, lack of focus and illness.

According to a report by the Family Violence Prevention Fund, “It is estimated that between 20 percent and 30 percent of all women in the United States have been abused by an intimate partner at some point in their adult lives.”

In 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetrics/Gynecology and the American Academy of Family Practice recommended routine screening of all families for the presence of domestic violence. Such screening can lead to increased identification and interventions such as protection orders which can reduce the risk of reoccurring violence by 50 percent.

Knowing that domestic violence is so damaging to our society, and with the documented need for routine screening for domestic violence, the state can help prevent this tragedy of abuse by requiring health care providers to perform routine screenings for domestic violence. Let’s lead the way in violence prevention. Ask your health care provider if they routinely screen for domestic violence.

Kathy Villarreal

Old Town