A Community Program on Domestic Violence

Wayne State’s Vera P. Shiffman Medical Library recently hosted the National Library of Medicine (NLM) traveling exhibit Confronting Violence, Improving Women’s Lives. The six-panel exhibition highlights NLM resources in recounting the resilience of nurses who advocated for the medical profession to recognize violence toward women as a major health issue. Shiffman Library’s Outreach Advisory Council and select university librarians organized the half-day event Improving Women’s Lives: Confronting Abuse to accompany the exhibit. Similar to planning past community events, significant consideration was given to disseminating relevant content, ensuring engaging presentations, as well as tending to the emotional and physical well-being of attendees. Synthesizing previous participants interest in the subject matter with local health data help structure the program content and format, ultimately bringing together experts in forensic nursing, social work, counseling, legal, law enforcement, and librarianship. Individuals attended information sessions on recognizing patterns of abusive relationships, proper procedures and preparation for a sexual assault examination, support services for survivors, the physical and psychological impact on survivors health, creating and executing escape plans, legal rights and options, rape aggression defense training (RAD), and accessing health information on MedlinePlus.gov. The event culminated with Wayne State Police leading a discussion on ...
Source: The Cornflower - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Advocacy Blog Funding News from the Region Outreach Public Health domestic violence rape aggression defense training sexual assault Traveling Exhibit women's health Source Type: news