THE ACADEMY IS EXCITED TO RACHEL RAMIREZ FOR PART I OF THIS SPECIAL 90-MINUTE AFN WEBINAR
[PART ONE OF TWO]
The domestic violence movement has known for decades that abusers intentionally target a victim’s head, neck, and face, with terrifying and painful repeated assaults and strangulation. But we haven’t realized the significant ways in which this violence can impact the brain. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) is on the cutting edge of paradigm-shifting work to address this unrecognized public health crisis - brain injury caused by domestic violence.
ODVN, in collaboration with research partner The Ohio State University (OSU), conducted groundbreaking research in Ohio from 2016-2019 that uncovered 8 in 10 survivors in DV advocacy services were targeted for head trauma and strangulation by abusers, often repeatedly and concurrently. Partner-inflicted brain injury, rarely identified and almost never immediately treated, results in short and long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive consequences that can impact every area of a person’s life.
In part one of a two-part series, Rachel will discuss the complex and integrated relationship between domestic violence, traumatic stress, brain injury, and other health problems. She will discuss how brain injury can impact a victim’s ability to access health, safety, and justice services, highlighting how structural violence targeted at marginalized communities can exacerbate health disparities. She will also share ODVN’s research, findings from the field, and future important directions and opportunities for building relationships between the diverse fields that work with victims of domestic violence.