Safer Futures is a practice and partnership model that benefits survivors of intimate partner violence. This model demonstrates how community-based, non-clinical domestic and sexual violence (D/SV) intervention advocates can better serve survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) in partnership with health care providers and child welfare staff. Such partnerships strengthen services for survivors of IPV in various settings including, but not limited to, public health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, primary care clinics, hospitals, and child welfare offices.

The Safer Futures model originated with Oregon’s Pregnancy Assistance Funds (PAF) Grant ». This grant was administered by the Oregon Department of Justice from August 1, 2010 to September 30, 2017.

The Safer Futures Model

Safer Futures supports on-site advocacy interventions in a variety of settings for survivors of intimate partner violence. Safer Futures and the Oregon Department of Justice supported two cohorts during its second grant period: one focused in health care and one focused in child welfare.

Safer Futures focused on four high level strategies:

• Participant level – provide survivors greater access to advocacy services by locating advocates at public health departments, local health care clinics and child welfare offices
• Provider level – train health care providers and child welfare staff on how to identify, respond and effectively intervene on behalf of survivors affected by IPV
• Program level – develop organizational capacity and advocate skill in delivering services and for providing training in health care and child welfare systems
• Policy level – change how health care and child welfare systems understand and respond to IPV; develop strategic partnerships to support the vision and work of the project; establish a diverse and reliable funding base to sustain the project beyond the grant cycle

Safer Futures implemented three main strategies:

1. Intervention, accompaniment, and supportive services provided to survivors of IPV by a community-based advocate;
2. Case consultation, provider training, and technical assistance provided to health care providers and child welfare staff; and
3. Capacity building to sustain the Safer Futures model beyond the grant funding.

Project staff at each Safer Futures project site had distinct responsibilities:

1. Community-Based Advocate – provides on and off site intervention, accompaniment and supportive services; provides case consultation with health care providers or child welfare staff
2. Training and Partnership Development Coordinator – provides training and technical assistance; develops organizational capacity for effective IPV services in partnership with health care and child welfare systems; helps create partnerships and promotes the services provided by the advocate

Safer Futures Publications and Resources

The Safer Futures Model: Developing Partnerships between Intimate Partner Violence and Health Care Agencies

Oregon Guide to Health Care Partnerships: For Community-Based Organizations and Advocates Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence in Health Care Settings

Integrating Intimate Partner Violence Advocacy in Health Care Services and Benefits

Reimbursement for Domestic Violence Advocacy Services Provided to Members of Oregon’s Coordinated Care Organizations

Working Together: Domestic Violence Advocates Co-Located at DHS Offices Policy and Practices Resource Guide

• Working Together Companion Guide for Co-Located Domestic Violence Advocates
• Working Together Companion Guide for Child Welfare Caseworkers
• Working Together Companion Guide for Self-Sufficiency Caseworkers

Safer Futures Sustainability Fact Sheet

Safer Futures Sustainability Plan

Safer Futures Webinars, Presentations and Evaluation

• Safer Futures Project Evaluation – Tillamook County »

Other Important Resources:

• Health Cares About IPV »
• IPV Health Partners »
• Futures Without Violence »
• Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence »
• Rural Health Information Hub – Safer Futures in Tillamook County »
• Futures Without Violence Health E-Bulletin Fall 2017 »

Contact Information

Christine Heyen, Grant Fund Coordinator
Oregon Department of Justice
Direct: 503-378-5303
Front desk: 503-378-5348
Email: Christine.P.Heyen@doj.state.or.us

Funding Source

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Adolescent Health, Pregnancy Assistance Fund »

Safer Futures was supported by PAF Grant #1SP1AH000016 and Grant #1SP1AH000019 from the Office of Adolescent Health ». Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Department of Health and Human Services or the Office of Adolescent Health.