Oral health care staff and providers have an opportunity to work on both systems and practice change to help community members access care and have comfortable visits, including for survivors of violence and abuse. Staff can routinely share information with their patients on violence and abuse, and connect patients to supportive community programs, national hotlines, and onsite advocacy.
Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation, in collaboration with the National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA), developed two trauma-informed resources:
- An oral health team member fact sheet on providing inclusive and sensitive care to patients.
- A brochure for patients, focusing on those who have experienced or are experiencing violence to help them have better visits and access to safety support.
Brochure: A Health Guide and Support for Dental Visits
This brochure may be stocked in exam rooms and shared by oral health staff with their patients as part of the evidence-based CUES Intervention. The brochure offers trauma-informed tips to help patients have comfortable visits and know what to expect during an oral health visit. Included are strategies and national resources on domestic violence, medical care and health centers.
This trifold brochure is 11” x 8.5” unfolded and / 3.6” x 8.5” folded. The brochure is available in English.
A Guide to Support Dental Patients Experiencing Violence and Abuse
This fact sheet guides oral health professionals on how to provide inclusive and sensitive care to patients who have experiences of violence or trauma, including intimate partner violence (IPV), human trafficking (HT) or exploitation (E). The 2-page guide outlines the role of oral health staff in providing care to survivors, including before and during patient visits, and how to develop partnerships with community programs to help increase patient access to safety support. Included are links to HRSA’s Strategy to Address IPV, and resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline and free cosmetic dentistry programs for survivors of violence.
This 8.5” x 11” fact sheet is available in English and available as a PDF.
