VA recently initiated a pilot program to improve services for Veterans who have experienced or are experiencing intimate partner violence or sexual assault.

The two-year initiative focuses on strengthening community partnerships, training for VA staff and community partners, identifying effective clinical interventions and providing outreach to underserved populations.

“Approximately one in three women and one in four men in the general population report experiencing intimate partner violence,” said VA Management and Social Work Executive Director Jill Debord. “Research by VA’s National Center for post-traumatic stress disorder shows Veterans may be disproportionally impacted by IPV.”

The pilot program stems from the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, Title 5 of the Deborah Sampson Act. This initiative allows opportunity to better understand and address intimate partner violence and sexual assault among the Veteran population.

Link to IPV assistance coordinators

Veterans who have experienced or are experiencing IPV are encouraged to contact an Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program Coordinator at the nearest VA medical center or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or 800-787-3224 (TTY).

The following VAMCs are participating:

For more information about available supportive services, visit VA’s Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program or VA’s Military Sexual Trauma Program.

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One Comment

  1. Laurie Marie Mixter December 26, 2021 at 16:21

    That’s great but why did it take you 5 years from the time it started with my x-husband?

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