Transitioning Times

In order to start a child support case , you need to go to your county’s Domestic Relations Office.  To qualify for child support, the parents may not live together and your county may require you to have a custody order.   To start a case, you will need: Your Social Security number Your child’s Social Security number Your child’s birth certificate Your address The name and address of your health insurance company (if applicable) Proof of your income (copies of pay stubs) A copy of your divorce agreement (if applicable) The other parent’s full name The other parent’s current address The other parent’s Social Security number The other parent’s birthday The name and address of his/her employer The date of your marriage and the date of your separation/divorce (if applicable) When filing, do not be afraid to ask questions, and make sure to tell the caseworker any relevant information, such as the existence of a Protection From Abus

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence recently published a tip sheet in the Spring 2012 edition of PA Academy of Family Physicans Magazine, available on their website on pages 20-21.  They have presented other information about TBI and DV, and continue to be a useful resource.  It estimates that 36% of domestic violence survivors sustain injuries to the head, neck, or face.  The most severeTBI symptoms include post-traumatic amnesia beyond one week, open head injuries, intracranial contusions, lacerations, hematomas, hemorrhages, and diffuse axonal injuries.

The Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has become embroiled in a contentious partisan debate about a variety of issues, including immigration, native rights, and rights of LGBTQ individuals.   We are pleased that the Senate passed a new version of VAWA which includes increasing the number of visas available to victims of domestic violence who are undocumented immigrants, bans discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender victims of domestic violence, and gives Native American tribes more authority in prosecuting domestic violence offenses.   It also restructures some grants and creates new funding for programs on college campuses.   It has many positive changes, but it still excludes some individuals, including Alaskan Native tribes. One of the issues that is left out of the House of Representatives’ version of the Violence Against Women Act is allowing Native American tribes more discretion in prosecuting domestic violence offend

As you've seen on this blog before (01/24/2012), it is important for doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to screen patients for domestic violence.  This recommendation has garnered attention due to a new report , published May 7th, and brought to national attention in U.S. News and World Report's blog .  The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reviewed recent studies and found that screening patients did not harm victims of domestic violence.  A few of the studies reviewed focused on pregnant women, providing them with counseling before and after they gave birth.  The paticipants who received therapy experience less violence during and after birth and had healthier babies.  The Task Force will continue to review studies and possibly change their recommendations, which were last changed in 2004.  Several organizations already support screening for domestic violence, and your doctor may already be talking to you about it.  Review author Dr. Heidi Nelson, a clini