Brain Injury from Violence CARE Alliance

Founded in 2023, the Brain Injury from Violence CARE Alliance is a network of individuals from various communities, organizations, and systems (ex. crime victim services, state and local government, justice and health care systems, culturally specific organizations, universities, researchers, etc.) that bring together survivors, families, advocates, and professionals to understand and address brain injury from violence. This dynamic and passionate group intends to raise awareness, inform policy, research projects, provide education and training, and more. We are currently working on our plans and initiatives, which includes action teams focusing on awareness and policy, research, training and education, and services (“what’s next”). The Alliance was formed due to feedback received during community conversations led by The Ohio State mailto:CAREAlliance@osu.eduUniversity and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network in 2022. 

For more information, please email CAREAlliance@osu.edu.

What is brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a disruption of normal brain function as a result of a traumatic force to the head, such as a kick, punch, bump, or blow from other objects. Shaking and strangulation can also cause trauma to the head and brain. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms from a TBI include headache, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, speech problems, dizziness, and alterations in consciousness. A TBI can also cause internal bleeding, bruising, and cuts or tears. Symptoms can also be cognitive/behavioral such as memory problems, mood changes, depression/anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Symptoms can sometimes be resolved quickly, but other times, they become a lifelong struggle. https://www.odvn.org/brain-injury

What is violence?

In relation to brain injury, violence consists of physical violence inflicted upon an individual. As previously mentioned, this can consist of intentional punching, kicking, and blows from objects, especially when done to the head. Brain injury can also be caused by strangulation or lack of oxygen flow to the brain.

How are these issues connected?

These issues are connected in many ways. Survivors of DV who have experienced head trauma may be reluctant or unable to seek care after a domestic incident for many reasons. Survivors often experience mental, behavioral, and cognitive effects as well as physical, from BIV. The effects of a TBI can impair the survivor’s ability to find support, effectively leave an unsafe situation, and seek treatment. The CARE Alliance’s goal is to raise awareness of TBIs, educate people on the connection between TBI and PIBI, and provide resources for survivors, families, and practitioners. CARE is encouraging organizations that serve survivors to adopt the CARE model in order to serve the whole person better.

What is CARE?

CARE is an advocacy framework developed for domestic violence service organization providers to address and accommodate domestic violence survivors with brain injury and mental health struggles.

Connecting by building rapport and intentionally strengthening relationships with survivors.

Acknowledging the complex impacts of domestic violence including brain injury, physical, behavioral, and mental health challenges, suicidal ideation, substance use disorder, and access to healthcare.

Responding by providing accommodations, strategies, resources, and referrals.

Evaluating service provision effectiveness by establishing a feedback loop with survivors relating to strategies developed to address their evolving needs and circumstances.

Abbreviations and Definitions

• DV: Domestic Violence; DV can include intimate partner violence, family violence, elder abuse, and child abuse
• CARE: Connect, Acknowledge, Respond, Evaluate
• Survivors: People who have experienced violence from a domestic partner, or other family member
• TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury; can result from kicks, blows, hits to the head, strangulation, or severe shaking
• BIV: Brain Injury From Violence
• PIBI: Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury; non-accidental, head trauma or airway restriction; PIBI is uniquely traumatizing due to the violent context in which it was sustained
• HAI: Hypoxic/Anoxic Injury; a brain injury caused by lack of oxygen flow to the brain; can be a result of strangulation
• NFS: Nonfatal strangulation

NEWS / INFORMATION

Documentary:  Tragic Refuge | Tragic Refuge is a poignant documentary produced by ODVN about two female survivors who suffered from strangulation and other life-threatening injuries prior to their incarceration. Detective Mark Wynn, a nationally known expert on law enforcement and domestic violence explores ways the criminal justice can improve responses to survivors and help to prevent the rising number of incarcerated survivors who use force to defend themselves. The documentary was produced as a part of ODVN 2018 Clemency Project and is 30 minutes in length.

National Reports: In addition, please find three recent reports on issues related to domestic violence, brain injury and the justice system:

• Fatal Peril: Unheard Stories from the IPV to Prison Pipeline, but Stanford Criminal Justice Center. This is a new, groundbreaking study provides extensive documentation of the “IPV-to-Prison Pipeline”—the pathways through which women who are survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) find themselves serving long prison sentences for acts of survival. It focuses on women incarcerated for homicide offenses growing out of their own abuse.
• Mind Matters: Building a Justice System Inclusive of Brain Injury by the Council for State Governments.  While not specific to gender-based violence, one notable quote from the report on page 6 is, “Being involved in violence, as a victim or perpetrator, is often a precursor to both a brain injury and justice system involvement. This is especially true for women involved in the justice system, who research has shown often have sustained repeat brain injuries through physical abuse, specifically domestic/intimate partner violence.”  There are five main recommendations and the first one addresses training and education. Page 8 says, “Awareness is directly linked to training and education, which makes this recommendation foundational and, arguably, the most important.”
• Great Weight: A Review of California Parole Board Hearings Transcripts to Assess Frequency and Consideration of Intimate Partner Violence Among Women Convicted of Homicides, June 2023.

Brain Injury Association of Ohio

BRAVO (Buckeye Region Anti-Violence Organization)

Center for Family Safety and Healing

City of Columbus – Blueprint for Safety DV Response Initiative

City of Columbus – Prosecutor’s Office, Domestic Violence and Stalking Unit

City of Columbus Police Department – Domestic Violence Unit

Crossroads Crisis Center

Deaf Phoenix

Domestic Violence Project Inc.

Dominican Sisters of Peace

Equitas Health, Mobile Health Initiative

ETSS Tewahedo Social Services

Forensic Nursing Network

Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Juvenile Court

Franklin County Municipal Court, Department of Pretrial and Probation

Franklin County Municipal Court, Probation Department

Growing Space Counseling & Wellness

Homesafe, Inc.

Huntington National Bank

International Association of Forensic Nurses, Ohio Chapter

Journey Center for Safety and Healing

Lutheran Social Services CHOICES

Lutheran Social Services Health Center

Mount Carmel

My Sister’s Place

Nationwide Childrens Hospital

New Choices

Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence

Ohio Community Action Agency

Ohio Department of Health

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services

Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction/Office of Victim Services

Ohio Department of Youth Services

Ohio Domestic Violence Network

Ohio Hispanic Coalition

Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, Family Violence Prevention Center

Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, Ohio Department of Public Safety

Ohio Pharmacists Association

Ohio Victim Witness Association

OhioHealth, Sexual Assault Response Network

OSU, Chronic Brain Injury Program

OSU, College of Arts and Sciences

OSU, College of Pharmacy

OSU, College of Public Health

OSU, College of Social Work

OSU, Department of Speech and Hearing Science

OSU, students

OSUWMC, Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation

OSUWMC, Outpatient Rehabilitation

OSUWMC, The Ohio Brain Injury Program

Single Parents Rock

Star House

Survivors

Turning Point Domestic Violence Shelter

Women Helping Women

YWCA Dayton

YWCA Greater Cincinnati

OSU LIFT Lab – Exercise Research Study

The LIFT Lab at OSU is currently conducting a research study offering free access to an online exercise platform for individuals with brain injuries or strokes to support physical activity at home. Participation is voluntary and includes a brief virtual screening. By participating, you can receive up to $305 and a FitBit device for completion of all research activities. For more information, please contact LIFTLab@osumc.edu or Catherine.Quatman-Yates@osumc.edu.

Have You Ever Experienced Domestic Violence? 

Researchers in the MINDSET Lab in the Psychology Department at the Ohio State University are studying brain health among individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and/or have previously been in, but are not currently in, a violent relationship for the FASTER Study (Fitness, Aging, Stress, & TBI Exposure Repository). FASTER Study participants attend 4-5 appointments where they complete a clinical interview, cognitive testing, fitness testing, receive an MRI scan, and can choose to receive feedback from the researchers at the end of all the appointments. Participants are compensated for their participation in this study.

For more information, you can visit our study website: https://fasterstudy.osu.edu/, or contact study staff at fasterstudy@osu.edu or 614-688-0525.

Learn more!