Since its launch in 2018, Care Coordination has been a lifeline for Planned Parenthood’s most vulnerable patients. The program helps patients obtain urgent social and behavioral health services, including housing, food, transportation, and counseling. Of the patients served by this important program, one-third experience more than one barrier to care.
One barrier is intimate partner violence. Chrissy, Planned Parenthood Director of Education and a therapist at the Center for Community Solutions, notes that violence survivors are more isolated and may be less able to access support services. “Several factors have contributed to the increase in intimate partner violence during the pandemic,” she says. “The tension due to fear of job loss and health concerns, coupled with the lack of social contact and loss of comfort outlets, increases stress. Unfortunately, we’re seeing an increase in the rate and severity of violence in homes where it’s present.”
Planned Parenthood staff are trained to formally screen patients for intimate partner violence at their appointments. Not surprisingly, referrals to our Care Coordination program rose dramatically over the course of the pandemic. “We’re currently making just over 1,000 contact attempts per month,” says Tessa, who leads the program. “In February 2020, we were making about half that.” Most frequently, patients are requesting support with intimate partner violence, mental health, and sexual violence.
“I think a silver lining of the pandemic is that people are really starting to understand the importance of mental health care, both on an individual level and an organizational level,” Tessa says. “Folks who may have been on the fence about reaching out for support are finding that now is the right time to ask for help.”
Thanks to generous support from Pat Wilson and Greg Rose, Care Coordination is in the midst of expanding, providing telehealth services and planning to add more staff to the team. Eventually, Tessa says it would be ideal to hire a regional patient navigator who could focus on our Riverside patients. “The goal is to have a staff member who can be ‘on-call’ during all clinic hours to provide crisis intervention, emotional support, and resources in real time,” Tessa says.
Care Coordination is only able to continue changing lives because of our donor community. To support this important program and ensure its longevity, please contact Hilary Watchler at [email protected] or visit planned.org/care to learn more.
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