What We Offer
Policy Development and Analysis
Bridging the Gaps
For more than 20 years, NCDVTMH has worked to bridge the gaps between the domestic and sexual violence and the mental health and substance use fields so that survivors and their families can access the resources that are essential to their safety and well-being.
Policy Focus Areas
Survivors and their families deserve access to the resources and services they choose to support their healing, resilience, and well-being, including DSV, trauma, mental health, and substance use disorder recovery and treatment services.
To meet the needs of survivors, mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers need access to training that supports their ability to provide services that are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and domestic and sexual violence-responsive.
It is essential that telehealth policy and services incorporate safety and privacy protections for survivors.
NCDVTMH works as a team across the areas of research, practice, and policy to identify and lift up emerging issues from the field to policymakers.
- Substance Use Coercion: During the height of the opioid epidemic, NCDVTMH shared original research on substance use coercion with policymakers. This is a form of abuse targeted toward a partner’s use of substances that is essential to keep in mind when working with survivors across multiple settings and systems. More than 60% of those who sought help for substance use said their abusive partners had tried to prevent them from accessing treatment. Based on this understanding of substance use coercion and with the historic rates of overdose during COVID pandemic, NCDVTMH is leading on policy changes to reduce the barriers to safety and recovery faced by survivors.
- Needs of Local Domestic and Sexual Violence Providers: Local DSV providers report increased demand for mental health and substance use disorder services, even pre-COVID. In 2019, NCDVTMH’s needs assessment among local providers found over 70% saw increased need for mental health and substance use disorder services in their programs but most felt unprepared to meet this need.
Address the structural inequities that harm survivors and their families, including: lack of access to culturally relevant, gender-responsive, DV- and trauma-informed mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery services; and lack of resources that center the healing and well-being of survivors, their families, and their communities. We work with state and national partners to address inequities related to child custody and the criminalization of substance use—including mental health and substance use-related child removal policies and practices—that disproportionately impact Indigenous, Black, Latinx, and other communities of color.
Incentivize cross-sector collaboration and integrated service delivery to ensure that mental health and substance use disorder treatment and recovery systems are equipped to respond to the unique needs of survivors and their families and that local domestic and sexual violence programs are prepared to support survivors experiencing the mental health and substance use effects of trauma and DV.
- Crisis Response: As states and localities receive large investments from COVID relief funds for suicide prevention hotlines, harm reduction programs, and mobile health funding, these programs should consider DV survivors and partner with local programs and experts.
Intimate partner violence during pregnancy has been shown to contribute to maternal mortality from pregnancy-associated deaths (overdose, suicide, homicide). Our work informed the national legislation, Protect Moms from Domestic Violence Act, that would improve research and invest in innovative programs to prevent domestic violence, support survivors, and address structural barriers to health equity.
Policy Development and Analysis
NCDVTMH helps federal policymakers and partnering organizations analyze and provide recommendations on national legislation and regulations relevant to survivors, advocates, and mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers. In particular, the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 have illustrated the continued need for work on these issues in order to ensure survivors and their families are safe and supported in their recovery efforts.
NCDVTMH serves in several coalitions and member organizations, including the Domestic Violence Resource Network, Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice, and National Health Collaborative on Violence and Abuse.
For additional information, please contact us here. For urgent inquires, please email info@ncdvtmh.org or call 312-726-7020.
Recent Policy Resources
Collaboration Across Systems
This 2019 Information Memorandum from the U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS) calls for urgent collaboration on domestic violence, substance use, and mental health. NCDVTMH contributed research and guidance to the memorandum, and published auxiliary materials with additional guidance and implementation strategies.
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Information Memorandum on the Intersection of Domestic Violence, Mental Health, and Substance Use
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An Urgent Call for Collaboration: Research, Resources, and Recommendations for State Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment Directors, State FVPSA Administrators, and Practitioners
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Toolkit
Infographics [Title TBD]
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Key Survey Findings from Domestic Violence Programs (2017-2019)
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DV Programs and Survivors with Mental Health Challenges
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DV Programs and Survivors Who Use Substances
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Substance Use and Substance Use Coercion
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Understanding Substance Use Coercion as a Barrier to Economic Stability for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: Policy Recommendations
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Substance Use Coercion: NCDVTMH Recommendations for Federal Policy
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Saving Lives: Meeting the Needs of Intimate Partner Violence Survivors Who Use Opioids
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Telehealth
As telehealth services expand, NCDVTMH’s comments seek a balance of improving access to care via telehealth while also protecting patients from coercive interference.
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Telehealth Recommendations to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence
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Public Comments to Federal Regulators: Telehealth Payment Policies
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Public Comments to Federal Regulators: HIPAA Privacy Rule (with the National Network to End Domestic Violence)
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Public Comments to Federal Regulators: HIPAA Privacy Rule (with the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities)
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Gender-Based Violence
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Recommendations: National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence
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