Features

Here at Futures, we pride ourselves on innovation.

We work tirelessly with others to promote pioneering, evidence-based programs that prevent violence against women and children, and set the stage for others to follow. Sometimes it takes years—even decades—of hard work to pave the way for widespread change. But it’s well worth the patience, knowing that we have the opportunity to improve women’s health and save lives in the process.

This week, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force—an influential group of medical experts that advises the federal government—released its final recommendation in support of primary care doctors screening women ages 14-46 for intimate partner violence. For over 10 years, Futures advocated for domestic violence screenings to improve the health and safety of women, and helped shape the Task Force’s game-changing recommendation. The recommendation will create a new standard of care for victims of abuse, and will have far-reaching national implications.

In another piece of good news, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released an opinion this week that recommends routine screening for reproductive and sexual coercion, also known as birth control sabotage. Futures played a key role in the research behind this report and has worked hard to expose and identify the shocking behaviors linked to reproductive and sexual coercion. As icing on the cake, CBS News ran this segment yesterday on the topic and highlighted our health safety card used by medical professionals across the nation!

Our thanks to the many colleagues and collaborators who partnered with us to promote the vital role that health care practitioners play in identifying and preventing domestic and sexual violence.