History of the Center for Healthcare Against Family Violence

Two processes occurring at the same time led to the eventual formation of the Center: the Maricopa Association of Governments health initiative, and collaborations among physicians at Maricopa Integrated Health System.

MIHS and MAG have a history of working together to improve outcomes for women experiencing domestic violence, and have collaborated on many projects to affect policy and procedure in this area. For example, Dr. Dean Coonrod, a physician in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Maricopa Medical Center, helped to form the MAG Regional Domestic Violence Plan, and has continued to work with MAG by co-chairing the healthcare subcommittee of the MAG DV Council in their efforts to make health care training and the needs of domestic violence victims a priority throughout the region. (The MAG DV Council, chaired by Phoenix Councilwoman Peggy Bilsten, represents key community stakeholders involved in the issue of domestic violence, such as businesses, elected officials, law enforcement, and health care.) Additionally, Dr. Coonrod serves on the Board of Directors of Sojourner Center. Dr. Anu Partap, a pediatrician at the Maricopa Medical Center, has also worked with MAG as a member of the Health Issues Committee and helped to develop a kit to train hospital staff about family violence. Other OB/GYN staff members have also contributed greatly to the Council's efforts.

Dr. Coonrod and Dr. Partap both have a longtime interest in the field of family violence, and as a result had been doing a substantial amount of work in the field, both separately and together, including domestic violence physician education, and the creation of domestic violence protocols in the Pediatrics and Women's Clinics at the Maricopa Medical Center. Both have reputations within the family violence prevention community for being able to get things done and providing leadership in the field.

In the winter of 2000-2001, discussion of a Center began as a method for better coordinating these projects under the umbrella of a central organization. In October 2001, the Center was unveiled during the MIHS second annual Domestic Violence Awareness Day.

Last updated on October 7, 2008