What information led to the selection of this health issues and related result? 

Interpersonal violence, which includes the sub-categories of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, was identified as a new health priority in the 2021 CHA. Interpersonal violence affects people of all races, genders, sexual orientations, religious affiliations, or economic class. Survivors of interpersonal violence may experience physical pain, in addition to mental distress and reduced quality of life. Further, children and adolescents exposed to violence are at risk of poor long-term behavioral and mental health. Addressing interpersonal violence as a health priority may help prevent and reduce the harms to individual and community health and well-being.

The Survivor Supported Taskforce was established in early 2022 as a community collaborative to identify gaps and strategies to address Interpersonal Violence in our community. Members of this group/partners with a role to plan in addressing Interpersonal Violence in Henderson County include:

• AdventHealth Hendersonville
• Blue Ridge Health
• Children and Family Resource Center
• Council for Women & Youth Involvement
• Council on Aging
• Crossnore Communities for Children
• Fletcher Police
• Henderson County DA
• Henderson County DSS
• Henderson County Department of Public Health
• Henderson County Public Schools
• Henderson County Sheriffs Office
• Hendersonville Police Department
• Hope Coalition
• Laurel Park Police
• Meditation Center
• Pardee UNC Health Care
• Pisgah Legal Services
• Safelight, Inc.
• The Free Clinics
• TIP National
• True Ridge

Interpersonal Violence is aligned with the following Healthy NC 2030 health indicator and desired result:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences- Improve child well-being

The "story behind the curve" helps us understand why the data on interpersonal violence is the way that it is in our community. When we understand the root causes of our community problems, we have a better chance of finding the right solutions, together.

What's helping? These are the postive forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Community partnerships 
• Henderson County Survivor Supported Taskforce
• Connection to resources for substance use disorder and mental health
• 24-hour crisis line
• Child Advocacy Center
• Support groups
• Job training
• Increasing awareness

What's hurting? These are the negative forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Inability to afford care/services
• Perception of the issue(s)
• Prevalence of the issue(s)
• Underreporting due to feelings of shame, fear, privacy concerns
• Lack of bilingual and/or spanish-speaking first responders

Interpersonal Violence (IPV) was selected as a new priority in the 2021 CHA. The IPV Action Team, co-chaired by leadership from Safelight and Pisgah Legal, met quarterly through 2022 to establish membership, align resources, and understand gaps in serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.

Collaboration in 2022 included the Lethality Assessment Program, Domestic Violence Intervention Program, expansion of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, and the Phoenix Project, a partnership between The Free Clinics and Safelight to support vulnerable community members. The Action Team will undergo further planning in Spring 2023