Partner-inflicted brain injury is defined as damage to the brain caused by partner violence directed at the head, neck, and face, including blunt force trauma and strangulation.
Intimate Partner Violence
If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse, call the Oklahoma Safe Line 1-800-522-SAFE (7233) to speak with an advocate. For more information on services for victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking in Oklahoma, contact the Office of the Attorney General Victim Services Unit, or the Native Alliance Against Violence. |
Intimate partner violence (IPV), also known as domestic violence or relationship violence, is a major public health problem in Oklahoma that affects people of all ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic groups. In Oklahoma, 40% of women and 38% of men experience intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner rape, and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes. Additionally, among Oklahoma public high school students, 1 in 14 have experienced recent physical dating violence and 1 in 15 have recently experienced sexual dating violence.
What is Intimate Partner Violence?
In Oklahoma, 24-hour crisis lines are a required service for all programs that serve people who have been victimized by sexual assault, domestic violence stalking, and human sex trafficking. Because crisis line workers are often the first contact that victim-survivors have with help, we know that crisis lines are the backbone of victim services. This handbook, published in 2021, is the first of its kind published specifically for Oklahoma. Its purpose is to supplement the foundational training required for advocates working for Attorney General Certified Programs by providing useful information and guidance while serving Oklahomans who call the crisis line.
- Almost 1 in 4 Oklahomans reported that an intimate partner had ever hit, slapped, pushed, kicked, or physically hurt them.
- Research conducted by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network and The Ohio State University at five Ohio Domestic Violence Service agencies found that:
- 85% of domestic violence victims accessing services had been hit in the head; and
- Almost 50% of survivors reported that their head was hurt too many times for them to count.
- Victim-survivors of intimate partner violence may experience physical, cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral issues resulting from the traumatic brain injury(s) or oxygen deprivation.
- Gaps in data and knowledge exist nationwide among service providers who work with victim-survivors of intimate partner violence.
The Injury Prevention Service offers training and technical assistance to assist domestic violence victim services agencies in recognizing and responding to possible brain injuries among their clients. Equipping service providers with knowledge and tools to better understand and support clients who have experienced partner-inflicted violence to the head/neck will help agencies provide appropriate accommodations and help survivors obtain needed information and resources.
For information on training and technical assistance, please contact injury@health.ok.gov.
- Danger Assessment - The Danger Assessment is a tool to help determine the level of danger an abused woman has of being killed by her intimate partner. Training to administer the tool is available for practitioners.
- Futures Without Violence - Futures Without Violence works to prevent and end violence against women and children.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Injury Prevention Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave., Suite 1702
Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6406
Physical Address:
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Injury Prevention Service
123 Robert S. Kerr Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK
Telephone: (405) 426-8440
Fax: (405) 900-7588
Email: injury@health.ok.gov
