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POLARIS-DV (DOMESTIC VIOLENCE)
Helping abused adults improve their mental health and avoid revictimization

THE STORY BEHIND THE PRODUCT
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Domestic violence is pervasive and often unaddressed. It impacts the entire family and its damaging effects to the physical and mental health of the abused are long lasting. Many victims do not ask for help out of shame or fear. Polaris recognized the need for a system that could help providers more effectively and quickly screen for and treat victims of domestic violence. There are many “first responders” to domestic violence, including law enforcement, and treatment providers. There are many agencies that provide needed services, including Family Justice Centers, counties/states, medical facilities, domestic violence and mental health agencies. A system that supported a coordinated response was required.

The Polaris team faced challenges from the very beginning—including the deeply rooted misconceptions about domestic violence. Domestic violence is often seen as a “woman’s problem” instead of a family and societal issue that can even include men. The goal of the Polaris-DV solution is to break through these myths while helping the disparate agencies who work with domestic violence victims collaborate to provide victims the services needed to achieve better long-term outcomes.

THE SOLUTION

The Polaris-DV assessment gives providers the information they need to assist with treatment planning and document high-risk attitudes, behaviors, and long-term relational schema for continued abuse. It includes unique features to support the community partnerships involved in helping battered women and men heal. The assessment is brief, without sacrificing content, so that it can be completed in 15 minutes or less. In medical settings, physicians immediately have a “drill down” summary of the client’s mental health symptomology and strengths to help them determine whether the patients need more extensive counseling.

Our solution offers a comprehensive approach to supporting clinical decisions in medical and public sector settings. Our state of the art, web-based reports and training helps medical and community providers to effectively communicate with the victim. It supports the development of community partnerships, making it possible to share clinical reports, develop interagency coordinated care plans and communicate about treatment progress.


For public sector agencies, a similar technology is employed to provide guidance for domestic violence and child welfare agencies on how partnerships can address domestic violence, and on ways to improve interagency collaboration and services in community partnerships. The program also provides more detailed information that can be used to support long-term counseling and intervention.

POLARIS-DV IN BRIEF

The Polaris-DV system has features that support its integration into most medical and public sector environments:
  • Is easily implemented and supported
  • Fits most budgetary constraints
  • Supports referral decisions and service planning

Our Polaris-DV system will help you:
  • Improve interagency communication and case coordination
  • Enhance clinical and organizational capacity, including improved case formulation and treatment plan writing
  • Better plan for the needs of the survivors you treat, as well as monitor their progress
  • Demonstrate how focusing on strengths can engage clients into treatment more quickly, and help survivors build effective supports and avoid revictimization
  • Benchmark progress to similar medical and public sector programs


Learn more about the design of the product.

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