RNI’s Cárdenas contributes to CDC’s training for providers treating survivors of intimate partner violence

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Javier Cárdenas, M.D., director of the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute’s Concussion and Brain Injury Center and NeuroPerformance Innovation Center (NPIC), is one of 13 subject matter experts who contributed to the development of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) training program for healthcare professionals who work with survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV).  

The online training, titled “Hidden Harms: Supporting Survivors of IPV with Brain Injuries,” provides an introduction to brain injuries and how they may affect survivors with practical strategies for trauma-informed responses and survivor support. 

Through three interactive lessons, participants will learn how to recognize the connection between IPV and brain injuries, respond appropriately, and offer accommodations that make a meaningful difference.

IPV often goes unreported, which makes it hard to understand how common it is and who is most at risk. The training used the most current research, but the contributors acknowledge the need for more research to better understand the full range of IPV experiences.

Anyone can experience IPV, but some populations have an increased risk. Some populations at increased risk include:

• Women
• Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people
• Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native people
• People living with disabilities
• People with lower incomes
• Service members and veterans

The training is part of the CDC’s VetoViolence^®, which exists to empower individuals and communities to prevent violence and implement evidence-based prevention strategies. Tools, trainings, and resources are designed to empower, to help reduce risks for violence, and to increase what protects people and communities from it.

“Contributing to this national training is a privilege,” Dr. Cárdenas said. “Expanding awareness of traumatic brain injury in domestic violence survivors ensures that professionals and community members alike are better prepared to recognize, support, and empower those affected by intimate partner violence.”

At the RNI, the NPIC team provides IPV survivors with a VIP experience. Its unique program delivers comprehensive concussion treatment with a first-class touch. The concussion and brain injury team includes neurologists, physiatrists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and occupational and physical therapists to treat the physical, emotional, and cognitive consequences of concussions.

Float tank treatment, light therapy, and a catered lunch are among the amenities provided to the RNI’s IPV patients free of charge. The day is coordinated by a dedicated nurse.

The Hidden Harms training can be viewed on the CDC’s website at VetoViolence.CDC.gov/Apps/TBI-IPV-Hidden-Harms. 

For more information on the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/RNI.