Hidden in Plain Sight: Traumatic Brain Injury, Strangulation and Domestic Violence

Domestic violence victims experience terrible and traumatic physical violence—often directed at the head, neck and face—through blows to the head or strangulation. We are just discovering how that violence impacts the brain. Brain injury caused by domestic violence is rarely identified and almost never immediately treated, and results in short and long-term physical, emotional, and cognitive consequences that can impact every area of a person’s life--including their ability to successfully access and participate in your agency's services. This session will provide an overview of what we learned in Ohio and how we developed CARE, is an evidence-based framework that supports trauma-informed practices and survivor empowerment developed by the Ohio Domestic Violence Network in partnership with The Ohio State University. You will also be provided with links to ODVN’s free CARE brain injury tools to provide education and help you address brain injury with survivors of violence.

Workshop objectives:
-Participants will learn at least three tactics of control used in abusive relationships.
-Participants will identify at least three ways in which domestic violence victims can acquire a head injury.
-Participants will identify at least two unique characteristics of head injury caused by domestic violence.
-Participants will learn different ways to implement the CARE framework and use CARE materials in their agencies.


Presented by Rachel Ramirez, MA, MSW, LISW-S, RA
Director of Health and Disability Programs, Ohio Domestic Violence Network

Rachel Ramirez, LISW-S, RASS, is the Director of Health and Disability Programs and the Founder of The Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury at The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN). Her focus is on equipping professionals who work with domestic violence to better understand traumatic stress and the impact of brain injury, resulting in more effective survivor-centered services. At ODVN, Rachel oversees several projects on the intersection of domestic violence, disability, behavioral health and health access. She also provides extensive statewide, national, and international training, consultation, technical assistance, and program support. Rachel has been with ODVN for 16 years and has co-authored several peer-reviewed journal articles, as well as been featured on National Public Radio, The New York Times Magazine, and The Washington Post discussing brain injury and domestic violence.


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