For Healthier Mothers and Babies in California, Start with Safety: Strategies to Address and Prevent Intimate Partner Violence

California policymakers and programs have implemented many recent initiatives to address maternal mortality, decrease disparities, and improve birth outcomes in the state. However, integrating intimate partner violence prevention and intervention services into these initiatives is essential to fully address the root causes of high maternal mortality rates.

This policy brief highlights evidence-informed strategies and opportunities to integrate intimate partner violence services into maternal health care and capitalize on the opportunities presented by recent maternal health initiatives. This brief presents recommendations for preventing and addressing intimate partner violence (1) during pregnancy, (2) through postpartum care, and (3) through perinatal care delivered by doulas. The recommendations and strategies are relevant to the California Department of Health Care Services, managed care plans, California Department of Public Health, California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, health care providers, local health jurisdictions, care coordinators, hospitals, and policymakers.