Hanging Out or Hooking Up: - Futures Without Violence

Hanging Out or Hooking Up: Clinical Guidelines on
Responding to Adolescent Relationship Abuse
Please note: If written information is given to the patient, it should be able to fit in his/her pocket and
done so only if the patient feels safe accepting it.
Suspected But Unconfirmed ARA
There may be situations in which you suspect ARA is occurring, but the patient does not disclose.
Remember: Disclosure is NOT the goal; increasing safety and decreasing isolation IS. Simply having
conversations about RC and ARA lets patients know that this clinic is a safe place to talk about ARA, if
they choose to. Research tells us that many adolescent patients do not disclose to health care providers
and rely on their peers for information and support. Therefore, it is critical that we offer safety cards to
EVERY patient.
Patient-centered Mandatory Reporting
It is critical that you understand our State laws related to confidentiality and minor consent, physical and
sexual abuse, and child abuse. Please refer to our clinic’s confidentiality policy and child abuse reporting
policy; the same conditions apply.
REMEMBER: Many forms of RC and ARA do not meet the legal requirements for mandatory reporting
to child protective services and/or law enforcement.
While the language in the mandated reporting laws state that the person who becomes aware of the
abuse should report ‘immediately’ to the relevant authorities, the focus should always be on the care and
safety of the young person first. After the reason the young person was seeking care has been addressed
(such as treatment for a possible STI), the provider should remind the young person of the limits of
confidentiality discussed at the start of the visit, then inform the patient of the requirement to report.
See patient-centered mandatory reporting scripts, see pages 26-27 of Hanging Out or Hooking Up:
Clinical Guidelines on Responding to Adolescent Relationship Abuse.
Law Enforcement Intervention
Inform the victim that in the event s/he elects to take legal action in the future, a law enforcement report
on record may help their case. If the patient wishes to make a report to the law enforcement, and is not
in immediate danger:
• Assist her/him in contacting the Police Department Domestic Violence Unit at _____________
(add local number).
• For support during the police interview, offer to stay in the room with the patient until the DV/SA
advocate has arrived.
• Medical reports may be given to the officer only with the written consent from the patient.
• Document that a police report was made and obtain the officer’s name and badge number.
This policy is to be reviewed and updated by the Clinic Manager on an annual basis.
48 FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE