Opportunities to Address and Prevent Intimate Partner Violence among Children, Youth, and Families through California’s Behavioral Health Initiatives

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread, multigenerational public health issue that requires coordinated and integrated systemic intervention. California’s recent efforts to expand and reinforce the existing behavioral health (BH) system present an opportunity to adopt or broaden evidence-informed strategies to address IPV for children, youth, and their families. This policy brief describes opportunities and presents recommendations for the California Health and Human Services Agency, the Department of Health Care Services, other state government agencies, and managed care plans, to address IPV within California’s new and established behavioral health initiatives. Recommendations emphasize the importance of using evidence-informed practices and collaborating with IPV service organizations and advocates, behavioral health care providers, and other community-based organizations. Other states can adopt or adapt the actionable strategies in this brief.