As domestic violence incidents continue to climb in St. Louis, two local organizations are working together to provide care for survivors.
The Women’s Safe House (TWSH) and Affinia Healthcare are launching The Health and DV Program, connecting survivors of domestic violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking with immediate healthcare and supportive services.
Domestic violence assaults have steadily increased since 2015, with the highest concentration of cases in neighborhoods such as Dutchtown, Gravois Park, Carr Square, and College Hill — communities heavily populated by Black and brown residents, according to the city.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that roughly 2,200 incidents of domestic violence are reported annually, while police data show nearly 25% of St. Louis’ 2023 homicide cases were domestic violence-related. Police received more than 14,000 domestic violence calls last year alone.
“This partnership is imperative to the St. Louis community,” said Aja Buie, director of residential services at The Women’s Safe House. “The resources are far and in between, and what we are doing is trying to create care so that those affected can have a great quality of life.”
Buie said the partnership represents a significant cultural change in how services reach communities of color. She noted that the collaboration will allow underserved residents to access mental health care more quickly and emphasized that domestic violence affects people of all backgrounds.
“DV doesn’t recognize educational status or economics,” she said.
A lack of awareness and education surrounding domestic violence allows it to persist, Buie said, noting that some people don’t even recognize when they’re in abusive relationships. The partnership aims to foster more conversation and collaboration across the St. Louis region.
The Health and DV Program supports residents who have been abused but don’t know how to find or access resources for help. Affinia Healthcare will accept referrals from TWSH for primary and secondary survivors — both women and children — and provide medical, dental, psychological and other services within 24 to 48 hours of referral.
Affinia Healthcare also will offer transportation when available, on-site health education and preventive care options. TWSH will provide support services, including safety planning, advocacy, emergency shelter, legal aid, housing assistance and up to 12 months of aftercare.
Both organizations have committed to ongoing training to better identify and respond to domestic violence during their daily operations.
“Survivors who have broken free from a traumatic environment need a wide range of support to recover and move to the next chapter of their lives,” said Candace Henderson, director of community health at Affinia Healthcare. “Often, they are starting over, and support for their physical and mental well-being makes for a strong foundation.”
Henderson, herself a domestic violence survivor, said she experienced physical, emotional and financial abuse in three previous relationships, allowing her to identify with those in similar circumstances.
“I’m able to see and hear them,” she said. “I can relate to their story.”
Her lived experience has shaped her advocacy for better coordinated community responses. She recommends that mental health workers be dispatched alongside police officers when domestic violence calls are reported to help victims develop an immediate plan of escape.
“When I worked with the cops and clinicians in the Walnut Park neighborhood, at minimum we would receive five DV calls a day,” she said. Henderson believes follow-ups are critical, noting that many victims never receive further support after the initial call.
“As a community, we need to have more group conversations,” she said. “Some people are violent because they haven’t addressed their own trauma and take it out on their romantic partner.”
She also hopes faith-based organizations will take a greater role in providing safe spaces for survivors to share their stories. “This is something near and dear to my heart,” she said. “We can make a difference. This is my passion — I lived through this.”
According to the Missouri Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, calls for service stemming from domestic violence increased statewide in 2023. Between 2014 and 2018, Missouri saw a 10.3% rise in DV reports, with many more cases likely going unreported.
Through the Health and DV Program, The Women’s Safe House and Affinia Healthcare hope to change that trend — not only by treating the visible injuries of abuse but also by addressing the unseen scars of trauma.
“While some effects of DV are immediately visible — like bruises or broken bones — others may not surface until later,” Buie said. “Conditions like gastrointestinal issues, cardiovascular problems and other chronic illnesses are often overlooked, yet may stem directly from abuse.”
Both organizations believe their partnership could serve as a model for how healthcare providers and crisis centers can work together to reduce violence and improve outcomes for survivors.
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month continues throughout October, advocates hope that programs like this will help break the cycle of abuse and empower survivors across the region to heal — physically, mentally and emotionally.