Last modified: Friday, July 11, 2008 1:11 AM EDT Rise in domestic violence has state called to action BY TIFFANY STANLEY FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE Domestic violence killings have tripled over the last two years in Massachusetts, and in response to the spike, Governor Deval Patrick has called the Commonwealth to action. The governor and state health officials issued an advisory last month, warning the public about the domestic violence crisis. Such health advisories are usually reserved for emergencies related to infectious diseases and food recalls. With the notice, the state is sending a message: domestic violence is a critical health issue, and one that affects the entire populace. Kim Thomas is the executive director of New Hope, which serves area residents subjected to domestic violence. She welcomes the attention and increased awareness the advisory brings, although it's bittersweet. "This is an exciting time during an awful time," Thomas said. "The Department of Health has never before issued a health advisory for domestic violence. Because of the recent deaths, DPH is looking at this as a health issue for families: men, women and children." Thomas noted that the domestic violence death toll was nearly one a week last year, making it the highest rate since the early 1990s. With increased training and coordination for hospital staff, police departments and social service agencies, Massachusetts hopes to turn the tide on the spate of violence. This health issue has life or death consequences for many - like Elizabeth Cann of Norton, who was killed last summer by her ex-boyfriend. Even if victims don't pay the ultimate price with their lives, the costs don't end there. "With domestic violence and sexual assault, the very nature of these crimes impact the health of individuals, both in the long-term and the short-term," said Toni Troop, a spokesperson for Jane Doe, Inc., an advocacy organization that provided many of the advisory's statistics. The advisory cited a 2003 Centers for Disease Control study that found the price tag for domestic violence was over $5.8 billion a year - a figure that includes medical and mental health costs for abuse survivors. Survivors of partner abuse also experience overwhelming increases in health problems, even decades after the abuse has stopped. Healthcare workers are an important link in the chain to halt domestic violence. The advisory points to a 2001 study that found that an overwhelming number of domestic violence victims - 74 percent - who were later killed by an abuser, had been to the emergency room in the year before their murders. Two-thirds were seen for an injury related to domestic violence. New Hope already trains many area emergency room staff, but the new state initiative will standardize such training. Kathy Hague, a spokeswoman for Sturdy Memorial Hospital, reported that the hospital staff is trained to recognize the signs of domestic violence, working in partnership with New Hope and other agencies to refer patients. Jane Doe Inc. has been contracted to organize domestic violence trainings for police departments statewide. On that front, Attleboro may be ahead of the curve. Bonnie Lithway, who has worked at New Hope for 18 years, has been the civilian advocate at the Attleboro Police Department since 2004. She works to contact all possible domestic violence and sexual assault victims, coordinating police efforts with social services. Troop noted that even as the goals are implemented statewide, domestic violence prevention requires vigilance and long-term commitment. "This public health advisory is coming at a time when we're facing a crisis," Troop said. "Sadly, it's taken a crisis to bring this the attention it needs."