EAST LANSING, Mich. - This month, two new initiatives on campus will address the issue of domestic violence and how professionals can assist victims.

The Office of the University Physician and the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards have joined together to offer training for university health providers and law enforcement personnel. The sessions feature expert speakers who will address issues such as domestic violence laws, screening, identification and case management, documentation, court testimony and injury photography.

"This came out of my work training law enforcement professionals in injury recognition," said University Physician Beth Alexander. "During that time I learned that law enforcement professionals and health care providers have similar needs for specific types of information in the area of domestic violence prevention and recognition."

Alexander and Hermina Kramp, section chief of the Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Training Council, developed and organized the training in hopes of educating officers and medical personnel together, as well as increasing collaboration and communication among all professionals who respond to domestic violence.

"Bringing together law enforcement and health care professionals for domestic violence training like this is a great idea," said MSU Police Captain Tony Kleibecker. "We're both on the front lines of domestic violence situations so it makes sense that we collaborate on training programs."

The training sessions are funded through a U.S. Department of Justice STOP (Services Training Officers, Prosecutors) grant and are offered Jan. 10, 17 and 24 at the Department of Police and Public Safety building from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The sessions offer the same information, so participants only need to attend one day. Seats are still available for the upcoming sessions. To register for a session or for more information, contact Eileen Morey at (517) 353-8933 or e-mail Eileen.Morey@ht.msu.edu.

In a second campus initiative, MSU Safe Place, the on-campus domestic violence shelter for students, staff and faculty, will distribute a mailing to faculty this month to help instructors identify students who may need help. The mailing will include a bright yellow folder of information and a letter from the director of MSU Safe Place, Holly Rosen. Rosen hopes faculty will review the information and keep the folder for future reference.

"An instructor can make a difference by offering to help," Rosen said.

Rosen recalled a situation where a junior at MSU was being emotionally and physically abused by her boyfriend. Thanks to an alert and caring professor, she got counseling, shelter and other help through MSU Safe Place.

The student's professor decided to approach her after she submitted a paper about a "friend" who was experiencing domestic violence and later appeared in class with a black eye. The student sought help from MSU Safe Place after the professor provided her information about the shelter's programs.

Now a senior with plans to graduate next semester, the student is looking toward the future.

"I am so grateful to my professor for telling me about Safe Place," she said. "Without him, I may not have admitted it or reached out for support. But it all worked out, thanks to his help."

For more information about MSU Safe Place, e-mail noabuse@msu.edu. If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call (517) 355-1100.