The county commissioners are discussing the annual budget for the county, a small rural community with fewer than 13,000 residents. Among the major
priority areas for funding are replacing a very old bridge and maintaining the road that leads to the city with the nearest hospital, 20 miles away. A recent
community assessment revealed that domestic violence is a concern (although there are no precise data as to the frequency of incidences or the number of
women and children who are in these often-life-threatening situations). Gina MacNevin, a community health nurse, has made a request for the county
commissioners to include financial support in the annual budget for establishing and maintaining a safe house for female victims and their children. The
nurse attends the county commissioners’ meeting to make her case for this request.
What information should the community health nurse include in her presentation to the commissioners?
What kind of arguments against the safe shelter should the community health nurse anticipate from the commissioners?
Describe the social and cultural dynamics that characterize small and often homogeneous communities.
Include health policy/law in your presentation.
