WELCOME to the Mindful on Purpose Podcast that airs every first Friday of the month. In today's episode, we will listen to a past recording from our 2021 Domestic Violence Awareness Month webinar when we spoke directly with a New York State representative and hospital legal compliance official on the importance of this new law for health systems and victims experiencing domestic violence in the state. Public Health Law §2805-z.

Senator Julia Salazar represents New York’s 18th State Senate District, including the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Bushwick, Cypress Hills, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg, as well as parts of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, and East New York. Upon her election in 2018, she became the youngest woman elected in the history of the New York State Senate. Senator Salazar is a strong supporter of tenant rights, criminal justice reform, equal protection for women, and immigration justice. Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act mandating insurance companies cover all FDA-approved contraceptive drugs, devices, and products for women. Responding to concerns raised by constituents about services provided to victims of domestic violence in the health care system, Senator Salazar has also introduced bills mandating training for hospital staff regarding domestic violence and guaranteeing victims free and safe transportation home from the hospital.

Until her election to the State Senate, Julia Salazar worked as a community organizer in the neighborhoods she represents and across New York City. She began her advocacy during her time as a college student at Columbia University, where she advocated for the rights of fellow tenants and service industry workers. She worked for United Auto Workers Local 2110 to support Barnard College adjunct faculty workers in the campaign for their historic first contract. She served as a community organizer for Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, working within city-and-state-wide coalitions to advance criminal justice reform and police accountability legislation. Senator Salazar is also an active member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO), UAW-NWU Local 1981, and the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Andrea Crawford, Esq., CPHRM has been a health care attorney for over 20 years.  She began her career as a Medical Malpractice defense attorney with one of the premier defense firms in NYC.  Following this, Ms. Crawford joined the New York City Law Department in the Medical Malpractice Department representing the hospitals in the New York City Health & Hospitals System.  In 2004 this Division became part of the New York City Health & Hospitals Claims and Litigation Division.  Ms. Crawford specialized in Labor & Delivery and Mother-Baby matters.  She then was responsible for negotiating settlements for the hospital system.

In 2015 Ms. Crawford became the Associate Executive Director of Risk Management in a Queens New York City Health & Hospitals facility.  Here her responsibilities touch every section of the hospital where she concentrates on patient safety, equitable delivery of care, quality improvement and develops and implements educational sessions for licensed staff.

Ms. Crawford is also a community activist in her hometown in Queens, NY where she is a member, and past chairperson, of her community board, and is involved with local elected officials in managing a broad range of community-based programs.

Creator/Host:  Christina M. Blackburn, MSc - Award-winning tech innovator, medical and first responder educator, advocate for women and children in crisis, and survivor.