Health leaders recognize that intimate partner violence is tightly linked to long-term health outcomes. Missouri public health analyses connect experiences of abuse with higher rates of depression, substance use, chronic disease complications and injury-related emergency department visits.1 Economic instability and a lack of affordable housing are also cited as primary barriers to safety.2 To help meet the community need, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Missouri is investing approximately $94,000 in Harmony House Family Violence Center, the largest domestic violence shelter in the state. The investment will help sustain the organization’s capacity and strengthen the 24/7 hotline response, emergency shelter services and family-centered programming.
24/7 hotline and shelter response
Harmony House operates a round-the-clock hotline and a 168-bed emergency shelter in Springfield, providing immediate refuge and comprehensive advocacy for individuals fleeing abuse. The new investment will support full-time and part-time advocates who answer crisis calls, complete shelter intakes and help survivors create personalized safety plans.
Advocates are often the first calm voice a survivor hears. They connect callers to housing options, legal protections, behavioral health care and transportation resources while navigating the logistics of leaving an unsafe home. Supporting staffing capacity helps ensure no call goes unanswered and that families arriving at the shelter receive timely, individualized support.
Helping children heal through Family Advocacy
In support of child survivors, the investment will fund a full-time Family Advocate dedicated to children and parents living in the shelter. Family Advocates offer childcare contacts, educational classes and activities that teach age-appropriate coping skills, emotional expression and healthy relationship behaviors. Programs are delivered in a trauma-informed environment that listens to children’s experiences while nurturing resilience. Parents receive guidance on supporting their children’s recovery and rebuilding routines that foster stability. By interrupting the cycle of violence early, these services help protect long-term physical and mental health.
"Harmony House is so grateful for this support from UnitedHealthcare to fund vital roles that serve those experiencing domestic violence every day. With these funds, our hotline advocates can offer life-saving support to those in crisis, and those in shelter can experience healing through thoughtful and meaningful family advocacy programming."
Managed care strengthening community lifelines
Domestic violence influences mental health, housing stability and child development. By investing in those who answer the hotline and guide families through recovery, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Missouri is helping address root causes that traditional medical care alone cannot solve. The collaboration builds sustainable community capacity for the years ahead, and services remain available to any survivor who seeks help, regardless of insurance coverage. It is an example of how managed care can stand alongside local organizations to prevent crisis and improve outcomes for Missouri communities.
Learn more about our efforts to improve the quality of life of our members by visiting our Missouri profile page.
Enjoy this article? Get future Community & State insights delivered right to your inbox.
