National Survey for Domestic Violence Intervention Programs
Currently, we are conducting the National Survey for Domestic Violence Intervention Programs, the largest survey of its kind into the demographics, philosophy, and structure of batterer intervention programs across the U.S. and Canada. The aim of this study is to ascertain what domestic violence batterer intervention programs are like across the country. In order to determine this, we have developed a survey that investigates facilitator demographics, client demographics, facilitator insights, and program logistics. By doing so, we will be better able not only to understand how batterer intervention programs operate on the ground but also to develop more accurate policy recommendations in order to improve interventions.
Batterer intervention programs have become the most likely type of intervention after a domestic violence plea or conviction. An exhaustive review of the literature on batterer intervention programs found that some studies have resulted in mixed findings, due in part to flawed research design, but that some recent studies have shown cautious optimism about the positive intervention some batterer intervention programs provide (Eckhardt et al. 2013). Given these findings, such a study as ours is crucial to understanding how effective batterer intervention programs are across the nation and what can be done to improve them in order to reduce instances of intimate partner violence. In their study on leadership, philosophy, and structure of 276 batterer intervention programs in 45 states, Price and Rosenbaum (2009) found that although batterers are not a homogenous group, interventions are based on a “one size fits all” model. Given their findings, we propose to expand the case base to 3,500 batterer intervention programs across the U.S. and Canada. We also aim to study not only the philosophy and structure of these programs, but also the demographics of both facilitators and clients. Once the survey is completed, we intend to use them to publish journal articles about what we find as well as use them to create evidence based arguments for policy changes (assuming any are needed).
If you work at a batterer intervention program please participate in our survey by clicking this link
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NSDVIP
– Clare Cannon, Tulane University
John Hamel
Nov 26, 2014 @ 15:34:10
I am very much looking forward to the results!
Steven Pepping
May 22, 2015 @ 19:06:32
Yes, we are looking forward to the results also. We would like to compare with the survey we conducted in Washington.