A Statewide Initiative to Improve Family Violence Prevention in Ohio

The Ohio Family Violence Prevention Project aims to increase awareness of child maltreatment (CM), intimate partner violence (IPV) and elder abuse (EA) in Ohio; and to identify realistic and promising policies for prevention. This presentation will describe a planning process that led to unusually rapid progress towards achieving these objectives. In January 2007, we convened a 10-person working group of academic researchers, agency officials and local practitioners with expertise in CM, IPV and EA. Together we identified three themes to build a compelling case for greater attention to this issue: (1) the tremendous harm family violence causes in Ohio; (2) the critical but insufficient nature of existing efforts; and (3) the potential effectiveness of prevention. Whereas the group endorsed these themes, it also vigorously debated how to present them. Some members insisted we ground all of our claims in the best available research, even if it meant acknowledging inconsistent findings. Others maintained the need for a clear, consistent message that advocates for prevention. The presentation will discuss factors that enabled us to reach a working compromise. Our written work was reviewed by 51 researchers and practitioners from across the country. The “White Paper on Improving Family Violence in Ohio” debuted publicly in February 2008 at a statewide conference attended by over 120 people. Featured speakers include leading state legislators and a senior official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Currently we are working with state agencies and foundations to operationalize our plans.