176325 A Statewide Initiative to Improve Family Violence Prevention in Ohio

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 12:50 PM

Kenneth Steinman, PhD, MPH , College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Timothy R. Sahr, MPH , The Health Policy Institute of Ohio, Columbus, OH
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.

Learning Objectives:
Following this presentation, participants will be able to: 1. Describe three themes used to frame the issue of "family violence" and advocate for improved prevention. 2. Describe a process for engaging elected officials, agency administrators, local practitioners and academic researchers in a statewide initiative. 3. Identify two challenges to developing a statewide initiative on improved family violence prevention.

Keywords: Family Violence, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I directed the project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.