Preventing domestic violence among Hispanics in Miami-Dade County: Provider perceptions of needs and preferences

Service providers play an invaluable role in aiding victims of domestic violence through the navigation of available treatment services and making sure the victims' rights are asserted. However, the cultural-specific needs of Hispanics may differ from the resources traditionally available, thus it is crucial for service providers to have thorough knowledge of the needs of the Hispanic community. Focus groups will be conducted with domestic violence service providers from Miami-Dade County. Qualitative and quantitative data regarding the needs and preferences for domestic violence prevention programs targeting high-risk Hispanics in MDC will be collected. A total of three focus groups will be conducted between March and May of 2010 with 24 services providers. A semi-structured interview will guide the discussion and will include questions about community perceptions of domestic violence specifically in Hispanic sub-groups. Attention will be paid to the perceived needs and preferences of services. Field notes and audio recordings of the three focus groups will be taken, transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. At least two independent coders will work to analyze each transcript. Themes regarding perceived needs and preferences for receiving domestic violence services, as well as specific Hispanic sub-groups that are particularly high-risk will be identified and discussed. This study will identify perceived needs and preferences for domestic violence prevention among service providers for Hispanics. This information is valuable for creating culturally-specific interventions targeting this population. Specific recommendations will be made for working with Hispanics in Miami-Dade County who are at risk for experiencing domestic violence.