216093 Community readiness to halt IPV: An evidence-based approach to address partner violence in LGBT communities

Monday, November 8, 2010

Gary Hollander, PhD , Diverse and Resilient, Inc., Milwaukee, WI
Molly Herrmann, MS , Humble Pie Consulting, Madison, WI
Susan Turell, PhD , Academic Affairs, University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI
In 2008, 81 individuals in four health regions of a Midwestern state were interviewed about their perceptions of intimate partner violence (IPV) among LGBT people, the resources available to address this issue, and community leadership. The inquiry followed an evidence-based approach to assessing community readiness and resulted in an intervention plan tailored to the current level of readiness determined in the process. Based on the Stages of Change model, the assessment tool examines six domains of interest and yields a variety of scores that aid in understanding aspects of readiness and leading to logical intervention approaches. The assessment showed that LGBT communities were at an early stage of readiness (Vague Awareness), reflecting a general limited sense of incidence of IPV occurring, what were its signs or symptoms, and leadership interested in the issue. Further, respondents were generally unaware of general community resources that could lend support to addressing IPV outside LGBT communities. The community advisory group responsible for shepherding the assessment process used the outcomes of the assessment to design a multi-year approach for community intervention. In the first years of the intervention, efforts are made to increase community awareness, bridge the gaps between IPV/domestic violence/sexual assault groups and LGBT community-based organizations and informal leaders. The results were used to successfully advocate for funds to support the intervention plan.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Describe the process of assessing community readiness to take action on IPV List the six dimensions of community readiness to take action Compare an evidence-based approach to assessing readiness to more familiar assessment processes Explain the relationship between IPV prevention program design and the assessment processes used to assess readiness to take action

Keywords: Violence Prevention, Community Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I partipated in the development and implementation of this community readiness assessment, developed program approaches from its findings, and secured funding to implement programs that are currently being implemented.
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.