Development and evaluation of a comprehensive family violence curriculum

Healing Homes (HH) is a comprehensive curriculum addressing family violence throughout the lifespan. The curriculum focuses on recognition, referral, and identifying resources within communities to address needs of victims and perpetrators. This curriculum provides a range of activities appropriate for various audiences and a plethora of factual information including reporting requirements by state. HH is adaptable to individuals of a variety of cultural backgrounds, educational levels, and professions. The train-the-trainer model of HH allows for an individual who has received HH training to train others in their community or agency to address family violence. The curriculum contains modules on child maltreatment, teen dating violence, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse. Originally, the Academic Consortium of Applied Research unit at the University Of Tennessee Health Science Center Department Of Preventive Medicine worked with secular and faith organizations to design this curriculum. Involvement of the faith community was integral in reaching the underserved African-American community in Memphis, Tennessee. Twenty-four churches in the Memphis area received training over a two-year period. The curriculum increased FV recognition, referral, and use of resources. Comparison of pre- and post-tests indicated training increased FV knowledge. At follow-up, all church leaders felt training increased their ability to recognize FV, 33% used the curriculum later and 75% made referrals to family violence resources. HH is currently being adapted for use with other audiences including social workers, family violence advocates, and healthcare providers. Data pertaining to adaptation of the curriculum to these audiences will be available for presentation.