Implementing and evaluating a counseling program in partnership with a community-based domestic violence service provider

Abstract

Background: Given the burden of intimate partner violence (IPV), effective counseling interventions that are accessible to women in their own communities are needed. Objectives: To describe the collaborative process of implement ing and evaluating a new counseling program for IPV​ —the Women’s Initiative for Safety and Health (WISH)—​in a community setting and present results of its first pilot test. Methods: WISH is a stage-tailored, eight-session counseling program based on the transtheoretical model. Implementation evaluation addressed program exposure/fidelity, counselor experience, and client experience. Outcome evaluation measured change in IPV-related incidents, self-efficacy, decisional balance, overall health, quality of life, and stage of change among 19 women. Results: Both counselors and clients perceived the WISH intervention positively. Across all outcomes, there were improvements among some women, most notably in perceived self-efficacy, decisional balance, and stage of change. Conclusions: Academic–community partnerships can facilitate the translation of theory-based interventions for use in community-based settings.