Strengthening Families Affected by Intimate Partner Violence: A Pilot Evaluation of a Rural Extension Program

Abstract

Heart and Hope (H&H) was designed to provide parenting education and social-emotional skills to children and parents exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) in rural Nevada. The goal was to evaluate IPV efforts by measuring parent (N = 47) and children’s (N =100) knowledge and behavior change around building healthy relationships and improved parenting practices following exposure to IPV and the H&H curriculum. Results indicated significant increases in both perceived knowledge and behavior change, suggesting that the program is effective in strengthening family relationships, improving parenting practices, developing emotional competency, and helping families envision a positive future. One of the most critical take-away messages is that Extension programs can have a positive impact in rural locations related to helping families recover and rebuild following intimate partner violence.

Keywords

• intimate partner violence
• parenting education
• rural
• community program
• healthy relationships