The protocol for number and timing of visits will be the same for both NFP+IPVI and Standard Care, as follows: weekly for the first four visits, every other week for the remainder of the pregnancy, every week for six weeks in the postpartum and every other week until the infant is 21 months old after which it is once a month for the last three months. We recognize that the intervention might prompt the nurse and mother to alter the regular visit schedule if IPV is present.

The NFP nurses currently receive some training regarding IPV, but it is minimal. Between intake and when the child is 3 months and 12 months old, there is a brief instruction that the nurse assess for IPV. If the client acknowledges current abuse when completing the Abuse Assessment Screen, the nurse should "assist her to evaluate threats to personal safety and make referrals as needed". There is a prompt to be mindful of client safety, and to make referrals as needed.

The intervention focuses on helping women stay safe in a relationship. Strategies for overcoming barriers to using and accessing community resources and services, and community agency interventions for women exposed to IPV is built into the intervention.

Validated 30-item research instrument that assesses exposure to physical, sexual and emotional abuse, harassment and combined severe abuse.