Evaluating Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Informed Interventions for Latino Families Experiencing Domestic Violence

SafeCare+: Implementing & Evaluating Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Informed Interventions for Latino Families Experiencing Domestic Violence & Child Maltreatment

This project will evaluate the implementation and efficacy of a domestic violence intervention module for parents receiving child welfare home visitation services.

The ultimate goal of this proposed project is the provision of culturally-relevant, trauma-informed services leading to a reduction of family violence, and a resultant increase in family stability, improved communication, and a healthy home environment for children in Latino families with co-occurring domestic violence (DV) and child abuse/neglect (CAN). The Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) funded project and evaluation will be layered onto the existing UC San Diego's NIH-funded R01 research (NIH R01 MH092950) on scale-up of SafeCare (SC) across the entire San Diego Child Welfare System. In the first phase of this project, the community and academic partners will collaborate to develop a detailed evaluation plan by collecting formative qualitative data via focus groups with active CW clients with domestic violence (DV) histories and community child welfare and DV service providers. The second phase of this project will begin with the implementation of SafeCare+ (SC+), an evidence-based training curriculum for parents referred for child maltreatment, coupled with the Healthy Relationships (HR) module for Latino families with co-occurring child maltreatment and domestic violence experiences. SafeCare® (SC) has been shown to be widely accepted among the Latino community and the HR module has been specifically adapted for and successfully utilized with Latino populations. As part of the expansion of the original research study, 80 clients who will be recruited into the existing study will also be randomly assigned to receive the additional HR module.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Service providers (CWS and DV) and active CW clients with DV histories will be recruited via random selection to participate in focus groups during the planning year of the project.
• Latino families are eligible for the RCT based on the following criteria: (a) being identified as an appropriate family for SafeCare; and (b) by having at least one, qualifying DV experience, which will be determined during the baseline needs assessment.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A client will be excluded if he/she indicates to the service provider that they are unable to comprehend the written questionnaire and cannot obtain outside assistance in understanding and completing the questionnaire.
• Clients under the age of 18 will able be excluded because they cannot provide informed consent.