Implementing and Evaluating a Counseling Program in Partnership With a Community-based Domestic Violence Service Provider.

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 Thrst pilot test.

METHODS: WISH is a stage-tailored, eight-session counseling program based on the transtheoretical model. Imple men tation evaluation addressed program exposure/Thdelity, 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.