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Parenting and Safety Program for System-Involved Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Follow-up Study

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Abstract

This article reports findings from a qualitative follow-up investigation of a mandated parenting and safety program for system-involved female IPV survivors. Participants were contacted 12 months or more after program completion and invited to participate in individual interviews. The interviews focused on the longer-term life changes survivors attributed to the program. Data were collected from 38 survivors. Qualitative analysis determined 4 key themes: relationship changes (e.g., most women were no longer with abusive partners), parenting changes (e.g., improved communication and discipline strategies), personal life changes (e.g., improved help-seeking and self-esteem), and new or ongoing challenges (e.g., financial stress). Overall, findings suggest that tailored, mandated programming — when positive and empowering — may lead to some longer-term beneficial outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

Funding for this research was provided by The Duke Endowment. We acknowledge the staff of InterAct and SAFEchild for their collaboration and help with this research. We acknowledge Sarah Dababnah for her help with this research. We also acknowledge Diane Wyant for her comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 325 Pittsboro Street CB #3550, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-3550, USA

    Cynthia F. Rizo, Rebecca J. Macy & Dania M. Ermentrout

  2. UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Ariel Reynolds

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  1. Cynthia F. Rizo
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  2. Ariel Reynolds
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  3. Rebecca J. Macy
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  4. Dania M. Ermentrout
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Correspondence to Cynthia F. Rizo.

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Rizo, C.F., Reynolds, A., Macy, R.J. et al. Parenting and Safety Program for System-Involved Female Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Follow-up Study. J Fam Viol 31, 833–848 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-016-9833-z

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