Ohio Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative: Final Evaluation Report of the Safe and Together Training Program.

During 2013, the Ohio Intimate Partner Violence Collaborative (OIPVC) enabled local child protective services (CPS) agencies in 13 Ohio counties to participate in the Safe and Together training program. The training aims to improve the ability of CPS agencies to work effectively with families that are experiencing domestic violence through skill building and values clarification. The training sought to provide participants with information and practice skills such as screening, assessment, documentation, interviewing, partnering and engaging. Intensive training was provided to CPS staff; domestic violence advocates and other community partners received overview training of the Safe and Together model. To evaluate the training An evaluation of the training included an online pre/posttest survey of 837 CPS caseworkers and supervisors; semi-structured interviews with 16 supervisors; semi-structured interviews with 8 community stakeholders; desk reviews of 191 CPS case files; and review of written policies from 15 counties that had completed Safe and Together training. Findings indicate strong evidence that the training resulted in CPS staff assigning less blame to victims for staying in a violent relationship, and increased CPS staff concern and documentation of the effect so children witnessing domestic violence. Based on the interview with the trainer and an assessment of the counties' practices it appears that participating in Safe and Together training does not typically result in formalizing work rules and MOUs. These results were also consistent with comments made in Supervisor Interviews that practices have not been changed widespread because of the training. Recommendations are made. 12 tables and 7 references.