Integrated Domestic Violence Treatment Program

Brief Description

The program provides a variety of integrated services to both offenders and victims of domestic violence. The mandated component of the program is integrated with police, courts, probation, Alberta Mental Health/Addictions-Lethbridge Family Violence Treatment Program. The program provides 30 hours for group and individual counselling.

The Integrated Domestic Violence Treatment program is based on a continuum of services addressing the issue of domestic violence by delivering integrated (wrap-around) services along all points of the continuum - prevention, intervention, and post-incident, with services such as treatment for domestic offenders, counseling for parents, families, and couples, and various therapy groups.

Goals

The main goals of the Integrated Domestic Violence Treatment program are to:

• Reduce recidivism rates of domestic violence-related offences;
• Provide effective support and interventions to those impacted by domestic violence; and
• Reduce the incidence of domestic violence in the community.

Clientele

The targeted clientele included men and women who have offended (mandated and non-mandated), those who have been victimized (current and historical), children living in homes where domestic violence is present, and to individuals seeking help for themselves.

Core Components

The Integrated Domestic Violence Treatment program operates with four major programs:

• Counselling Outreach and Education: offering a range of services from prevention to treatment of trauma and abuse including sexual abuse;
• DACAPO: offering services to Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and assessments for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and brain injury;
• Immigration Services: providing settlement services to refugees and immigrants; and
• Home Services: providing medical and home care services.

Implementation Information

Some of the critical elements for the implementation of this program or initiative include the following:

• Organizational requirements: Lethbridge Family Services is a fully-accredited, multi-faceted not-for-profit organization that is committed to providing specialized community-based support to individuals and families, facilitating human potential, choice, and independence in order to assist them in achieving their full potential.
• Partnerships: The mandated component of the program is integrated with police, courts, probation, Alberta Mental Health/Addictions-Lethbridge Family Violence Treatment Program.
• Training and technical assistance: Limited information on this topic.
• Risk assessment tools: Limited information on this topic.
• Materials & resources: Limited information on this topic.

International Endorsements

The most recognized classification systems of evidence-based crime prevention programs have classified this program or initiative as follows:

• Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development: Not applicable.
• Crime Solutions/OJJDP Model Program Guide: Not applicable.
• SAMHSA's National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices: Not applicable.
• Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy: Not applicable.

Gathering Canadian Knowledge

Canadian Implementation Sites

The Integrated Domestic Violence Treatment program was implemented in Lethbridge, Alberta from May 2009 – March 2013.

Main Findings from Canadian Outcome Evaluation Studies

No information available.

Cost Information

A social return on investment (SROI) has been conducted on the Integrated Domestic Violence Treatment program. The findings from this study have shown the following:

• The total SROI ratio for this program ranges from 1.29 (low case) to 3.46 (high case). These ratios indicate that for every dollar invested in the program, there is a return between $1.29 and $3.46 of social value created; and
• Counselling services can be challenging because it is difficult to measure the value of some of the most pertinent counselling outcomes, such as increased self-esteem, better communication skills, and better understanding of self. Thus, it should be kept in mind that the value calculated is the bare minimum value created by domestic violence counselling, as the above-mentioned intangible outcomes have not been fully monetized in this calculation.

References

Alberta Community Crime Prevention Organizations. (2015). Social Return on Investment (SROI) Case Study: Integrated Domestic Violence Treatment Program. Recipient of Safe Communities Innovation Fund, Government of Alberta. Available from: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/safe-communities-innovation-fund-pilot-project-executive-summaries

For more information on this program, contact:

Lethbridge Family Services
Gary Giesbrecht
Telephone: (403)327-5724
E-mail: ggiesbrecht@lfsfamily.ca