Implementation of Healthy Relationship Educational Materials in Alabama Home Visiting Programs

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern, affecting over 41% of women in the United States during their lifetime. IPV is particularly prevalent during reproductive years, including pregnancy and postpartum periods, and has severe adverse effects on both maternal and child health. Home visiting offers a promising context for prevention; however, persistent barriers to screening underscore the need for practical, implementation-ready tools to support home visitors in addressing IPV. This brief report describes a quality improvement initiative examining the implementation of the Futures Without Violence Connected Parents, Connected Kids (CPCK) cards within Alabama home visiting programs. Between September and December 2024, four Alabama local implementing agencies (LIAs) participated in the Home Visiting Collaborative Innovation and Improvement Network’s (HV CoIIN) Sprint to Sustain Improvement in IPV (sprint). The sprint aimed to integrate CPCK cards into home visits, with a goal of educating 90% of families on healthy relationships and improving support for home visitors in discussing IPV. Data from Alabama’s home visiting database were used to track IPV screening rates before and after the sprint. In addition, a survey was conducted to gather home visitors’ perspectives on CPCK cards. Results showed that by the end of the sprint, all caregivers were educated about healthy relationships, and IPV screening rates improved at three LIAs and remained 100% at the fourth. Survey responses indicated that CPCK cards were valuable tools for facilitating conversations about healthy relationships and screening for IPV.

Keywords

intimate partner violence (IPV)home visiting healthy relationships Connected Parents Connected Kids (CPCK) cards continuous quality improvement (CQI)universal education workforce training and support parent education

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