Project Description:
It is estimated that there are approximately 130,000 women with disabilities in Utah who have been victims of violence. Services to help these women have been limited because victims programs lack knowledge and expertise relative to disabilities and disabilities programs lack knowledge and expertise relative to victims. In light of this, Utah State University's Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) and Community Abuse Prevention Services Agency (CAPSA) proposed to cooperate in developing training and technical assistance materials that were used to cross train victims and disabilities staffs across Utah. An educational research and development model was used in developing materials so as to assure they are highly effective.
In project year one, an initial set of materials was drafted, subjected to expert review, revised, and field tested with approximately 100 trainees in northern Utah. Based on field test data, the materials were revised again, and in year two subjected to expert review and additional revision. Revised materials were field tested with approximately 100 trainees in four regions of the state. CPD/CAPSA staff trained and assisted local personnel in each of the four regions to provide training and technical assistance in year two. Based on year two field test data, final revisions to the materials were made and they were packaged for national dissemination.
The project has broad support from victims and disabilities services programs across the state. CPD and CAPSA have served as lead agencies. In addition, cooperating organizations have served on the project advisory council, reviewing training materials and procedures, identifying members to be trained as regional trainers/technical assistants in project year two, and scheduling/coordinating their memberships and others to participate in training. They include: Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD), Utah's social service agency supporting people with disabilities. Utah Association of Community Services (UACS), a network of 39 private organizations providing services for people with disabilities, Utah Domestic Violence Council (UDVC), a network coordinating the efforts of numerous domestic violence programs across the state, Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault (UCASA), a network coordinating the efforts of numerous sexual assault programs across the state, Utah Statewide Independent Living Council (USILC) a network of independent living programs across the state, Association for Independent Living of Utah, and organization of independent living center directors, Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, rehabilitation services for the blind and visually impaired, Aging and Adult Protective Services, Utah's social service agency supporting aging and vulnerable adults, Noni Lancaster, consumer, Utah Developmental Disabilities Council, Sego Lily Center for the abused deaf, Ned Searle, Utah Domestic Violence Coordinator, and the Disability Law Center.
Trained regional personnel as well as web based materials and an advisory council plan will ensure that efforts are sustained post federal funding. As a result of the project's efforts, it is anticipated that victims and disabilities staffs will increase knowledge of women victims with disabilities and improve service collaboration. These things in turn will result in improved victim safety and perpetrator accountability.
For the period January 1 - June 30, 2007:
Project staff applied for a no cost extension to make final revisions to the cross training curriculum. The extension was granted and final revisions were completed resulting in two volumes: Cross Training Curriculum for Disabilities Personnel and Assisting Women with Disabilities Who are Victims of Violence and Cross Training Curriculum for Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Personnel. Additional information on the curriculum, including ordering instructions, is available on the project web page at http://www.stopabuse-disabled.org/ .
An advisory council meeting was held in January to seek support in applying to Office on Violence Against Women for funding to continue the project. Support was offered and a proposal submitted through CAPSA. It had to be submitted this way because under the re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act, universities were not allowed to apply for funding.
Core Function(s):
Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
