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 will be used to cross train victims and disabilities staffs across Utah. An educational research and development model will be used in developing materials so as to assure they are highly effective. In project year one, an initial set of materials will be drafted, subjected to expert review, revised, and field tested with approximately 100 trainees in northern Utah. Based on field test data, the materials will be revised again, and in year two subjected to expert review and additional revision. Revised materials will be field tested with approximately 100 trainees in each of four regions of the state (400 total). CPD/CAPSA will train and assist 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 will be made and they will be packaged for national dissemination. The project has broad support from victims and disabilities services programs across the state. CPD and CAPSA will serve as the lead agencies. In addition, cooperating organizations will serve on the project advisory council, review training materials and procedures, identify 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: DSPD – Utah’s social service agency supporting people with disabilities. UACS – A network of 39 private organizations providing services for people with disabilities, UDVC – A network coordinating the efforts of numerous domestic violence programs across the state, UCASA – a network coordinating the efforts of numerous sexual assault programs across the state, and USILC – a network of independent living programs across the state. Additional organizations will serve on the project advisory council and have input into overall guidance of the project. 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.
The project began on October 1, 2004. Staff have reviewed literature and collected materials used as a basis for developing training lessons. A training curriculum has been drafted and submitted for experts review. Two tracks were reviewed, one for disabilities personnel, another for domestic violence/sexual assaut personnel. An advisory council meeting was held in January at which time the council approved an outline for the curriculum materials. Finally, a presention on the project was made to the membership of Utah Association of Community Services, Utah's disabilities provider organization in March. Currently, training curriculum materials are being revised in preparation for review by the federal project officier.
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information
