Embrace Health is a multilevel resiliency building program which aims to combat the detrimental health impacts of intimate partner violence. The program has components at each level of the CDC’s Social-ecological Model and targets multiple vulnerable populations within the Gainesville, Florida community.
Intimate partner violence is a major public health concern which is present in every community, regardless of age, race/ethnicity, religion, country of origin, gender, or sexual orientation (NCADV, 2020). The health implications of IPV are vast and can include detrimental impacts to physical health, mental health, emotional health, sexual health, and financial health (NCADV, 2020). IPV can also lead to cyclical or lifelong consequences, especially in cases where children witness IPV in their home (CDC, 2020). IPV exposure is one of the originally identified Adverse Childhood Experiences, and thus has been linked to several negative health outcomes (CDC, 2020).
The reach of IPV is great. An estimated 10,000,000 U.S. adults experience IPV each year (NCADV, 2020). There has recently been a significant increase in IPV occurrences; 42% more events occurred in 2018 than in 2016 nationally (NCADV, 2020). Florida devotes a significant number of resources to IPV and its consequences. In 2020, there were over 106,000 IPV crimes reported In the state (Florida Department of Children and Families, 2022). In the same state, over 10,000 survivors utilized temporary housing/shelters because of these crimes, and over 70,000 hotline calls were made seeking assistance, information, and emergency services in the span of one year (Florida Department of Children and Families, 2022). This accounted for over 190,000 hours of advocacy and counseling within the state (Florida Department of Children and Families, 2022).
IPV disproportionately impacts some populations at higher rates than others. While women experience IPV at a greater rate than men, all genders, sexual orientations, and other demographic categories can experience IPV (NCADV, 2020). Young women (18-24y) experience the majority of IPV events, and those individuals that are unempowered or have witnessed IPV, especially as a child are at higher risk as well (NCADV, 2020).
Embrace Healthy is a public health and resiliency program which aims to build resiliency across multiple target populations in multiple settings. The general theme, “Embrace Healthy” is a play on words, where it uses a word typically associated with affection (Embrace) paired with Healthy, to imply not just the choice of health, but healthy relationships as well.
At the individual level, the Embrace Healthy program utilizes community partnerships to reach individual survivors of IPV and their children. Participants at this level receive educational materials, and tangible resources, while engaging in one-on-one role play activities, behavior modeling and safety planning. The purpose of this program level is to empower survivors, increasing their confidence and self-efficacy, ultimately changing their attitudes toward unhealthy relationships.
At the interpersonal level, Embrace Healthy offers healthy relationship workshops for young couples. Participants are invited to self-refer, and multiple incentives are offered to encourage participation. Couples work together to practice proven techniques, role play, and develop important communication and conflict resolution skills.
The organization will partner with local parents and the Alachua County School Board to offer a high school curriculum which empowers adolescents to engage in healthy relationships. This curriculum will be integrated into existing health courses. Participants will be trained on healthy boundaries, conflict resolution, mediation, and communication, especially within the school setting. Ultimately this level of the program strives to shift school climate around IPV.
Finally, at the societal level, program staff and participants will work together to lobby for legislative and policy changes at county and state levels. Letter writing and law proposals will be used to increase penalties for IPV crimes, and increase resources for survivors.
Embrace Healthy aims to empower and educate all participants, regardless of age, race, gender or SES to embrace healthy relationships. In doing so, we will equip potential victims to avoid unhealthy situations, and shift the attitudes of potential perpetrators to choose a different way of life.
References
Centers for Disease Control. (2022, April 6). Fast facts: Preventing adverse childhood experiences |violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...n/aces/fastfact.html
Centers for Disease Control. (2022, January 18). The social-ecological model: A framework for prevention |violence prevention|injury Center|CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/violencepr...ecologicalmodel.html
Coll, C. V., Santos, T. M., Devries, K., Knaul, F., Bustreo, F., Gatuguta, A., Houvessou, G. M., & Barros, A. J. (2021). Identifying the women most vulnerable to intimate partner violence: A decision tree analysis from 48 low and middle-income countries. EClinicalMedicine, 42, 101214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.101214
Florida Department of Children and Families. (2022). Domestic Violence Statistics. Domestic Violence - Florida Department of Children and Families. Retrieved July 20, 2022, from https://www.myflfamilies.com/s...nce/statistics.shtml
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. (2020). Domestic Violence. Retrieved June 15, 2022, from https://assets.speakcdn.com/as...55.pdf?1596811079991.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Reduce the number of young adults who report 3 or more adverse childhood experiences - IVP‑D03. Reduce the number of young adults who report 3 or more adverse childhood experiences - IVP‑D03 - Healthy People 2030. Retrieved July 15, 2022, from https://health.gov/healthypeop...-experiences-ivp-d03
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