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Elements Needed for Quality Batterer Intervention Programs: Perspectives of Professionals Who Deal with Intimate Partner Violence

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Abstract

Batterers intervention programs (BIPs) constitute a primary intervention for perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). There is little understanding as to what elements are necessary for a good intervention program. We conducted 36 individual semi-structured interviews with professionals working with BIPs. Our results yielded three thematic categories: (1) optimal BIP structure—group size and program duration should foster change and interaction, (2) facilitator characteristics—co-facilitation is ideal, and facilitators should have IPV training, and (3) program approaches–programs should challenge their clients on their behavior, promote an environment of safety and openness, and strive to adapt to clients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Pennsylvania Coalition against Domestic Violence and the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh for their support. Support for this work was made possible by grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Penn State New Kensington, 550 7th Street Rd, New Kensington, PA, 15068, USA

    Penelope K. Morrison

  2. Standing Firm: The Business Case to End Partner Violence, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Patricia A. Cluss

  3. Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, 4401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15224, USA

    Elizabeth P. Miller

  4. Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, P.O. Box 9024, Pittsburgh, PA, 15224, USA

    Rhonda Fleming, Lynn Hawker, Terry Bicehouse & Kalem Wright

  5. California University of Pennsylvania, 250 University Ave, California, PA, 15419, USA

    Donna George

  6. Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC, Craft Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    Judy C. Chang

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  1. Penelope K. Morrison
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Correspondence to Penelope K. Morrison.

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All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Morrison, P.K., Cluss, P.A., Miller, E.P. et al. Elements Needed for Quality Batterer Intervention Programs: Perspectives of Professionals Who Deal with Intimate Partner Violence. J Fam Viol 32, 481–491 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-016-9835-x

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