 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Research
Research in Progress
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Dependency Mediation Evaluation
In child maltreatment cases, dependency mediation is an alternative to settling the case in court. The use of dependency mediation (DM) began in the 1980s, in an effort to increase the involvement of parents and children in case planning, and to assist the courts in the settlement of cases with child maltreatment issues. Although DM has been utilized in a number of states, it has not been well-funded or uniformly implemented in many places.
The Harrell Center received funding to conduct an 18-month prospective study of DM in several Florida counties. The purpose of the study is to better understand the relative costs and benefits of utilizing DM versus the traditional settlement process. Because dependency cases, and the probability of a successful outcome, are influenced by a myriad of factors, we will examine contributing factors in five categories: child characteristics, parental characteristics, case characteristics, mediation characteristics, and court characteristics. Data will be collected through various methods, including in-person interviews, surveys, and records review. The findings from this study will generate recommendations for Florida in regard to its pursuit of mediation as a more common strategy for the resolution of dependency cases. Drs. Coulter, Vandeweerd and Pracht will be conducting this evaluation.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Domestic Violence Offender Intervention Program
The Hillsborough County Domestic Violence Intervention Program is administered through the 13th Judicial Circuit Court System. The program is a large one with 236 offenders on average entering the program per month, including felony and misdemeanor offenders, diversion cases, or other referrals from criminal court. To date, the program has enrolled 19,999 offenders.
When offenders are convicted and sentenced to intervention programs or placed on diversion, they are referred to community agencies for assessment. The assessment identifies the type of program and intensity of the intervention needed for each offender. The model of intervention services which has been adopted is an innovative one based on the state-mandated psycho-educational model, but with additional provisions for offenders with special needs, such as offenders with a history of severe violence, serious mental illness or substance abuse issues.
The role of The Harrell Center is to longitudinally assess the efficacy of the Hillsborough County Domestic Violence Intervention Program as a means to better refine the intervention process, particularly for programs for offenders with special needs. Using Florida Department of Law Enforcement arrest records, the Center examines re-arrest rates of domestic violence offenders for both domestic violence and other crimes. Current data indicate high levels of effectiveness with low drop-out rates and low re-arrest rates for offenders that have completed Hillsborough County’s program compared to those that did not complete the program.
These data provide support for this program which is unique for tailoring the intervention to the offender’s needs. Dr. Coulter, Dr. Vandeweerd, Ms. Estefan, Ms. de la Cruz and Mr. Dixit have been involved in this project.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
ChildNet/SafeNet Evaluation
ChildNet and SafeNet are collaborative programs that offer coordinated legal and social services to low-income victims of domestic violence and their children in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. Through the coordination of legal and social services, the programs aim to help victims and their children leave violent domestic situations and establish stability in their lives so that they do not return to the violent situation.
Since 1997, the Harrell Center has conducted ongoing, yearly evaluations of ChildNet and SafeNet. To measure the effectiveness of the program in helping the clients achieve stability, client outcomes are examined in the areas of employment, education, transportation, housing, child care, child school, child health, client health, and safety. Results of the evaluations show that clients are making progress in many areas of their lives. For example, an increased percentage of clients report being employed at the end of the program and more clients feel that they are adequately able to support themselves and their families. Clients also express decreased difficulty with transportation and their children experience decreased problems with peers, emotions, and behavior. Results in other areas indicate the need for continued attention. These include a high percentage of clients who continue to have credit and financial problems and an increased difficulty finding suitable housing. One of the most disconcerting results is that more clients report homelessness due to domestic violence throughout the program than at the beginning. Additional analyses and continued exploration of these areas is ongoing.
Complete results of the evaluation are presented to both ChildNet and SafeNet Collaboratives to help them better understand both areas of program success and areas in which clients are experiencing difficulties or that need improvement, Dr. Coulter, Ms. Estefan,Ms. de la Cruz and Ms. Dantu work on this evaluation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Family Justice Center Needs Assessment
Hillsborough County is one of 15 communities across the country awarded a President’s Family Justice Center Initiative grant. The grant, administered through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women, provides for the planning, development, and establishment of comprehensive domestic violence victim service and support centers. The Hillsborough County Family Justice Center opened in the summer of 2006 and brought together a variety of agencies, including emergency services, victim advocacy, legal services, counseling, medical services, and child care to provide services to victims of domestic violence in one location.
The Harrell Center is currently conducting a community needs assessment for the Family Justice Center to determine the availability and comprehensiveness of currently available domestic violence services, additional services that may be necessary through the Family Justice Center, and opinions on the “one stop shopping” model of service provision. To complete the needs assessment, the Harrell Center is conducting interviews and focus groups with individuals who are or know victims of domestic violence as well as key community stakeholders, including domestic violence-related program and service providers in Hillsborough County. Dr. Coulter, Dr. Vandeweerd and Ms. Estefan have been involved in this needs assessment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
THE JAMES
AND JENNIFER HARRELL CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. MDC 56 •
Tampa, FL 33612-3807 • Phone: (813) 974-7832 • Fax: (813) 974-7830
Department of Community and Family Health • College of Public
Health • University of South Florida
|
 |
