This report describes the rationale, methodology, and findings of a Research-to-Practice Fellowship that conducted research for the purpose of improving services for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) who have disabilities, with a focus on developing a computerized database for a non-residential domestic violence (DV) program called the Secret Garden.
The project used information extrapolated from about 1,000 handwritten client files. The researcher-practitioner team determined that identifying the ways diversity and disability-specific factors affect the experience of abuse is essential for the type of training needed by staff who serve such DV victims. The researcher-practitioner project resulted in the creation of an online computerized system for both record-keeping and future research. The online system, called FamCare, facilitated moving from paper records to a computerized system. Records of just over half of the current residents are in FamCare. The work in progress includes identifying critical dates with department heads to ensure timely completion of all intake materials and assessment. Redundancy has been reduced across intake forms through the online system. Overall, the information gained through the research has laid the foundation for future research efforts that will advance the evidence base for practice-informed research and research-informed practice with DV survivors with disabilities. Ways to sustain the research-practice partnership are suggested.