The evaluation of Safe Way Forward (SWF), a demonstration project of the New York City’s Administration on Children’s Services, shows positive results in addressing intimate partner violence and child maltreatment, and indicates high levels of participant satisfaction. The outcomes show that behavioral change is possible with individuals experiencing and perpetrating both intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. Westat conducted the process and outcome evaluation.
SWF treats both the survivor and the person causing harm. It provides survivors, persons causing harm, and their children with child welfare prevention services (e.g., case planning) and clinical intervention to address the family violence and the trauma it causes.
The evaluation’s findings included:
- Positive changes in parenting styles and outcomes for both persons causing harm and survivors
- Increased confidence in survivors’ ability to make good safety decisions
- Learned strategies for keeping their families safe
- Significant progress toward clinical and behavioral change goals
Read more: Administration for Children’s Services expands ‘A Safe Way Forward’ to Brooklyn
