NCJ Number
182945
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 67 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2000 Pages: 41-46
Editor(s)
Edward F. Cronin
Date Published
January 2000
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the design and implementation of a domestic violence prevention program (Domestic Violence Community Partnership Program) in four cities in Russia and Ukraine, covering the period 1998 to 2000.
Abstract
The concept for the program was rooted in community programs implemented in central Massachusetts in 1994. The success of this program prompted Project Harmony's proposal to create community-coalition-based training in Russia and Ukraine. The fact-finding mission revealed a basic theme: Domestic violence against women and children was a serious problem considered to be private and not openly discussed. Severe economic conditions, alcoholism, and homelessness had exacerbated the problem. There were serious concerns about the lack of information on domestic violence by the media and other agencies. There were also concerns about the absence of laws to promote change in these societies. After properly orienting the team to their mission, the trainers selected relevant training materials for the Petrozavodsk, Russia, program. Russian staff arranged the inclusion of approximately 20 governmental and private organizations to participate in the 2-week seminar. Volumes of material were translated into Russian. This article includes a description of the training component. One of the outcomes of the training has been a commitment by the minister of internal affairs to implement domestic violence training in the police academy and to incorporate a prevention program in the schools.